DONALDSON - A new idea in the saga about an old factory building was presented to the Frailey Township supervisors at their Sept. 3 meeting.
Building owner Lewis Graver Jr. attended the meeting along with Marc Primeau, a self-employed contractor from Newtown. According to Graver, he would like to turn the building, located at the corner of Martin Street and Cedar Alley in Donaldson, over to Primeau, who would do "something" with it.
"I don't have the where-with-all anymore," Graver said. "It would save the township a lot of money, keep it on the tax rolls and I'd be glad to see that happen."
Primeau said he had only been approached by Graver within the past few days. He said he would need to know how much it would cost to repair the building and how much the liens are.
"I'd have to meet with Benesch," Primeau said, referring to the township's engineering firm, Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville.
Township solicitor Joseph Zerbe, who had previously disassociated himself from the situation citing a conflict of interest, informed Primeau that the property's condition has worsened over the years. He said the engineer's report had stated that the building was now a dangerous structure and there is also litigation and the court has given Graver things to do or pay a fine.
"Graver is subject to some fairly decent fines," Zerbe said.
Graver insisted, as he had in the past, that the building would not fall down.
"This man could keep it on the tax rolls, but if he can't do it, I'll turn it over to the supervisors," Graver said.
Zerbe asked Primeau how much time he would need to decide if he would accept Graver's offer. After some comments about the condition of the structure, what needed to be done immediately, what could be put off until next year and what he felt would need to be spent to make it usable for his personal storage, Primeau said, "Two weeks, at least. I'm just asking the supervisors to give me time to see if it's feasible."
Primeau added, "I don't want to get into this and find out I have 60 days to become compliant." However, he assured the board that he would have no problem doing repairs to code.
With the board's approval, Zerbe provided some information about the liens on the building which he said total about $9,000. It was also noted that the next tax sale is Sept. 23.
The supervisors agreed to give Primeau until the board's Oct. 1 meeting. However, an agreement would need to be signed by him that the outside of the building would be secured.
"If he does what he's saying, we'll save the taxpayers a lot of money," Chairman Donald Allar said. However, he said the township will not get money back it has already spent.
He also didn't know what action the courts could take.
"I don't know what the court will do about the fines," Allar said.
"You'll have input into that," Graver said.
Although Allar agreed Primeau taking ownership and fixing of the building would save the township $50,000, neither he nor the other two supervisors made any additional comments about the $100-per-day fine Graver was assessed by the court June 13.