Select Board authorizes legal action to force boarding of blighted Maple Street house

MAYNARD — September 2, 2025 — Maynard Select Board votes to pursue housing court injunction to secure a blighted Main Street property accumulating $1,000-per-day fines. The board acted unanimously Tuesday after a public hearing on 29 Maple Street, a property with documented violations dating to 2010 where Building Commissioner Rick Asmin declared the structure unfit for occupancy on August 6 and began fines that have reached $24,000. Town counsel Steve Chaplan advised the board that filing in housing court would allow the town to enter and board the structure — estimated at $4,000 to $5,000 — and lien the estate of owner Susan Dunn to recover costs. The board set a noon deadline of September 10 for executor Michael Dunn to remove debris, trash, and vegetation. In separate action, the board unanimously approved the town's last remaining Section 15 beer-and-wine package store license to Manu Patel's RFS Store 140, doing business as Richdale Food Shops at 5 Main Street, pending ABCC approval and a Planning Board special permit.