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Hallowell council finds 8 Park Street "dangerous," orders vacate in 30 days
Summary
After reopening a previously misclosed hearing, the Hallowell City Council voted unanimously to find the house at 8 Park Street a "dangerous building" and ordered the property vacated within 30 days, citing fire, sanitation and accessibility hazards identified by the code enforcement officer.
The Hallowell City Council reopened a public hearing on a dangerous building at 8 Park Street and, after hearing testimony from the city’s code enforcement officer and the property owner’s representative, voted unanimously to find the structure dangerous and to require vacatur within 30 days.
CEO Moore, who led the inspection, told the council the building presents multiple hazards. "We found a number of dangerous conditions, including a hoarder property, nonfunctional electric, nonfunctional plumbing," she said, adding that inspectors observed standing water, heavy mold odors, an unsecured door and unstable front-step railings. Moore said she and fire department personnel were only able to enter a small portion of the house because of the conditions.
The owner’s representative, Sean Knight, said he has secured housing for the resident and asked the council for time to help the resident transition. "I'm trying to help him get the house repaired so he doesn't have code violations, and he can hopefully preserve...and get into the apartment fully," Knight said, while noting the physical and logistical challenges of clearing the house in winter.
The resident, introduced in the hearing as Mr. Jodhry, told the council he is managing the cleanup himself and expects it will take "between 30 and 45 days" to move into the new apartment and continue clearing the former home. He described personal health limitations that restrict heavy lifting.
Councilors said the evidence presented by the code enforcement officer met the statutory standard cited in the discussion (unsanitary conditions, fire hazard or other hazards to health or safety). Councilor McKee moved to declare the building "dangerous" under the town’s code and the motion was seconded and approved. The council then debated timing and enforcement and ultimately adopted a uniform 30‑day period for vacatur and corrective actions. Counsel will finalize written findings and deliver the signed order to the property owner.
The council discussed, but did not adopt, a dual-track timeline that would separate the date to vacate the residence from a longer period to remove and dispose accumulated belongings. Several councilors said a single fixed period creates clearer incentives and an easier enforcement posture if the city must act after the deadline.
What happens next: the draft findings and order will be circulated to council members, signed and formally delivered to the owner; if corrective steps are not completed within the period, the city retains discretion to abate conditions and recover costs as allowed by the ordinance.
The council’s action was procedural and remedial; it orders compliance rather than imposing criminal penalties. The council recorded the vote in open session and directed staff to circulate the final, signed order within seven days.
