By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Peabody city council gave the owner of property at 703 Chestnut St. more time to clean up his property and finish enclosing the back yard with a fence to conceal his collection of stuff.

Police chief Bruce Burke told council members he recommended Joe Brundage be allowed more time to finish the job.

“He has made a lot of progress, but he’s not done,” Burke said. “I suggest a 30-day extension.”

It was the second extension granted to Brundage.

Burke also said he got phone calls Tuesday from Dan Martel, who has complained to the council about the Brundage property more than once.

In January, Martel said the “dump” has been there over five years and lowered the value of neighboring properties.

In March, Martel and police chief Bruce Burke said Brundage has made progress, but had not finished the job or put up a fence to hide salvage items from view as he’d earlier said he would.

Neither Brundage nor Martel came to talk to the council Tuesday.