Trickey Pond lot for sale by sealed bidding

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer

NAPLES — This town’s selectmen are confident that the sale of a tax-acquired waterfront lot could bring in close to $1 million.

The Naples Board of Selectmen was so certain of people’s interest in purchasing the parcel on Trickey Pond that the board set a minimum bid of $750,000.

The Trickey Pond lot has been referred to as the Mayberry Landing property.

Last month, on Dec. 12, at the urging of landowners around the pond, the selectmen decided to put up the parcel for sale rather than keep it for open space.

On Jan. 18, the selectmen voted, 4-0, to offer the land to the public through the sealed bid process with a deadline of Feb. 27, and to set the minimum price at $750,000.

Following the vote, Selectman Kevin Rogers commented.

“The net is pretty big. There is a lot of chatter out there,” he said.

Prior to the vote, Rogers responded to the topic of how long to offer the bid.

“We should test the water, put it out for two months,” he said.

In talking to people in the community, the price of $750,000 has come up a lot, he said.

“I don’t feel the urgency. We shouldn’t be sitting here wanting to get rid of it. We want to maximize what we can get for it,” Rogers said.

Jim Grattelo, who joined the meeting via Zoom, concurred with Rogers.

“There is no urgency. We should test the waters,” he said.

Like Rogers, he had heard prices attached to conversations and social media comments about the lot that the board had decided to sell.

“I heard the number $750,000. Someone would write a check for $750,000 and buy that property,” he said.

Grattelo suggested allowing real estate brokers with clients willing to spend more than the minimum bid to participate in the sealed bid process.