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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-03 Board of Assessors Minutes,EIVED N CLERK NL, W,ss. TOWN OF READING 16 LOWELL STREET -J�xm C &4 - 25 P 12:41 READING, MA 01867 -2693 MINUTES APRIL 3, 2012 BOARD OF ASSESSORS TEL.: 781 - 942 -9027 FAX: 781- 942 -9037 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. IN ATTENDANCE: BOA PRESENT: MR. FRED A. MCGRANE, MR. RALPH A. COLORUSSO AND MR. ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. BOA ABSENT: NONE. STAFF: MS. PAT SULLIVAN. BOB NORDSTRAND, AS A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 1. APPOINTMENTS: - REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN. 2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING /S: FEBRUARY 29, 2012 - APPROVED 2 -0 -1 MARCH 27, 2012 - APPROVED 3 -0 -0 ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. READ ALOUD THE DRAFT MINUTES. NO CHANGES WERE PROPOSED. FRED A. MCGRANE MOVED THAT THE MINUTES FOR 2/29/12 BE ACCEPTED. SECONDED BY RALPH A. COLORUSSO. MOTION APPROVED 2 -0 -1 WITH ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. ABSTAINING. FRED A. MCGRANE MOVED THAT THE MINUTES FOR 3/27/12 BE ACCEPTED AS SUBMITTED. SECONDED BY RALPH A. COLORUSSO. MOTION APPROVED 3 -0 -0. 3. INTERIM TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: PRESENTED BY PAT SULLIVAN TED MOORE WANTS TO COME IN ON TUESDAY, 4/10/12. 4. SIGNINGS: - THE BOARD REVIEWED AND APPROVED ROUTINE MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX ABATEMENT REQUESTS AND CERTIFIED ABUTTERS LISTS. THE BOARD THEN REVIEWED AND ACTED UPON SIX FY2012 REAL ESTATE TAX ABATEMENT REQUESTS AS FOLLOWS: APPROVED: #32, #38, #39 AND #53. DENIED: #42 AND #48. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE INTERIM TOWN APPRAISER IN EACH INSTANCE. 5. NEW BUSINESS: - 5a. POTENTIAL REGIONALIZATION OF THE ASSESSMENT BY LETTER DATED MARCH 28, 2012, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN HAS ASKED THIS BOARD "...TO RECONS] THE POTENTIAL OF DEVELOPING A REGIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM WITH ONE OR TWO NEARBY COMMUNITIES." THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE MARCH 27TH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN. FRED A. MCGRANE NOTED THAT THIS BOARD WAS ONLY NOTIFIED AFTER THE FACT. PAT SULLIVAN EMAILED THE MAAO MEMBERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO SHARE ANY THOUGHTS OR EXPERIENCES WHICH THEY MIGHT HAVE ON THE SUBJECT. TWO REPLIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE: (1). MELISSA COUTURE ADVISED THAT SOUTH HADLEY'S BOS IS CONSIDERING REGIONALIZATION. SHE NOTED THAT THE AUTHORS OF THE HAMILTON AND WENHAM REGIONALIZATION AND MERGER ANALYSIS DID NOT REGARD THE MERGER OF ALL FINANCE RELATED OFFICES OF THE TWO TOWNS AS A VIABLE WAY TO REDUCE COSTS. (2). GAIL MCALEER (EASTHAM, MA) REPORTED THAT THE CAPE COD COMMISSION IS FINALIZING A $50,000 FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING THE REGIONALIZATION OF THE ASSESSING FUNCTION AND SOME GIS SERVICES. PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT REGIONALIZING THE ASSESSING FUNCTION WILL RESULT IN LITTLE OR NO COST SAVINGS. MCALEER ALSO SUGGESTED A NUMBER OF NON - FINANCIAL FACTORS THAT THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER. A GENERAL DISCUSSION THEN ENSUED. THE CITY OF MELROSE AND THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD ARE UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE TWO "NEARBY COMMUNITIES" WHICH THE BOS HAD IN MIND. BOTH HAVE SPLIT TAX RATES AND CURRENTLY USE PATRIOT PROPERTIES SOFTWARE. READING HAS A SINGLE TAX RATE AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING TO PATRIOT PROPERTIES. THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT PATRIOT PROPERTIES WOULD CONTINUE TO SEPARATELY LICENSE ITS PRODUCT TO THE THREE TOWNS EVEN IF REGIONALIZATION BECAME A REALITY. THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS OF MELROSE AND WAKEFIELD ARE APPOINTED AND ELECTED, RESPECTIVELY. RALPH A. COLORUSSO QUESTIONED WHETHER DON DRAGHT ( MELROSE BOA) WOULD SUPPORT REGIONALIZATION. ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. QUESTIONED WHETHER READING'S CHARTER WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED. THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT ANY SAVINGS TO READING'S TAXPAYERS WOULD BE NOMINAL AND THAT THE TIMING OF THE BOS'S REQUEST WAS FAR FROM "IDEAL ". THE ASSESSING DEPARTMENT IS SHORTHANDED, THE HEAD APPRAISER POSITION IS VACANT, THE CAMA/PATRIOT CONVERSION IS STARTING UP AND THERE IS A SIZEABLE BACKLOG OF PROPERTY INSPECTIONS TO BE DEALT WITH. THE BOARD IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE MERE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ASSESSING FUNCTION MIGHT BE REGIONALIZED SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO RECRUIT WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT'S REPLACEMENT AND /OR RETAIN CURRENT STAFF. THE BOARD NOTED THAT REGIONALIZATION OF THE ASSESSING FUNCTION ON THIS SCALE HAS NOT BEEN ATTEMPTED IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE BOARD IS THEREFORE CONCERNED THAT REGIONALIZATION MAY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF REVENUES TO THE TOWN AND /OR NEGATIVELY IMPACT CUSTOMER SERVICES. AT THIS POINT BEN TAFOYA, PETER HECHENBLEIKNER AND BOB LELACHEUR JOINED THE MEETING. MINUTES CONTINUED PETER HECHENBLEIKNER BEGAN BY OFFERING THE RECENT REGIONALIZATION OF THE READING, MELROSE AND WAKEFIELD HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AS A MODEL THAT MIGHT ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE ASSESSING FUNCTION. SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT COULD BE ATTEMPTED ON A TRIAL BASIS, SAY FOR SIX MONTHS. FRED A. MCGRANE DESCRIBED THE ASSESSMENT FUNCTION AS THE FINANCIAL LOCOMOTIVE THAT DRIVES ABOUT 67% OF THE TOWN'S REVENUES IN THE FORM OF PROPERTY TAXES. THIS BOARD DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT REGIONALIZING THE ASSESSING FUNCTION WILL RESULT IN ANY SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS FOR THE TOWN. THE TIMING IS BAD. THE DEPARTMENT IS SHORT STAFFED. THE BOARD AND ITS STAFF ARE DEALING WITH THE RECENT RESIGNATION OF THE TOWN APPRAISER, NEW GROWTH ISSUES RELATING TO SOME LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, THE SYSTEM CONVERSION FROM CAMA TO PATRIOT PROPERTIES AND A BACKLOG OF PROPERTY INSPECTIONS. REGIONALIZATION DONE BADLY WOULD BE A "RECIPE FOR DISASTER ". RALPH A. COLORUSSO STATED THAT, AS A READING TAXPAYER, HE WANTS TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE THE TOWN MONEY. HE IS CONCERNED THAT HE COULD FIND NO MODEL FOR REGIONALIZING THE ASSESSMENT FUNCTION ON DOR'S WEBSITE. RALPH A. COLORUSSO BELIEVES THAT READING AND WAKEFIELD ARE ON THE SAME REVALUATION CYCLE, WHICH MAY PROVE PROBLEMATIC. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER THINKS THAT DOR WOULD BE WILLING TO LET ONE OF THE TOWNS CHANGE ITS REVALUATION CYCLE IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE REGIONALIZATION OF THE ASSESSING FUNCTION. BEN TAFOYA WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT ALL OBJECTIONS COULD BE OVERCOME THROUGH TEAM WORK. HE WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUES AND WORK THROUGH THEM WITH THE HELP OF TOWN STAFF. MINUTES CONTINUED BOB NORDSTRAND OPINED THAT THE PROPOSED REGIONAL APPRAISER MUST BE A CAPABLE NEGOTIATOR. HE SHOULD IDEALLY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE READING COMMUNITY AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPERTISE WITH THE CAMA SYSTEM. HE URGED ALL PRESENT NOT TO BE PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH AND OFFERED THE BOARD HIS NOTES FROM THE LAST TIME REGIONALIZATION WAS DISCUSSED. