Selectmen voted to give Ira Gray and Steve Hinckley until Dec. 31, 2002, to have one building completely finished and to have substantial site work done for a second building. The board will review the developers’ progress in January 2003.

As with all quitclaim deeds issued by the town for lots in the park, there are specifics involved in its use, and with the exception of the deed given to Gray and Hinckley, that use was specified in writing, according to Town Manager John Simko.

Those specifics, which were given verbally to the pair, stated that the lots were not for residential use and that construction must be done on two buildings on the three lots they purchased within 12 months, Simko said Tuesday.

Because the pair had not constructed a building within one year of the purchase, selectmen earlier this month voted to take action to have the lots returned to the town.

In subsequent discussions with Gray, however, the board decided to revisit the issue and on Saturday they granted the extension.

Gray told selectmen that he had researched the conveyance of the park land from Greenville Steam Co. to the town. He said a clause in the deed stipulates that if the town fails to fully develop the industrial park, or if it fails to sell all of the lots within eight years, the entire parcel will revert back to the steam company. Since it has been more than eight years, and lots remain for sale in the park, Gray questioned if the town had any legal right to continue to sell the lots.

From his research, Simko said Tuesday that clause was subsequently removed and is no longer applicable. He said he has a signed agreement in his files related to the industrial park’s creation which eliminates that deed covenant, he said. In any case, Simko said he has asked attorney James Austin of Dexter to review the deed and documents and to secure any recordings at the registry of deeds for confirmation.

Simko said the board took their earlier action against Gray and Hinckley to avoid setting a precedent.

“The town of Greenville is not trying to single out these lot purchasers, nor is the town trying to discourage business development within the industrial park,” Simko said. He said town officials see great value in the proposed small cedar sawmill operation planned by Gray and Hinckley.

Selectmen are trying to meet the terms of the original agreement for sale of these lots, while at the same time trying to reach the ultimate goal of any lot sale in the park, that of business growth, Simko explained.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Wednesday, October 09, 2002 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."