BERWICK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Concerns about buildings in Berwick are bringing tensions to a head between tenants and their landlord.
Those concerns about buildings owned by Jerry Letarte boiled over after a 4-year-old boy was treated at the hospital after being bitten by bed bugs in one of his apartments. The woman who's son was bitten said she has had to move into a friend's place.
"Traumatizing. He was sitting on the couch and he was getting bit and he didn't understand why. Then we had to leave and move out, he really didn't understand," said Ashley Johnson.
Tenants say bed bugs are problems in other buildings Letarte owns as well and they're not being addressed. Letarte says he's working on the problem.
"Putting in heating to those units, then spraying them with chemicals,'' he said.
Tenants are not the only ones who have an issue with Letarte. Town officials said he owes more than $40,000 in back taxes and if they are not paid by Friday liens will be placed on ten of his buildings. Concerns about Letarte are expected to be addressed at next week's selectmen's meeting.
