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Committee debates realtor-services RFP, orders rebid; updates matured‑lien policy to match state law
Summary
Staff recommended the Bullis Company for a five‑year realtor services contract to handle city property sales, but councilors questioned the lack of local bidders and voted to rebid with separate residential and commercial RFPs; staff also outlined revisions to the matured-tax lien policy required by recent state law changes.
City staff told the Finance Committee they issued an RFP to secure a single brokerage to manage all city property sales after state law changes require sales of properties acquired through matured liens to be handled by licensed real estate brokers. Two proposals were received: John Hyatt (realtor/Associated Property Management) and the Bullis Company. Staff recommended the Bullis Company, citing greater capacity and more associates to manage city needs; the proposed contract would run five years with commissions of 8% for sales under $200,000 and a sliding scale down to 6.5% for sales over $1,000,000.
Several councilors pushed back, noting the city’s inventory is largely residential — one speaker described it as "close to a 100%" residential portfolio — and questioned why more local firms did not submit proposals. Councilors argued residential and commercial sales are different markets and suggested splitting the RFP to allow specialists to bid on residential or commercial work. Staff said the RFP had been posted on the city website and distributed to GBAR (Greater Bangor Association of Realtors) and local notice channels; only two firms submitted proposals.
After discussion, the committee agreed to rebid the realtor-services procurement with two RFPs so vendors could bid on residential, commercial or both. The committee instructed staff to draft the two RFPs and rebid to allow greater local participation.
Staff also summarized proposed revisions to the city's matured-tax utility lien policy to conform to recent legislative changes. Staff explained that under the revised law, legal ownership of a property transfers to the city when a lien matures; the city must notify the former owner at least 90 days before listing the property for sale, the property must be listed through a licensed broker and listed for at least 12 months, and allowable expenses (taxes, utility charges, property protection and minor repairs) may be deducted from sale proceeds. If excess proceeds remain, the city must offer them to the former owner; if the owner cannot be located, the funds are sent to the state's unclaimed property fund. Staff said the policy revisions will be presented to full council next week for approval.
