Resident Marks 24th Month

Since Losing Home To Taxes

County Reps Unswayed By Citizen’s Plea

By JIM KEVLIN • for www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – As she has at every county Board of Representatives’ meeting since losing her home in the county’s annual tax sale in August 2014,  tearful Maria Ajello, formerly of the Town of Richfield, pleaded to get her home back for the 24th time at this morning’s  meeting.

She noted that, for two years as of today, she has appeared monthly every month to argue her case, to no avail.  “I begged, I pleaded,” she said.

Again, the county board this morning took no action.  Since Betty Anne Schwerd, R-Edmeston, retired from the board at the beginning of this year, none of the reps has taken up Ajello’s cause.

As he also has every month, Russell Ahrens, an advocate on his friend’s behalf, also asked the reps to return the property, which was  sold to a neighbor, who also works for the county, as does Mrs. Ajello.   “Give her her home back,” he said.  “That’s the right thing to do.”

The homeowner and another, Bob Force of Gilbertsville, both lost their properties after County Treasurer Dan Crowell set a requirement that the bills must be paid well in advance of the tax sale, so as not to discourage potential buyers from participating.

Ajello and Ahrens also object that, for the first time, the county board as a whole did not vote publicly on the sale, which was handled administratively.

At the request of county Board chair Kathy Clark, R-Otego, county Attorney Ellen Coccoma explained that, once legal challenges are dismissed – as, she said, occurred in this case – a county must act on the taking.   “By state law we had to act,” she said, “and we did.”