Bill Sorrell (D)
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) -- The Vermont has attorney general has mailed letters to some of the largest landlords in Burlington and Rutland to demonstrate compliance with Vermont's lead law.
Attorney General Bill Sorrell has requested the record for compliance for any rental properties built before 1978. The Vermont lead laws require essential maintenance practices for all properties built prior to 1978.
"Our goal remains increased compliance with the lead law," Sorrell said. "And, we know that most landlords want to work with us to ensure their properties comply with Vermont law."
More letters to other areas of Vermont are anticipated to be sent in the coming months as well as additional letters to other Burlington landlords in what is a joint effort with the Burlington Lead Program and the Burlington Housing Authority.
The letters come on the heels of two settlements with Vermont landlords who violated the state's lead law. George Huntington of Bradford and Brad Moore of Johnson entered into Consent Decrees with the state, agreeing to bring their properties into compliance with the law.
Huntington will complete essential maintenance practices for 32 of his pre-1978 properties in Bradford, Fairlee, West Fairlee, Thetford, Newbury, Corinth, Vershire, White River Junction and Wells River. Lead hazard reduction work will be done by the state at Huntington's properties, for which he has agreed to pay $48,000.
Moore has agreed to spend $6,000 for lead hazard reduction work to bring his four rental properties into compliance with the law.