Augusta panel urges Fort Kent to return money

FORT KENT – The Legislature’s Committee on State and Local Government has requested that the town of Fort Kent repay $25,000 to a resident who purchased tax-acquired property five years ago but has yet to acquire ownership of the property.

Brian Theriault, now a member of the Fort Kent Town Council, purchased the parcel five years ago. The land Theriault paid for has since been returned to its original owner by the courts. Theriault has requested several times that the town return his money.

The town has refused.

In the meantime, Rep. Troy Jackson, D-Fort Kent, prepared LD 1491 to remedy the Theriault conflict by requiring municipalities to provide proof of ownership before selling tax-acquired property.

However, the bill received a unanimous ought-not-to-pass from the State and Local Government Committee.

The co-chairs of the committee, Sen. Elizabeth Schneider and Rep. Christopher Barstow, wrote the town that the Legislature “does not want to involve [themselves] in municipal affairs any more than necessary.

“[We] respectfully request that the Fort Kent Board of Selectmen look at this particular case and consider returning Mr. Theriault’s money to him,” they wrote last month.

The Fort Kent Town Council took no action on the letter made public at a meeting Monday night.

“They said in their letter they didn’t want to get involved in municipal affairs, but they have by sending us this letter,” Fort Kent Town Manager Donald Guimond said Tuesday. “We have taken no action on the letter.”

Theriault testified at the public hearing on LD 1491. He also spoke on his issue Monday night.

“We understand that the tax collector’s most difficult task is collecting property tax and also that there is always a risk involved with purchasing tax-acquired property,” Schneider and Barstow wrote. “However, we feel concern and sympathy for Mr. Theriault’s situation and believe that this case is worthy of your attention.”

In other business Monday night, the Fort Kent Town Council heard concerns about road conditions in the residential Park Circle area. Guimond said the town has no money to significantly repair the many problems in the area.

The plea by residents of Park Circle is almost an annual one.

Also, the Town Council was told Monday night it needs to appoint an SAD 27 school board member for Ward 3. Cecilia Pinter, who held the position for a few years, resigned.

The appointment would last until the next municipal election in March 2006. Ward 3 includes Belone Hill residential area, Pearl Street and part of St. John Road.

A public hearing will be held June 27 at 6:30 p.m. on a proposal to submit a planning grant application to the Community Development Block Grant Program.

The $10,000 grant would be used to explore the feasibility of extending municipal sewers along Route 1 south of town and the Industrial Park.

On June 27, the Town Council will also be holding interviews for the position of Economic Development Director. The town has received about one dozen applications for the position.

Finally, the town accepted the resignation of police Officer Shawn Querze, who has been accepted to attend the Maine State Police Academy. His resignation will be effective when he attends the academy, possibly in early 2006.