The Webster health board has approved a plan to shame owners of rundown buildings into fixing and securing their properties.

The plan approved Monday by the Webster board allows the town to place 4-by-8 foot signs on the sides of dilapidated buildings with the owner’s names, address and telephone number on them.

Selectman Mark Dowgiewicz came up with the idea after hearing it costs up to $9,000 per year for police responses and other expenses to deal with squatters, vandals and other problems.

Building Inspector Theodore Tetreault told The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester that building owners, including banks, have repeatedly ignored requests from the town to secure their vacant properties. (AP)