Plymouth Council hears recommendation from building commissioner

at the last Plymouth Common Council meeting, Building Commissioner Keith Hammonds informed the council that he had been contacted by a company called PROCHAMPS LLC. Hammonds described the company as a that does property registrations for vacant properties and for closed properties.

“They do all the legwork, footwork and it’s their web-based software so anytime we’re out driving around, myself or code enforcement, they can click on that software and see whether or not it’s a vacant property and who the contacts are,” said Hammonds.

He went on to explain that the idea behind the software would allow code enforcement, the building commissioner, or someone else from the city to see if the owners of the property are

out of state and it would charge the vacant properties owners a fee which would, theoretically, make the property owner want to utilize the property.

“But it also keeps properties on a list so that we have access to know where the vacant properties are,” said Hammonds.

According to the building commissioner, the company automatically charges $100 per property. “So, if we adopt an ordinance and charge registrant $200 a year to register for a vacant property, they get a $100, we get $100. Right now, for example, if there’s 137 vacant properties, which they estimate is in the City of Plymouth right now, that’d give us $13,700 a year for us doing nothing but doing a contract with this company to do registrations.”

The company’s website, www.prochamps.com, states that it “holds responsible parties accountable to register property, with multiple points of contact and with real people” and that they provide “a webbased communications platform facilitating direct communication with property managers.” Then the company follows through with a “team of dedicated professionals, assigned to your community assuring results on your behalf.” Finally, the company states that there is “zero costs to the community with shared registration fees (revenue positive).”

Hammonds recommended working with the company. This wasn’t up for determination by the council at that meeting and most likely will be discussed in the future.