Assessors Meeting

Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 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, Chair, at 5:20 PM
• Present: Russell French, at 5:22 PM
• Present: Roxanne Parent, at 5:20 PM

Also Present:

• Laurie Lucier

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 5:20 PM

Meeting closed: 6:38 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Dec 7 - Assessors Meeting

1. New mail and invoices

   • Invoices

     MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to renew annual subscription with Marshall & Swift.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

   • Mail

2. Recent sales, new listings, and new permits

   • New Listings

     General Discussion...
     No new listings since previous meeting

   • New Permits

     General Discussion...
     7 new permits reviewed

   • New Sales

     General Discussion...
     No new sales / one real estate transfer since previous meeting

3. MVE abatement applications

   • Review MVE abatement applications

     General Discussion...
     No motor vehicle abatements to review

4. Roy Bishop Site Visits

   • Independent assessments of board member homes

     General Discussion...
     NSTAR has applied statewide for abatements on their personal properties - we will wait for more information before deciding how to move forward.
     
     Independent Assessments - Roxanne reached out to the Ethics Commission and has informed the Board that this topic cannot be discussed or voted on because it effects each board member personally. There will be more conversations with the ethics commission and other state agencies before a decision is made how to move forward. There wad discussion on continuing the way these assessments were done in previous years, however, a final decision has not been made. This topic will be tabled until further communications and research are complete.

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by Roxanne Parent: to table discussions on independent assessments of board member properties.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

5. Abatement applications

   • Application No. 1 (W.G.)

     MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by Roxanne Parent: to deny abatement.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

     Personal property was not sold until May 2002. Taxes are based on what was on January 1st.

   • Application No. 2 (C.H.)

     MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to table this application for further research.

     Pass: Aye: Russell French, Lee Whitcomb. Abstain: Roxanne Parent.

     Dimensions will be corrected. Entrance to the home was denied. Application will be set aside for further research on the law re denial of entry.

   • No. 3 - two requests from Treasurer/Tax Collector

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by Russell French: to amend, correct and reissue two tax bills.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

   • Application No. 4 (C.S.)

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by Russell French: to deny application.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

     Reviewed topo map, still area to develop even with 1/2 acre wetlands. Send information on conservation land.

   • Application No. 5 (N.G.)

     MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to grant an abatement.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

   • Application No. 6 (K.R-C.)

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by Russell French: to deny application.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

     no features that would prevent development. Send explanation of land schedule and information on Chapter 61B.

   • Application No. 7 (R.L.)

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by Russell French: to deny application.

     Pass: Aye: Roxanne Parent, Russell French, Lee Whitcomb.

     Send explanation of land schedule and information on Chapter 61 and 61B

   • Application No. 8 (G.R.)

     General Discussion...
     Applicant currently unavailable and a site visit is necessary before board can make an informed decision.

   • Application No. 8 (J.&E.M.)

     General Discussion...
     Site visit is necessary and owner would like to be present.

6. Plan Site Visits

   • Begin scheduling site visits

7. Other Business

   • Any other business that arises after posting

     General Discussion...
     Roxanne has completed her Assessors 101 training modules.
     
     FY24 budget hearing coming up quickly. Capital Expense requests will also be due. Possible project would be to hire someone to work on the GIS map systems, updated and adding layers. Lee will research further.
     
     Property card presentation - Section one is almost complete. Lee hopes the entire presentation will be complete by year-end.

8. Public comments

9. Meeting Wrap-up

   • Next Meetings:
     1. Wed, Jan 4, at 5:15 PM "Assessors Meeting - CANCELED" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
     2. Wed, Jan 11, at 5:15 PM "Board of Assessor's Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
     3. Thu, Jan 19, 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 approved on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023