NORWAY — The Inn Town Motel is not subject to the Rental Occupancy Ordinance because it’s no longer housing a long-term guest, Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman said Tuesday.

Concerns arose at a Planning Board meeting in February that the 34-unit motel had been housing a man since October 2015, which would have defined the business as a rooming house, and therefore be subject to the ordinance.

Police had been called to the man’s unit numerous times for medical and other assistance, prompting concerns to be taken to the Planning Board.

The Rental Occupancy Ordinance requires annual health and safety standards and allows the code enforcement officer to issue, enforce or revoke occupancy permits. The ordinance does not cover hotels or motels, which are defined as premises that are rented for overnight or several nights rather than weekly or longer.

The owner, identified as Om Shiv Shakti Corp., was notified in February by Corey-Whitman and Fire Chief Dennis Yates that the motel was not in compliance with safety codes, including fire-prevention measures. A second notice was mailed March 18 and the owner was given seven days to respond.

On Monday, Corey-Whitman heard from motel management that the long-term tenant received assistance that enabled him to leave, and that the owner has no intention of running a rooming house.

“They were just trying to help him,” Corey-Whitman said.

Ann Marie Westbury, who identified herself as the manager and a resident of the motel, said Monday evening that it was never the intent of the motel to have any guest living on the premises for more than 30 days.

“This has never been a rooming house,” she said. “This has never been a problem.”

Westbury said there are smoke detectors in each room, as well as security and surveillance cameras. Two people, including herself, are on site 24/7.

“If we’re not keeping an eye on the cameras, the owners are,” she said, referring to company President Malay Patel of Lowell, Mass.

The motel was built in 1989 and has had a succession of owners. Om Shiv Shakti Corp. purchased it in 2008 for $246,000. Records indicate corporation Treasurer Harshad Patel lives at the motel.

Corey-Whitman said the life safety concerns are not applicable, even though at least one member of the staff or ownership lives on-site.

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