Unsafe property hearings continued to Jan. 25

Public hearings on two privately owned buildings, which the town has declared to be unsafe at 69 Park St. and 15 Furnace St., have been continued to Jan. 25.

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Unsafe property hearings continued to Jan. 25 By Allan Stein allans@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — Public hearings on two privately owned buildings, which the town has declared to be unsafe at 69 Park St. and 15 Furnace St., have been continued to Jan. 25. On Monday, selectboard members met briefly with the owners of both properties before deciding to continue the hearings. Ray Thibeault of Sixty-Five Park Street LLC in Springfield, contractor for the property at 69 Park St., and Kenneth J. Reynolds of Springfield, owner of the building at 15 Furnace St., will present arguments as to why the town enforcement orders should not commence. Both buildings were damaged by fire and have been declared structurally unsound and a public health hazard. At Monday's hearing with the selectboard, Reynolds requested a three-month extension of the July 20 enforcement order, which the board denied, according to Donna Hall, executive secretary to the town manager. The town has given Thibeault 60 days from the date of the signed order to demolish a side addition and porch, and to repair the remaining foundation. Reynolds will be allowed to repair both the visible sag in the back side of the building at 15 Furnace St. and the porch section. Town officials said both property owners have completed some of the required work, but not to the extent that the enforcement orders can be rescinded.