RUMFORD — Twenty-six residents, including all five selectmen and Town Manager John Madigan, attended Thursday night’s special town meeting to settle three land issues.

All seven articles were approved as written, with one exception; Article 5 was amended and approved.

There was no discussion on Article 1, which sought to authorize selectmen to issue and execute a release deed to Mark S. Davis for a parcel of land, 60 by 100 feet, along Oak Street and the abutting property in Rumford, owned by Davis at 619 Maple St.

Articles 2, 3 and 4 involved a 0.09-acre parcel and building at 127 Washington St.

Article 2 sought authorization for selectmen to accept the donation of the property from the U.S. Bank National Association.

Resident Candice Casey motioned to accept the article as written, then amended it to include a provision that the building would be demolished 160 days from the deed transfer.

Casey said she was very concerned that the town is becoming stuck with too many blighted buildings. She said the bank determined that the building could not be rehabilitated and that it also wanted to donate $19,000 to Rumford from Wells Fargo Premiere Asset Services to demolish it.

Town Manager John Madigan said that wasn’t true. Reading a letter about the donations, Madigan said the $19,000 donation was to rehabilitate the house rather than demolish it. But town moderator Rob Cameron said the money issue was Article 3, not Article 2.

During discussion, Town Attorney Jennifer Kreckel said 127 Washington St. has a problem with its title. She said the bank that foreclosed on it wasn’t assigned properly in the mortgage process, so the original owner of the property still owns it.

Fire Chief Bob Chase said he would not support Casey’s amendment because he would place the building near the bottom of buildings to be demolished.

Resident Phil Blampied asked if the town would be liable if it demolishes the building because there isn’t a clear title. Kreckel advised against using the $19,000 to demolish it for that reason. Casey’s amendment was defeated and the article was approved as read by Cameron.

Article 3 authorized selectmen to accept the $19,000 and put the money in the town’s demolition account. Casey tried to get residents to defeat that, but they didn’t.

Article 4 authorized selectmen to dispose of the property by either selling it, donating it or developing it. It was approved.

Articles 5, 6 and 7 involved a 0.18-acre parcel and building at 239 Penobscot St. and a donation from Wells Fargo of $27,500 to use toward demolishing the building.

Article 5 authorized selectmen to accept the donation of land and building from Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.

Kreckel said that property also didn’t have a clear title to it. She said its deed was never recorded for foreclosure, so its former owner still owns it. She amended the article to include getting a quitclaim deed from the current owner. The amended article was approved.

Article 6 sought to authorize selectmen to accept the $27,500 and place it into the town demolition account. Madigan said the donation wasn’t enough to use to cover demolition costs for 239 Penobscot St., due to asbestos that needs to be removed first.

Casey amended the article to read that the $27,500 be used to demolish the building and anything left over would be added to the town demolition account. The amendment was defeated.

Article 7 authorized selectmen to sell, develop, donate or dispose of the property. It was approved.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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