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Wayne code enforcement officer details recurring hazards after Fairbanks Road fire; board asks for open-session plan
Summary
The Town of Wayne Select Board on Oct. 21 heard a detailed account from the town's code enforcement officer about a Fairbanks Road property that recently burned and has a history of code and public-health concerns; the board directed staff to present an open-session enforcement plan and cost estimate at the next meeting.
The Town of Wayne Select Board on Oct. 21 heard a detailed account from the town's code enforcement officer about a property on Fairbanks Road that has produced repeated code violations, a police action during the summer and a recent fire that gutted a single-wide trailer.
"The trailer went up in flames quickly, collapsed quickly, and luckily, they got out, and nobody was hurt," the code enforcement officer told the board, describing two illegal occupants in the trailer and extensive debris and damage to the lot.
The officer said the household has long-standing problems including junk vehicles, septic issues and occupants lacking the financial or mental capacity to remediate the site. He outlined the usual steps the town would take '10-day abatement notice, potential condemnation and liening costs '1but said this property likely lacks equity to be liened effectively and that enforcement could require town funding. "It could be, you know, town action. It could be something I do. The police don't wanna be involved. The state doesn't wanna be involved. Department of health doesn't wanna be involved," he said.
Town staff and the board reviewed whether the matter fit the narrow statutory exceptions for executive session; staff circulated a Maine Municipal Association legal note and the board concluded that, because there is no enforcement action pending in district court and the town's code officer is not representing the municipality under the cited statute, the discussion must occur in open session.
The board asked the code enforcement officer and town manager to return to the next meeting with three items: whether a building-code or public-health violation exists, whether the town should cite or abate the property, and a clear game plan that describes likely costs, a timeline and funding options. A nearby resident who identified himself as Ed Webber said neighbors want the situation handled "in a proper way" but expressed reluctance to create new local antagonisms.
The select board did not vote on enforcement measures on Oct. 21; it requested a staff briefing with a proposed course of action, including any required notices, inspections or warrants, at the next regular meeting.
Ending: The board expressly left the matter for further staff work and asked for a narrowly scoped operational plan at the following meeting; no formal abatement was ordered on Oct. 21.
