LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen voted 3-0 Wednesday to declare a burned-out apartment building at 90 Main St. dangerous and ordered it to be demolished within 30 days of the owner being notified of the action.

If the owner, Thomas Harville of Skowhegan, doesn’t follow the order within the time frame, then the town has 30 days to raze it.

Two local juveniles, ages 15 and 16 were arrested on charges of arson and breaking and entering at the vacant apartment building. About 80 firefighters from five towns responded to quell the March 7 fire. Four rooms and the roof of the building were extensively damaged as demonstrated in three photos displayed on the selectmen’s table Wednesday.

Harville had no insurance on the building that he bought from the town on Oct. 6, 2003.

Harville, who was not at the public hearing Wednesday, said previously he had secured the building as best as he could with the funds he had available. He has been paid no restitution in the case.

Prior to the board’s vote, Chairwoman Louise Pratt read a letter from Code Enforcement Office Ken Pratt.

He wrote that he had received complaints concerning the building.

“I have inspected the building and found that extensive damage has been caused to the structure due to a fire that gutted the building. It is my opinion that remaining building is a danger to anyone that may enter the structure,” Pratt wrote. “I have also found that the smell and appearance of the structure due to smoke damage, are at least a nuisance and may in fact be a breathing hazard to anyone living in the area.”

In his opinion, Pratt wrote the premises constitutes a nuisance and is dangerous under the state dangerous building statute.

“I say tear it down,” said resident Jim Purington. “It’s an eyesore. It’s unsafe. It’s disgusting.”

Dr. Michele Knapp of Jay, who owns the building across from it and operates a family practice, said she agreed with Pratt.

“We know children got in there to set the fire. Children can get in there again,” Knapp said.

She said she was also concerned about the air for children and others in the area who may have asthma or other medical issues.

Marjorie Grover of Livermore Falls agreed with Knapp.

“It’s a disgrace to the town of Livermore Falls,” Grover said. “Nobody will ever get any restitution for it. I don’t know who the two children are who did it but they ought to be up there helping the town clean it up.”

If the town ends up having to demolish and clean the property up, selectmen could put a lien on it to try and recoup that cost, Selectman Bill Demaray said.

Interim Town Manager Kristal Flagg said a tax lien on the property for nonpayment of taxes for 2006 will foreclose in February. She said Harville owes property taxes for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The town would probably have to use money from the contingency fund to pay for demolition and cleanup, Chabot said.

“It’s always a two-edged sword,” she said.

The town could sell the land after the building is gone, Demaray said.