Selectmen's Notebook: Tax Deliquents To Be Called In For Hearings
Rail Trail proponents look for support taking next step.
The owners of three Tewksbury businesses, delinquent in their property taxes, will be called to appear before the Board of Selectmen next month.
At their meeting on Tuesday, selectmen voted to schedule public hearings on license renewals for Mavericks Restaurant and Lounge, 2212 Main St., Lowell Transportation, 911 East St. and Oscar's Pinata, 346 Main St. for the board's meeting on Feb. 12.
Over the last few years, selectmen have grown impatient with businesses that have been delinquent in their property taxes or water and sewer bills. This year, the board made the decision to hold off on renewing required licenses for such businesses if taxes were not up to date or payment arrangements made by Jan. 1.
According to tax information provided by the town, Lowell Transportation owes $3,760.36, Oscar's Pinata owes $29,314.68 and Mavericks Restaurant & Lounge owes $57,992.17. According to Town Manager Richard Montuori, the figures represent taxes owed for the previous 12-month period.
Rail Trail Proponents Seek Support For Grant
Members of the Tewksbury Rail Trail Organization appeared before the Board of Selectmen requesting support in their bid for a Wellness Grant from the Metro Area Planning Council.
According to Pete Miller, the grants awarded range from $5,000-$10,000 and would pay for the administrative expenses associated with establishing and running a Bike and Walking Trail Committee.
"There would be no cost to the taxpayer," said Miller.
Selectmen voted 4-0 to endorse the grant application.
"This sounds like an excellent citizens' initiative," said Selectman Doug Sears.
Miller's group is also requesting funding from the Community Preservation Committee to fund a walking and bike trail feasibility study.
In other business:
Selectmen unanimously approved the common victualler license and the amusement device license for Merrimack Valley Pavilion.
Selectmen heard a presentation from Carloz Jaquez of the Department of Public Works on a draft of the newly packaged town sewer regulations. (Editor's note: A separate article on this presentation will appear later this week on Tewksbury Patch.)
In This article
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Oscar's Pinata
346 Main St, Tewksbury, MA -
Mavericks Restaurant and Lounge
2212 Main St, Tewksbury, MA -
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Town of Tewksbury Department of Public Works
999 Whipple Rd, Tewksbury, MA
Rusty
8:32 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Why do the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear"a draft of the newly packaged town sewer regulations".
Bob
8:45 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Because your hairs know that is code for "how can we do a bigger money grab from our employers and make them think it is for them or the children".
Dan
9:00 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wow, I better get to Oscar's soon!!!
Richard Menard
10:25 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I wonder if there is a way to find what is property tax and what is h2o bill? If these businesses have mortgages, the escrow from the lender should cover that. I think that putting a road block on a business that may not be responsible for the bill is a tough way to go. Tewksbury has a hard enough time keeping businesses in town without bringing obstacles and poor publicity to light. Mavericks was always so good to the Trahan when my kids went there...time we support them in return. I know where "date night" is gonna be this month for my house!
mike t
6:29 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I pay my tax bill. Why shouldn't Mavericks? Remember the purpose of having business's in this town is so we can generate revenue for the town. The responsibility is on the business owner to pay their bills not their lenders. Tewksbury has been more than lenient with these business's. I wonder how much these business's have cost Tewksbury in police calls and intoxicated driver incidents.
Richard Menard
7:51 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Mike t, I'm not advocating that these businesses be tax exempt...just saying that I know from personal experience that I was on the 'naughty' list in the paper when I paid my taxes to my escrow but they never cut the check in time. Before we start a lynch mob it would be nice to see some of the details. As for calls by pd, each bartender in Massachusetts has to be 'tips' certified so they can I.d. People who can't be served because they are getting to the point of being a safety risk. You have more to worry about when people drink at a party than you do at a restaurant/bar.
Karyn
11:45 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I think it's about they go after/collect from ALL tax delinquents across the board.
Karyn
11:47 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
*time
denise
3:15 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Would love to see a Trail open in this town! Get me and others off our butts!
Dave G.
8:24 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Do they still publish the names of tax delinquent home owners? I know they used to do that along with the amout they owe.
Richard Menard
8:36 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I havent seen it on the patch but have in the Crier before.
Dave G.
8:49 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thanks Richard. The Patch would be a great place to put that list then we could see how much outstanding money the town is owed. Also how do they collect it if you don't pay??
Bill Gilman
9:03 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Hi guys, I'm going to say that I would not publish that list and here is why:
What would be the cutoff line? Someone who is overdue just one tax payment? 3? 5?
Perhaps these folks are just going through a rough financial time. Maybe they got laid off or a family member is having a medical crisis. Why embarrass them?
So maybe the cutoff is properties the town is taking for back taxes. Would we publish the names of home owners in foreclosure? Again, no. For the same reasons.
I understand the info you are looking for ---- tax deadbeats, particularly developers or landlords with multiple properties.
I can tell you that if an issue comes before a town board -- for example a developer wanted to build a new building and sought permitting but owed back taxes -- we will report it. Such was the case with these three businesses. They are looking for license renewal.
Hope that makes sense.
Karyn
10:46 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Just an FYI...they always did publish such a list in the Town Crier and year after year it was usually the same offenders the biggest of which are pretty much mentioned in Bill's post.