JAY — The Board of Selectpersons voted Monday to put a tax-acquired, four-unit apartment building out to bid for a minimum of $8,200.
Owner Gerald Leavitt of Peru does not intend to pay the back tax and sewer fees on the 409 Old Jay Hill Road property, according to a memo to the board from Town Clerk Ronda Palmer. He has offered to sign the property over to the town, she wrote.
Palmer said she and Town Manager Ruth Cushman spoke to the Maine Municipal Association and the town’s attorney, Stephen Langsdorf. The insurance company and all agree the town should not take possession of the property due to liability issues, but simply put it up for sale.
The back taxes are $4,378.06, sewer fees $2,903.28 and water fees $184.87, for a total of $7,466.22, according to the memo.
The $8,200 will allow the town to recoup expenses, including advertising for bids, board Chairman Steve McCourt said.
Cindy Greer told the board her son moved into the building in November, and she wanted to know what will happen to the tenants.
The town will not act as a landlord and would not collect any money from the tenants, Cushman said.
She said she believed Palmer told tenants to put the money into their oil tanks.
Cushman suggested tenants contact Pine Tree Legal for assistance. The firm has offices around the state, including Lewiston, Augusta and Portland.
In other business, selectpersons voted to pay $2,725 for the town’s share of the 2014 Area Youth Sports liability insurance. AYS serves Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls and Fayette.
The amount is less than last year, McCourt said. It was $3,024 in 2013.
The money will come out of the town’s recreation reserve account.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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