Pittsfield Selling Back Tax Liens; Installing Online Permitting Software

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
04:50AM / Sunday, February 22, 2015Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is looking to sell some $10 million in tax liens.

In the spring, the city is planning to auction off bundles of tax title liens — giving a private firm control of collections and ultimately property takings.

"We will sell the lien, essentially, and the right to collect to a company that specializes in this and has resources to do this," said Mayor Daniel Bianchi said.

"Right now we have $10 million in uncollected property taxes. Other communities — Worcester, Springfield — have done this. It is a way for a community to collect the equivalent of back taxes."

Instead of going through the lengthy tax title process, the city will essentially sell the debt owed to it to investors.

"This is not to punish anyone. These are taxes that are owed," Bianchi said. "We have some liens that are 20 years old."

According to City Attorney Darren Lee, the auction in the spring will feature titles from all wards in the city. Liens are put on properties that are more than one year past due in taxes.

"Once an account is in tax title, the taxpayers are responsible for 16 percent interest on the principal balance of the account," Lee wrote in a statement.

The city is currently out to bid for a company to manage the auction. A pre-auction meeting to review the proposed properties is expected to be held for investors and public meetings are expected for property owners.

In other business last week, the City Council approved purchasing $307,000 worth of new software. The city will spend the next two to three months installing $110,000 worth of online permitting software.

"We're going to roll it out a little at a time. We're going to start with the building inspectors, they generate the most permits. Then we'll get into other things like special events," Bianchi said.

"People will be able to do a lot more, if not everything, online. But that is not to say that they won't have to visit the municipal office but it should cut it down significantly."

Concurrently, the city will be installing $197,000 worth of new computer-assisted mass appraisal software for the assessor's office. Those programs are eyed to ease the assessment process.

Tags: delinquent taxes, property taxes, tax auction,

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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