OXFORD – The town can take the next step to order the removal of the burned-out Cozy Cat Country Store building, selectmen decided Thursday night after a public hearing.

During the hearing, siblings Darrell Knightly of South Paris, Dana Knightly of Errol, N.H., and Diane Knightly of Norway, who have ownership claims on the property, disagreed about the funding of demolition that started in September. That work reportedly ended after one day because of a dispute among the three about how the work would be funded.

Dana Knightly raised concerns over whether the property is still in foreclosure.

“Yes, the back taxes have been paid,” Town Manager Michael Chammings said.

He reminded Dana Knightly that the hearing was to determine if the building is unsafe.

Letters from Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Smith, Fire Chief Fred Knightly and Deputy Fire Chief Scott Hunter called the property dangerous and a safety hazard. All three agreed the building will not last the winter in its present condition.

It was destroyed in an early morning blaze May 5.

Selectmen Chairman Floyd Thayer asked Dana and Darrell Knightly if they might be able to reach an agreement about the demolition.

“Tell us what we need to do and give us a time it has to be done by,” Dana said.

After the hearing, the selectmen brought up the issue during their meeting to take action on the demolition. Selectman Lois Pike and Thayer agreed the building is dangerous.

The board told Chammings to move forward with the dangerous building order.

“We want the burnt part cleaned up,” Thayer said.

In other business, selectmen appointed Charles Landers as assistant animal control officer.