JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Berlin Falls Park Committee Vice Chairman Jack Orris speaks during a public meeting last Thursday.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(March 28, 2019) Berlin Falls Park Committee members last Thursday asked town officials to explore rental options for the large, former industrial building near the entranceway to the site.

Committee members said they’d fielded several inquires about renting the space.

Roger Fitzgerald added the former owner, Town Councilman Troy Purnell, was getting about $3,000 a month in rental revenue shortly before he sold the property to the town in 2016.

“There’s parts of that, that are intact. He said he was renting it to somebody for storage,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s a revenue stream of money coming in. Everybody’s fighting about money for the park and, if money could come in and we’re not tearing it down … there’s a usable part of that building.”

Town Administrator Laura Allen said insurance is a concern with regard to anyone using the space, which committee members several months ago voted to condemn.

That has not been done, however, because demolition estimates were seen as cost prohibitive. The Town Council recently approved the demolition of seven smaller buildings and a digester on the property.

“We are super-deep pockets to some people, who would just love the opportunity to sue the pants off of us,” Allen said, adding, “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” referring to people wanting to rent the building.

“If you’re getting folks that are contacting you … then pass it onto us, because no one’s saying that to us,” she said.

Allen said Berlin Falls Park Coordinator David Deutsch would contact the town’s insurance carriers and find out if it is feasible to rent the space.

Also during the meeting, Fitzgerald moved to instruct Deutsch to explore costs to hang banners on the large building. Committee members said the banners could welcome people to the park, and also to potentially advertise upcoming town events.