FARMINGTON — A lawsuit brought against the town of Strong and county officials by a family of Strong landowners last summer was recently dismissed in Franklin County Superior Court.
The Strong Board of Selectmen and Franklin County commissioners both sought dismissal of the case filed against them by Wendall Voter, Mahlon Voter and Vernon Voter of Strong.
Through the lawsuit, the Voters sought to resolve an abatement issue regarding the assessment of their properties on Church Hill, said Milt Baston, chairman of the Strong board.
Within the past year, the board denied the abatement causing the Voters to take their case to the Franklin County commissioners who took no action on it.
The next step was the court action.
According to court records, the Voters wanted Strong officials to reduce the assessed value of land the family says is now “landlocked.” A Maine Supreme Court decision in 2008 limited their travel across a neighbor’s property to get to their land where the family has harvested timber for many years. They said the limited access to their property has changed the value of the land and so taxes on the property should be decreased.
The Board of Selectmen for the town denied the abatement earlier this year leading the Voters to appeal to county commissioners.
When the commissioners took no action, the Voters’ request was deemed denied within 60 days, or on April 16. The Voters then had 30 days from April 16 to file suit in Superior Court, which they failed to do.
Justice Michaela Murphy ruled that because of the failure to act, the “court lacked jurisdiction” and granted the defendants request for dismissal.
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