Trumbull to sell about $700K in tax liens

Liens on four tax delinquent properties will be sold after the approval by the Town Council.

The properties and their debts are: 

• 800 Booth Hill Road, F. Francis D'Addario Estate, $400,000
• 408 Shelton Road, UOK LLC, $59,000
• 29 Haverhill Road, Michael and Helene B. Knopick, $142,000 (real estate); and a separate parcel, $95,000 (real estate); $5,000 (sewer)

Council Chairman Carl Massaro Jr. said the practice is common for large municipalities. Town Attorney Ed Walsh said it was "uncommon" for Trumbull.

Another town attorney, Dennis Kokenos, explained the circumstances to a council committee.

"These tax liens are entirely exceptional," Kokenos said.

Someone called the Tax Collector's Office asking to buy the liens, halting the foreclosure process on 408 Shelton Road. The property could be contaminated, officials said.

The Tax Collector then decided to add other properties and to bid the work out.

But the town loses 18 percent interest on the debts, Kokenos added.

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The Booth Hill Road property is in litigation and in the midst of foreclosure proceedings, with an easement owned by a cell tower company.

The liens can be auctioned or sold, Kokenos said.

The Haverhill Road home has been in foreclosure in 2002 and taxes have not been paid on it since 1992, Kokenos noted. Another parcel has more liens on it, according to the attorney. 

"The tax collection rate has increased to 99.4 percent from 98.5 percent in the last three years....The process has resulted in collecting $1 million for the town to date," according to the meeting minutes. Kokenos told the board that 30 properties make up the $1 million collected.