Special Magistrate Michael Posner presided over the Village of Wellington’s code‑enforcement hearing on Jan. 16, 2025, hearing more than 20 cases ranging from unpermitted business activity and unsecured pools to stained exteriors, deteriorated fences and unlicensed vehicles. Magistrate Posner issued findings of violation in multiple matters, imposed fines or set deadlines for correction, and continued several cases for on‑site review or further documentation.

Why it matters: The hearing enforces local property‑maintenance and land‑development rules that the village says protect neighborhood appearance and public safety. Several orders included monetary penalties, five‑year cease‑and‑desist orders and scheduled “fine certification” dates if violations are not corrected by the deadlines set in each order.

Magistrate actions and notable outcomes included: Johnson Joseph and other code officers presented evidence, photographs and service records for each case. Where property representatives appeared, the magistrate sometimes granted continuances to permit on‑site meetings between staff and owners; where no contact was made, the magistrate frequently found violations and set fines and costs to be paid within 30 days.

Highlights from the hearing:
- The magistrate continued the case involving Wellington Equestrian Interstate LLC (Polo West / Polo Club parking lot, 2470 Greenview Cove Drive) to March 20, 2025 for on‑site review after counsel and staff agreed to walk the property; staff had recommended correction by Feb. 20, 2025 and a per‑day fine if not corrected. Magistrate Posner asked the respondent to block access to the parking area while the case is pending.

- Storm and Norman Racing Inc. (11321 Torchwood Court) was found in repeat violation for an RV being used as living quarters. The magistrate assessed fines of $200 per day for 11 days plus costs ($45.73) for a total of $2,245.73 and extended the five‑year cease‑and‑desist order.

- Multiple residential property owners were found in violation for exterior maintenance, landscaping or fence problems. Typical orders gave owners until Feb. 20, 2025 to correct violations or face fines (commonly $25 per day per violation) and assessed administrative costs (commonly $11.65–$13.30). Several of those cases also had five‑year cease‑and‑desist orders and scheduled fine‑certification hearings on March 20, 2025.

- Commercial property case: CTL PropCo LLC (mall property with a JCPenney storefront, 10308 Forest Hill Blvd.) was found in violation on a range of exterior and landscape items. The magistrate set a correction deadline of Feb. 20, 2025 and allowed the village to impose a higher commercial fine (up to $50 per day per violation) if uncorrected; administrative costs of $13.03 were assessed.

- Business‑license cases: Bellhaven Stables LLC and KB and JB Holding Ltd. were ordered to obtain local business tax receipts (Chapter 21, Article 2) and pay the license fee plus a 25% late charge, a $250 penalty and administrative costs (ranging from about $13 to $33), with five‑year cease‑and‑desist orders entered when owners did not contact staff.

- Unsecured pools / life‑safety cases: At least two properties were ordered to provide permanent pool barriers. In one case (1826 Stanford Circle), the magistrate treated the matter as a life‑safety violation and shortened the correction deadline to Feb. 5, 2025 and set a potential fine up to $250 per day if not corrected; costs were assessed. In another case where a permit had been submitted but returned for corrections, the magistrate noted the temporary barrier had gaps and kept the higher life‑safety fine on the table.

- Repeat violator and fine certification hearings: Several matters previously continued or converted to liens were presented for fine certification; in multiple instances the magistrate found the respondent remained in violation and imposed fines starting on the dates recommended by staff (records show fines commencing in early January 2025 for many fine‑cert cases) and assessed accumulated costs.

Quotes from the hearing (verbatim and attributed):
"The primary object of the hearing is not to unduly penalize anyone, but to obtain compliance with codes and ordinances in a timely manner," Special Magistrate Michael Posner said while explaining procedure for the hearing.
"It is recommended that the respondent be given until February 20, 2025 to correct the violations or be charged a fine not to exceed $25 per day per violation," Code Compliance Officer D'Angelo Campo said repeatedly during presentations of landscape and maintenance cases.

What happens next: The orders require respondents to contact the code‑compliance division to document corrections and to pay assessed costs within 30 days where ordered. For cases not corrected by the deadlines, staff will proceed to fine‑certification hearings already scheduled on March 20, 2025 (and in some instances earlier fine‑certification dates were set). Magistrate Posner repeatedly said his goal is compliance and recommended owners fix violations and then apply for fine reductions where appropriate.

Additional note: The hearing record includes multiple requests by property representatives for on‑site meetings with staff (for example, the Polo West representative requested a 60‑day continuance to walk the 150‑acre property). Magistrate Posner granted at least one such continuance and for others set correction deadlines and possible fine certification dates if violations remain.

Ending: The session concluded after the court heard more than twenty distinct cases; the magistrate closed the hearing and reminded parties of scheduled follow‑up dates and the village’s procedures for inspections and fine certification.