OLD ORCHARD BEACH —The town is making an effort to address its “problem properties,” an effort Town Manager Larry Mead said will improve both the quality of life for residents and the town’s image.

At a workshop Wednesday night at town hall, Mead discussed “problem properties,” as well as supporting a positive image and reputation for the town and promoting “proud and safe” neighborhoods.

“We’re going to talk about problem properties, but what we’re really talking about is quality of life in Old Orchard Beach,” said Mead.

Council Chairman Shawn O’Neill applauded staff for their efforts. “It’s a good step forward,” he said.

Problem properties include some of the winter rentals, which attract transients who live in town in the off-season, said Mead. Many of the landlords who rent out temporary winter housing don’t require background checks, and many offer rentals by the week. Some have “absentee landlords” who don’t live in town in the winter.

Many of these winter transients put a high demand on services, said Mead, noting the “hot spots” ”“ winter rentals with numerous police calls, including drug activity and vandalism, as well as high numbers of emergency medical calls.

Overcrowding in such units leads to stressful situations, which can further lead to domestic abuse situations, said Mead, and children in some of these winter rentals are in and out of schools as their families move.

Some of the winter rentals are not equipped for winter habitation, said Mead, and if the town evicts someone, it is responsible for assisting them.

Mead showed pictures of issues at problem properties, including an exit door nailed shut at one location, a small single-room unit with a portable grill next to a bed, and extension cords running outside between units.

Blighted properties have a negative effect on surrounding neighborhoods, said Mead.

Some of the problem properties which have summer rentals have received negative reviews online, and Mead said this impacts the impression tourists have of Old Orchard Beach.

“We all know word online spreads like wildfire, whether it’s right or wrong,” said Mead.

Mead noted that nearby communities, such as Biddeford, Sanford and Portland, have established disorderly housing ordinances, which have been effective.

Among tools Old Orchard Beach has to address problem properties are the town’s administrative review board and the requirement to have a business license to rent a unit, said Mead.

Mead noted recent action prohibiting one hotel owner from renting units, which were not appropriate for winter living and had multiple code violations, in the winter; as well as action against the hotel owner renting other units to foreign summer workers on student work visas, as there was a history of overcrowding.

Mead said he wants to formalize the efforts the town has made recently and keep the initiative going by creating a “quality of life task force.” Mead said the proposed task force will work with property owners to address issues and will seek out grants for items such as trees and lighting to improve neighborhoods.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].