Board prohibits occupancy of Marcisso's King St. units

NORWAY —  The board of selectmen at its September 20 meeting signed an order by Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman that prohibits occupancy of a four-unit apartment owned by Vincent Marcisso.

Marcisso has failed to bring the building, located at 9 King Street,  into compliance with the town's Rental Occupancy Ordinance, despite being given an additional 30 days in August to make necessary fixes.

The Rental Occupancy Ordinance was amended by voters in June to provide stricter standards for housing inspections. It also allows the CEO to issue, enforce or revoke occupancy permits. 

Corey-Whitman said the unit has been a subject of complaints and non-compliance since an annual inspection in February, when she found multiple violations as well as several safety concerns. 

She told the board she discovered 14 or 15 cats in one unit, a basement bulkhead that was not adequately covered, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors that have not been updated, stairs without safety rails and ceilings in two units that have not been repaired. 

"Just a bunch of safety issues where if somebody had done a little bit of TLC and maintenance it would have gone a long way," said Corey-Whitman. 

Therefore, the occupancy permit was not issued, she said.  

Corey-Whitman said a separate agency representing a tenant has repeatedly asked for rails to be installed on the second-floor unit, which also has not been addressed. 

Based on those findings, the Norway Planning Board has concluded that Marcisso's units are a danger or nuisance. 

At the September 20 meeting, Corey-Whitman requested the board sign the document that will be filed with the Oxford County Registry of Deeds. 

According to Corey-Whitman, the action lets future property owners know there is an outstanding order against the occupancy in the building. 

Corey-Whitman said there will be no lengthy eviction process, since the downstairs tenant has moved out voluntarily and that the two remaining tenants also plan to move out on their own. 

It also means the building does not have to be condemned, she told selectmen. 

"It cannot be rented," she explained. "Those units have to stay empty until he [Marcisso] complies or the building is sold and the new owner wants to come up-to-date." 

During the meeting, selectmen praised Corey-Whitman for her hard work and the success of the ordinance. 

"The work you put into the building makes it safer, not only for husband and wife, but all the children too," said Selectman Bill Damon. "To me, it's very important to have it safe for children. Adults should know better." 

 According to Corey-Whitman, the ordinance is unique to Norway in that other towns don't have one. 

"They don't have this [ordinance] kicking around in other towns," she said. 

"I think it's a great tool," she said of the ordinance. "It certainly does work."