Farmington selectmen voted Tuesday night to enter a consent agreement with the owner of a Wilton Road home, who in turn plans to board up the property and try to sell it.

The selectmen had met with a representative of the homeowner in a public hearing to see whether the vacant home was a dangerous or a nuisance property under Maine law. Homeowner Ted Gay, who lives in a nursing home in Massachusetts, and his daughter Andra Hutchins, who has taken over some responsibilities with the property, were represented by attorney Anne Torregrossa at the hearing.

Torregrossa agreed with the selectmen to draft an agreement calling for the first-floor windows of the home to be boarded up because several are smashed and trespassers have been found in the home, which is across from the former Rite Aid pharmacy at 130 Wilton Road, which also is U.S. Route 2.

Farmington Police Chief Jack Peck, who attended the meeting, said officers have found people trespassing and living in what is supposed to be an empty home.

The consent agreement also calls for the roof to be repaired in order to make the structure weather-resistant. Town Manager Richard Davis said the house appears to have had a chimney attached to it, but it fell off or was vandalized, leaving a hole.

Finally, the agreement calls for Gay and Hutchins to mow the property and place it on the market to be sold.

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Torregrossa said Hutchins and her husband don’t have the resources to fix up the house, but they are interested in putting the home on the market after the holidays.

“Her father bought this as a potential investment property, but then it sat too long and he was never able to do anything,” she said.

She said they plan to go to Farmington for the Thanksgiving weekend to board up the property, though it may take more time to repair the roof. She said the daughter does not have full power of attorney but is able to sell the house.

Farmington code enforcement officer Steve Kaiser said a positive thing about the selectboard’s dealings with Gay were that he and his daughter are communicating with the town, when homeowners in such situations frequently ignore the town.

“At least … you’ve got communication with the owner,” he said.

Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252

kschroeder@centralmaine.com


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