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Peabody committee declares small parcels surplus, refers possible sale following applicants' appraisal
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Summary
The Legal Affairs Subcommittee declared three small city-owned parcels on Paper Street surplus and referred the matter to Community Development after hearing from Attorney Kelty on behalf of Megan and Michael Lynch; appraisals reported in the transcript exceed the $5,000 threshold that can trigger an RFP.
The Peabody City Legal Affairs Subcommittee voted 5–0 to declare three small city-owned parcels (Map 75, Parcels Lot 12 and 3 and an easement) surplus and to refer the matter to the City Clerk and Community Development to pursue disposal under the city's policy.
Attorney Kelty, representing Megan and Michael Lynch of 10 Stevens Street, asked the committee to make the property available for sale so his clients may rebuild a garage that previously stood on the site. Kelty said the applicants had obtained an appraisal while the file was in committee and raised the procedural question of whether the city should issue an RFP or pursue a direct sale to abutters; he also said the applicants would grant an easement to allow continued use by neighboring residents if necessary.
Councillor McGinn provided historical context, saying the garage appeared on an early plan (dated 1914 in the packet) and had been the residence and garage of the late Nellie Kotovsky; he said Community Development had indicated there were no departmental objections to selling the property. During the discussion Attorney Kelty reported appraisal figures by an appraiser identified as Peter Lamont of the firm 'Eastern': Easement 3 appraised at $4,000; Parcel 1 appraised in the transcript as $47.10; Parcel 2 appraised at $4,800. Kelty said the appraiser supplied a 49-page analysis and that, in aggregate, the figures exceed the $5,000 threshold that typically triggers an RFP process.
Committee members asked detailed questions about the easement parcel, prior quitclaim deed references to a very small parcel sold to a Community Credit Union, and which neighbors currently use the area for parking. Attorney Kelty said the easement parcel would permit the neighbor continued access and that if the applicants obtain title they would grant an easement to those neighbors (identified in discussion as Faustino and Maria Mello).
The Chair moved to declare the parcels surplus and to refer the matter to the City Clerk and Community Development to follow Motion P.666-19 and the city's policy for disposing of city-owned land. The committee approved the motion by roll call vote (Councillors Turco, Peach, Higgins, Melville and Rosignol voted yes; motion carried 5–0). The committee did not vote to sell to a named buyer; it only declared the parcels surplus and referred disposition to the city departments for the required steps.
Note on numeric reporting: the transcript contains what appears to be a transcription error for one appraisal line (Parcel 1 reported as "$47.10" in the transcript). That figure is reported here exactly as stated in the meeting record but should be verified with the written appraisal and Community Development before final action.
