MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council voted Monday night to take legal steps to clean up the burned-out former Marcal mill on Lewiston and a fire-damaged house on Jordan Road.
The two motions were submitted by Code Enforcement Officer Alan Plummer.
The large brick paper mill complex next to the Little Androscoggin River was destroyed Oct. 14, 2018. It housed several businesses and was not insured, owner Charles Starbird of Minot said at the time.
Firefighters spray hot spots on the massive former Marcal paper mill fire in Mechanic Falls in October 2018. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal fire photo
Almighty Waste of Auburn took ownership of the property shortly after the fire.
Plummer said he has “been in conversation with the mill owner’s representative for several months now.” He said he hopes the community has noticed the cleanup that has progressed since the summer.
Kristen Collins, the town’s new legal counsel from the firm of Preti Flaherty of Portland, recommended a consent agreement be drafted between the town and Almighty Waste. It would carry specific deadlines for demolishing part of the main building and a total cleanup of debris surrounding the buildings.
Plummer said the plan calls for all cleanup to be done by the end of this year.
Councilor Rose Aikman abstained from voting, citing family relations to Almighty Waste’s owner, Scott Ferland.
The house at 54 Jordan Road was extensively damaged in October 2021 and resulted in the death of resident Terry Bisbee, 74. The Maine Office of State Fire Marshal determined cause was a smoker being used in the garage attached to the house.
A consent agreement between the town and owners Bradley Bisbee and heirs of Leland R. Bisbee will also be drawn up “to ensure the health and safety of all parties, clean-up and safeguarding of the fire-damaged building.”
Plummer said the house is not habitable.
Both motions mention legal action could occur if necessary.
In other business, Town Manager Vic Hodgkins said two seats are open on the Budget Committee and he hopes residents will step forward to serve by the time of the first budget discussion on Feb. 16.
He said Carl Beckett has applied to be the the at-large representative to the Regional School Unit 16 Budget Committee.
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