The task force is required as part of a $ 150,000 state grant to help deal with the city's ongoing problems with so-called “zombie properties.” Getting the program up and running has been delayed about two years because of issues with software the city's Code Enforcement office is using to implement it. The city spent about $ 60,000 on software to deal with the zombie properties, a term that describes homes abandoned by owners after they stop paying the mortgage and before banks begin foreclosure.
