When it comes to municipal governments, the larger ones such as Charlotte and Raleigh tend to be the leaders and innovators when it comes to certain projects and programs.

When it comes to a demolition-by-neglect ordinance and enforcing that ordinance, Washington is leading the way. So much so that Emily Rebert, Washington’s preservation planner is in demand when it comes to explaining how the city uses its demolition-by-neglect ordinance to fix up and preserve buildings, especially homes in the city’s historic district.

“As far as our process, the Town of Beaufort has asked me to come and talk to their commission and their planning board to go over, possibly, them enacting it (ordinance) as well. Also, the State Historic Preservation Office has asked me to give a presentation to the other certified local governments on it as well,” Rebert told the Washington Historic Preservation Commission during its meeting Tuesday.

Commission Chairman Edward Hodges recognizes Rebert’s influence on the city’s efforts to keep buildings from deteriorating because of neglect.

“I think Emily, with her forward thinking and the work that she’s done, is getting a good reputation,” Hodges said.

Other commission members said the demolition-by-neglect ordinance, because of Rebert’s commitment to enforcing it, is getting the desire results.

The demolition-by-neglect ordinance is used by the city to keep historically and/or architecturally significant properties from deteriorating to the point they cannot be saved by rehabilitation measures.

The city has condemned and demolished several buildings in recent years. Efforts to save and restore some of those buildings have met with mixed results.

In an interview last year, Rebert said the city is “trying to work in a progressive kind of way, get people working on their properties little by little. … As long as we’re moving in a forward progression, that’s something.”

The city’s efforts to prevent demolition by neglect are getting attention. That is something, and it’s something worth noting.