Selectmen discussed waiving a permit fee but no decision was reached.
CANTON – Code Enforcement Officer Steve Haynes informed selectmen Wednesday that seven more homes have been declared structurally unsound after the December flood, bringing the total to 15. People are still living in some of them, he said.
The heavy rain combined with snowmelt caused the Androscoggin River to overflow into the village, forcing the evacuation of the village fire station, school and 39 homes.
Haynes asked where people would go if their homes were condemned.
“No one would be turned out of their homes,” Selectman Susan Gammon quickly responded. “The process of moving homes is strictly voluntary. When we receive the first grant, we will choose the house with the most structural damage and continue from there.”
Selectmen were also advised people are making repairs to their homes without getting a required permit. The board discussed waiving the permit fee, but no decision was made.
Haynes also said there was at least one contaminated well. People with an artesian well were safe unless the wellhead had been under water. Grants are possibly available through Community Concepts to have wells tested.
Selectmen asked Haynes if he would consider the position for another year. Especially since the flood, the town desperately needs coverage in this area. The board voted to hire Haynes for four specific hours per week if another contact does not want to interview for the job.
Selectman Susan Gammon said the board must appoint an advisory committee to oversee the grant distribution if it is awarded. There is a lot of work involved in the grant awarding process such as having people sign up, get a full home appraisal and decide if they want to accept she continued.
The special town meeting at 9 a.m. Feb. 7 will have the following items for the town to accept or reject.
• A $250,000 Community Development Block Grant to build a fire station out of the flood plain.
• A Flood Mitigation assistance grant of $98,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• A revised Comprehensive Plan.
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