NEW BERLIN, N.Y. (WKTV) - Controversy is brewing in the tiny Chenango County Village of New Berlin over a condemned building.

The county shut it down, saying its too dangerous, and now several months later, it's still standing.

Village officials and residents worry this "dangerous eyesore" is an accident waiting to happen.

"When the county condemns a property, they have to follow through," said New Berlin Mayor Carol Riley.

The three-story building in question sits at the corner of Main and Genesee Streets in the Village of New Berlin, and has been boarded up since January 9.

"The county came over and looked at the building and they condemned it immediately," Riley said. "They gave the residents one hour to get out there."

When asked why, Riley said:

"Because they said it was totally unsafe and that it could collapse."

Since then, it's gotten worse. The side of the building is literally tipping out, and along the back, hundreds of bricks littering the ground.

"It's totally unsafe," Riley said, "It's a disaster ready to happen. My job is to look out for the welfare of these residents. We can't have this."

The condition of the building has gotten so bad that village officials worry big trucks and the vibrations from it, which could cause more bricks to come tumbling down.

And the snow fence cordoning off the building is making it difficult for pedestrians to use the sidewalk.

"Now you have to walk around, and if you look at that, now you're walking into the middle of the road," said Paul Marquit, of the Big M Supermarket.

And that's what is worrying the mayor, who's calling on the county to step in and take action - either to restore the building, or tear it down.

We contacted county codes, and that agency referred us to the county lawyer, who couldn't be reached for comment.

The Oneonta Daily Star is reporting the building's owner has filed for bankruptcy, and the officials with the county claim that's why they aren't able to do anything right now.