Stratford board agrees to sell tax-deeded property; staff warns software update will change water, sewer bills

Stratford, N.H. — The Stratford Selectboard on Sept. 22 agreed to sell a tax-deeded property after concluding the town would face substantial costs to demolish buildings on the lot.

Suzanne Goulet, speaking at the meeting, said consultant Clayton Macdonald updated the town's water and sewer meter software and told the board the change "will mean a change to the bills that will go out to residents." The board approved the related motion, with Charlie Goulet and Ron Scott Jr. recorded as seconding.

The board also reviewed properties the town received via tax deed in 2024. Members determined that the potential money recoverable through tax collection did not outweigh the town's likely expense to test for asbestos and demolish the structures. After discussion, the board "unanimously agreed to sell the property in question 30," and there were no objections recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: Changes to meter software can alter how consumption is measured or billed and may affect customers' charges or billing cycles. Selling tax-deeded parcels shifts responsibility for building removal and long-term maintenance to a purchaser rather than the town, but the transcript does not specify a sale timeline, buyer process, or price.

What the board recorded: The transcript notes a motion was approved related to the software update (seconded by Charlie Goulet and Ron Scott Jr.), and the board's unanimous decision to sell the identified tax-deeded parcel. The record does not provide a timetable for placing the property on the market or details about how billing changes will be communicated to residents.

Next steps: The meeting minutes do not list an implementation schedule for the billing change or a sale process for the tax-deeded property; the board did not specify who will manage resident notification or the sale procedure during the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript.