Dalton Select Board May Forgive Back Taxes for 463 High St. By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:22AM / Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board voted last week to forgive about $8,000 in back taxes and fees for 463 High St. — but not without some stipulations.
If the receiver, Adam Oliveri, sends a letter of commitment to remain the receiver of the property, the board agrees to forgive the back taxes because it is under $10,000 and the costs are more than the assessed value of the property.
A revised demolition quote of $52,975 is more than the land assessment of $46,400, so the waiving of the back taxes is the town's attempt to encourage the receiver not to back out.
The single-family home has long-standing code violations that pose a serious risk to public health and is a safety hazard.
It was considered abandoned by its owner and has been designated as unfit for human habitation for "violations of the State Sanitary Code including: lack of gas and electric utilities, unsafe roof structure and the property being filled with trash and debris blocking means of egress.'"
An asbestos survey suggested by a Housing Court judge was not done because Oliveri was concerned about the safety of the architectural engineer.
"The architectural engineer would need to enter at their own risk," Health Agent Agnes Witkowski said in an email communication with environmental analyst emergency response asbestos inspector Joanne Flescher.
Oliveri was appointed as the receiver of the property on Aug. 24, 2022, by the Attorney General's office. He has accumulated more than $15,000 in lawyer fees because he had to go back and forth to Housing Court and clean the outside of the property.
Former Fire Chief James Peltier and building inspector visited the house last year and said they were concerned with the floors being unsafe, Witkowski said.
It took many years to get this receiver and the Attorney General's Office said it was difficult and unlikely to get another one, she continued. If the receiver backs out the town will be responsible for the demolition.
Based on the emails between the town and the receiver, it looks as though he has already made the decision to back out, Select Board Chair Joseph Diver said.
Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson described the waiving of the back taxes is a "Hail Mary."
But the board was concerned that a decision like this would set a precedent.
But Hutcheson said since the circumstances are unusual and the nominal profit is less than the cost of doing the demolition, that narrows the precedent to an acceptable policy.
"I feel like if it's a Hail Mary and it will set a precedent, maybe it is not the best move. There is no guarantee of the outcome," Select Board member Dan Esko said.
A letter of commitment made the decision acceptable to a majority of board members.
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