BURRILLVILLE – Investors and town officials purchased liens on 24 Burrillville properties during a tax sale held at the Assembly Theatre on Thursday, June 12, which brought in more than $68,00 in unpaid funds due to the town and Sewer Department.
The sales, held annually, allow the town to recoup money lost through ongoing delinquencies on property tax and sewer bills.
Typically, the events bring in funds due on a dozen or so properties – where owners have failed to respond despite warnings. Notice of the pending lien sale was published in an advertisement in advance as required by law, and additionally posted at Brigido’s IGA, as well as local post offices. Debtors were also notified of their properties’ inclusion by mail.
This year, advertisement of the sale, held at the Assembly Theatre, listed 45 debtors, with around half coming forward to settle the bills or to work out a payment arrangement before the deadline.
Liens on 18 lots were ultimately sold to the highest bidder, bringing in a total of $68,312. Town Clerk Vicki Martin said it was the largest number of properties up for auction at such an event in Burrillville in at least five years.
Proponents say the public auctions help to keep potentially blighted properties in productive use. Under the right of redemption, owners have one year to pay off the initial bills plus interest and fees, or investors can file to foreclose on the lots, according to state law.
When properties that fail to attract an investor and no bids are received, the town itself will often purchase the liens under the same provisions. This time, the town of Burrillville purchased six such liens.
Critics of the sales say process can be too tough on struggling homeowners, who face additional fees and high interest rates for the past due bills. Rhode Island Housing can purchase the liens giving qualified owners additional time to catch up under the Madeline Walker Act, a state law passed in 2006.
Editor’s note: This article was edited from its original version to include three additional properties.
Below is a complete list of liens sold at the auction.
2140 Bronco Highway
- Owner: Steven & Linda Perry
- Originally due: $600
- Purchased by: Beacon Hill Associates, LLC for $1,267
30 Henry Lane
- Owner: Jason & Zachary Rega Oliveira
- Originally due: $2,317
- Purchased by: Breezy Acres RIGP for $2,991
30-32 Spring Lake Road
- Owner: Daniel Tavares
- Originally due: $1,344
- Purchased by: Samson Woods for $898
0 Warner Lane
- Owner: The Lace Company, LLC
- Originally due: $110
- Purchased by: Nely Brandao Paul for $583
85 Sanwood Drive
- Owner: Meredith Haley
- Originally due: $1,336
- Purchased by: Jutonus LLC for $1,728
42 Sanwood Drive
- Owner: Edward & Laurie Charpentier
- Originally due: $3,127
- Purchased by: Anniston Leasing LLC for $3,671
361-363 Chapel St.
- Owner: Smithco, LLC & Cove Marina LLC
- Originally due: $13,676
- Purchased by: Reasonable Realty LLC for $11,044
265 Sayles Ave.
- Owner: Amanda Clark
- Originally due: $1,336
- Purchased by: Stephen Greene for $1,337
265 Sayles Ave
- Owner: Lee Beckwith
- Originally due: $2,408
- Purchased by: E T Investments, LLC for $2,336
21-25 East Ave.
- Owner: GAK Holding Group Inc.
- Originally due: $4,008
- Purchased by: Casey Realty RIGP for $3,108
22 Park Ave.
- Owner: Aja J. Girard Dorsey
- Originally due: $1,950
- Purchased by: Brushneck Cove Investments LLC for $1,984
94 Irving Ave.
- Owner: Elizabeth Charpentier & Steven Giarusso
- Originally due: $1,336
- Purchased by: Steven Giarrusso for $1,585
116-118 Sayles Ave.
- Owner: Erin Golden
- Originally due: $6,870
- Purchased by: Gosnold Investments for $6,492
189 South Main St.
- Owner: Thomas Ernest
- Originally due: $1,336
- Purchased by: R. Quinn for $1,024
112 South Main
- Owner: John Mitchell & Robert Woods
- Originally due: $3,951
- Purchased by: Carlo Testa for $4,246
0 Tarkiln Road
- Owner: Albert Musso & April Perez
- Originally due: $119
- Purchased by: Nely Brandao Paul for $614
0 Centennial St.
- Owner: Sierra Development Corporation
- Originally due: $7,646
- Purchased by: David Langlois for $12,714
0 Old Nasonville Road
- Owner: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
- Originally due: $813
- Purchased by: Town of Burrillville for $1,335
95 Ross Road
- Owner: Thomas Gonyea & Albert Beauparlant
- Originally due: $16,103
- Purchased by: Town of Burrillville $36,952
0 Wallum Lake Road
- Owner: Brittany Johnson
- Originally due: $61
- Purchased by: Town of Burrillville for $525
0 Spring Lake Road
- Owner: Eugene & Elaine Waterman
- Originally due: $513
- Purchased by: Town of Burrillville for $982
0 Spring Lake Road
- Owner: Eugene & Elaine Waterman
- Originally due: $513
- Purchased by: Town of Burrillville for $982
415 South Shore Road
- Owner: Mary & Gerald Dyer, Michael Nelson
- Originally due: $161
- Purchased by: Town of Burrillville for $808
965 Douglas Pike
- Owner: 965 Douglas Pike, LLC
- Originally due: $9,309
- Purchased by: Greenwich Capital Partners LLC for $10,638