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER ESTIMATED THAT READING WILL SAVE BETWEEN $35K AND $40K PER YEAR FROM THE REGIONALIZATION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE ALSO QUALITATIVE BENEFITS TO SHARING EXPERTISE. FEES AND MANY POLICIES CANIWILL BE STANDARDIZED AMOUNG THE THREE TOWNS. ON THE OTHER HAND, READING WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO SURRENDER ALL POLICY MAKING AUTONOMY, CITING TOBACCO CONTROL AS AN EXAMPLE. THE CHALLENGE IS HOW TO TRANSLATE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MODEL OVER TO THE ASSESSING FUNCTION. FRED A. MCGRANE POINTED OUT THAT THE TWO FUNCTIONS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT; ASSESSING IS A REVENUE GENERATOR WHILE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A COST CENTER. BOB LELACHEUR SAID THAT THAT THE ASSESSING FUNCTION'S MISSION IS TO MINIMIZE ABATEMENTS AND TO MAXIMIZE NEW GROWTH. HE BELIEVES THAT LARGER GROUPS TEND TO BE MORE CONSISTENT THAN SMALLER ONES. BOB LELACHEUR THINKS THAT THE REGIONAL ASSESSOR SHOULD BE A "SPECIALIST" AND THAT A GROUP OF TOWNS WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF ATTRACTING THE BEST AVAILABLE PERSON FOR THE JOB. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER OPINED THAT THE REGIONAL ASSESSOR POSITION SHOULD BE FILLED BY A TOP NOTCH PERSON. STAFF SHOULD BE "BACK- FILLED" AROUND HIM. COST IS LESS IMPORTANT SO LONG AS READING'S INTERESTS ARE ADEQUATELY SERVED. BOB LELACHEUR ASSURED THE BOARD THAT REGIONALIZATION WAS "NOT ALL ABOUT COST SAVINGS ". MINUTES CONTINUED PAST TURNOVER AND VARIOUS FUTURE STAFFING SCENARIOS, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, WERE DISCUSSED. RALPH A. COLORUSSO NOTED THAT WINCHESTER'S VENDOR HAS DEDICATED TWO OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO SERVICE WINCHESTER MORE OR LESS EXCLUSIVELY. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER AND BOB LELACHEUR EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE BOARD'S CURRENT WORK LOAD AND OFFERED INTERIM HELP. AT THIS POINT (ABOUT 8:45PM), BEN TAFOYA, PETER HECHENBLEIKNER, BOB LELACHEUR AND BOB NORDSTRAND ALL LEFT THE MEETING. THE BOARD THEN ENGAGED IN A FOLLOW -UP DISCUSSION. THE BOARD CONTINUES TO BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO BE GAINED BY REGIONALIZING THE ASSESSING FUNCTION. HOWEVER, THE BOARD AGREED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT REGIONALIZATION AND WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET WITH ITS COLLEAGUES ON THE MELROSE AND WAKEFIELD BOARD OF ASSESSORS. 5b. CLAUSE 18 HARDSHIP EXEMPTION THE BOARD TOOK UP THE CLAUSE 18 HARDSHIP APPLICATION AFTER PAT SULLIVAN HAD LEFT THE MEETING. THE APPLICANT HAD APPEARED HERE ON MARCH 27 TH THE BOARD REVIEWED THE STATUTORY LANGUAGE AND INFORMATIONAL GUIDELINE RELEASE 88 -233. THE BOARD NOTED THAT AN APPLICANT MUST BE CONSIDERED "AGED (GENERALLY, AGE 65 OR OLDER), INFIRMED AND IMPOVERISHED" IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS EXEMPTION. ALL THREE CRITERIA MUST BE MET BY THE APPLICANT. THE BOARD NOTED THAT THE APPLICANT WAS 56 YEARS OLD AS OF 7/1/2011 AND CONCEDES THAT SHE DOES HAVE SOME HEALTH ISSUES. RALPH A. COLORUSSO INDICATED THAT HE IS NOT ENTIRELY SATISFIED WITH THE DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT WITH RESPECT TO HER OWN MEDICAL CONDITION. THE BOARD NOTED THE APPLICANT'S STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS "NOT DISABLED AND WANTED TO WORK ", AND HAD RECENTLY TAKEN A PAYING PART TIME JOB. THE APPLICANT ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS