The owner of a Bucksport motel that was condemned two years ago is suing the town and its code enforcement officer of violating his rights in the forced closure of his motel.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Asad Khaqan, the owner of the former Fountain Spring Inn says the town presented misleading information about his establishment to the public and interfered with the management of his business and his attempts to make repairs.

The complaint was filed in federal court on April 7 in Bangor and also alleges discriminatory treatment and constant harassment that “continue to this day”. Khaqan also said he experienced racial discrimination from Bucksport’s code enforcements officer Luke Chiavelli, who had reported the motel’s state to the town council.

The town voted in the spring of 2021 to order all tenants of the motel to vacate within 48 hours due to inadequate living conditions. The order was made after the town became aware that the water supply and electricity to the building were to be shut off. In addition to the lack of utilities, Chiavelli had reported that many of the rooms had mold and mildew, sinks that drained into buckets and nonworking smoke detectors among other safety factors. Chiavelli said he was concerned for the safety of the building’s tenants, many of whom were long term residents because they couldn’t afford rent.

Khaqan, who lives in New Jersey, told the council at the time that he wasn’t aware that Central Maine Power had shut off electricity to the building or that the water supply was being cut off.

The town gave Khaqan 90 days to make substantial repairs to the building before it could open again. Khaqan said in January of 2022 that he was hiring workers to fix the building’s plumbing issues and is making progress on repairs.

Khaqan put the property up for sale about a year ago and it currently has an asking price of $950,000.