A citizen’s petition article on a bylaw for the handling of abandoned properties will go to Town Meeting next month, even though Selectmen opposed the measure.

The article was brought forward by Wareham resident Joe Mulkern at Tuesday night’s Selectmen meeting. The bylaw would charge people who own abandoned properties $100 for annual inspections.

“Since I've moved in town I’ve been amazed by the number of abandoned buildings,” Mulkern said. “Not only abandoned but they’re not protected properly. They’re not boarded up, they’re supposed to have power shut down. I drive around and don’t see these things being done.”

He said Walpole passed a similar bylaw three years ago

Town Attorney Richard Bowen said the bylaw requires owners to register and secure the properties. It would put enforcement officials, such as the Board of Health or Building Inspector, on notice when they do register and allows the town to issue a  fine for non-compliance with registration requirements.

All the Selectmen, except for Steve Holmes, voted against the bylaw and expressed reservations about how it would be enforced.

“It costs substantially more than $100 to go to land court and do all this work,” said Selectman Judith Whiteside. “It’s a very expensive and lengthy process.”

Bowen agreed.

“For abandoned properties there is no way for us to go in, take title to it and auction it off in a two or three year time period, that's  not how it works,” he said.

Selectman Alan Slavin said depending on how the article is received at Town Meeting the board could look into possible funding sources.

Mulkern said the bylaw is proven to work, citing Walpole’s example.

“It works beautiful in the town of Walpole and I don’t see why it cant happen here and they’re hurting for money just like any other town,” Mulkern said.