NORWAY — Selectmen appointed an Oxford man as the town’s new assessor Thursday night.
Daniel “Phin” Walker was named to succeed longtime assessor Jodi Keniston, who is retiring.
“He’s a good fit for the job,” Selectmen Michael Twitchell said.
Walker is a certified appraiser with 28 years of experience, but this will be his first job as an assessor. He will not appraise property in Norway because of the potential conflict of interest.
Town Manager David Holt said Keniston will work with Walker for eight weeks before she leaves the job. He said she has done a great job as assessor.
In other business, the board heard from police detective Gary Hill who recommended that a public hearing be held to address problems at an apartment house at 438 Main St. owned by Jon Belanger of Norway.
According to police reports, there have been numerous problems with tenants and others at the building and the owner has failed to find a way to resolve them.
“He’s kind of frustrated,” Hill said.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Warren Sessions said public hearings for so-called disorderly houses have been held with other building owners with positive results.
If the board concludes at the March 5 hearing that the situation fits the legal definition of a disorderly house, it may enter into an agreement with the owner to control the conduct of the tenants. If that fails, the board may refer the case to the town’s attorney for legal action.
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