Resolve, Authorizing the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to Convey by Sale the Interests of the State in 3 Properties Located in Biddeford, Sanford and York Reference to the Joint Select Committee on Housing suggested and ordered printed.
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2277
Committee: Housing
Sponsors: GERE, PIERCE, MALON, MASTRACCIO, RUNTE, SARGENT, SHEEHAN, STOVER, VITELLI

Legislative Document
No. 2277
H.P. 1464
House of Representatives, March 25, 2024
Resolve, Authorizing the Commissioner of Administrative and 
Financial Services to Convey by Sale the Interests of the State in 3 
Properties Located in Biddeford, Sanford and York
Reference to the Joint Select Committee on Housing suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GERE of Kennebunkport.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Cosponsored by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland and
Representatives: MALON of Biddeford, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, RUNTE of York, 
SARGENT of York, SHEEHAN of Biddeford, STOVER of Boothbay, Senator: VITELLI of 
Sagadahoc.
Sec. 1.  Authority to convey state property.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding 
any provision of law to the contrary, the State, by and through the Commissioner of 
Administrative and Financial Services, referred to in this resolve as "the commissioner," 
may:
1.  Convey by sale all or a portion of the State's interests in the 3 parcels of state 
property described in section 2, together with the buildings and improvements, all 
appurtenant rights and easements and all personal property located on each of the parcels, 
including vehicles, machinery, equipment and supplies;
2.  Negotiate, draft, execute and deliver any documents necessary to settle any 
boundary line discrepancies regarding the state property described in section 2;
3.  Exercise, pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, chapter 3, subchapter 3, 
the power of eminent domain to quiet for all time any possible challenges to ownership of 
the state property described in section 2;
4.  Negotiate, draft, execute and deliver any easements or other rights that, in the 
commissioner's discretion, may contribute to the value of a proposed sale of the State's 
interests in any of the state property described in section 2; and
5.  Release any interests in the state property described in section 2 that, in the 
commissioner's discretion, do not contribute to the value of any remaining state property 
described in section 2.
The 3 parcels comprising the state property described in section 2 may be conveyed by 
sale individually or collectively, in the commissioner's discretion.
Sec. 2.  Property interests that may be conveyed. Resolved:  That the state 
property authorized to be sold is:
1.  A parcel or parcels of land, located between Washington and Adams Streets in the 
City of Biddeford, conveyed by the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority to the State, 
acting by and through the judicial branch, by quitclaim deed recorded in the York County 
Registry of Deeds, Book 18544, Page 272;
2.  A parcel or parcels of land, located in Springvale Village in the City of Sanford, 
conveyed by the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority to the State, acting by and 
through the judicial branch, by quitclaim deed recorded in the York County Registry of 
Deeds, Book 19242, Page 906; and
3.  A parcel or parcels of land, located in the Town of York, conveyed by the Maine 
Governmental Facilities Authority to the State, acting by and through the judicial branch, 
by quitclaim deed recorded in the York County Registry of Deeds, Book 18544, Page 275.
Sec. 3.  Property to be sold "as is". Resolved:  That the commissioner may 
negotiate and execute purchase and sale agreements upon terms the commissioner 
considers appropriate; however, the state property described in section 2 must be sold "as 
is," with no representations or warranties. Title must be transferred by quitclaim deed 
without covenant or release deed and executed by the commissioner.
Sec. 4.  Maine State Housing Authority or local public housing authority. 
Resolved:  That disposition of the state property described in section 2 must follow the 
provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 4754-A. If neither the Maine 
State Housing Authority nor a local public housing authority exercises the option to 
purchase one or more of the parcels comprising the state property for residential housing, 
it must be sold pursuant to section 5.
Sec. 5.  Opinion of value. Resolved:  That, if the state property described in section 
is not conveyed to the Maine State Housing Authority or one or more local public housing 
authorities for residential housing pursuant to section 4, the commissioner shall have the 
current market value of the state property described in section 2 determined by a broker 
opinion of value and current comparative market analysis. The commissioner may sell the 
state property described in section 2 directly to a purchaser through a competitive process, 
list the state property for sale with a private real estate broker or engage an auction company 
to solicit bids. After evaluating bids or offers, the commissioner may either negotiate the 
terms of sale, executing deeds and other closing documentation or reject any or all bids or 
offers.
Sec. 6.  Proceeds. Resolved:  That any proceeds from the sale of the state property 
described in section 2 must be deposited into the Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services, Bureau of General Services capital repair and improvement account for 
capital improvements.
Sec. 7.  Deed covenants. Resolved:  That, if the state property described in section 
or any portion is transferred to the Maine State Housing Authority or a local public 
housing authority for residential housing pursuant to section 4, the Maine State Housing 
Authority or a local public housing authority shall ensure that it is used for that purpose for 
a minimum of 10 years.
Sec. 8.  Repeal. Resolved:  That this resolve is repealed 5 years from its effective 
date.
SUMMARY
This resolve authorizes the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to 
convey the State's interests in 3 former courthouses located in the City of Biddeford, the 
City of Sanford and the Town of York, pursuant to the procedures set out in the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 4754-A, for use as residential housing.  However, if 
any of the 3 parcels comprising the state property is not transferred to the Maine State 
Housing Authority or a local public housing authority for residential housing under an 
option to purchase, it is required to be sold using a competitive process via sale or auction.