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JOHNSTOWN - The owner of a blighted home at 27 S. Chase St. has until Tuesday to clean up the residence or face legal action, city Fire Chief Bruce Heberer said Thursday.

Heberer, the city's code enforcement officer, said the city has been working since August to clean up the situation. Neighbors have been complaining about the house.

"There's code violations," he stated. "Most of it is garbage and debris outside. The house is a total disaster inside."

Heberer said the house has been posted and is uninhabitable. He said he's received several complaints since the summer, and at least one dog was removed from the home.

The building's owner, Gloversville resident James Kennedy, said he's working with the city.

"I'm trying to get it cleaned up," he said.

Kennedy said he moved out of the home in April to live with his daughter, Kelly, because he is disabled. Now on a fixed income and living on Social Security, he said it has been tough to clean up the Johnstown home for several reasons. He said he let another daughter live there for awhile with dogs, and the residence subsequently became blighted.

Kennedy said he doesn't understand why the neighbors are ganging up and giving the home such attention.

"I feel there's a conspiracy," Kennedy said, alleging there are other residences in the Glove Cities with as many problems.

The fire chief said he's been in contact with the owner, who has until Tuesday to clean up the residence or be issued an appearance ticket for City Court.

Heberer said problems occurred after Kennedy moved out.

Neighbors of the two-story house said they've been complaining about the smell and garbage from the residence for years. They say there are rats in the home and the condition raises health concerns.

"They're [the city] never going to do anything," said Thomas Hill of Virginia, who owns a home at 113 E. State St. "This house is never, never going to be cleaned up."

He and other neighbors say the house is full of garbage, including bottles filled with urine, dog feces and hypodermic needles. Hill said the roof and windows have holes.

Hill has gone into the residence to document the situation by taking pictures.

Hill said squatters have used the home as their own, coming and going and never cleaning it up. He said the city Water Department shut off the water, but people still kept using it as a "flophouse."

"I think there should be some kind of cleanup," said another neighbor, Brenda Billa, of 25 S. Chase St.

She said she and other neighbors are considering getting a petition together.

Billa said the Fire Department and Animal Control Officer William Wock are "all familiar with the disgusting condition" of the house.

"As of now, there are large rats running around the house, inside and out," Billa said. "Windows are broken out and the glass is lying on the grass outside. There are large holes straight through the roof in many different areas, and many different animals are going through those holes and living in the attic."

Heberer said the main issue is to clean the garbage. The chief said talking about demolishing the house is premature. He said the building is "not falling down" and the city hasn't had a chance to address the house from a structural standpoint.