OXFORD – The town has been advised to hold off ordering the removal of the fire-damaged Cozy Cat Country Store building until a public hearing can be held.

Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Smith said the hearing has been tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Town Hall. Smith said the town attorney, Geoffrey Hole, told him the Board of Selectmen need to take the matter off the table and hold a formal hearing before he can order the building removed.

No order to remove the building was issued in mid-September, when selectmen met with building owners Dana and Darrell Knightly. Selectmen tabled discussion to give the Knightlys 30 days to do the demolition work.

The work ended after one day, however, reportedly because of a dispute over how the work would be paid.

“We gave the owners a period of time to clean it up; now we need to do the hearing, and give (the Knightlys) a chance to dispute it,” said Smith.

Selectmen have the power to order a building demolished under the state’s “dangerous building” statute if the building is structurally unsafe, unsanitary or considered a fire hazard. Half the building has been in a state of collapse since May, when an early morning fire raced through the store. A cause has yet to be determined.

Town Manager Michael Chammings said that if the demolition order is issued and the Knightlys do not comply, it’s possible the town may take charge of the demolition and send the Knightlys the bill.