OAKLAND — Air Force veteran and cancer survivor John Ingraham will receive half the net proceeds, around $75,000, from the town’s sale of his foreclosed McGrath Pond properties.

The Town Council approved a 50-50 split Wednesday evening after a 30-minute executive session with Mike Hodgins, the town’s attorney, and Robert Marden, Ingraham’s lawyer.

“He would be pleased to accept that,” Marden said after Hodgins summarized the agreement.

While the split reportedly pleased Ingraham, it didn’t please several residents in attendance.

Ned Hammond said the money represented a windfall for the town but that Ingraham, who had served with the 507th Tactical Control Group in Vietnam, was “down and out.”

Hodgins said case law supported the town keeping all of the proceeds.

However, Hodgins said the town decided to compensate Ingraham for his assistance clearing up title questions and signing deeds.

Both Tilton Point Trail parcels are under contract, and if the deals go through in 60 days, Ingraham will receive his cut.

Hodgins said it made sense to make the deal.

As part of the two-page agreement, Ingraham has 30 days to remove the rest of his personal items from the camps.

Ingraham owed $11,508 in back taxes on the two parcels. Oakland has also spent about $18,500 in legal fees to deal with the matter.

The two properties, acquired because of failure to pay taxes, are expected to bring the town $180,000.

In 2007, when Ingraham underwent treatment for prostate cancer, he fell behind on taxes on the camps he had inherited from family members.

Ingraham was born in 1943 in Waterville. He said he spent many summers at the camps as a child.

Last week, Ingraham, who was homeless for two years in Massachusetts, met with councilors to ask that they consider giving him some of the proceeds from the sale of the tax-acquired properties.

Beth Staples — 861-9252

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