| Author | Message | ||
     tsingle999 Citizen Username: Tsingle999 Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2001 |
The lot at 16 Taranto Ct in Maplewood was auctioned off last year. The neighboring homes which currently use the land (actually have used it for 40+ years) were not told of the auction even thought both neighbors had contact with the town administrator within the previous year asking to purchase the land. The only and winning bidder and seemingly the only person to know about the auction was the fire chief and he plans to build a 2 family home. The lot was sold for just over $80000 which is a steal when you consider how hard it is to buy a buildable lot that is big enough for a 2 family home in Maplewood. The fact that 1 neighbour will not have a driveway for his 3 family home and the other neighbor will lose a yard has not stopped this town's council from approving this sale. Ultimately this is the mayors responsibility and his refusal to correct this town scandal will cost him my vote on June 7th! | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5699 Registered: 5-2001 |
Who actioned off the property? The town? The previous owner? Was the sale for non-payment of back taxes? If the town was involved, the auction should have been announced in the News Record along with other public notices where appear from time to time. Have you checked (library has back copies) if such a posting was made? If it was a private sale, I doubt that the intent to sell or result of the sale had to be made public. It is unfortunate that the neighbors on either side, who have been taking advantage of the adjacent vacant lot all these years will no longer have the free use of this land but it wasn't their's in the first place. | ||
| tsingle999 Citizen Username: Tsingle999 Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2001 |
The auction was held by the town as the town owned the property and the town administrator told me that she put notices in the paper. But in all other auctions like this in the past the town has always notified the neighbors. Mayor Profeta has told me personally that the town now has a policy to inform neighbors when an auction is held. Is it any wonder the Mayor has a good relationship with law enforcement? An auction like this should be properly advertised to make sure the town gets the most money for this parcel of land. As there was only 1 bidder and the land was so cheap it is obvious that it was not advertised properly. The neighbors who have used the land for 40 years have filed an adverse possesion claim to take title of the land. If they win my guess is the fire chief will get his money back from the town anyway. | ||
| johnny Citizen Username: Johnny Post Number: 1253 Registered: 5-2001 |
I would think that town employees would not be allowed to bid on any town owned property to avoid any conflict of interest. | ||
| tsingle999 Citizen Username: Tsingle999 Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2001 |
I agree - It should be a transparent publicized process that avoids conflicts of interest. The way the land was auctioned was legal but not done in a way that it should have been done. The town administrator followed the letter of the law but did not take into account the interests of the residents of Maplewood. Ultimately it is the mayor's responsibility and he chose not to correct the situation. Obviously the current administration does not seem to find a town employee bidding on town owned property objectionable. Which makes you wonder why was the town employee the only bidder on such a prime piece of real estate and he paid probably 2/3 of its value? | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4860 Registered: 5-2001  |
This is the stupedest thread yet. Keep em coming - we love it! | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 411 Registered: 2-2005  |
"stupedest"  | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4861 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oooooo, so, so sorry. I meant to say stewpittest. red dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot. | ||
| tsingle999 Citizen Username: Tsingle999 Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2001 |
Its stupid until it happens to you... They shouldn't get away with this. | ||
| TomR Citizen Username: Tomr Post Number: 518 Registered: 6-2001 |
ts, What is the value of a lot, of similar size, in that neighborhood? TomR. | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 488 Registered: 8-2004 |
TSINGLE- Do you by any chance happen to live on either side of that lot? While I feel for those living on either side of the lot, as Joan said, the neighbors were using the land for free for all these years. You yourself stated "the town administrator followed the letter of the law" if this is true, it doesn't seem likely those on either side of the lot have a case. To me, it also seems out of line to make accusations about the town's relationship with the police dept having anything to do with the sale of this property, when it was the fire chief who bid on and bought it. While I agree those living around the property should have been made aware it was to be auctioned; notices were put in the paper. Sadly, like you've said the "way the land was auctioned was legal." Hopefully you will find a loophole is the transaction and the sale will be voided. I don't understand though, if this happened last year, why you're jst now complaining about it. | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 82 Registered: 1-2004 |
