LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen moved ahead with a fire station renovation project Tuesday, approving a low bid of $585,585 from H.E. Callahan Construction Co. of Auburn for the work.

Voting in favor were Heather Bronish, Tom Barker, Rodney Heikkinen and Nixon Ortiz. George Cummings abstained.

The work will include a new internally drained roof and insulation, and weatherproofing. New unit heaters and fin tube radiators and a new boiler also will be installed.

There were five bids on the project, Fire Chief Edward Hastings IV said. He said that he and architect George Parker recommended H.E. Callahan, the lowest bidder.

The town has stipulated that the work must be completed in no more than 180 calendar days from when it begins. A penalty of $100 per day will be levied for every day beyond the 180 that the job is not finished.

Selectmen discussed the problem with foreclosed properties in town. The two highest bidders for a lot at 17 Wheeler St. had decided to decline, leaving the town with only one bidder for it.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg asked whether the board would be interested in sending a letter to abutters about it.

“I happen to be one of the abutters, and just this week, two other properties on Wheeler Street have been foreclosed upon,” resident Kenny Jacques said. “We can’t just keep tearing buildings down and throwing good money away.”

He suggested buying some of the lots and rebuilding the homes.

“When these properties get sold for $1,000, not everybody has good intentions with them,” Jacques said. “I also happen to be a Realtor here. We’re trying to attract people to town.”

The board voted to send a letter to abutters asking them if they are interested in buying the 17 Wheeler St. lot.

In other business, Dana Cummings asked selectmen for tax relief. He said he’s owned three properties in town for more than a year and has yet to receive a tax bill on any of them, but he received a tax lien on his property at 20 Baldwin St.

Cummings said he’d tried to find the tax bill online but couldn’t.

“I got the lien with the old property owners’ name scratched out, and mine put in place of it,” he said. “I don’t think I should be getting charged interest.”

“I don’t mind paying my taxes,” he said, “but I can’t pay them if I don’t know what they are or I can’t look it up.”

Flagg said she would ask Tax Collector Dawn Young to write a letter to the selectmen explaining Cummings’ situation.

bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net

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