ADAMS, Mass. — Although the town has put a lien on the former Curtis Paper property, the town does not own the property or lease it.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco addressed rumored allegations that the town was leasing the property to a business. Mazzucco affirmed that the town does not own the former paper mill on Howland Avenue and will not have ownership for at least a few more months
"We won’t own it for at least a few more months and that is entirely dependent on the tax-taking/court process which could go even longer,” Mazzucco said. "Any issues with the property would be dealt with then.”
The town officially began the process of taking the property last year and pulled MJD Real Estate’s operating permits. Owners Norman Dellaghelfa Jr. and Roberta Dellaghelfa, who used the facility for their trucking business, owe the town over $450,000 in unpaid real estate and personal property taxes.
A thread on the Facebook page Adams informed took off Monday with allegations that someone was still operating at the former paper mill. The allegations went as far as to say the town was perhaps leasing the property.
"We are not leasing it out or anything like that. We do not own it,” Mazzucco said. "In fact, someone going on that property to take pictures is probably trespassing on private property.”
Some of the pictures posted on the community Facebook page showed roll-off containers and there were accusations that the town assessor’s husband was somehow running a business out of the mill.
Assessor Donna MacDonald chimed in on the tread and said her husband does store some of his containers on the property with permission from the current owners. She wrote that the containers are stored at other properties as well and once the town takes the property the equipment will be removed.
Mazzucco said even though the Zoning Board of Appeals did pull MJD’s permit, it does not mean the containers cannot be stored on the property.
"We had pulled their permits to operate a specific business about a year ago, but things like that are not strictly disallowed just because the ZBA pulled a special permit,” he said. "Think of a restaurant that is currently closed. They aren't operating as a restaurant but if the owners wanted to let you or I store stuff there it’s not likely to violate any bylaws or codes.”
Mazzucco said any complaints of activity at the facility should be directed towards the building department.
