FARMINGTON — Town Manager Richard Davis informed selectmen Tuesday that officials are in the process of securing the property of a deceased West Farmington resident.

The property at 3 Bridge St. in West Farmington was owned by Joel Batzell Bridges, who died last week.

Selectman Matthew Smith expressed concern about the safety of the building and its openness to trespassers. It is a dangerous building, he said.

Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser is addressing the issue, Davis said. He has been in contact with family members and the town is seeking authority to secure the property.

In other business, board members Joshua Bell, Smith and Andrew Buckland unanimously awarded an asbestos abatement bid for the town property at 112 Church St. The lowest bid was from Statewide Asbestos Removal of Plymouth for $8,200, which was accepted by the board.

Other bids received were:

• New Meadows Abatement Inc., Bath, $49,400;

• Acadia Contractors LLC, Turner, $22,660;

• Atlantic Environmental Contractors Inc., Lewiston, $12,375;

• Safe Environmental Solutions, South Portland, $9,850; and

• Abatement Professionals Corp., Westbrook, $8,900.

The work will be funded from the Downtown TIF Reserve, which has a balance of $108,712.70, Davis said.

The abatement work is expected to begin in April.

Another round of bids for demolition of the building will begin after the abatement work is completed, he said. 

The town purchased the building last fall with plans to raze it and create a new downtown parking lot.

Board members also approved a contractor agreement for Maine Department of Transportation paving projects planned for this summer. The agreement issues an overload permit to the contractor working on Route 4 projects. It allows the contractor to transport construction equipment above legal weight limits on municipal roads.

The first project begins north of Adams Circle and continues north 7.79 miles, which is 4.39 miles north of the Farmington/Strong town line.

Maine DOT also plans to replace the surface on the Fairbanks Bridge, also on Route 4.

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