Collector details tax-title auction strategy; several parcels remain in Land Court

The Board of Selectmen received an update on Oct. 22 from the collector/treasurer about a planned auction of tax-title properties. Officials said some parcels, described as the "Blackstone Chicago" group, were removed from the current auction because seven remain in Land Court and require acreage corrections or other cleanups before sale.

"There are 7 still in Land Court," the collector/treasurer said, and the town has directed the tax attorney to petition the court to prioritize the foreclosures so the properties can be consolidated and sold. Staff said acreage issues on approximately seven parcels are delaying final disposition and that the townintends to group those parcels for auction once legal obstacles are addressed.

The town administrator warned that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling—cited in the meeting conversation as prompting Massachusetts to change tax-title procedures—has created urgency for towns statewide to reconcile how excess sale proceeds are handled. Meeting discussion cited a case described as "Terrapin versus Minnesota" in the broader national context; staff said state implementation deadlines originally set for Nov. 1 may be delayed but that the situation merits attention.

Board members also raised one parcel, 12 Spruce Street, which appears on the town's open-space plan. Staff said the collector can only sell properties that are actually held as tax title and that the administration will research registry records and correct any parcels that are improperly listed for sale.

What happens next: The town attorney will pursue Land Court petitions on the delayed parcels, staff will confirm registry and open-space listings for affected lots, and the collector will return with a revised auction list once parcels are cleared for sale.