He's complaining now because Vic told him to. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 951 Registered: 3-2003 |
This is reminiscent of the Ellen Davenport / Tom Keene race, when one week before the election an attack piece attacked Keene for purchasing a Maplewood property on insider information. It was a lie, of course, but the damage was done, created a perception that couldn't be changed in the week remaining. The Keens and Davenports had been across the street neighbors for years, that friendship disappeared instantly because of deceitful political opportunism. Sorry, as I read this I see the similarity of tactics, and am concerned that Vic's campaign is really stooping low. Desperation, maybe? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3854 Registered: 9-2001  |
"Ultimately this is the mayors responsibility and his refusal to correct this town scandal will cost him my vote on June 7th!" Dear Tsingle999, Something stinks about your complaint, but what the hell, two can play this game... So, not for nothing, but when it comes to personally notifying neighbors about anything affecting their property, be careful you don't jump from the pan into the fire. Just a couple years ago, Maplewood's previous Mayor and members of that township committee took away over 60 street parking spaces on Elmwood Avenue and a few adjacent streets that had existed long before Maplewood was even a town. I was never personally notified that all the parking on both sides of the street in front of my home and along Elmwood Avenue was going to be taken away. Not unlike your neighbor friend, I also used this town property for over 60 years. The whole parking issue was a bunch of BS about noise, littering, and loitering in front of Winchester Gardens, all which are enforceable ordinances already in place to resolve their alleged problem. After the Mayor had a few private meetings with WG and these few neighbors, the TC introduced an ordinance one week, put in the NR, and two weeks later at the next TC meeting it was passed into law. Interestingly, the two most vocal neighbors have since moved, one of who was the person whose house was the reason for the ordinance in the first place. So, what goes around comes around. The parking is gone, the neighbor's are gone, and the Mayor is gone... Therefore, the $64,000 question is; do you think bringing back the last Mayor will bring back your friends vacant property, or my parking? FWIW, regarding the properties that the town sold; I read the NR, I thought about bidding but didn't, I attended the meetings where the matter was hashed out, and yes, I agree the neighbors should always be notified personally when any government activity could effect their property. Meanwhile, changing your vote won't change the problem you think it will.... | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6529 Registered: 4-1997  |
I just won a bet!  | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3855 Registered: 9-2001 |
...OK, are you implying you knew I would dig that body up again? Come on Dave, share the bet with us. Who did you bet, and what did you win? | ||
| tsingle999 Citizen Username: Tsingle999 Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2001 |
Real estate agents I've talked to who live in Maplewood estimate $120K on the low side for a buildable 2 family lot in Maplewood but it is hard to estimate as there are not many available which increases the price. Your right about it having nothing to do with the police dept. I apologize, I'm upset. I have tried everything else to rectify this situation to no avail. I am just telling the story now because I think the way this was handled is a travesty and it is the mayors responsibility and he should be held accountable. I feel people should know about what happened as it may affect thier voting decision. How do you want your town run. The fire chief being the only bidder on an auction of town land is not right when I know lots of people who would have snapped it up at a much higher price. I am also upset at the town administrator because previous town administrators have had the common sense to notify the neighbours (especially when the neighbours have contacted you about it). It is one thing to follow the letter of the law and another to do your job well. The town administrator is paid by all of us - she should be acting in the best interests of the towns residents and be accountable to us. I could not even get an apology from her. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 8628 Registered: 5-2001 |
The lot in question was assessed for $58,900 during the reval. It is shown in the reval records as .11 acre, under 5,000 square feet. | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 489 Registered: 8-2004 |
T I understand your frustration, but maybe your complaints would have met more sympathy if you had voiced them last year when this occured, when you might have had at least SOME chance for it to be undone. A week before the election raises eyebrows. You yourself have stated you are saying something now because knowing about it might affect how someone votes. That statement kind of dilutes your arguements about despite the way things were handled, the sale was legal. Bob K I find it hard to believe a lot that size isn't worth a lot more then $58,900. Is Taranto Court located on a busy street? | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 8630 Registered: 5-2001 |
Taylor, the figure I posted was as of the reval in 2000. It probably is worth more now, but I don't know how much more. |
