Local officials happily accepted on Wednesday a $31,000 bid from a Texas firm for a poorly maintained home at 18 Water St. The property was one of two the town took over for nonpayment of taxes. The board also sold a half-acre lot on the Matthews Road to G. Matthews of Washington, D.C., for the amount of back taxes, costs and other associated fees, a total estimated cost of $300. Another person had submitted a bid of $3,001 for the same parcel. Selectmen learned that the piece of land had been deeded as a gift by Matthews, who owns the surrounding land, to a resident who defaulted on the taxes. The gift had a stipulation that it never be sold. (Diana Bowley, BDN)