Lisbon property owner bristles at court summons
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LISBON -- A property owner in the downtown business district is threatening to demolish two buildings he owns after being cited into court for violating the village's building code.
Adam Newbold attended this week's village council meeting to express his displeasure about being cited because two of the buildings he owns --the former village hall and old Masonic Lodge building -- needed some paint trim work done.
Newbold was insulted to learn he had been cited when all anyone had to do from village hall was walk up the street and talk to him.
"I'm not asking for help now, but I'm telling you it's a slap in the face to get a summons into court for two of my buildings because the trim paint is not painted the way you want," he said.
Newbold told the village if they continue to pursue its case against him he will obtain permits to demolish the two buildings.
"If you push the issue, think of it as a threat if you will. It's not a bluff," he said.
Newbold was among a number of business district property owners recently cited for violating the village's revised building maintenance code as it pertains to facades. Most of the misdemeanor citations, like Newbold's, are for cosmetic violations, such as peeling paint.
Newbold and his two brothers, all of whom are U.S. Navy Seals, are from Lisbon. More than a decade ago Newbold founded ATG Worldwide, a specialized training and security firm, with its headquarters in town.
He owns other buildings in downtown Lisbon, including the property across the street from the old Masonic Lodge on East Lincoln Way. The building houses his coffee bean distribution business, and plans to open a storefront coffee shop there have been delayed because of the coronavirus. Newbold said he put $600,000 alone into that building to make it structurally sound.
Newbold is also active in the community, providing training to local law enforcement agencies and assisting when needed in providing search-and-rescue services. He is also the local wrestling coach, providing the uniforms and holding practices in his buildings.
"I'm attempting to get involved and give back ... We help everywhere we can," he said.
Like many of the downtown buildings, the ones purchased by Newbold were in bad shape, including the old village hall, and he has done what he can to fix them up.
"The buildings I own no one else has lined up to buy them," he said, adding later, "I don't have the means to fix those buildings the way they should be fixed."
Newbold said he would have preferred the personal touch, with someone from village hall speaking with him first before taking him to court.
"It has nothing to do with (painting trim). It has to do with the manner they approached this," he said after the meeting.
Mayor Peter Wilson said everyone who was cited, including Newbold, had been given prior notice to comply over the past 18 months, including "friendly warning" letters. Citations were only issued as a last resort.
"They received ample warning and it was all over the press. What we're doing should not have come as a surprise," he said. "The problem is in the past the law was not enforced, but that is no longer the case."
Working to revive the business district is one of Wilson's chief goals, and he believes having a basic building maintenance code is key to those efforts. He said having well maintained buildings will attract other interested businesses to town.
Wilson, who met with Newbold prior to and after this week's council meeting, described him as a responsible building owner and not like the absentee landlords who have let their properties fall into disrepair. But he said they have to enforce the law equally.
"We want to work with Adam like we do with all of our property owners. Adam and I want the same thing. We all want Lisbon to be better. We just have a difference of opinion on how to get there," Wilson said.
Newbold gets that, but he just does not like how this was handled. "I'll do anything they ask, if I can, but I don't like being threatened," he said.
To resolve the dispute, Wilson said he offered to do the painting if Newbold would purchase the paint.
tgiambroni@mojonews.com