Assessors Meeting

Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 5:15 pm until 7:15 pm
Town Hall Office Meeting Space
A meeting of the Board of Assessors

Meeting of Board of Assessors

Members: (Quorum)

• Present: Lee Whitcomb, Member, at 5:15 PM
• Present: Russell French, Chair, at 5:15 PM
• Present: George Forcier, Member, at 5:15 PM

Also Present:

• Laurie Lucier
• Roxanne Parent
• Carla Harlow

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 5:15 PM

Meeting closed: 7:02 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Sep 6 - Assessors Meeting

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Sep 20 - Assessors Meeting

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Sep 20 - Joint Board of Assessors and Selectboard Meeting

1. New mail and invoices

   • General Discussion...
     DLS Notice - qualifying income levels, based on Franklin County, for various person exemptions
     Invoices for CAI and Marshall & Swift

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to approve invoices.

     Pass: Aye: Russell French, Lee Whitcomb, George Forcier.

2. Recent sales, new listings, and new permits

   • General Discussion...
     Two sales, four transfers, no new listings and 22 new permits

3. Motor Vehicle Excise Abatements

   • MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to grant four motor vehicle excise abatements.

     Pass: Aye: Russell French, Lee Whitcomb, George Forcier.

4. Chapter applications

   • MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by George Forcier: to approve the thirty applications reviewed this evening.

     Pass: Aye: Russell French, Lee Whitcomb, George Forcier.

4. • MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by George Forcier: to bring forward agenda items 7 through 10.

     Pass: Aye: Russell French, Lee Whitcomb, George Forcier.

5. Program Conversion

   • General Discussion...
     Lee fully in favor of converting the assessing software. Catalis AP5 (previously Patriot) - we have information on pricing. Good readable calculation processes and they will do conversion from Tyler.

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Russell French: to change software vendors with a vote on which vendor at next meeting.

     Pass: Aye: Russell French, Lee Whitcomb, George Forcier.

6. Update on FY24 tax submission to the Commonwealth

   • General Discussion...
     FY24 rate accepted at $16.22 (down $0.93)

7. 'How to read your property card' - when will this be posted to the website - by R. Parent

   • General Discussion...
     Once the FY24 tax bills go out, Lee will try to finalize the presentation

8. How did you calculate the effective year built for this years tax bills - by R. Parent

   • General Discussion...
     This will be addressed and any corrections needed will be done with the new program

9. Incorrect Chapter 61 billing amounts - how is the board going to handle this - by R. Parent

   • General Discussion...
     There will be a meeting with the accountant and treasurer to address the best way to process the abatements

10. FY2023 property abatement issues and questions - by C. Harlow

    • General Discussion...
      Recalculate the abatement, being sure the effective year built is 1990. If the previous abatement calculation was incorrect, process for the difference. Email her a breakdown of the process and figures obtained.

11. Other business

    • General Discussion...
      Mention of Lee Totman, recently passed, who was an assessor for approximately twenty years.

12. Public comments

    • General Discussion...
      Fix R.P.'s effective year built to 1985
      Mail R.P. a copy of her FY24 Chapter application
      Check C.H.'s shed values, why are the two sheds valued so differently

13. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Wed, Oct 18, at 5:15 PM "Assessors Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
      2. Wed, Nov 1, at 5:15 PM "Assessors Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
      3. Wed, Nov 15, at 5:15 PM "Assessors Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by Laurie Lucier

Minutes approved on Monday, Oct 30, 2023