Taunton council declines right of first refusal on portion of North Precinct Street farmland
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Summary
CFO Delorusso told the council a private parcel on North Precinct Street would trigger a Chapter 61A five-year tax "look back" if converted, generating clawback taxes slated for the city's sustainability fund; after questions about conservation value the council voted to decline its right of first refusal.
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.