The city of Watertown has taken possession of six properties whose owners have not paid city, school or county taxes in two years. Among those properties are homes at 523 Jefferson St. and 210 Academy St.

City Comptroller James E. Mills said last week that a code enforcement officer will inspect the two houses to determine their fate. The city has a fair number of options once it acquires properties, including auctioning them, offering them to private organizations like the Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity, or razing the structures.

Habitat for Humanity generally renovates houses it acquires from the city. On certain occasions, the organization razes unusable structures and builds new houses on the properties. In February, the city sold five parcels to the organization for $1 each.

The ultimate goal is getting the properties back on the tax rolls, Mr. Mills said.

The city holds an annual sales certificate auction for property owners who are in arrears. The certificates act as liens against the property.

The city becomes the default bidder for those certificates that are not bid on by private entities. If the taxes are not made whole within two years, the city awards the certificate holder the tax deed.

"We still need to meet internally to decide what's best," Mr. Mills said.

The City Council will make the final decision on what happens to the properties. The vacant lots include 100 Alexandria Ave., 101 Alexandria Ave., 103 Alexandria Ave. and 218 S. Meadow St. The combined assessed value for all of the properties is $82,800.

The city has earmarked $54,500 in the current budget for the demolition and disposal of unusable structures.

Mr. Mills said the issue will not be in front of city lawmakers until August.