Board of Assessors Meeting

Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 5:15 pm until 6:30 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 5:25 PM

Also Present:

• Laurie Lucier
• Roxanne Parent

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 5:25 PM

Meeting closed: 7:45 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Jan 17 - Assessors Meeting

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Jan 24 - Board of Assessors Meeting

   • Minutes Approved: Wed, Jan 31 - Board of Assessors Meeting

1. New mail and invoices

   • General Discussion...
     ESRI annual quotation
     DOR/DLS alert
     Cherry sheets
     2 sales verification sheets

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to pay invoices as submitted.

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

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to accept the ESRI quote.

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

2. Recent sales, new listings, and new permits

   • General Discussion...
     1 new home sale
     3 real estate transfers
     0 new listings
     14 new permits

3. Motor Vehicle Excise Warrants

   • MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to sign 2 MVE warrants - 2023-7 and 2024-1.

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

4. RE / PP Abatement Applications

   • General Discussion...
     Four site visits needed (BM, VB, LC and LL)
     Discussion with RP regarding her application for abatement. Further research is necessary

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to grant 2016 PP as uncollectable and a 2023 RE as double-billed, both per the request of the Treasurer.

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

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to deny 4 abatement applications.

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

     MOTION, moved by Lee Whitcomb, seconded by George Forcier: to grant abatement application for (EV & LV) as a double bill.

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

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to partially approve abatement application (SD & MR) - 1/2 acre and woodshed.

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

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to abate bill in full (SG & KG) - an omitted and revised bill will be issued.

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

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to abate in full, 2 exempt organization and 1 duplicate billing.

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

     MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by George Forcier: to deny application for PC.

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

     Land was removed from chapter status for FY24, non-qualifying parcels, status will not be reinstated to corrected parcels until FY25

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to deny application (GM & JC).

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

     FY24 application placed land in chapter 61A & 61B / Chapter 61 (forestry) does not begin until FY25

5. Program Conversion Updates

   • General Discussion...
     Tyler needs to be contacted with authorization to begin handing over date to AP-5 so the conversion can begin.
     George would like a timeline on the process once that letter goes out

6. Admin Assessor Search Discussions

   • General Discussion...
     Questions to address:
     Office hours - possible Monday through Thursday 9-3 as posted hours with the remaining floating?
     Hourly v. salary - houly
     2nd job - no control over this as long as hours and expectations are being met
     Overlap - approximately 8 weeks overlap with Lee. George will talk to Jan and Veronique regarding funding
     
     Specific Candidate... discussed in Executive Session

     MOTION, moved by George Forcier, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to enter into an Executive Session at 7:10 pm.

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

     MOTION, moved by Russell French, seconded by Lee Whitcomb: to exit the Executive Session and return to the regular meeting at 7:35 pm.

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

7. Other business

   • General Discussion...
     Lee will be out of the office March 8th through the 22nd

8. Public comments

9. Meeting Wrap-up

   • Next Meetings:
     1. Mon, Feb 12, at 6:00 PM "Board of Assessors - Joint Meeting with Selectboard" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
     2. Fri, Feb 16, at 9:00 AM "Board of Assessors Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
     3. Wed, Feb 21, at 5:15 PM "Board of 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 Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024