TOWN COUNCIL MAJORITY OFFICE
TAX POLICY COMMITTEE
MARCH 30, 2010
PRESENT William P. Horan, Jr., Temporary Chair; Councilors Marc Weinberg and
Eric Thompson
ALSO
PRESENT Michael Walsh, Finance Director
CALL TO ORDER
Temporary Chair Horan called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m.
NOMINATION OF OFFICERS
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to nominate Bill Horan as Chair
of the Tax Policy Committee.
Motion carried 3/0.
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Bill Horan
to nominate Marc Weinberg as Secretary
of the Tax Policy Committee.
Motion carried 3/0.
ADOPTION OF RULES GOVERNING MEETINGS
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order as the rules that shall govern
parliamentary procedure at all subcommittee meetings, with the exception
that (1) the Chair shall not be required to restate the motion of any
Council member unless requested by another Councillor, or when in the
discretion of the Chair, such restatement is necessary to avoid any
confusion as to the motion; and (2) where such rules are in conflict with
the provisions of the State Statutes, the Town Charter, or Town
Ordinances.
Motion carried 3/0.
ESTABLISHMENT OF MEETING DATES
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to hold meetings at the call of the Chair.
Motion carried 3/0.
STORAGE OF RECORDS
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to store records in the Town Council office.
Motion carried 3/0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 16, 2009
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2009 meeting.
Motion carried 3/0.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Tax Lien Sales – $1.107M dated 01-14-10
Finance Director Michael Walsh initiated a general discussion regarding the proposed tax lien sale. A discussion ensued regarding whether or not to permit a 10% payment rather than requiring 20% per normal standard operating procedure to get on a payment plan and the consensus of the Committee was that the economy has not improved and a 10% payment should be permitted. Director Walsh discussed situations where people paid 10% to get on payment plan then do not keep to the plan, and the consensus was to require anyone seeking a second plan to pay 15% down to get on the plan, and that only two plans be permitted. The Request for Proposal (RFP) process was discussed and no changes to it were sought. Mobile home tax liens were also discussed, and the fact that the Administration intends to explore possibilities with the
mobile home parks and come to the Town Council with a summary and/or recommendation. Director Walsh also discussed properties that traditionally receive no bids and suggested that the RFP be amended to permit negotiations, and the Committee agreed.
MOTION By Marc Weinberg
seconded by Eric Thompson
to authorize the administration to conduct a tax lien sale by way of a
request for proposal (RFP) and to seek and receive sealed bids pursuant
to an invitation to bid on a number of tax liens held by the town on
specific real property as listed on a "delinquent report" produced by the
Finance Director dated January 14, 2010 and updated as of March 9,
2010 subject to the following four conditions:
- The Collector of Revenue shall notify the~record owner of each property subject to a lien that is to be included in the tax lien sale, by certified mail, that the lien is being included in the request for proposal and invitation to bid, and that~the owner should contact the Town immediately to pay the taxes or seek a payment plan if they wish to keep the Town's tax liens on their property from being sold;
- The letters from the Collector of Revenue to each property owner shall notify the property owner that the purchaser of the tax lien on their property shall have the right to foreclose on that property;
- The Administration shall return to the Town Council with the results of the request for proposal and that the proposal for each tax lien must be approved by the Town Council before it is sold; and
- Said letter shall state that the town is presently requiring only 10% down payment to get on a plan, instead of the standard 25% down payment normally required, for taxpayers seeking a first plan, and require only 15% down payment to get on a second plan; there will be no opportunity to obtain a subsequent payment plan.
Motion carried 3/0.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Eric Thompson
seconded by Marc Weinberg
to adjourn (7:35 p.m.)
Motion carried 3/0.
cc: Town Council
Mayor Currey
Mike Walsh, Finance Director
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