BIDDEFORD — The public access center is closed to the general public until further notice, due to problems with the septic system.
Problems with flushing the toilets in the station’s two bathrooms began more than a week ago, said Code Enforcement Officer Roby Fecteau.
He said Public Access Director Steve Pulos was instructed earlier this week that the public wasn’t allowed to use the station until the issue is resolved.
Employees continue to work from the building and a portable toilet has been set up outside for their use.
The problem “hasn’t really had an impact,” said Pulos. “It’s not affecting our operations.”
The programs that have been canceled weren’t time sensitive, he said.
Fecteau said the issue results from a failure of the septic system that is shared by the center and a neighboring property owned by Richard Nadeau. The system has been leaching into a nearby bank, he said.
According to Fecteau, fixing the situation would require connecting both properties to the city sewer system that runs along Pool Street.
Pump stations for each property will be required, he said, and the cost for the 450-foot line connecting the properties to the sewer line will be shared.
Cable franchise fees will be used to pay for the public access center’s share of the repair, said City Manager John Bubier.
The cost hasn’t been determined yet, said Fecteau Thursday.
This is an “emergency” situation, said Fecteau, adding that he hopes it will be resolved within the next two weeks so the center can be reopened for public use.
Last year, Biddeford’s public access station moved from its former location at the J. Richard Martin Community Center to its present location adjacent to the West-Brook Skating Rink off Pool Street.
In 2006, the Knights of Columbus Council No. 260 sold the city the building, which now houses the public access center.
Renovating the building to include studios, editing bays, offices and other spaces needed for the center cost more than $450,000. Franchise fees paid to the city by Time Warner Cable were used to pay for the refurbishment.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or [email protected].
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