Newry selectmen Monday decided to require a developer to either pay a bond for an uncompleted road or sell back a lot that had changed hands within the development ownership.
The board also decided to pursue collection of personal property taxes for two businesses in small claims court.
Selectmen learned this summer that a lot in the Locke Summit Estates subdivision had been sold from one owner to another in a part of the subdivision where the road was not yet completed. Town ordinance requires roads to either be completed before sales of lots, or that a bond be paid to ensure that they can be completed if the developer pulls out of the project.
The owners had argued the concerns that would be prompted by an outside sale do not apply in this situation, and that no precedent would be set by allowing the sale to stand.
But selectmen, after consulting the town attorney, said Monday they would ask that bond be paid or that the lot be sold or transferred back.
In other business, Town Administrator Loretta Powers said two businesses in town have consistently not paid personal property taxes over the past three or four years. The town sent letters last month stating that if the taxes were not paid by July 31, the town would pursue them in small claims court. The combined taxes total nearly $30,000.
Powers said she has received no formal response from the businesses, and the board decided to take the next step, in court.
The town also received bills from D.A. Wilson for $25,834 for improvement work done on the upper Sunday River Road, and $2,309 for repairs on other roads. Also received was a bill of $2,865 from David Berry for fixing the roof on the town office.
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