27 Kilby St. Photo: Terrence McCarthy
By Sydney Fye, UNE Fellow
At its Oct. 20 regular meeting, the Sanford City Council held a hearing to determine whether 27 Kilby St. is a dangerous building or a nuisance and to determine what, if any, remedy is appropriate. Assistant City Manager Michelle LaBree, along with Gregory McCahey, code enforcement officer, presented multiple code violations including building safety issues, unregistered vehicles parked for extensive periods of time, and waste buildup outside.
LaBree also provided the dispatch call log for the property, which includes numerous concerns from abutters about transient activity at the property.
The owner of the building, Xavier Rouse, spoke in response to the violations. He acknowledged his understanding of the concerns and shared that he was doing his best to help people who suffer from addiction. Despite not being a licensed sober house, Rouse explained that he has multiple people coming in and out frequently, and he’s doing his best to help them.
Rouse said, “I’ve got a lot of patients I’m dealing with, people in their thirties and forties, who act like teenagers. They’re guessing I’m their parent. They do wrong and I yell at them and they throw a temper tantrum basically.” He expressed fear saying, “I’m nervous. Sometimes I think I’m going to get assaulted in my own house.”
Neighbors have reported sanitation issues; multiple people coming and going with up to 10-20 people at times; late-night fighting; intoxication and drug paraphernalia; and people lying and “tweaking” in the street. They expressed fear for kids’ safety and impacts on sleep and quality of life.
Several neighbors took the opportunity to address the council. They shared concerns about what’s going on at the house and in the surrounding neighborhood.
Keisha Anderson, who lives on Kilby Street, said, “I have a senior in high school. This has been going on for a couple of years now, at least, to the point where she won’t even actually walk anywhere in public or even on our road 90 percent of the time because of what’s going on.”
Jodi Bissonnette, who lives next door, has three very young grandchildren. She described drug paraphernalia and razor blades in her yard. “With little kids around and rats and things like that, you really have to be careful,” she said.
Neighbors spoke of being negatively affected even with precautionary systems such as fencing and cameras.
In her comments, Penny Roy pointed out that there is a licensed daycare in the neighborhood. “So, there’s a lot of kids really, really close to that house,” she said.
Many shared that there have been frequent disturbances in the night. This included fighting, dancing, screaming, lying in the street, attempts to enter vehicles, and other motion that could trigger security cameras.
The council unanimously declared the property a dangerous building and a nuisance based on the factual findings. “We want a safe area, we want a sanitary area. I think all six of us up here were disturbed to hear what’s happening in that neighborhood. I’ve driven by, I know exactly what you’re talking about,” said Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy.
The city of Sanford’s Code Enforcement Department will initiate formal oversight and a structured remediation plan that includes immediate corrections, inspections and a timeline for repairs.
Prior to the public hearing, during the regular public comment time, 11-year-old Gracie Jackson spoke of her growing concerns about the treatment of unhoused people. Though she’s from Limington, Gracie volunteers with her mother for It Takes a Village 207 in Sanford to help connect the unhoused people to resources.
“Today I want to talk about things that have been happening to my family, and yes, I call them my family because when I spend time with someone, learn their name, and listen to their story, they become more than someone we help,” she said.
She shared that members of her family have been frequently harassed. She gave examples of them being insulted or having cups of ice and a variety of drinks thrown at them. Gracie asked that the people of Sanford do their best to respect the unhoused residents or even help them in any way they can.
State Representative for Sanford District 142 Anne-Marie Mastraccio also addressed the council regarding letters sent by Councilor Pete Tranchemontagne to more than 40 recipients concerning the International Woolen Mill. While acknowledging the deteriorating building is a serious problem requiring action, she criticized Tranchemontagne for sending the letters without council authorization and publicizing them as part of his campaign.
“Both the solution and how you get to the solution, however, matter,” she said, arguing that using an issue requiring long-term advocacy as a “campaign soundbite” does a disservice to the council and Sanford residents.
Mastraccio expressed concern that the letters could undermine ongoing efforts to secure redevelopment financing or state and federal funding for demolition, potentially leaving taxpayers responsible for substantial costs. Pointing to Sanford’s history of successfully addressing former industrial sites, she emphasized the importance of working with developers and government agencies. “The work to accomplish this does not lend itself to social media posts,” she said, adding that meetings with the DEP, EPA and developers are what will ultimately lead to a solution.
By council policy, there was no response to the public comments from council members or from Tranchemontagne himself.
The city council’s next meeting will be held on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. The Oct. 20 full meeting is available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXz7QS1UPbQ
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