North Adams OKs Property Sale, Vac Truck Buy
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| The city is selling 135 East Quincy St. for $30,000. The long vacant house was taken through Land Court. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday sold off a dilapidated property and approved borrowing of more than $600,000 for a new vacuum truck.
The property at 135 East Quincy St. was acquired for back taxes through Land Court. Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the city had a buyer at $30,000.
"Folks, I was shocked that we even got a buyer," she said. "When we took it, I was afraid we were really going to own it. The back of it is like missing it's in deplorable condition."
However, there were four or five interested buyers with the $30,000 cash bid being the best, the mayor said. The delinquent taxes on the property are $80,000.
"We are taking a loss on it, but again we're hopeful that they will flip it, so to say, and get it back on the tax rolls," said Macksey. "So technically, I don't have to ask you for permission, because it is a foreclosed property, but as I said before, I'd like to inform you of the good work that [Treasurer/Tax Collector] Jessica {Lincourt} is doing, and that we are moving these tax title properties through foreclosure, which we hate doing ...
"But this house has been vacant for a very long time, and we have a lot of complaints from the neighbors out there about this."
In answer to questions, Lincourt said 44 properties are currently in Land Court.
"Four of those parcels are on a payment agreement, and they're keeping up with those, so hopefully at some point they'll pay off their back taxes, and we can withdraw them from Land Court," she said. "And two of those parcels are actually under contract for sale, so I'm hopeful that by the end of the fiscal year, those will get sold, and we will be made full."
Councilor Keith Bona said he considered this not a vote because the mayor didn't have to bring it to the council for approval. The mayor said she wanted to be more transparent and communicative.
But Bona noted that the council could vote no and the mayor could make the sale anyway; or the council could approve and if something happened, the mayor could point to that approval.
"I appreciate you bringing forward, I appreciate the transparency, I appreciate you answering questions," he said. "I just don't know, like I say, if I feel like our vote is, is really just more for show."
His fellow councilors disagreed, saying they should be record to provide a paper trail, and to question the administration on its decisions.
"This is a sale of property the city has acquired from a taxpayer," President Ashley Shade said. "I think it's important to have an order on record to go along with that, even if it can be overturned by the administration."
The sale was approved 8-0 with Bona abstaining.
Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau explained the need for a new vacuum truck, which can be used to suction out and carry liquids and sludge.
"Our current truck is just about 16 years old, and it's tired," he told he council. "You got more Band-Aids on it than I can tell. So it's an essential piece of equipment that's out every day working. I can't add any more to that."
He said it's hard to get parts for equipment that old and the last couple times the pump broke, he had to have parts machined for it. "It's down more than it's up," Lescarbeau said. He said this truck cost $367,000.
The council approved a borrowing of $611,500 for a combination basin cleaner with ejector plate.
In other business, the council approved the classification and compensation plan for fiscal 2027.
• Approved a sewer connection for Andre Martell of 59 Wheeler Ave.; and taxi driver licenses for Matthew Misiuk and Elsa Moreno to drive for RJ's Taxi.
• Referred an ordinance revision on wheeled vehicles in public ways brought forward by Councilor Bryan Sapienza to committee.
• Was updated that proposed amendments to the dog regulations regarding kennels to comply with Ollie's Law. The city solicitor advised General Government to wait for expected action by the state, said Councilor Keith Bona, chair of the committee. It was postponed to the first meeting in July.
• Accepted the appointment of Glenn Murray to serve as a member of the Animal Control Commission, for a term to expire May 27, 2028.
• Appropriated $297,156 in free cash from fiscal 2025 to the stabilization account at the mayor's request.
• Authorized a temporary easement to allow the state Department of Transportation access to reconstruct the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The easement is on land used by the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Museum officials and the Mass MoCA Commission have approved the easement. The city is still pursuing demolition of the span but as that is years out, the bridge needs to function in the meantime.
• The mayor read a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month and gave copies to Councilors Shade, Andrew Fitch and Alexa Macdonald. She reminded the audience of Pride Night downtown on Friday night.
