Anne Marie Cook, center, owner of The Weld Street Inn of 28 Weld St. in Dixfield, listens Monday during a meeting of the Board of Selectmen. The board voted to accept an agreement with her to pay all back taxes and sewer and water bills by Nov. 17. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times
DIXFIELD — Selectmen voted 4-0 Monday to accept an agreement with the owner of The Weld Street Inn to pay $23,552 by Nov. 17 to cover unpaid property taxes, sewer and water bills from 2017-2021, plus attorney fees.
The property is one of 12 listed by Town Manager James McLamb and presented to the board for consideration.
Inn owner Anne Marie Cook attended the meeting and presented a two-page timeline for paying what she owes on her property at 28 Weld St.
Following a 15-minute executive session with McLamb and Town Attorney Jennifer Kreckel, the board accepted the agreement. The money is due by 4 p.m. Nov. 17.
The board authorized the town manager to sign the agreement. McLamb said the town attorney will hold a quitclaim deed in escrow and release it to Cook’s attorney upon full payment to the town on or before Nov. 17.
“There will be no partial payments or extensions at any time,” McLamb said. “Time is of the essence. There will no further negotiations.”
McLamb said Cook agrees to vacate the premises Nov. 18 if she fails to meet the conditions of the agreement.
Residents praised the board for its work.
McLamb began discussion about the 12 tax-acquired properties that total over $70,000. He said some of the owners made payment agreements but have not stuck to them.
This property at 28 Weld St., the Weld Street Inn, is in foreclosure and is one of 13 tax-acquired properties that will be discussed at Monday’s Dixfield Board of Selectmen’s meeting. The amount of taxes owed to the town for all properties in this group of acquired properties is more than $80,000. Town of Dixfield property tax file photo
Some property owners were invited to come to the Town Office.
“We will work with you,” he said.
Resident Dan McKay said he believes the town manager and members of the board, as overseers of the poor, should go to these people “because you don’t know which ones are poor.”
Another resident agreed and asked town officials to find ways for these people to pay their taxes.
Among the 10 people in attendance, a woman summed it up: “We’re all adults. We need to pay our bills.”
McLamb said the town is “not looking to get into the real estate business,” but “if we get some of these properties off our hands it will make some money for Dixfield.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
