WILTON — Just hours before a special town meeting was scheduled Tuesday to discuss whether to waive foreclosure on the former Forster Mill property, the owner paid the back taxes.

Adam Mack came paid the $8,469 bill Tuesday afternoon, Selectman Tom Saviello told about 40 residents gathered for the meeting at the Town Office. Saviello had been sworn in as moderator and opened the meeting and called for adjournment.

Wilton Recycling LLC, Mack’s company, continues to own the property, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.

Mack paid taxes for 2009, 2010 and 2011, enough to avoid foreclosure, she said.

Mack bought the Depot Street property in 2006, but didn’t pay taxes until 2009. He continued making payments in 2010 and 2011, skipped any payment in 2012, and then paid on them in 2013, she said. He has paid more than $35,000 in back taxes.

The town will continue the lawsuit through Franklin County Superior Court to have the property named a dangerous building according to state law, she said.

Wilton Recycling LLC has responded to the suit and attorneys for the town and Mack are working toward mediation before going to court, she said. If mediation doesn’t work, the case could take another year in the court system.

“It’s not a quick-moving case,” Irish said.

The board has been hesitant to foreclose on the property because the town would own it and face the $300,000 cost to demolish the building and clean up the site, Saviello told taxpayers.

People raised concerns about more asbestos and lead in the building and security measures taken to keep people from entering it. 

Mack indicated his intention to return to town in April or May with a plan for work on the site, Irish said.

Wilton Recycling LLC started demolition in 2011 but halted it after high levels of asbestos were found. Abatement work has been done but there still is potential for asbestos in the roof and in the boiler room, she said.

A metal storage building and “the eyesore” portion of the building where some walls are down is cleared of asbestos and ready to be taken down, Irish said.

abryant@sunjournal.com