Saugus targets taxes

SAUGUS – Twenty-three businesses are in arrears on tax, water and sewer bills to the tune of $81,000.Wendy Reed, clerk to the Selectmen, asked the board to call a show cause hearing that would, in theory, force business owners to pay up.Selectman Stephen Castinetti said he had no problem calling for the hearing.”Some of these businesses are substantially behind,” he said. “We’re talking thousands of dollars, in some cases tens of thousands of dollars. That’s money we could certainly use.”The call for the hearing is not uncommon. Each year there are usually businesses that are behind on their bills, which forces the town to call a show cause hearing. But there are two businesses that have upped the ante this year.The Colonial Motor Travel Court is in arrears a total of $14,126.78 while Jin Asian Cuisine is into the town for a whopping $40,550.91.Since the motor court is out of business, Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said the town would go after the registered property owner for the money.”Whoever’s name is on the tax bill,” he said.Jin’s bill is a combination of a failure to pay $558.27 in property taxes and $39,992.64 in water and sewer charges. Jin, the Route 1 north eatery on the hill, is still open, which makes tracking down the owner much easier.Another business on the hook for some fairly steep bills include Pro Collision Center on Hamilton Street, which owes the town $5,791.33 in tax title, $179.57 in water and sewer charges and $298.58 for motor vehicle excise taxes.Keeping pace with Pro Collision are Route 1 south’s KFC, which owes $3,649.61 in property taxes, Iron Works Grille in the Square One Mall, which owes $3,852.44 and Tonino’s Restaurant on Hamilton Street for $3,001.14 in water and sewer bills. The Route 1 Hess Station comes in next with its bill for $2,485 in water and sewer and Personal Chef owes a total of $1,407 in taxes and water and sewer.Nico’s Creative Cuisine owes $822.57 for taxes and Ken’s Car Care owes $785.19 on its tax title.Other bills run from a high of $622.75 in taxes owed by Personal Property to a low of $32.16 in taxes owed by Deleo’s Pizza.Castinetti suggested the board set the hearing date right then and there, but Reed was way ahead of him.”Is Dec. 16 at 7:45 OK?” she asked, having already picked out the potential date.The board voted unanimously to hold the hearing on the 16th in Town Hall auditorium where all the businesses that have still not paid will have to answer for their delinquency.