Land Sold for $1

The Brockton Enterprise reported on an Inspector General's letter to the Carver Selectmen from June 2008 regarding a parcel of town owned land that was sold for $1.

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The June 30 memo, addressed to selectmen chairman Jack Angley, said the town was found in violation of state Chapter 30B laws when it disposed of property at 13 Birch Terrace. The property, which was taken by the town for nonpayment of taxes, was sold to Habitat for Humanity for $1 in April 2002. It was assessed at the time at $42,000.

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In June of the same year, Habitat sold the property to private buyers for $36,000. Last June, after the property was sold two more times over the years, Wells Fargo Bank foreclosed on a $189,900 loan on the property.

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Maybe the details of the property sale aren't that significant to Middleboro residents, but the following comments might be:

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A secretary for Town Administrator Richard LaFond said LaFond was out of town for the week.

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The latest selectmen meeting minutes show that on July 8, selectmen and LaFond discussed the June 30 document, and LaFond acknowledged the issue was not handled properly.

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The minutes show LaFond stated, “mistakes were made and he bears some responsibility of the disposition of tax title property.”

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Some may remember that Mr. LaFond was considered by the Middleboro Board of Selectmen last year as a possible Town Manager and was supported by some. This, yet again, defines the failure of the Town Manager Search Committee and the Board of Selectmen to conduct adequate investigation of potential candidates.

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