45 property owners risk foreclosure if back taxes not paid by Feb. 25

    GREENVILLE — Time is running out for 45 Greenville landowners to pay their 2010 property taxes by Feb. 25 or risk the possibility of having the town foreclose on it. A similar situation occurred last year when 45 tax liens were about to mature. Forty-three property owners avoided foreclosure by making a payment before the deadline.

    Town Manager Gary Lamb informed the board of selectmen on Feb. 19 that 14 delinquent property owners had made at least a partial payment on their back taxes.

    “I expect Monday (Feb. 25) to be a busy day. The number of liens are alarming, but we had the same number last year and hopefully they will all be able to at least pay 2010’s taxes in order to avoid foreclosure,” Lamb said.

    All of the financial news wasn’t bad as Lamb reported that the town’s surplus had grown in the past year. In Fiscal Year 2010-11, Greenville had a $92,000 surplus, but due to higher than anticipated revenues the town had a $392,000 surplus for 2011-12. Greenville received $191,000 in additional revenues from the municipal airport project. Lamb also described the town with a “healthy overlay,” few property tax abatements and a healthy balance in the new plow truck account as reasons for the town’s improved surplus figures.

    In other action, a proposal to allow all-terrain vehicle usage in 25 mile per hour zones failed to receive enough votes for passage. Selectmen Richard Peat and Bruce Wyman voted in favor, Bonnie DuBien voted against and Craig Watt abstained due to a potential conflict of interest. Watt’s family owns the Indian Hill Trading Post which would benefit from the ordinance change.

    The proposal may be voted on again at a future board meeting. The board only had four members present because Selectman Bruce Hanson was absent. Lamb also indicated the proposal may be put forward to the voters as a ballot question at the June referendum.

    The selectmen also heard a presentation from Police Chief Jeff Pomerleau and retired Game Warden Roger Guay about police canine units. The pair provided information about a proposal to add a canine unit to the municipal police department. Greenville Police Officer Matthew St. Laurent has offered to purchase a police dog for the department. The dog would be trained by Guay.

    “If the town goes for this it would cost a fraction of what it normally would,” Lamb said. “It costs up to $30,000 to train these canine units at the academy. So if the town goes for this, it would cost a fraction of what it normally would.”

    Lamb also reported that the town audit and report were completed. The town office is able to send the audit out to residents by e-mail and the town report has been sent to the printer. Lamb expects the town reports to be available in the municipal office as soon as Feb. 28 and no later than March 8.

    The selectmen will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 in the municipal building.