Camden votes to demolish old Apollo tannery

CAMDEN – Residents agreed to spend up to $20,000 to develop a plan to demolish buildings at the former Apollo tannery site on Washington Street at a special town meeting Monday night.

In another matter, the Select Board agreed by a 3-2 vote to accept MBNA’s donation of skate park equipment.

The special town meeting sought approval to move surplus funds to a contingency account to cover the cost of preparing a detailed plan for demolishing the 19th century, three-story, wood-frame tannery building, as well as several other structures on the 3.5 acre site along the banks of the Megunticook River.

The plan will put a firm dollar figure on the cost of demolishing and removing the buildings, which can then be put before voters at the annual town meeting in June. Some of the details include planning for removal of asbestos and hazardous chemicals still in the facility.

The plan would provide specifications the town could give to a contractor taking on the demolition work. Board members have said they are considering asking residents to bond the funds for the demolition work.

The board is negotiating privately with a potential buyer for the property but has released no details. Board Chairman John French said the demolition is necessary because the building is in danger of collapsing.

“We have a safety issue we have to address,” he said. “We want to get those buildings down.”

Residents voted 27-0 to approve the funding.

Later in the meeting, the board voted to award the work to Summit Engineering of Auburn. Summit estimated it will cost $10,400 to complete the plan.

Despite support for the board’s request for the planning funds, residents expressed strong feelings about the final dispensation of the property.

Former board member Leonard Lookner urged the formation of a town committee to consider options for the property.

Carla Ferguson, who said she brought the dangerous state of the buildings to the town’s attention several years ago, also argued for allowing residents to play a part in the planning.

“I want the town to have a say in what happens there,” she said. Ferguson also complained about the board’s “private meetings” with the potential buyer.

Ferguson, Anita Brosius-Scott and others referred to creating a park or green space at the tannery site, but board member Chip Laite said that is not likely to happen.

“It’s not the intent of this board to turn that into a park,” he said. “Get the word ‘park’ right out of there.”

Laite said the property was one of the last sites in town zoned for industrial development. While industry is not being contemplated for the area, he said a commercial use, such as a medical arts facility, would be a welcome use for the property.

“We need jobs here,” he said.

Despite the reservations of two members, the board voted to accept the donation of skate park equipment – ramps and jumps – from credit card lender MBNA.

MBNA announced in December it was closing the park, which it built in 2000. The town leased the park for $1 per year, and the company absorbed all costs of operating it, including hiring staff to monitor its use and providing insurance.

Several parents spoke in favor of accepting the equipment, even if the town does not yet have a place to set it up for use.

Shirley Hall said 750 children had registered to use the park in the last year, which helps keep skateboarders off the streets and waterfront area.

Chris Gardner said her 7-year-old son used the park regularly.

“If you don’t want the kids skateboarding downtown, don’t take away the skate park,” she said. “It’s just stupid to do that.”

Gardner suggested the town charge for a season’s pass to defray the cost of operating the park.

MBNA has offered to pay the cost of moving the equipment to a location chosen by the town.

A meeting has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at the Camden Snow Bowl for residents to discuss with the town’s recreation department where the equipment can be set up.