There was nothing but positive feedback at a Community and Economic Development Authority public hearing on Thursday, October 18, held to determine whether to continue funding the town's Code Enforcement Officer position through a grant.

The Code Enforcement Officer inspects residential homes and rental units for violations of the state sanitary code and issues “orders to correct." Homeowners are given these orders for reasons ranging from garbage-filled yards to more serious issues, such as failing septic systems or people living without running water.

The position has been funded by CEDA through its Community Block Grant, where CEDA receives the bulk of its funding, since 2008. CEDA must reapply for the grant every year, and in preparing next year's grant application, has been asking residents what they want to see the grant fund.

At the hearing, Wareham resident Joe Mulkern voiced his support for CEDA’s decision to fund the position through 2013.

“I really like the way he does his job," Mulkern said of current Code Enforcement Officer John Viveiros. "He’s helped me out with a lot of things with these derelict buildings.”

The position is part-time and pays $20,000.

“That position should be a full-time position,” said Mulkern. “We have a lot of problems in Wareham.”

According to CEDA’s Housing and Grants manager, Karen Hamilton, “What starts the [code-enforcement] process is a complaint.”

A property owner is given thirty days to comply (unless the issue is very severe), and if he or she fails to correct the issue within that time period, the person will receive an order to appear before the Board of Health.