Athol Select Board approves $35K tax equity settlement for former owner of Sanders Street property

ATHOL — During its meeting on Feb. 26, 2026, the Athol Select Board voted to approve a $35,000 settlement to resolve a tax foreclosure equity claim connected to property at 551 Sanders Street.

Town officials said the claim was filed on behalf of Theva Chiasson, who sought compensation for the equity in the property after a tax foreclosure.

“This is a proposed settlement which has been approved by the Finance & Warrant Advisory Committee and which we had discussed in executive session previously because of the nature of developing a strategy,” Athol Town Counsel John Barrett said during the meeting. “I had negotiated with the attorney for the claimant who had filed a claim for a tax equity payment and we agreed on a settlement in the amount of $35,000.”

Barrett said the claim originated from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision, Tyler v. Hennepin County, which held that local governments cannot keep surplus proceeds from tax foreclosures beyond the tax debt owed.

“This arises out of the new law, or the new decision by the Supreme Court back in 2023, that ruled that taxpayers were entitled to get the equity from a tax sale,” Barrett explained. “Claims had to be filed by a certain time, and in this case, the claim had not been filed in time, but because of complications arising around the law, I felt it was the best interest of the town to settle rather than litigate.”

Following Barrett’s explanation, the select board voted unanimously to approve the $35,000 settlement.