Montgomery County still has not been paid for three parcels sold at a foreclosure auction in May, and the chairman of the County Legislature may soon call a special meeting to resolve the problem.
Three properties in the Town of Glen, including the site of the former Poplars resort, were sold at auction in May to Buanno Holdings LLC for $185,000. The three parcels were supposed to be sold as one, but due to an error by the auctioneer, they were sold separately. The sale was put on hold until legislators voted in July to combine the three parcels and sell them to Buanno.
The Legislature’s Finance Committee, comprised of all nine legislators, held a brief executive session at Tuesday’s meeting to discuss the potential sale of county property. After the private session, Legislature Chairman Thomas Quackenbush said the county has not been paid and the closing on the property has not taken place. He asked County Attorney Douglas Landon if the resolution approving the sale could be rescinded. Landon said that was one possibility. Quackenbush said he will call a special meeting to resolve the issue.
District 4 Legislator Ryan Weitz expressed concern that the process has gone on for so long.
“The county took possession [of the property] April 10,” he said. “The auctioneer made a humongous error in selling it as three separate properties. On May 27 we accepted all bids [from the foreclosure auction] except for one. The balance was due June 27; the intention was for a 30-day limit.”
District 8 Legislator Joseph Isabel asked Landon if any legal work has been done to facilitate the sale. Landon said the county is ready to close on the property. County Treasurer Shawn Bowerman said he sent a letter to Buanno officials asking them to contact his office by Aug. 20 to close the sale.
Quackenbush did not set a date for a special meeting, but he said he would call one soon.
“We can debate all night,” he said. “The point is that we now have a property that is not paid for.”
