HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-20 Board of Assessors MinutesMARCH 20, 2012
TOWN OF READING
16 LOWELL STREET
READING, MA 01867 -2693
MINUTES
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
TEL.: 781- 942 -9027
FAX: 781 - 942 -9037
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
IN ATTENDANCE:
MR. FRED A. MCGRANE, MR. RALPH A. COLORUSSO, MR.
ROBERT J. QUINN, MR. WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT, MS.
PATRICIA SULLIVAN, MR. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER AND
MR. ROBERT LELACHEUR.
(NOTE: PH LEFT AT 7:30PM AND RL LEFT @7:45PM)
1. APPOINTMENTS: -
APPLICANT FOR CLAUSE 18 HARDSHIP EXEMPTION
CANCELLED TONIGHT'S APPOINTMENT DUE TO ILLNESS.
MS. PATRICIA SULLIVAN TO CONTACT HER AND TRY TO
RESCHEDULE.
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING /S:
MARCH 13, 2012 - DRAFT MINUTES REVIEWED. MR. RALPH
A. COLORUSSO MOVED TO ACCEPT MINUTES AS AMENDED.
MR. FRED A. MCGRANE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED BY
A VOTE OF 3 -0.
3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT:
THE OWNER OF 1 GENERAL WAY HAS WITHDRAWN ITS
ABATEMENT APPLICATION ( #22).
MINUTES CONTINUED
3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: (CON'T)
REMAINING INVENTORY OF ABATEMENT CASES ARE IN
GOOD SHAPE. SHOULD BE CLEANED UP BY MR. WILLIAM
BOATWRIGHT'S DEPARTURE.
4. SIGNINGS: -
BOARD REVIEWED AND APPROVED ABUTTERS LISTS AND
ROUTINE MOTOR VEHICLE ABATEMENTS. IN ADDITION,
BOARD REVIEWED AND ACTED UPON 19 FY2012
ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS AS FOLLOWS:
ABATEMENTS ABATEMENTS
GRANTED DENIED
#1
#11
#5
#12
#10
#13
#21
#14
#44
#22 (withdrawn)
#55
#29
#56
#43
#60
#45
#76
#59
#61
MINUTES CONTINUED
5. NEW BUSINESS: -
MR. WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT HAS DECIDED TO RESIGN,
EFFECTIVE 3/30/12.
MR. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER OFFERED THE SERVICES OF
TOWN (H.R.) STAFF TO HELP FIND A SUITABLE
REPLACEMENT. A GENERAL DISCUSSION ENSUED AS TO
THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF
THE REPLACEMENT. A ROUGH DRAFT OF THE JOB
POSTING WAS PREPARED, KEEPING THE OUTSTANDING
RFP IN MIND. MR. RALPH A. COLORUSSO OPINED THAT AN
INTERIM ASSESSOR MAY NEED TO BE APPOINTED IF A
PERMANENT REPLACEMENT CANNOT BE FOUND BY APRIL
30TH.
6. GENERAL BUSINESS: -
IN ITS PREVIOUS MEETING, THE BOARD ATTEMPTED TO
APPOINT BOB NORDSTRAND AS AN "ASSISTANT ASSESSOR ".
TOWN COUNSEL HAS NOW OPINED THAT THE BOA DID NOT
HAVE THE REQUISITE AUTHORITY TO DO SO. MR. PETER
HECHENBLEIKNER SAID THAT HE WOULD WORK TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN, IF POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO
MR. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER, THERE IS A 30 DAY
"COOLING OFF PERIOD" DURING WHICH TIME BOB
CANNOT SERVE IN ANY EVENT. THE BOARD WILL DEFER
TO TOWN COUNSEL.
MR. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER AND MR. ROBERT
LELACHEUR INITIATED A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE
OPEN MEETING LAW, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON EXECUTIVE
SESSION, WHEN IT IS PERMISSIBLE AND WHEN IT IS NOT.
MINUTES CONTINUED
7. CORRESPONDENCE: -
RESIGNATION LETTER DATED 3/19/12 FROM MR. WILLIAM
BOATWRIGHT TO THE BOA, EFFECTIVE 3/30/12.
COPY OF EMAIL DATED 3/20/12 FROM GARY S. BRACKETT
TO MR. PETER HECHENBLEIKNER RE: PROPOSED
APPOINTMENT OF AN ASSISTANT ASSESSOR.
8. NEXT MEETING(S):
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012 @ 6:00 P.M.
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012 @ 7:00 P.M.
ADJOURNED: 9:44 P.M. ATTEST:
R ERT J QUINN- SECRETARY