WILTON — A former selectman on Tuesday urged the Board of Selectpersons to enforce town ordinances and state laws to improve the appearance of properties across the community.
Mike Wells, who served as a selectman from 2022 into 2025, presented slides of buildings, dumpsters, junkyards, campers and other conditions he said harm Wilton's appearance.
"It detracts from the image of Wilton," he said, adding that the community's appearance affects its economic attractiveness.
Wells, a career Air Force officer, returned to Wilton after retiring from the military and now buys, restores and sells properties.
"Could we enforce the ordinances that are on the books?" he asked the board as he began his presentation.
One slide showed a decrepit building near downtown that he bought and razed. He said he cleared the lot, built a stone retaining wall and sold the property to a woman who plans to build a tiny house there.
He also showed a slide of the former Wilton Primary School, which Maine School Administrative District 9 — now Regional School Unit 9, the Mt. Blue Regional School District — vacated about 20 years ago.
After the town accepted the building at 24 School St. from MSAD 9, it listed the property for $249,000, later reducing the price to $149,000. The building had been assessed at $71,000 for tax purposes.
After three attempts to sell the schoolhouse, the town sold it in 2012 to Wells for $50. He had wanted to start a biodiesel operation, but later said the business climate was not conducive.
He then converted the building into three apartments as an example of how the town's appearance standards can be met. He also showed a slide of a house he restored to livable condition and two vacant lots where he razed abandoned houses and built new ones.
Wells also said overloaded dumpsters, unregulated auto junkyards and year‑round campers are problems. He showed slides with examples of each.
Dr. Michael Parker, a member of the Planning Board, told Wells, "If an overflowing dumpster is reported to us, Gary Judkins (code enforcement officer) or I will check it out and pursue action."
Some dumpsters are sited for one‑time use, Parker said, and some may be the responsibility of the town's trash hauler.
On July 1, Wilton changed trash haulers to Gregory's Disposal Inc. of Fairfield after several years of complaints about service by Archie's Inc. of Mexico.
Wells read the definition in state law of an "automobile graveyard" — "a yard, field or other outdoor area used to store three or more unregistered or uninspected motor vehicles" — and showed slides that appeared to show three or more immobile vehicles in yards and fields.
State law requires owners of automobile graveyards and junkyards to have a permit.
Wilton's zoning ordinance requires auto recycling businesses to meet the state requirements, and Wells asked why the town has not cracked down on junkyards.
Wells showed slides of recreational vehicles that he said are used as full‑time residences.
The zoning ordinance says, "A camper, camper trailer or RV that is used for residential purposes may remain in place for more than 30 days with a permit from the code enforcement officer, provided that it is not inhabited for more than 180 days in any one calendar year," and the occupant must have written permission to tie into the town's wastewater system.
At least one of the campers Wells highlighted appears to be parked at an angle within a few feet of a gravel road.
The board took no action on Wells's presentation, but did discuss some of his concerns.
"This needs a lot of attention," Selectman Nathan Hiltz said. "Maybe annual town meeting is the place to really get into this."
Hiltz then asked Wells: "How do you see the board fitting into this? The Board of Selectpersons can't physically do it. What does enforcement mean?"
Wells replied, "It means holding people accountable for enforcing the ordinances they're supposed to enforce."
In a brief exchange, Hiltz asked Wells where the public support is for cracking down on the eyesores.
"The town voted to approve the ordinances," Wells replied. "That's your support."
In other matters, the board agreed to accept from Mountainside Power Sports a kiosk to be placed at the Recreation Department Park and Ride. The vote was 4-0, with Hiltz abstaining. He said he was concerned about who would maintain the kiosk.
Board Chair David Leavitt said the Woodland Wanderers Snowmobile Club and Wilton ATV and Trails would maintain it.
"I'd feel more comfortable if we had representatives of both organizations here (to accept responsibility for maintenance)," Hiltz said.
"We're just accepting the kiosk," Selectwoman Tiffany Maiuri said. "All other decisions are to follow."
The board unanimously approved renewing the liquor license of Meadow Lanes, a bowling alley at U.S. Route 2 and the McCrillis Corner Road. Hiltz said his research showed this is the 40th year Meadow Lanes has had a liquor license.
Speaking as a resident and not as a selectman, Hiltz suggested the town rearrange the furniture in the meeting room, which is in the basement of the town office at 158 Weld Road. Since the board members and the town manager and town clerk sit facing one another, he said, the public at meetings or watching on community access television cannot see the faces of the participants.
"It is disrespectful to the general public to organize the chairs such that many faces are hidden from the audience and from the camera," Hiltz read from a prepared statement.
Town Manager Maria Greeley reported that the agendas posted on the town website now include the full packet of documents pertinent to the meeting, except for confidential documents, which the board would be discussing in executive session.
Some Maine towns post for the public only the agenda while sending a full packet of background and documents to board members. Others post the full packet.
Under the Maine Freedom of Access Act, if a meeting is scheduled to include remote participation, all documents and other materials to be considered by the board must be available to the public attending remotely to the same extent that material is available to members of the public who attend in person.
Resident Maxine Brown suggested the Police Department return to regularly publishing or posting a report, similar to that posted by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. She said the department administrative assistant might be able to pull together a report each month.