Lori Stabile from Masslive.com reports from Palmer, MA, where Josh Noone‘s brother Jay, a fireman, has never paid property tax on his home. Or, what he thought was his home. Now the town government people are preparing to steal it and throw Jay’s family out into the street. Activists drove down from Keene on what was supposed to be the day of eviction in a show of support. The government people did not make a move on Jay yesterday, but it’s probably only a matter of them waiting until the supporters drop off. Unlike the government guys who threaten and steal for a living, we actually have to be productive in the market to succeed. Here’s masslive’s story:
PALMER – As the town prepared to hold a tax-title auction on Tuesday at the Town Building, a group of people gathered at the home of Joseph F. “Jay” Noone at 3157 Main St. in Bondsville to protest his eviction notice over non-payment of $23,000 in taxes.
During the auction, two men from Keene, N.H., videotaped the proceedings; beforehand, they asked questions of Police Chief Robert P. Frydryk about what was happening.
Pete Eyre, wearing a T-shirt that said “I don’t talk to police, I record them,” said they are part of libertyontour.com, which, according to its website, advocates for self-governance, personal responsibility and consensual interactions. They left the auction after the first sale to join the group at Noone’s.
According to Treasurer-Collector Paul Nowicki, Noone owes $23,000 in back taxes dating from 2005. Officials said the town has already taken ownership of the property, and Frydryk said Noone was told Friday he had 48 hours to vacate the premises. Noone was told he would be evicted Tuesday morning, but as of Tuesday afternoon, that hadn’t happened.
Noone, a Bondsville firefighter, said he has never paid property taxes, and calls them “extortion.” Noone said he has been unfairly depicted as being “anti-government.” He said he has issues with the May 12 judgment from Land Court in the tax lien case that favored the town, as it bears no signature, just a stamp.
He was surrounded by a group of approximately 20 people, some local, some from New Hampshire. A few wore shirts that said “Tyranny Response Team,” and there were handmade signs saying “No Jury No Trial” and “No Due Process.”
Some of the group was recruited through a Facebook page, “Anti-House Stealing Party! Help Jay Out!”
Noone contends that the town of Palmer is not a government, and accused the town attorney of trying to “line his pockets.” Noone said if he is evicted, he will probably file a lawsuit. He also has a tenant at 3159 Main St. – the property is a two-family – who will be affected as well.
“If you have to pay a tax on property, you don’t own it,” Noone said.
“It’s we the people who are the government,” he said. He had a copy of the “Citizens Rule Book,” about citizens’ rights and responsibilities, in his shirt pocket.
“Am I to understand that the state has the right to do things that the individual may not, such as steal property?” Noone said.
The auction, which was run by Paul T. Zekos, president of The Zekos Group of Shewsbury, featured properties already owned by the town taken through the tax-title process over non-payment of taxes.
Treasurer-Collector Paul A. Nowicki said the town is cracking down on tax scofflaws in an attempt to recoup money owed and return properties to the tax rolls.
Although five properties were featured in Tuesday’s auction, two, 42 Commercial St. and 1532 North Main St., attracted no bids, and it was unclear what the town will do with them. The town netted $90,500 from the auction; the total amount of taxes previously owed on the three sold properties was $128,000.
John W. Lizak, a major property owner in town, bought 7.8 acres at Breton Street and Calkins Road for $18,000, plus another $8,000 in fees. Lizak said he doesn’t know what he will do with it.
“I love land,” Lizak said.
A house at 61 Bennett St. in Thorndike sold for $47,500. And five acres at 5 Carriage Drive sold for $25,000.
“This is all one-time revenue for the town,” said lawyer Peter A. Brown, who is working with town officials on collecting back taxes.
This was the second auction handled by Zekos this year; the first netted $220,000 for the town.
