Westport officials could move to file an emergency demolition permit for a building at Westport Point that recently collapsed into the water.

The dilapidated building, located behind the harbormaster’s shack, is owned by the Leach Family Real Estate Trust in Adamsville, which also owns the adjacent Wharf House and the former Leach & Son Marina. But since its collapse, building official Ralph Souza has had little luck reaching Eve Leach, executor of the trust, to discuss the collapse and what to do about it.

Historical Commission chairman Garrett Stuck brought the matter up Tuesday, and said it’s still unclear what the process would be if the town is unable to reach the owner. Certainly, it’s a safety issue, commission members said.

“The town is in kind of a tough spot because they can’t get in touch,” Stuck said. “I suppose (the town) can condemn it and take it down themselves.”

Stuck said there is a provision in by-laws for the emergency approval of a demolition permit, and he said he is going to research demolition by neglect, “which I think is happening here.”

In the meantime, he said, if officials decide to file a demo permit, there would likely have to be an emergency commission meeting to approve it.

Though two adjacent buildings owned by the trust — the Wharf House and Leach & Sons Marina — are historic, there does not appear to “any real significance” to the building that collapsed, Stuck said.

Still, “it’s really a shame that those buildings have been let go for so long,” commission member Catherine Reppert said. “They’re incredibly critical to the historic nature of the point ... maybe not that building (that collapsed) per se, but the collection of buildings.”

Chris Leonard, director of marine services for Westport, said Thursday that the building's collapse isn't an issue for him apart from eliminating a spot where the office keeps a skiff.