Wachovia Building Back on the Market

Hatboro Borough Council is hoping the third time is a charm as it tries, again, to find a buyer for the roughly 11,000-square-foot structure.

During its meeting Monday night and following an executive session, the council voted to hire Century 21 New Horizons as the listing agent to market the two-story building, located at 212 S. York Road. Two previous sale attempts  .

Citing a conflict of interest, Councilman John Zygmont recused himself from Monday's executive session and abstained once it came time to vote.

The yet-to-be-drawn contract between the borough and its agent calls for a six-month listing and six percent commission upon sale, the council said. If Century 21 fails to sell the building, the agent would not receive any monetary compensation, Borough Manager Steven Plaugher told Patch after the meeting.

The council was expected to act last month in bringing a new realtor on board to help sell the shuttered building. Delays with an - which began in August - kept that action from happening.

The building was previoulsy appraised at $767,000 as part of a bid packet released in February.

But, on Monday, with the most recent appraisal in hand, the council remained mum on the building's value.

"What was the assessment? That’s why we're here," Hatboro resident Ron Battis said of himself and the other residents who sat through the three-hour-long meeting. "We’ve been waiting three months for an appraisal."

Council President Marianne Reymer said the assessment was "not public information."

"It protects our sale," Reymer said.

"If it's public information to you, it's also public information to all potential buyers," Councilman Bill Tompkins said.

Borough solicitor Michael Savona said he expected the listing agreement to be signed by week's end and the borough-owned property to be listed shortly following.