Fort Fairfield officials are hoping owners of blighted properties will take advantage of demolition incentives to clean up.
Town Manager Tim Goff detailed the town’s efforts during the Nov. 20 Fort Fairfield Town Council meeting.
About 60 properties with violations ranging from illegal junkyards to severely unsanitary conditions were identified earlier this year and letters sent to the owners. Fort Fairfield tried to make it easier for property owners by offering some financial help from its $8,000 in commercial demolition debris program funds, which will be lost if they’re not used. But so far, no one’s biting.
“We wanted to [incentivize] property owners to do the right thing, get those buildings either torn down or buried, make them safer and make the community look better,” Goff said. “As of today, I have zero folks that have taken advantage of that offer, which is disappointing because the cost per ton of disposal is right around 100 bucks.”
Aroostook Waste Solutions operates the Tri-Community Landfill, where demolition debris disposal is $105 a ton.
Councilors voted in August to use the town’s $8,000 in commercial demolition debris funding to cover part of the cleanup costs for the affected residents. By that time, about a third of those who received letters had made progress, Goff said. A third hadn’t done anything yet, and a third didn’t respond at all.
Some owners said they didn’t feel they had time to do anything before winter and have promised to start cleaning up in the spring, he said. Some of the involved properties have vacant lots or abandoned buildings and about half are current residences.
The council has waived foreclosure for the past two years, but Goff recommended they initiate the process again for owners of blighted property who haven’t paid their property taxes for a number of years.
By cracking down on those who don’t pay, the town can then acquire those properties and address cleanup.
“I think everybody has to pay their fair share when it comes to paying property taxes, and at this point in time we have several properties that are probably in their fifth year of not paying,” he said. “Without that disincentive, we lose some of the teeth that taxes have.”
Fort Fairfield is not alone, as many towns are dealing with blight, he said. On the positive side, some of the areas in question have already been cleaned up.
The council took no action on the property situation.
The town also passed its 2023-24 fiscal year audit with no findings of error, Goff said. Copies are posted at the library and the town office, and a copy can be provided to residents who want one, he said.
Fort Fairfield Police Chief Matthew Cummings reported that officers have responded to 2,827 incidents so far in 2024, with 192 cases going to prosecution. That’s on par with last year, he said.
The community experienced tragedy this year with two traffic fatalities, four overdose deaths and a missing-person case in which the person was found dead.
Fort Fairfield is now the only Aroostook County police department with a school resource officer, Cummings said. Sgt. Jesse Cormier started in the position in September and staff and students have been positive about his presence.
Officers have also completed Drug Abuse and Resistance Education instructor training in New Hampshire and will start the program right away in SAD 20 schools, the chief said.
“DARE has been completely revamped and is now an evidence-based program,” he said. “We’re going to be the only town in Aroostook County with a DARE program, so we’re trying to make early influences on kids, with positive outcomes, hopefully.”
Cummings, who was recently elected president of the Aroostook County Police Chiefs Association, also presented commemorative coins to outgoing Town Councilors Kevin Pelletier and James Ouellette to thank them for their service.
In other business, Jane Towle will now head the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, Goff said. She and supporters are already working on next year’s event and hope to grow sponsorships and boost the agricultural component.
The ruins of a home that burned last November, killing three members of the Elmer family, are still standing, Goff said. The town is working with survivors of the family to gain permission to tear down the remains.
Councilors also voted to make adjustments to the town’s vacation policies, including allowing two weeks of vacation in an employee’s first year instead of one, and capping the amount of vacation time that can be banked to 240 hours, or 30 8-hour days. Sick time will be capped at 720 hours, or 90 days.
The council approved the closure of the town office from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, for a town employee holiday dinner and gift swap.
The next council meeting is planned at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the town council chambers.
