City tax scofflaw squats in old home

LYNN – A city man has been living tax-free and rent-free at his residence at 15 Jefferson St. since 2003 while the situation has seemingly drifted under the radar of city officials.Prior to being foreclosed on in 2006, former owners Arthur and Leslie Lougee racked up a total of $23,561 in unpaid taxes dating back to 2003, not including current amounts due for 2008.After winding its way through land court for several years, City Councilors scratched their heads at a Public Property meeting Tuesday as to why the situation is still ongoing.Director of Inspectional Services Michael Donovan said the city-owned structure has become somewhat of a neighborhood eyesore and safety hazard over the years, and requested guidance from councilors.”This is one situation that I can’t explain what happened,” he said. “It happens once in a while where places like this slip through the cracks, but we just received notice of the situation in January.”The 4,980 square foot, two-family home is in dire need of repair according to Donovan, who said windows in the abandoned second floor apartment are shattered.After non-payment of taxes in 2003, Donovan said the city took Lougee to land court, where he then had one year as a right of redemption to pay the amount due and regain the property.Having failed to pay the amount due for the next two years as well, the city then filed a complaint in 2005, and became owners of the property shortly after.Lougee, reportedly a regular at Gannon Golf Course, has his water and electric bills paid up to date, but that’s it.”The owner’s been living there at the property and I believe he is by himself on the first floor,” Donovan said. “But my concern is that the city owns the property and if someone gets hurt, it’s the city’s liability because he is our tenant.”Ward 3 City Councilor William Trahant suggested the owner attend the next Public Property meeting on Feb. 26 to discuss his situation and decide to either pay rent to the city or vacate the property immediately.”I want to give him an opportunity because he sounds down and out, but he has to do one or the other,” he said. “I don’t want to throw him out on the street, but the building doesn’t sound too safe either.”Located near Chestnut Street, Donovan said the building is essentially becoming a public nuisance that has been getting worse and worse everyday since the city foreclosed on it.”The situation floated for 18 months, but the city doesn’t function very well as a landlord,” he said. “It becomes difficult to handle.”However, City Treasurer Richard Fortucci said the time lapse is perfectly normal because the case has been making its way through land court.”We’re pretty much on schedule and it’s not what it appears to be,” he said. “But at some point, the issue is going to have to be forwarded to the law department.”