SPRINGFIELD – The city is threatening to place liens on 741
properties in Springfield that are tax delinquent for fiscal
year 2010 and together represent more than $1.8 million owed
in taxes, interest and fees.

The delinquent tax bills, advertised today in The
Republican, range from $68,477 owed at the former
Springfield Lincoln Mercury property at 1535 Bay St., to
amounts less than $100 owed at various properties.

As advertised, the taxpayers on the list have until Jan.
26, to pay the delinquent bills or the city will attach
liens, Lonergan said.

Those facing the liens include the owners of the Paramount
theater building at 1676 Main St., who are listed as owing a
$45,655 tax bill in fiscal 2010. The owners, Steven C. Stein
and Michael J. Barrasso of Paramount Realty Investment LLC,
recently have announced their intent to sell the building to
the New England Farm Workers Council, saying the taxes will
be settled with the sale.

The number of properties facing tax liens declined from
last year when there were 819 properties advertised as
delinquent for fiscal 2009.

“We are pleased that it is lower,” said Stephen
J. Lonergan, city treasurer-collector. “We would rather
have citizens pay their taxes on time and not have to pursue
legal action.”

The 741 delinquent bills owe a total of $1,582,218 in taxes
for fiscal 2010 plus approximately $186,320 in interest and
$68,000 in fees, according to city records. Today’s
list does not include properties already in tax title and
does not list the interest owed.

The annual advertisement of delinquent properties is part
of the city’s aggressive efforts to collect back taxes,
and follows multiple notices sent to the owners of record,
Lonergan said.

Regarding some of the lowest amounts owed, some as low as
$42, Lonergan said that many might be oversights on the part
of the owners but must be pursued by the city. The city
usually does not advertise amounts less than $50, but a few
cases can be found in the advertisement.

The city lists the owner of record in the advertisement.
However, if the city is aware of a sale, it tries to also
list the subsequent owner who becomes responsible, Lonergan
said.

The owner of the property at 1535 Bay St., is listed by the
city as 1535 Bay Street LLC. The company lists three
managers: William J. Harbey; Jeffrey E. Harbey; and Michael
S. Rozowicz, according to state records.

However, according to records with the Registry of Deeds,
the property was sold in 2009 to Bay Street Commercial
Realty LLC and Michael S. Rozowicz for $1,754,969. There was
no telephone listing for Rozowicz.

The city also lists a delinquent tax bill of $45,216 for a
building and land at 125 Paridon St., formerly part of the
Diamond Match property in East Forest Park.

The owner is listed as Diamond Affiliates LLC, with George
R. Reed Jr., listed as the manager. There is also a building
and lot on the south side of Paridon Street with a
delinquent tax bill of $8,892, also owned by Diamond
Affiliates, according to city records.