ROYALSTON – The process of cleaning up the site at 79 Athol Road has encountered a new challenge, as two people are now living on the property.

Officials want to evict these individuals, who are living in a tent. However, until the town takes ownership of the property, officials may be powerless to remove the pair. The owners of the property, listed on records as the Newman Trust, owe about $50,000 in back taxes and the town is currently in the tax-taking process.

According to Building Inspector Geoff Newton, the process of tax-taking has been in the works for nearly three years, long considered the average for such cases to work their way through the courts. However, Newton said he was recently told by K.P. Law, Royalston’s law firm, that tax cases can now take up to seven years to resolve.

On April 30, the mobile home located at 79 Athol Road was destroyed by fire. What’s left of the structure still sits on the property, surrounded by old furniture, an unused vehicle, a gas grill and refuse from the fire. Since then, the town has wanted to clean up the property, but that project remains on hold for the time being.

For now, Newton, Board of Health Chair Phil Leger, and Public Works Director Jaret Thiem are trying to determine how to get the property cleaned up in the interest of public health and safety. Newton and Leger presented a proposal to the town’s Selectboard at its Nov. 7 meeting—the Board of Health will supply as many as three 40-yard dumpsters, two for trash and one for metal.

The cost of disposing of the trash would be paid for with $1,600 from the Code Enforcement budget, and the metal will be taken to a scrap metal facility. The board has authorized DPW employees to assist with the cleanup and is considering any additional funds needed for the project. Newton hopes to get the remains of the trailer removed and the lot cleaned up before the first significant snowfall.

Newton was told by the town’s attorney that those living on the property can only be evicted by the owners. It turns out the pair are related to the owners, but have no stake in the land’s ownership.

Newton said he and Leger are going to go through public health statutes to see if they can find one – or several – that will give the town the power it needs for an eviction. He pointed out that under the town’s public health regulations that temporary structures – in this case a tent – are only allowed on a property for six months. In addition, the tent has no heat or electricity, and the occupants are using buckets to dispose of waste.

In the meantime, Newton, Leger, and Thiem will wait for the go-ahead to commence with the cleanup and additional legal guidance regarding the property’s current occupants.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.