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Select Board declares 17 Riley’s Run a dangerous building, sets demolition deadlines
Summary
After testimony from the code enforcement officer and neighbors, the Berwick Select Board voted unanimously to declare 17 Riley’s Run dangerous and ordered owners to arrange demolition by May 19, 2026, with demolition to occur by June 19 (extension to July 19 allowed with contractor proof).
The Berwick Select Board voted April 21 to declare the house at 17 Riley’s Run a dangerous building and adopted an order requiring owners to arrange demolition and provide documentation to the town.
Town code enforcement officer Terry Wilson told the board the house suffered a fire on March 1 and, when he inspected March 2, found extensive fire and water damage, debris, an unstable roof and people still coming and going. "In my opinion, the building was a total loss," Wilson said, adding that he secured the structure on March 16 by boarding windows and installing temporary fencing.
Mary Costigan, the town’s attorney, guided the board through the statutory process for dangerous-building orders, explaining that the board can set deadlines and that the town may demolish the structure and collect costs as a special tax if owners fail to comply. "The statute lays out a procedure for the [board] to declare a building dangerous," Costigan said, describing the legal standard and appeal process.
A bank representative said a foreclosure complaint had been filed May 15, 2025, but the lender had not obtained judgment and was waiting to see how the town classified the property. "We filed a foreclosure complaint. We don't have judgment yet," the attorney said, describing the typical timing and the option of seeking expedited court action after the town's decision.
Neighbors urged prompt action, citing safety and public-access risks to the parcel’s three acres. One adjacent resident said the site had been used for drug activity and worried people would camp or erect tents on the exposed lot. "This has been a drug house for I think about six years," a neighbor said during public comment.
After deliberation, the board amended the draft order to require owners to notify the town by May 1 of arrangements to demolish the building; to make reasonable arrangements no later than May 19, 2026; and to complete demolition by June 19, 2026. The board allowed the town to consider a single extension to July 19 if owners provide a bona fide contractor contract showing a later but concrete completion date. The order requires any contractor selected by owners to be licensed and insured and authorizes the town to undertake demolition and recover costs if owners fail to meet the deadlines.
The board adopted the order and declared the property dangerous in a roll-call vote; the motion carried unanimously among members present. The order includes the town’s standard 30-day appeal period and instructions for public notice; the town attorney said the order will be posted and published as required.
The Select Board said staff will return to the board after the appeal period and after the deadlines pass to report whether owners complied or whether the town needs to act to secure or remove the structure.
