Council asks staff to rewrite non-utilization tax language to target long-vacant properties

Councilmember Cronin proposed strengthening the town's non-utilization tax (a tax on vacant or abandoned properties) to address buildings that sit empty and fall into disrepair. Cronin said current definitions are too easy for owners to evade and proposed a tiered, escalating tax tied to verified marketing efforts and year-over-year non-performance.

The town solicitor and planner agreed the concept is feasible but recommended reworking definitions such as "actively marketed" and "public nuisance" to avoid ambiguity. The council voted to send the draft back to the planner, building official, solicitor and manager for more specific language that would allow the building official to initiate the tax process and that could include escalating penalties for repeated noncompliance.