POLAND — Selectmen took steps Tuesday to resolve problems with two malfunctioning septic systems on private land.
Code Enforcement Officer Nick Adams told selectmen that he examined the system at 13 Storm Cove Lane in the company of a local contractor who estimated it could cost as much as $7,000 to repair.
“A new tank is needed and the 500-foot line is broken somewhere under the road right of way (and) needs to be replaced,” Adams said.
The owner, Adams said, can’t afford to fix it and the project doesn’t qualify for a grant through the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Adams said the problem posed by the failed system must addressed immediately.
“At times, you have raw sewage dumping over the bank, flowing toward Lake Thompson,” Adams said.
The house, which is occupied year round, is about 300 feet from the lake.
The town has two options, Adams said. It can step in and fix the project, placing a special tax on the property for the cost or it can order the property vacated until the owner fixes the problem.
Selectman Stan Tetenman said he wasn’t happy with either alternative.
“I don’t like the idea of throwing somebody out of their house and I don’t want to spend town money when you don’t know when we might get it back,” Tetenman said.
Executive Assistant Nikki Pratt pointed out that the property owner might meet the criteria for assistance through the town’s Hackett Fund, which might be able to pay for a portion of what is needed.
Following considerable discussion and hand-wringing, the board voted to authorize Adams to proceed with hiring a contractor to address the problem and to have the property owner meet with Pratt to determine whether tapping the Hackett Fund was a possibility.
The property at 182 Maine St., Adams was happy to report, was able to qualify for a grant that allows the town to secure a grant through the Maine DEP for 90 percent of the project cost and the property owner had signed for the other 10 percent.
Selectmen gave Adams the go-ahead with plans to visit the site Wednesday with potential bidders, and, setting Monday, June 9, as the bid opening date, authorized Town Manager Bradley Plante to sign a contract with the lowest bidder, thus allowing work to commence as soon as possible.
In other business, selectmen accepted Fire/Rescue Chief Mark Bosse’s request for proposals for bids on two advanced life support monitor/defibrillators, authorizing the RFPs to be sent out to potential bidders.
Selectmen also voted to adopt changes to the portion of the town’s financial policy dealing with whom has authority to approve bids.
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