HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-27 Board of Assessors Minutes�4
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TOWN OF READING
16 LOWELL STREET
READING, MA 01867 -2693
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
TEL.: 781- 942 -9027
FAX: 781- 942 -9037
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MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2012 —
D
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
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IN ATTENDANCE:
MR. FRED A. MCGRANE, MR. RALPH A. COLORUSSO, MR.
ROBERT J. QUINN, MR. WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT AND MS.
PAT SULLIVAN. ABSENT: NONE.
1. APPOINTMENTS: -
TOWN MANAGER – CANCELLED.
CLAUSE 18 APPLICANT @ 8PM.
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING /S:
MARCH 20, 2012 – ROBERT J. QUINN READ ALOUD THE
DRAFT MINUTES. A MINOR CORRECTION WAS PROPOSED
BY RALPH A. COLORUSSO. FRED A. MCGRANE MOVED
THAT THE MINUTES BY APPROVED, AS AMENDED.
SECONDED BY RALPH A. COLORUSSO. MOTION WAS
APPROVED BY A 3 -0 VOTE.
3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT:
DANFORTH GREEN IN FRAMINGHAM/SUDBURY, MA
DOWNSCALFG} LOWER DENSITY – APPROVED FOR 525
WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WOULD
BE HIS LAST MEETING.
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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 ELEVEN
FY2012 REAL ESTATE TAX ABATEMENT REQUESTS AS
FOLLOWS:
APPROVED: #8.
DENIED: #26, #30, #33, #34, #35, #36, #47, #69, #74 AND #75.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO FOLLOW THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE TOWN APPRAISER IN EACH
INSTANCE.
5. NEW BUSINESS: - 5A. OVERLAY ACCOUNT
WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT DISTRIBUTED COPIES OF THE
"OVERLAY ACCOUNT ANALYSIS AS OF FEBRUARY 7,2012"
AND SOME RELATED WORKSHEETS WHICH WERE THEN
REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED BY THE BOARD.
ACCORDING TO THE ANALYSIS, THE OVERLAY BALANCE
AS OF 10/31/2011 WAS APPROXIMATELY $595K, AFTER
DEDUCTING THE TOTAL OVERLAY SURPLUS FOR FISCAL
YEARS 2004 -2008, WHICH AMOUNTED TO $376K. THE
ADJUSTED BALANCE DOES NOT REFLECT THE RECENT
WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION #22.
WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT NOTED THAT ABATEMENTS AND
EXEMPTIONS AVERAGED ABOUT $260K PER YEAR OVER
THE PRECEDING FOUR FISCAL YEARS (FY2008- 2011).
5. NEW BUSINESS: - OVERLAY ACCOUNT (CON'T)
ROBERT J. QUINN ASKED IF THE OVERLAY RESERVE
INCLUDES INTEREST ON POTENTIAL REFUNDS. RALPH A.
COLORUSSO RESPONDED THAT IT DOES NOT. ANY SUCH
INTEREST ACTUALLY PAID IS CHARGED TO ANOTHER
ACCOUNT.
WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT IS CONCERNED THAT 12/22/2011
BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR FY2012 ($600K), FY2013 ($615K)
AND 2014 ($630.4K) MAY BE INADEQUATE. WILLIAM
BOATWRIGHT ESTIMATED THAT AN ADDITIONAL $190K
MAY BE REQUIRED WITH RESPECT TO ONGOING
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY ALONE.
5B. CLAUSE 18 HARDSHIP EXEMPTION
THE APPLICANT ARRIVED AT 8PM. SHE IS AN
UNEMPLOYED WIDOW WITH TWO CHILDREN AND HAS
APPEARED BEFORE THIS BOARD MANY TIMES BEFORE.
