HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4980        FILED ON: 3/14/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4508

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Steven Owens and John J. Lawn, Jr.

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act authorizing the city of Watertown to place municipal charge liens on certain properties in the city of Watertown for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4980        FILED ON: 3/14/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4508

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

An Act authorizing the city of Watertown to place municipal charge liens on certain properties in the city of Watertown for nonpayment of any local charge, fee or fine.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. (a) The city of Watertown may impose a lien on property located within the city for any local charge, fee, or fine that has not been paid by the due date. This lien shall be known as a municipal charges lien. For purposes of this act, local charge, fee or fine shall mean any charge, fee, or fine imposed by the city under the city code, city regulations, statute or regulations of the commonwealth, and any charge, fee, or fine imposed by a court payable to the city as a result of any action initiated by city officials to enforce the city code, city regulations, statute or regulations of the commonwealth.

(b) A lien authorized under this act shall take effect upon recording of the unpaid municipal charge, fee,or fine, by parcel of land and by the name of the property owner assessed for the fine in the Middlesex south registry of deeds.

(c) If a charge, fee, or fine which is secured by a municipal charges lien remains unpaid when the city assessors are preparing a real estate tax list and warrant to be committed under section 53 of chapter 59 of the general laws, then the board or officer in charge of the collection of the municipal charge, fee, or fine shall certify such charge, fee, or fine to the assessors, who shall add the charge, fee, or fine to the tax on the property to which it relates and commit it with the warrant to the collector of taxes as part of the tax.

(d) If the property to which such charge, fee, or fine relates is tax exempt, the charge, fee, or fine shall be committed as the tax.

(e) A lien under this section may be discharged by filing in the Middlesex south registry of deeds, a certificate from the treasurer/collector that all municipal charges, fees, or fines constituting the lien, together with any interest and costs thereon, have been paid or legally abated.

(f) All costs of recording or discharging a lien under this act shall be borne by the owner of the property.

(g) Prior to any lien being imposed for any local charge, fee, or fine as defined by this act, a vote of the city council shall be taken specifying each type of charge, fee, or fine to be collected pursuant to this act.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.