WILTON — Residents at Tuesday’s special town meeting voted for a waiver of foreclosure on the Forster Mill property, currently owned by Wilton Recycling LLC.
Although some payments have recently been received on the property’s 2009 taxes, it does not appear that 2010 taxes will be paid prior to the March 20 deadline, Town Manager Rhonda Irish explained. Those who have not paid taxes on their properties face foreclosure by the town.
The waiver ensures that the town does not accept responsibility or liability for the property or any liens against it, she said. It does not excuse any back taxes owed to the town.
Work to secure back taxes has decreased the amount owed the town to $58,706, including 25 properties from 2010, totaling $49,477, she said.
During a selectmen’s meeting that followed, the board accepted a quarterly report from Clayton Putnam, superintendent of the water and wastewater departments.
The sewer department is anticipating a review of the current rate structure to ensure it is adequate to meet the operation, maintenance and Phase I debt obligation for the renovation of the sewer department.
In the first six months of the rate increase approved in July 2012, it appears “we are on target to meet our estimated annual debt obligation of $201,397 for Phase I,” Putnam told the board.
The department is also expected to determine “the rate increase we’ll need to support the annual debt obligation for Phase 2, estimated to be $168,000,” he reported.
The water department is looking for a solution to issues with hardware components of the plant’s computer system.
Although $20,000 was included in the budget to address needs for the software system, the department has found that most of the 1993 hardware and software for the system is obsolete, he said.
Estimates to upgrade have been requested from the original program writer. The cost could be substantial, as a 2010 proposal for similar work was estimated at $89,000, he said.
In other business, the board reviewed proposed ordinances for fireworks, property maintenance and recycling, created by the town’s Ordinance Committee. A disorderly housing ordinance is not yet complete and will be reviewed by the Police Committee.
The board unanimously voted to have the ordinances reviewed by the town’s legal counsel and placed on the warrant for the annual town meeting in June.
Nomination papers for two selectmen’s seats and one school board member will be available March 12. Terms for Selectman Russell Black, Selectman D. Scott Taylor and school director Robert Pullo are expiring.
The papers require at least 25 signatures and no more than 100, Town Clerk Diane Dunham said. They are due back by April 19.
Black indicated he would not run for another term as selectman.
Irish reported that police Officer Tim Coombs has resigned, effective March 15, after four years with the department. He is leaving to become a Maine Game Warden in Franklin County, she said.
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