A neighbor pleaded with the Board of Selectmen on Monday night to do something about a deteriorated house open to the elements and sheltering rabid animals on a wooded riverfront Drift Road property that he says has been abandoned and neglected by the owners for nearly 30 years.

Besides the poor condition of the single-family house, built in 1930, neighbor James Hunt says the residence at 1216 Drift Road also has a garage that “is in imminent danger of collapse,” another unfinished structure that was built too close to his property line, several rotting boats also providing shelter for animals, an abandoned motor home, and “a number of pieces of furniture (that) have been dumped on the property.”

Mr. Hunt, who has lived next door to the 2.6-acre property (a short distance south of Hixbridge Road) for 30 years, said no one has ever lived there in that time. He’s met one of the owners, Anne Roberta Crisologo, of Cranston, a few times. He has sent letters to her and her husband, Juanito A. Crisologo, most recently when a storm broke apart the Crisologos’ floating dock and washed it up onto the Hunts’ marshy shore a few years ago. He said he had to remove the dock pieces.

Three times in the past few years, Mr. Hunt said rabid animals have crossed from the Crisologos’ heavily wooded land onto his property. Mr. Hunt said he has twice had to shoot rabid rabbits. The last encounter was with a rabid raccoon; he called the animal control officer, who took care of it.

The three falling-down structures pose a danger and the overgrown, trash-strewn land is a nuisance and a health hazard, Mr. Hunt said. He asked that the building inspector have the buildings removed. He also asked that the Board of Health inspect the property.

Fire Chief Brian Legendre said, “There are a lot of issues” with that property. His fire engines may be able to squeeze down the neglected lane to reach the house and garage. But the bigger concern is the brush that has grown in around the buildings that would make it difficult to stop a fire.

Mr. Hunt told selectmen that he needed to bring it to their attention because he had complained about the property to the former building inspector in 2005. According to Mr. Hunt, that former building inspector told him “The town will do nothing.”

“We just don’t find that acceptable, nor should you,” Mr. Hunt said. And I’m sure you don’t.”

Anne and Juanito Crisologo did not attend the meeting.

Selectmen agreed that building inspector Ralph Souza, who did not hold this position when Mr. Hunt complained in 2005, should inspect the property. They said they will ask Mr. Souza to report back in three weeks.

“Let’s see what we can do for you, Mr. Hunt,” said Selectman Chairman Steven Ouellette.

After the meeting, Mr. Hunt remained circumspect of the town’s enforcing a clean-up of the property. He said he made the same request to the building inspector in 2005 “but nothing happened.”

According to the assessor’s office, the property was inspected last fall and marked as abandoned. The Crisologos bought it in 1974, and have been paying their taxes on time. Last year, they paid $4,148 in taxes; the land is valued at $734,200 and has more than 200 feet along the East Branch of the Westport River.