Doughty's Redemption Center Building to be Deemed “Dangerous” Structure

The Fort Fairfield town council recently agreed to start the process to declare the building that houses Doughty’s Redemption Center as a Dangerous Building.  A public hearing will be held on it later this month.           photo/David Deschesne

By:  David Deschesne

Fort Fairfield Journal, September 3, 2014

   The Fort Fairfield town council recently gave approval to start the process to declare the building housing Doughty's Redemption Center on High Street to be a dangerous building.

On July 11, Fort Fairfield Code Enforcement Officer, Tony Levesque and Fire Chief, Mike Jalbert reviewed the exterior of the structure and consulted with an engineer to determine the safety of the structure, which has been leaning slighting for years and more so lately.

   “I also had a third-party appraiser come to take a look at the structure to see if it was the same condition that he had seen it last. He was of the opinion that it wasn't,” said Levesque.  “So I placarded the front side, the Easterly portion as unsafe.  I had a discussion with Mr. Doughty over the next four days about process and relocating his business to another structure.”

   At the request of the town manager, Levesque inspected the building again, recently with Chief Jalbert.  “I noted in my report that there had been some changes in the scalloping of the roof as well as the walls, the appearance of the stress the building was under.  So I followed that with a discussion with Mr. Doughty about what his plans were and I was unhappy with his responses to me at the time.” 

   Town manager, Mike Bosse said it is important to keep the public interest in mind.  “I think it would be a bad situation to have that building come down on the owners or the public,” said Bosse.  “We're probably opening ourselves up to a lawsuit.  It's on our land, we lease it to them.  They own the building but we own the land.  It's unfortunate but it's an issue that we need to deal with.”

   Bosse also noted how neither he nor the town council want to see that business go out of business.  “It's needed in this community and they work very hard at that business.  They've been in discussions with building owners in the community to purchase.  If we go through with this it's my intent to have a dialogue with them to see if it's a possibility of moving them into a spot that they can rent.  There are buildings adjacent to that building that would be conducive to that operation and I think that would be the first place that I would look.  I think it's pretty important to try to help them stay in business.  We definitely need that service here in our community.” 

   John Herold offered the motion to authorize Tony to initiate the formal dangerous building process; the motion was seconded by Jason Barnes. 

  “We've been talking about this issue now for at least four years - I have - and the town council has listened very patiently.  But to date, there's been no formal action and I'd like to know what the timeframe is for the initiation and the ultimate conclusion of this issue,” said Gary Sirois, who owns a building he rents out for storage space that is perilously close to the redemption center building and in the direct line of where it is leaning.

   Levesque explained the timeline as a hearing notice has to go out at least two weeks prior to the hearing.  The town would have to seek legal counsel to make sure the language is correct.  Then follow the process for a public hearing.  After the town council deliberates and determines it is a dangerous building, and it's not considered an emergency, the owners are given thirty days to abate the situation or it could be abated for them and the money that it costs recaptured in a special tax.  Even if the owners take action, there is a thirty day period that they can appeal to Superior Court. 

   “Now, you're getting into late fall.  My biggest concern is a snow load on that building will cause it to come down and maybe damage mine,” said Sirois. 

   The town council voted unanimously to move forward with the process of declaring the redemption center building as a dangerous building.  As of this writing public hearing on the building is scheduled for September 17 at the town council chamber prior to the regularly scheduled town council meeting.