Work to secure the former Amerbelle Textiles complex has been finished, Mayor George Apel said this week.
A combination of crews from the Department of Public Works and a private contractor worked on the old factory, Apel said. The mayor estimated that DPW crews put in 400 man-hours over seven days.
The town was granted permission by a judge to enter the property and make it safe.
The Town Council had set aside funding for the work.
A major focus of the work revolved around moving all combustibles from the property and buildings, Apel has said. That eliminated the need for a working sprinkler system, which Amerbelle does not have.
In a report to the mayor and Town Administrator John Ward, Fire Marshal Ray walked said several conditions had to be met for that:
• Waste, trash and vegetation had to be removed.
• The perimeter needed to be secured.
• "Ignition sources" like life electrical wiring, operating mechanical processes, functioning heating systems, and combustible and flammable fuels needed to be removed.
One of the contractor's responsibilities was securing doors and windows.
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