CANTON – Attorney Curtis Webber answered questions about flood-damaged homes at Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting.

Selectman Susan Gammon said the board’s goal was to get clarification on the definition and circumstances for a condemned building and a dangerous building.

A number of homes in the village were damaged during a December storm that caused the Androscoggin River to flood its banks.

Webber said in the condemned process if the property was taken by eminent domain the owner gets reimbursed for the value of the property and the town then owns the property.

If it is a dangerous building, the homeowner is given notice, there would be a hearing and it would be up to the town to say why the building should be taken down. The owner could challenge the reasoning by the town, or he or she could voluntarily take the building down. Otherwise the town could remove the building at the owner’s expense.

Webber suggested the town might want to adopt a code ordinance for homes.

Gammon asked if selectmen knew a building was structurally unsound were they liable.

Webber said the town had no legal responsibility.

Health officer Donna Hebert wanted to know if she found unsafe conditions in a home what action could she take.

Webber said if children were involved then the state Department of Human Services could become involved.

Webber was also asked to review a purchase/sale agreement on property by the town garage and the Emergency Preparedness Ordinance.

Dam owner Raymond Fortier, on returning to the meeting after being asked to leave for disturbing the meeting, wanted to know about setbacks, permits and other information. He was referred to Code Enforcement Officer Stan Haynes, who said he would have to do some research because he is new to the dam situation.

Edward Libby must clean up his property or face a $100 per day fine, plus his $500 fine. The judge has ruled that he is in violation of state law and fines do not stop after the ruling.

Gammon said they had hoped to resolve the problem before the fines began.

Libby wanted to know if all violators had been contacted.

Selectman Chris Wainwright asked Libby if he had filed any complaints against anyone.

Selectmen voted to waive permit fees for repairs to flood damage only within the next three months.

The Grant Advisory Committee was approved. Members are Diane Ray, Philip Klingman, Betty York, Janet Davis, Clint Conant, Mary Dube and Cheri Blanchette. Alternates are Paula Marstus and Becky McDonald.

Selectmen are asking for bids from engineering firms for the fire station design. Contact person is Canton Fire Chief Wayne Dube.

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