THE APPLICANT'S YOUNGER CHILD CURRENTLY ATTENDS
MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE IN READING. THE BOARD
UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS CHILD SUFFERS FROM A
SIGNIFICANT DISABILITY. THE APPLICANT STATED THAT
THIS CHILD HAS AN IEP. THE CHILD IS APPARENTLY
DOING REASONABLY WELL, ACADEMICALLY. HOWEVER,
THE APPLICANT STATED THAT SHE IS VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE CHILD'S CONTINUED SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE APPLICANT'S OLDER CHILD CURRENTLY ATTENDS A
PRIVATE COLLEGE LOCATED IN ANOTHER STATE. SOME
OF HIS/HER TUITION AND FEES ARE PAID BY A
SCHOLARSHIP; THE BALANCE OF HIS/HER TUITION AND
FEES ARE PAID BY A TRUST. THE APPLICANT STATED
THAT THE TRUST WAS ESTABLISHED BY HER GODMOTHER
AND THAT HER OLDER CHILD IS ONE OF FIVE
BENEFICIARIES NAMED THEREIN. THE APPLICANT STATED
HER BELIEF THAT THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM THE
TRUST WOULD ENABLE HER CHILD TO COMPLETE HIS/HER
FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARS AT THIS PARTICULAR
COLLEGE. AFTER THAT SHE COULDN'T SAY.
MINUTES CONTINUED
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5B..CLAUSE 18 (CON'T)
THE APPLICANT DESCRIBED HER OWN HEALTH AND
PERSONAL ISSUES TO THE BOARD IN SOME DETAIL. SHE
ALSO STATED THAT "SHE WAS NOT DISABLED AND
WANTED TO WORK ".
AS TO HER FINANCIAL SITUATION, THE APPLICANT
PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH AN UPDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENT AND A LETTER DOCUMENTING A SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION OF HER FAMILY'S FOOD STAMP ALLOWANCE.
THE BOARD PROCEEDED TO QUESTION HER ABOUT HER
INCOME, EXPENSES AND ASSETS.
FRED A. MCGRANE REVIEWED THE APPLICANT'S HISTORY
BEFORE THE BOARD AND ASKED HER TO DESCRIBE HER
JOB HUNTING ACTIVITY DURING THE PAST YEAR.
THE APPLICANT PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH COPIES OF
HER RESUME AND SOME RECENT JOB APPLICATIONS. THE
APPLICANT SAID THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO FIND A GOOD
PAYING POSITION IN HER CHOSEN FIELD; HEALTH
INSURANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO HER. THE APPLICANT
ADMITTED THAT THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE SHE
DOES NOT HOLD THE LICENSE(S) AND /OR ADVANCED
DEGREE(S) THAT MOST EMPLOYERS IN THIS FIELD NOW
REQUIRE.
FRED A. MCGRANE QUESTIONED WHETHER THESE WERE
REALISTIC EMPLOYMENT GOALS, GIVEN THE
APPLICANT'S INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE
GENERAL STATE OF THE ECONOMY. HE ENCOURAGED
THE APPLICANT TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE CAREERS
AND /OR STARTING HER OWN BUSINESS. THE APPLICANT
INFORMED THE BOARD THAT SHE HAD RECENTLY TAKEN
ON SOME PRIVATE DUTY WORK ON A PART TIME BASIS IN
ORDER TO "BUY FOOD ". .
MINUTES CONTINUED
5B. CLAUSE 18 (CON'T)
THE APPLICANT STATED THAT SHE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATES THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THE TOWN HAS
GIVEN TO HER FAMILY OVER THE YEARS. ROBERT J.
QUINN ASKED IF SHE WAS OPEN TO A TAX DEFERRAL
ARRANGEMENT. SHE SAID YES. A GENERAL DISCUSSION
ENSUED AS TO THE POSSIBLE FORMS THAT SUCH AN
ARRANGEMENT MIGHT TAKE.
FRED A. MCGRANE ANNOUNCED THAT THE BOARD WOULD
TAKE THE MATTER UNDER ADVISEMENT. HE THANKED
THE APPLICANT FOR COMING IN AND TOLD HER THAT THE
BOARD WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HER IF IT REQUIRED
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE APPLICANT THEN
LEFT THE MEETING.
6. GENERAL BUSINESS: - NONE NOTED.
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8. NEXT MEETING(S):
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012 @ 7:00 P.M.
8a: Anticipated Topics:
BOARD EXPECTS TO REVIEW RESPONSE TO REQUEST
FOR PROPOSAL AND ADVERTISEMENT FOR WILIAM
BOATWRIGHT'S POSITION OF TOWN APPRAISER.
ADJOURNED: 9:40 P.M. ATTEST: /
ROi§ERT J. INN - SECRETARY