2012-05-22 Board of Assessors Minutes

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MINUTES CONTINUED 5. NEW BUSINESS: - NONE. 6. General Business: 6a. Regionalization: The meeting began with each participant introducing him/herself including a brief description of his/her professional background. BQ and CW are the newest members of their respective Boards. CW also serves as the Appraiser for the Town of Tewksbury. FM reviewed the circumstances that led to this meeting, including the unexpected resignation of Reading's head appraiser in late March and the ongoing search for his replacement. Reading is in the process of converting its mass appraisal system over to Patriot Properties' Assess Pro. Wakefield BOA member Sebastian P. Tine was not able to attend. However, he had prepared a written statement which was distributed to the meeting participants. Mr. Tine opined that, "Victor Santaniello is one of the best and most proficient users (of Patriot Properties' Assess Pro system) in the area." Mr. Tine also wrote that he has "every confidence that Mr. Santaniello could manage both Reading and Wakefield well and bring a financial savings to both towns" BN then distributed some materials relative to certain feasibility studies undertaken by Hamilton- Wenham and the Cape Cod Commission. These studies generally concluded that the potential financial savings resulting from sharing the Assessing function was rather small. VS noted that Reading & Wakefield have very similar profiles. Combined, there are approximately 17,000 taxable parcels divided more or less equally between Reading and Wakefield. CIP is roughly 10 % in both Towns. Wakefield, unlike Reading, currently employs a split tax rate. Reading, Wakefield and Melrose already share the cost of certain Health Department services; Wakefield and Lynnfield also share the cost of a Building Inspector. Steve Mayo, Wakefield's Town Administrator, has reportedly "blessed" the idea of "regionalizing" the Assessing function. It is also generally understood that Melrose may eventually be willing to participate with Reading & Wakefield, but not at this time.