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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-23 Board of Assessors MinutesTOWN OF READING 16 LOWELL STREET 12 39 READING, MA 01867 -2693 MINUTES OCTOBER 23, 2012 BOARD OF ASSESSORS TEL.: 781 - 942 -9027 FAX: 781 - 942 -9037 MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. IN ATTENDANCE: BOA PRESENT: FM, RC, RQ, RN (ASSOCIATE) BOA ABSENT: NONE VICTOR SANTANIELLO & PAT SULLIVAN 1. APPOINTMENTS: - BOARD OF SELECTMEN AT 7:30 P.M. 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGN: OK Mr. Quinn read aloud the draft minutes for the Board's October 9, 2012 Open Session. No changes were proposed. A motion by Mr. McGrane seconded by Mr. Colorusso to approve the minutes as presented was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. The minutes for the Boards October 9, 2012 Executive Session will be taken up at the Board's next meeting. 3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: Mr. Santaniello distributed a copy of his spreadsheet entitled "Fiscal Year 2013 Tax Shift Possibilities" which will be presented to the Board of Selectmen later this same evening. He then proceeded to walk the Board through this spreadsheet at the request of Mr. McGrane. Mr. Santaniello noted that the maximum permissible tax shift available to Reading is 150 %. He stated that his calculations are based on the best information and estimates currently available, which are naturally subject to change. Mr. Santaniello said that he planned to tackle the requisite "valuation work" in earnest, starting tomorrow. For purposes of this exercise, the total value of all Residential Property was estimated to have decreased by about 2% from FY 2012 to FY 2013 and the total value of all Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property ( "CIP") was estimated to have remained the same. Furthermore, the average (i.e., the arithmetical mean) value of a single family home and a commercial property for FY 2013 were estimated to be $435,700 and $1,482,500, respectively. Mr. Santaniello stated that he had already reviewed all of the key figures and underlying assumptions with Mr. LeLacheur, so there should be no surprises. The $250,000 of estimated new growth was taken from the FY 2013 budget information available on the Town's website. This amount is also included in the estimated total tax levy of $52,733,143. Based on the foregoing assumptions, the estimated single tax rate for FY 2013 would be about $14.30 /mil, representing a slight increase over the actual FY 2012 tax rate of $14.15 /mil. Adopting a split tax rate to the fullest extent permissible would add about $7.15 /mil to the CIP tax rate and would reduce the residential tax rate by about $0.79/mil. In dollar terms, the owner of the average commercial property would pay an additional $10,600 while the owner of the average single family home would save about $344. At this point, about 7:20 PM, all present went downstairs to join the Board of Selectmen meeting which was already in progress. 4. SIGNINGS: The Board approved routine motor vehicle excise tax abatements totaling $3,358.05. The Board also signed a letter formally accepting the settlement proposal contained in Chu, Ring & Hazel LLP's letter dated September 14, 2012. As a result, Verizon New England Inc. will receive tax abatements totaling about $146,000 (plus interest) for FY 2009 and will relinquish its similar claims for FY 2005 and FY 2008. Mr. Santaniello stated that he had informed Mr. LeLacheur of the situation following the Board's last meeting. 5. NEW BUSINESS Boat Excise Tax. Mr. Santaniello reminded the Board that MADOR is pressing the cities and town to be much more aggressive in pursuing personal property taxes on boats. The consensus of all present was that any additional tax revenues that Reading might generate in this area would be more than offset by administration and collection costs. This matter will be further discussed at a later date. Appellate Tax Board Cases. Mr. Santaniello reported that he was able to settle Home Depot's tax appeals for FY 2011 and FY 2012 in accordance with the Board's previous instructions. He will follow -up with the paperwork which was not available for the Board's approval. Mr. Santaniello also reported that he has had no further contact with any of the other Appellants or their attorneys since the Board's last meeting. Mr. McGrane asked whether the memorandum which he had requested from Town Counsel had been received yet. Ms. Sullivan replied that she had spoken to Attorney Brackett who assured her that it was on his "to do list ". She agreed to follow -up with him. Presentation to the Board of Selectmen. Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner introduced Mr. Santaniello to Selectmen Bonazoli, Schubert and Tafoya. Mr. LeLacheur was also present but Selectmen Arena and Goldy were not. Mr. Santaniello fielded questions and comments from the Selectmen following the conclusion of his presentation, which was virtually identical to the one he had delivered to the Board earlier in the evening. Mr. Santaniello stated that mixed use property was included in the residential category for purposes of this preliminary presentation, in response to question posed by Mr. Tafoya. Selectmen Schubert and Tafoya said that they would like to have a "history" showing the changes to residential and CIP property and tax rates included in the Tax Classification presentation. Selectman Tafoya also requested that a "histogram" or "scatter plot" showing the distribution of all individual commercial property values be included in the final presentation, as in the past. Mr. Santaniello suggested that the Selectmen visit Wakefield Assessors' website and familiarize themselves with his "FY 2012 Classification Guide" which can be found there. He told the Selectmen that he would adapt or modify the format of his Wakefield presentation to suit their preferences. The Board of Selectmen confirmed that the FY 2013 Classification Hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. The Selectmen requested that all presentation materials be submitted to them by Friday, November 16th. Mr. Santaniello concluded by giving the Selectmen a brief progress report with respect to the ongoing CAMA conversion. He also noted that Patriot Properties will soon be starting the cyclical inspections which are required for the FY 2014 Certification. Following the meeting with the Selectmen, Mr. Nordstrand returned home and the rest of the Board reconvened in the Assessors' Office, shortly before 8 PM. The Board reviewed the meeting with the Selectmen and complimented Mr. Santaniello on his performance. Mr. Quinn provided him with copies of the Board's Tax Classification presentation for FY 2012 and pertinent Board of Selectmen's minutes for several years past. Mr. Santaniello told the Board that, in Wakefield, he would typically offer to meet with new Selectmen and/or other stakeholders (such as the local Chamber of Commerce) before the Classification Hearing and take them through his presentation. The purpose is to make sure that everyone is on the same page. The Board thought this was an excellent idea worth pursuing and noted that Mr. Arena was the newest member of Reading's Board of Selectmen and that representatives of the Reading/North Reading Chamber of Commerce were sure to attend the Classification Hearing. Finally, the Board decided that there was no need to meet on October 30, 2012. This meeting had been previously posted so the Board asked Ms. Sullivan to see to it that this meeting was properly cancelled. ADJOURNMENT: A motion by Mr. McGrane, seconded by Mr. Colorusso to adjourn at 8:20 PM was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. 6. GENERAL BUSINESS: 7. CORRESPONDENCE: - LETTER DATED 10/23/2012 FROM THE BOARD TO CHU, RING & HAZEL LLP REGARDING VERIZON NEW ENGLAND. 8. NEXT MEETING(S): NOVEMBER 8, 2012 @ 6:30 P.M. (THURSDAY) 8a: Anticipated Topics: • HOME DEPOT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION • PREPARATION FOR CLASSIFICATION HEARING ON 11/20/12 • MINUTES: EXECUTIVE SESSION OF 10/9/2012 ADJOURNED: 8:20 P.M. ATTEST: R ERT J. UINN, JR.- ECRETARY