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Board reviews delinquent‑tax policy draft, approves $6,577.96 abatement for town‑owned 25 Walnut Street
Summary
Tax collector Dana Flack walked the board through a written delinquent‑tax policy draft covering response windows, remedies (marshal/collection/foreclosure), and hardship discretion; the board approved a one‑time abatement of $6,577.96 for 25 Walnut Street and asked staff to refine papering and timing of mailings.
The board reviewed a drafted delinquent‑tax policy brought by Tax Collector Dana Flack. The draft codifies practices the office has used informally, including standard demand windows, the three primary remedies (marshal/collections/foreclosure), and handling of motor‑vehicle accounts. Flack explained the office typically allows taxpayers through the end of the month to respond, even though a 10‑day response window is printed on correspondence; members asked that the written policy clarify those timelines.
Flack said payment‑plan arrangements are handled on a discretionary basis rather than as a statutory right, and counsel clarified statutory remedies available to collectors. A board member raised concerns about the marshal system’s cost (15% fee) and constitutional questions about its use; others noted it yields collections when other attempts fail.
On a separate agenda item the board approved a tax abatement for town‑owned property at 25 Walnut Street in the amount of $6,577.96 (motion by Trish, seconded by Bob; chair voted in favor). The board asked staff to return on August 5 with a finalized policy for vote and clearer language about mailing/timing of bills (some residents reported late mailings around July 1). Dana reported a year‑to‑date collection rate around 98–99% as of June.
