Jay forecloses on seven properties

JAY — The town foreclosed on seven properties Jan. 31 and gave owners 30 days to pay back taxes and sewer liens.

Most owners or mortgage holders have indicated they will pay up by the March 3 deadline.

A letter sent to property owners advised that if payment was made in full, the property could revert back to the owner, according to Town Clerk Ronda Palmer’s memo to selectpersons. Phone calls were also made to many of the owners and mortgage holders as well as visits made to properties.

Selectpersons voted Monday to accept a land installment contract with Susan Jones for a mobile home at BJ’s Lane. Unbeknownst to the town, ownership of the trailer changed hands and the wrong person was being taxed, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreneiere said.

A sale of a mobile home is not recorded at the Registry of Deeds. The new owner is supposed to contact the town about the change, she said.

The mobile home is on rented property at the mobile home park.

Jones sent $100 to the town and plans to send $50 a week until the $761.70 is paid off, according to Palmer’s memo.

The owner and mortgage holder on a house and property at 35 Main St. have indicated they won’t pay the $5,025.72 in back taxes or fees, LaFreniere said. Both are aware that the town will likely put the property up for sale by bid.

The other property owners or mortgage holders have told Palmer they plan to pay the back taxes and/or sewer fees by the March 3 deadline.

Paperwork for any foreclosed property that still has unpaid taxes and, or sewer fees as of the end of March 3 will be reviewed by Joly and Associates, a law firm in Wilton, to make sure the town sent all notices required and that all lien procedures were followed.

The cost is $300 per property and normally the town tries to recoup all costs in the bid process, according to Palmer.

Selectpersons will consider putting out to bid any foreclosed property that remains in arrears on March 13.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net