Laura Marie Maybaum, Gardner resident, spoke at the Gardner City Council meeting, Monday, Dec. 5 with concerns about the value of her home.

Maybaum said she is getting older and needs to sell her four-story home of 13 years on Jessica Street, but issues with a neighbor are devaluing the home value.

“I have spent every dime on this house,” she said. “When I bought the house, my health was in great condition. As I get older it is harder to get up the steps.”

Maybaum said she started thinking about downsizing and had realtors come out over the Summer to assess her home.

She filed a complaint against her neighbor’s mulch pile next to the garage, because home values are now assessed by an entire neighborhood and not just the value of a home. Maybaum said she made several complaints about the neighbor violating city codes.

“Something needs to be done,” she said. “I’m just tired. I am old and tired and just want something to be done. I need help. This is bigger than me. I’ve got nothing done.”

Maybaum said a porch still has no real railings on it which is concerning heading into the Winter season.

“Why are we looking at other houses,” she said. “We have something called code enforcement and it says there should be railings on a porch.”

Jay Belcher, police chief, said the railing hadn’t been looked at, but they would look into the issue.

Maybaum said she had filed a complaint last week.

Dave Knopick, community development director, said they had received Maybaum’s letters last week and inspectors are looking at two houses on Jessica Street violating building code issues.