THE PRIMARY CARE GIVER FOR HER ELDERLY MOTHER (WHO PASSED AWAY IN APRIL 2011). SHE NOW CARES FOR A PARTIALLY DISABLED CHILD WHO ATTENDS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN READING. HER OLDER CHILD (NOW 18) IS AWAY AT COLLEGE. THE APPLICANT REPORTS THAT SHE WAS LAST EMPLOYED ON A FULL TIME BASIS IN 1996. IMPOVERISHMENT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY DEFINED IN IGR 88 -233. THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS AND SYMPATHIZES THAT THE APPLICANT'S CURRENT LEVEL OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO MAKE ENDS MEET. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE IS NOT THE ONLY READING RESIDENT IN THIS SITUATION. FRED A. MCGRANE NOTED THAT THE APPLICANT OWNS A SUBSTANTIAL EQUITY IN HER HOME, WHICH WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS SHE PAYS DOWN THE PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF HER MORTGAGE. ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. QUESTIONED WHETHER THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER GRANTING AN EXEMPTION TO THE APPLICANT IF SHE HYPOTHETICALLY CONVERTED THE EQUITY IN HER HOME INTO CASH AND RENTED AN APARTMENT FOR AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO HER CURRENT MORTGAGE PAYMENT. LACKING LIQUIDITY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOU IMPOVERISHED. ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. SAID HE WOULD PREFER THAT ANY RELIEF GRANTED TO THE APPLICANT SHOULD TAKE THE FORM OF A DEFERRAL ARRANGEMENT UNDER CLAUSE 18A INSTEAD OF AN EXEMPTION UNDER CLAUSE 18. THE BOARD NOTED THAT SECTION 5 OF CLAUSE 18A REQUIRES THE HOMEOWNER TO OBTAIN THE MORTGAGEE'S WRITTEN APPROVAL PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO SUCH A DEFERRAL ARRANGEMENT. ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. DID NOT THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM GIVEN A VERY LOW LTV RATIO AND APPLICANT'S STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS ON GOOD TERMS WITH HER LONG TIME LENDER. RALPH A. COLORUSSO QUESTIONED WHETHER CLAUSE 18A ONLY APPLIED TO CERTAIN MILITARY PERSONNEL. THIS QUESTION IS MOOT FOR FY2012 BECAUSE THE APPLICANT DID NOT FILE A TIMELY APPLICATION (STF 99). SUMMING UP, FRED A. MCGRANE SAID THAT THIS BOARD HAD GRANTED EXEMPTIONS EQUAL TO 100% OF THIS APPLICANT'S TAXES EVERY YEAR THAT HE HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD, SAVE ONE. HE BELIEVES THAT THE APPLICANT'S PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE IMPROVED AND THAT SHE CAN AND MUST DO MORE TO BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT. FRED A. MCGRANE MOVED THAT THE APPLICANT BE GRANTED AN EXEMPTION EQUAL TO 50% OF HER FY2012 REAL ESTATE TAXES PURSUANT TO MGL CHAPTER 59, SECTION 5, CLAUSE 18. RALPH COLORUSSO SECONDED THE MOTION WHICH WAS APPROVED BY A 3 -0 -0 VOTE. FRED A. MCGRANE WILL ASK PAT SULLIVAN TO PREPARE THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK FOR THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING. 6. GENERAL BUSINESS: - FRED A. MCGRANE NOTED THAT THE FEE QUOTED BY PATRIOT PROPERTIES IN ITS RESPONSE TO OUR RFP WAS $62,800 - MORE THAN TWICE WHAT WAS EXPECTED. HE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE VENDOR. 7. CORRESPONDENCE: - LETTER DATED 3/28/12 FROM READING BOS. EMAIL DATED 3/28/12 FROM MELISSA COUTURE. EMAIL DATED 3/28/12 FROM GAIL MCALEER. LETTER DATED 4/2/12 FROM VICTOR SANTINELLO, WAKEFIELD BOA. 8. NEXT MEETING(S): TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2012 @ 7:00 P.M. 8a: Anticipated Topics: • REVIEW RESPONSES TO RFP • REVIEW RESUMES FOR TOWN APPRAISER POSITION • DISCUSS POTENTIAL REGIONALIZATION • SET UP APPOINTMENT WITH READING HISTORICAL COMMISSION ADJOURNED: 10:20 P.M. ATTEST: ROBERT J. Q N, JR. -SEC AR