Taunton's Committee of the Whole voted to decline the city's right of first refusal on a portion of assessor's Map 113, Lot 1 after hearing from CFO Michael Delorusso about the tax consequences of a private sale.

CFO Delorusso said the parcel was privately owned and would not produce sale proceeds for the city, but would instead trigger Chapter 61A's five-year look-back that converts the taxed value to a residential basis. "Once the sale occurs, the five-year look-back period would result in the city receiving five years' worth of taxes that would have been taxed at a residential income value," Delorusso said.

Councilors pressed the administration for an assessment of public-purpose options before declining the right. One councilor asked whether the city had evaluated conservation or recreational uses and whether the parcel abutted Massasoit State Park; Delorusso said the administration had considered potential public uses and did not find a public purpose that would justify acquisition. He also reminded the council that the city has a 30-day window to order an appraisal if it wished to pursue acquisition.

Councilor Duarte noted the parcel is a narrow strip paralleling North Precinct Street within a larger 60.6-acre tax lot and said GIS identifies a cranberry bog on the southern portion of the property. Councilor Borges asked whether parts of the land could support splash-pad or recreational uses in East Taunton; Delorusso said he was not familiar with that park and that the administration's assessment did not indicate a reason to acquire the parcel.

After discussion about conservation and marketable properties, the council made a motion "for the city to decline its right of first refusal." The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

What happens next: declining the right means the private owner may proceed with conversion and sale; the council retains no further acquisition claim under the current notice. The city's 30-day appraisal window and the Chapter 61A clawback remain procedural safeguards tied to future transactions.