West Paris reviews tax-acquired properties

WEST PARIS — The West Paris Board of Selectmen elected not to take any action on three tax-acquired properties.

The three properties were formerly owned by local resident Kalvin Mason, but were taken by the town following three years of unpaid property tax. Mason met with the board at the previous meeting and requested that the properties be returned after he paid the back taxes, but the board declined his request until it could more formally review the matter.

According to Chairman Wade Rainey, the selectmen conducted a site visit with a surveyor but did not come to any conclusions on the matter.

"We did a site visit and the site visit confirmed that we need an attorney's advice," said Rainey.

Board members expressed concern about the location of a mobile home that also has unpaid taxes, as well as used cars on the land, which have been the subject of a warning from the DEP to the town. Mason claimed at the previous meeting that the cars and the mobile home are both on property he still owns, and that he has permits to store the used cars where they are.

Rainey said that any action would have to wait until the town had sought legal advice.

"We're still waiting for advice," said Rainey. "We're not going to do anything until we know where we stand."

In other business, the board:

• Said the transfer station would be receiving a 30-foot container to begin its single-stream recycling program. The container will be used until a dispute with a neighboring landowner, who is refusing to sign off on the installation of a new compactor, is resolved.

• Announced that the re-paving of one mile of Tuell Town Road is scheduled to begin on July 28.

• Indicated it would begin seeking bids for work on the town office roof and and maintenance to the town garage.