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Lawyer urges Bangor to confirm compliance after Supreme Court ruling on tax-acquired-property proceeds
Summary
An attorney urged the Bangor City Council to direct staff to review the city's handling of tax-acquired properties to ensure compliance with state law enacted after Tyler v. Hennepin County and Maine statute 36 M.R.S. §943-C.
Jacob Leonard, who identified himself as an agent for a family restaurant and an attorney, urged the council to confirm Bangor’s compliance with changes in state law governing tax-acquired properties and surplus proceeds.
Leonard referenced the U.S. Supreme Court decision Tyler v. Hennepin County and Maine statute 36 M.R.S. §943-C, which he said requires municipalities to provide notice before disposing of tax-acquired property, list property with a licensed broker to seek fair market value, and return any surplus proceeds to prior owners. He told the council that failure to comply “exposes Bangor to lawsuits” and asked that staff confirm and publicly report whether the city’s handling of tax-acquired properties complies with §943-C.
Leonard also cautioned against excluding elected councilors from participating in votes as a response to other controversies, saying broad exclusion would raise representation concerns. The council did not record an immediate directive or vote in response; Leonard asked the council to direct staff to confirm compliance as a proactive measure.
