Cowdell land-sell plan gets OK

By David Liscio -- The Daily Item
Wednesday, October 1, 2003

The City Council's Public Property Committee Tuesday adopted a seven-point plan submitted by Council President James Cowdell aimed at speeding up the process of selling unwanted public lands.

The committee voted several months ago to take action and issued orders to various department heads related to the property sales, but the overall result lacked coordination and apparently stagnated.

"My sole intention here tonight is to move this process along," said Cowdell.

The committee voted to adopt the council president's recommendations, including that all lots of 2,000 square feet or less be given to the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) for review. "This would prevent anyone from trying to buy a small lot with intention to build on it, and it would also help out the housing authority's Add-a-Yard Program," Cowdell said.

All properties on the current for-sale list must be submitted for review to city department heads over the next 21 days to determine if they have any use for the land.

A private auctioneer will be interviewed within the next 21 days, who will handle advertisements and property sales. The position would be subject to a request for proposals because the committee cannot out right hire an auctioneer.

The idea of hiring an auctioneer was introduced by Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kevin Donahue, who had witnessed the process work successfully for the city of Salem.

According to Public Property Committee Chairman Richard Colucci, the Law Department was ordered months ago to prepare the guidelines for hiring the auctioneer. Assistant City Solicitor George Markopoulos told the committee Tuesday that he handed the task off to Don Walker, an answer that prompted Colucci to ask when the document might be completed. Cowdell, too, stressed that the document must be drafted, no matter who ultimately does the work.

"Let's just get it drafted," he said.

Colucci also questioned Chief Financial Officer Richard Fortucci about delays in getting property information to the councilors. Ward 3 Councilor Charles O'Brien asked Fortucci if the workload was overwhelming and whether hiring additional office help would expedite the process. Fortucci said hiring another person would not make much difference.

Fortucci also explained that the available properties are divided into two lists - foreclosures and other miscellaneous pieces. However, in some cases, the landowner can still reclaim by property by paying the outstanding taxes if the "right of redemption" time period has not elapsed. As a result, those properties shouldn't be added to the list, since they might not come up for sale, Fortucci said.

Colucci also took aim at the Building Department.

"They've dropped the ball," he said, noting that the department has not complied with the committee's order to advertise and sell all unwanted public properties in the city.

"There's just no accountability," he said. "People are told to do things and they just don't. And when they don't, there's nobody that makes them answer."

Both Colucci and Cowdell, in separate interviews, agreed that the city might fare well by hiring an inspectional services coordinator who would oversee the Building Department and other municipal offices.

Prior to his election, Mayor Edward Clancy voiced opposition to hiring an inspectional chief, opining that to do so would create an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.