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Committee approves taking possession of two vacant, tax‑delinquent properties at 450 Ohio St. and 299 Essex St.
Summary
The committee authorized staff to begin possession procedures for two vacant properties that have accrued unpaid taxes and utilities; staff described the notice, securing and resale steps required by new state law and city policy.
The Bangor City Finance Committee on Feb. 3 voted to move forward with taking possession of two vacant, tax‑delinquent properties — 450 Ohio Street and 299 Essex Street — and to start the statutory notice and sale process under the city’s tax/utility lien policy and recent state law changes.
Staff said 450 Ohio Street came into city possession previously through unpaid taxes and was later sold by sealed bid in 2017 for $5,001. The purchaser, Roger Miller, later deeded the property to a corporation that has since been administratively dissolved, and the city has received only one partial payment toward taxes since March 2021. Staff described the total amount due to the city as “a little under $5,000” in taxes, sewer, stormwater and vacant‑building registry fees as shown in the packet, and said the property appears vacant, utilities are turned off and photos in the packet show the structure boarded; staff said the property is unfit for habitation.
Staff explained the process that would follow committee approval: staff will notify the last known address of the former owner, secure and inventory the property, handle personal property left onsite, and — because of recent statutory changes and the city’s policy — provide a 90‑day notice before listing the property with the city’s contracted residential real‑estate broker. Any sale proceeds above the amount owed to the city and incurred costs would be returned to the former owner. If the property does not sell within 12 months, staff may pursue other sale methods.
For 299 Essex Street, staff said there has been no payment since Feb. 2021 and that the amount due (taxes, utilities and vacant‑property registry) is described in the packet as a little over $7,100. Recent photographs show the property placarded and vacant. The committee approved proceeding with possession and the same notice, securing and marketing process.
Committee members asked whether earlier sealed‑bid offers had required development agreements obligating purchasers to rehabilitate and occupy properties. Staff said the city previously sometimes required development agreements but that changes in law and policy now limit the city’s ability to require such agreements because the city must market properties to achieve the highest sale price the broker expects. Staff acknowledged this means some properties may be bought and held as investment properties and could return to tax delinquency in future years.
The committee’s votes will be followed by staff completion of statutory notice requirements and then placement of the properties on the market per the city’s new process. Any offers will return to committee and council for final approval of sale terms according to the packet and city policy.
