ANDOVER — Selectmen continued discussion Tuesday night on whether the town can sell the site of the former East Andover Fire Station to an abutter.

The Rev. Justin Thacker of Praise Assembly of God Church in Rumford and his wife, Mary, want to use the building and property to construct a barn to rehabilitate rescued horses.

Andover Fire Chief Justin Tibbetts said last week that the department doesn’t want the property at 415 East Andover Road, because the fire station is too small for firetrucks.

Thacker said Tuesday night that he got a legal opinion from Rumford lawyer Jennifer Kreckel on the word “forever” that is listed in a deed for the property.

Thacker gave selectmen a copy of Kreckel’s opinion in which she said “forever” was a phrase used at the time the deed was drafted. He asked Selectman Jane Rich if she followed up with the Maine Municipal Association about the issue. Rich said she decided not to after reading opinions about the standard phrase of the time.

“This has to go before town meeting,” she said of whether the town could sell the property to Thacker.

“Yes, but before we got to that point, I would like it clarified that it could be sold,” Thacker said.

“We can sell it,” Selectman Keith Farrington said, before mentioning that he, too, had looked into it and learned that the prior owner, Dorcas Farrington, was his great-grandmother.

Farrington motioned to place an article on a town meeting warrant to sell it. Rich seconded it, and more discussion ensued as Farrington clarified his motion by adding, “if we can come up with language that will work. Otherwise, we will go with a sealed bid (for the property).”

The board voted 3-0 to approve the motion.

[email protected]