NEW GLOUCESTER —Selectmen on Monday opened eight sealed bids to sell three tax-acquired properties from six bidders.
Two parcels are located off the North Pownal Road and one off the Durham Road.All are land-locked.
The properties went into foreclosure for non-payment of taxes and voters at the annual town meeting in May authorized the board to sell the properties.
Douglas McAtee of New Gloucester formerly owned the parcels.
The board authorized the town manager to review the bids and the board plans to award the tracts at their next meeting on Aug. 20.
One parcel off the North Pownal Road includes 13 acres of land and required a minimum bid of $1,900 to pay back taxes and expenses incurred by the town.Two bids were submitted at $2,106 from the Royal River Conservation Trust and $3,500 from Thomas Abraham of Auburn.
The second parcel off the North Pownal Road includes 5.75 acres of land requiring a minimum bid of $800.
Three bids were submitted: $1,201 from Duayne Maschino, $2,500 from Thomas Abraham and $2,546 from Nancy Wines-Devan of New Gloucester
The third parcel of 12 acres of land off the Durham Road brought three bids:$1,450 from Owen Haskell, $1,700 from John Thaxter and $4,025 from Thomas Abraham.The parcel requires $1,350 in back tax and costs to the town.
Selectmen reserve the right to reject any or all bids.Full payment for awarded bids is due to the town no later than Aug. 27.The town will issue a quitclaim deed and shall not be responsible for any condition of the property or any personal property that may be present.
In other business, the board will review a reconstruction plan for the Woodman Road.
Board Chairman Steve Libby said reconstruction began in 2001 to upgrade culverts and ditches.But financial constraints over the years have basically halted the project from progressing.The gravel road travels through a resource protection area and engineering studies and design plans completed in 2006 by Oest Associates estimated a $2 million cost to completely rebuild the road including pavement.
Some residents oppose paving the road and others say it should be paved.
The Meadow Brook crossing was completed in 2007 because of public safety and environmental concerns, but not paved.
Roughly $187,000 remains in the Woodman Road Capital Reserve account, Libby said.
A plan will be developed by mid-September with the town’s Public Works Director Ted Shane and Selectmen Libby and Selectman Josh McHenry and the town manager.
The board seeks to have a plan in place before capital improvement planning begins this fall.The CIP committee prioritizes costly projects through a ranking system to advise selectmen for planning the next fiscal year budget.
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