KINGFIELD — Property owners may have very different standards of maintenance, but town officials have few options to appease unhappy neighbors.

At the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night, Susan and Brian Goss petitioned the board to force Lori Murray Reed to clean up her property across the street from them.

Reed’s West Kingfield Road trailer had some code violations that have been addressed, according to Administrative Assistant and Code Enforcement Officer Douglas Marble. The trailer does not have power or water but has been secured from outside entry. A rotted deck has been demolished.

“The property owner was given a list of things to correct, and they have done that,” Selectman Heather Moody told the Gosses.

She noted that selectmen can’t tackle the difficult subject of dictating standard-of-living choices for those who just don’t care, and Kingfield does not have an ordinance to deal with similar properties that upset neighboring property owners.

“You think this is acceptable?” Susan Goss asked. “The condition that this is in, you’re happy with that?”

“Not really, but there’s not much we can do,” Selectman Merv Wilson replied.

Selectmen review “abandoned” and “vacant” buildings differently. A vacant building is not currently in use, but could be used in the future. Property owners usually have paid taxes and can be contacted.

Abandoned properties involve absentee owners who have not responded to requests for utility or tax payments within a designated period of time. Marble also explained to the Gosses that junkyard laws are more clear and more easily enforceable than vacant and abandoned property laws.

“No one likes to look at an abandoned building, but the only legal step is to develop an ordinance,” Moody said.

Frank Underkuffler, the town’s attorney, advised selectmen that without a voter-approved decree, selectmen would have a slim chance of forcing a homeowner to clean up the property. State law authorizes municipal officers to determine that a building or structure is “dangerous” and to order appropriate corrective action either by the owner or the town.

Dangerous buildings or structures must fit within one of the following categories: structurally unsafe; unstable; unsanitary; constitutes a fire hazard; unsuitable or improper or the use or occupancy to which it is put; constitutes a hazard to health or safety because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence or abandonment or is otherwise dangerous to life or property.

“My taxes went up, and my property values have gone down,” Brian Goss said. “Abandoned buildings bring property values down. Needless to say, I’m not thrilled.”

Property owner Lori Murray Reed was not available for comment.

In other matters, Cynthia Orcutt asked Kingfield selectmen to appoint a committee to do a detailed parking study in the downtown area. She suggested having the committee survey the available parking and whether that is adequate. The committee would gather public input, determine if more parking is needed, and develop some alternative plans.

Marble reported that Western Maine Transportation has agreed to operate the Sugarloaf Explorer bus for $3,500 for next ski season. Selectmen will also begin to develop a budget plan to fund a parking area on public land near the walking path along the Carrabassett River. The proposed $7,000 to $10,000 bid from a local construction company could be cut by half if the town uses its manpower and equipment. Selectmen will ask for $1,000 each from the ATV and snowmobile clubs.