By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The village board will vote next month on demolishing a derelict building at 204 East Orvis St., the lawmakers decided Tuesday.

“I think we agree if we can move in that direction, we’re going to move,” Trustee Tim Ahlfeld said, to which the rest of board affirmatively replied.

They want to know if St. Lawrence County will reimburse the village in case the property owner doesn’t pay the demolition and cleanup bill.

“I’d be very curious to see if that’s one of the items the county will make us whole on,” Trustee Matt Lebire said.

Since there is asbestos, the village would either have to take the asbestos-laden waste to the transfer station at $115 per ton, or hire the county to take it to the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) transfer station for much cheaper.

Ahlfeld said not only would it be easier to have someone take the waste for them, but it could prevent neighbors from being exposed to toxic materials.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, an invariably fatal lung cancer.

Christopher Tyler, the property’s owner, approached the board last month to ask them to hold off on demolition proceedings. He is suing his insurance company because he doesn’t think they are giving him adequate reimbursement.

“We have confirmed that is true. He has a court date to sue his insurance company,” Mayor Tim Currier said.

The village has already received a state Supreme Court judgment authorizing them to take down the crumbling building.

Currier said he thinks the village should demolish the old house because they don’t know if Tyler will do anything with it, even if his lawsuit is successful.

“There is some indication he may not rebuild,” Currier said.