Milford selectmen concerned about safety of dilapidated building

Thursday, December 1, 2011

MILFORD – Town officials told the owner of the building at 1 Nashua St. last week that they want to see more progress on renovations.

Richard LaBonte bought the dilapidated 19th-century building at the corner of Nashua and South streets, the former Boston Shoe Store, about 18 months ago.

Selectmen asked him to come to their meeting to talk with them and William McKinney, the town’s commercial building inspector and code enforcement officer, about a plan of action.

The building’s roof, siding, windows and doors need to be complete so that rain, snow and wind don’t damage the interior, McKinney said.

LaBonte told selectmen that official notices from the town about noncompliance are intimidating.

“I know everyone is concerned about (the building’s) appearance,” he said, but there have been more pressing tasks. “We took 110 tons of debris out of the building.”

He said the town might want to give him incentives, perhaps some relief on his $7,000 tax bill.

McKinney said he realizes LaBonte has a challenging job to do, “rebuilding the building from inside out,” but it is the responsibility of the building permit holder to schedule inspections, which he said LaBonte hasn’t done.

When Selectman Gary Daniels questioned other officials’ insistence on compliance and said the building owner, not the town, would suffer if the roof leaks, McKinney said a building code enforcement officer has a responsibility to consider a building’s future.

“We have to protect owners down the road and property values” he said.

And town officials said more than the building’s appearance is at stake.

“The bottom line is safety,” said Selectman Kathy Bauer. “The building is open. Kids, some weirdo, could go in, set a fire. It isn’t just aesthetics. This is a process everyone goes through. We can be flexible. We want to see you succeed,” she told LaBonte.

The discussion went on for nearly an hour until selectmen’s Chairman Nate Carmen wrapped it up, saying the town is looking for a plan of action. “We’d love to see you come back and say ‘This is done. Here’s the time line.’”

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 21, or kcleveland@nashuatelegraph.com.