Evicted Lynner given second chance

LYNN – City officials voted to allow the former owner of 15 Jefferson St. to bring his back taxes up to date in an effort to regain his home even after eviction notices were delivered last month.Arthur L. Lougee, 68, appeared before the Public Property Committee meeting Tuesday and said he could pay $15,000 toward the total amount due to the city of roughly $27,000.The City Council voted to serve an order of eviction in February to Lougee, and he was given 30 days to vacate the city-owned property.While the date has come and gone for Lougee to leave the residence, he said he has been in talks with the city to “gather up the cash” and resolve the issue.City Treasurer Richard Fortucci said Lougee wanted to pay the city $15,000 a few weeks ago, but was hesitant to do so after a hearing was held.”Bottom line, he said that he has about $38,000 in various pension accounts, but it’s going to take about 12 to 14 weeks to get the money,” he said. “So even though the city issued eviction notices, he thought he would come back to at least ask for some time.”Ward 2 City Councilor William Trahant said he was uneasy about the transaction, but he conceded as long as the balance is paid in full by the end of the year.”This really isn’t a good example to be setting, but I would be willing to accept the $15,000 by the end of the week,” he said.Ward 3 City Councilor Darren Cyr questioned whether Lougee would be able to pay the remaining amount owed to the city, or if he would end up losing the $15,000.Lougee simply said, “I’m not going to lose the $15,000.”Fortucci said interest would continue to accumulate on the total outstanding amount.”However, once he gets his taxes paid up in full, he then has an option to defer his taxes,” he said.According to City Assessor Peter Caron, the age at which a person can defer taxes is 65 years of age and older.After non-payment of taxes in 2003, the city took Lougee to land court where he was given one year as a right of redemption to pay the amount due to regain the property.Having failed to pay the amount due for the next two years, the city then filed a complaint in 2005 and became owners of the property in 2006.