Legal action authorized by Seneca

Seneca appears headed back to the courts in its dealings with the owners of a large commercial building directly across the street from City Hall. After an executive session last night, the city council approved the following motion by Councilman Scott Durham: “I move to order the city attorney to pursue all legal remedies against the owners of the property formerly known as the Harper’s 5 and 10-cents building.” Afterward, City Attorney Michael Smith declined to elaborate on what he’ll do, except to indicate legal actions are ahead. For his part, the Rev. Efford Haynes, member of the family that currently owns the former Harper’s 5 and 10, had very little to say when approached by 96.3/WGOG NEWS. Haynes and the city have a history of contentious legal battles—one of which, in 2012, ended with the city judge fining and sentencing Haynes to jail for contempt of court “for failure to obtain and maintain required permits to bring the building located at E.N. 1st St. and E. Main St. up to code….” Seated alongside Haynes during last night’s meeting was a nearby property owner, Allen Yarid, with whom the city quarreled about the condition of his former building.