HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-11 Board of Assessors MinutesSEPTEMBER 11, 2012
TOWN OF READING
16 LOWELL STREET
READING, MA 01867 -2693
MINUTES
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
TEL.: 781 -942 -9027
FAX: 781 - 942 -9037
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:05 P.M.
IN ATTENDANCE:
BOA PRESENT: FM, RC, BQ, RN (ASSOCIATE)
BOA ABSENT: NONE
VICTOR SANTANIELLO
1. APPOINTMENTS: -
NONE.
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING /S:
The Board took up the minutes of its May 22, 2012 joint meeting with
Wakefield's Board of Assessors. Mr. Quinn noted that this particular meeting
was held at Wakefield's Town Hall with Mr. Santaniello also in attendance.
Mr. Quinn proceeded to read aloud the draft minutes. Mr. McGrane moved that
they be approved as read. The motion was seconded by Mr. Colorusso and
approved by a 2 -0 -1 vote. Mr. Colorusso abstained because he did not attend
the May 22nd meeting.
3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT:
Mr. Santaniello began by saying that his focus has been on the ongoing
CAMA conversion since the Board's previous meeting. A significant amount
of manual data entry has been required to resolve minor discrepancies arising
from certain nuances of the two systems. Mr. Santaniello cited the calculation
MINUTES CONTINUED
of the gross living area (GLA) of houses with Mansard style roofs as an
example.
The importation of (footprint) sketches into Assess Pro has generally gone
more smoothly than was anticipated. In summary, the CAMA conversion
appears to be on the right track.
Mr. Santaniello expects that Finnegan Appraisal will complete its "windshield
review" of all subject properties by the end of next week (9/21/2012).
Finnegan Appraisal has reviewed a substantial number of properties to date
without noting any significant issues.
Mr. Quinn asked whether Richard Finnegan should be invited to appear before
the Board at its next meeting (9/25/2012). The Board decided to follow Mr.
Santaniello's alternate suggestion that Finnegan Appraisal be asked to submit
a detailed written "synopsis" of its Reading activities instead.
Mr. Santaniello told the Board that he has not heard from Town Counsel with
respect to the matters discussed at the Board's last meeting. He also reported
that the ongoing CAMA conversion has prevented him from reaching out to
some of the taxpayers who have appeals pending before the ATB.
Mr. Santaniello noted that the Board of Selectman would like to schedule a
pre - certification meeting for October 9, 2012. The classification hearing will
likely take place some time in November. Mr. Colorusso noted that the
proposal to adopt a split tax rate did not pass last year because the Board of
Selectmen were deadlocked, 2 -2.
4. SIGNINGS: -
The Board approved some routine motor vehicle excise tax abatements and
certified abutter lists.
The Board also approved the revised statement delegating limited signature
authority to staff.
5. NEW BUSINESS: -
UPCOMING FINCOM MEETING.
Mr. McGrane called the Board's attention to an email which Bob LeLacheur
sent him last week. The email is essentially a "heads up" that FINCOM's
agenda for tomorrow night will include a discussion of the Board of
Assessors.
The Board speculated that FINCOM may, among other things, be looking at
the relative merits of having a BOA whose members are appointed versus
having a BOA whose members are elected.
The Board also noted that a warrant article which proposed to amend
Reading's Home Rule Charter by making the Board of Assessors an appointed
board was soundly defeated by Town Meeting in 2011. This same article
would have also returned the appointment of assessment staff to the Town
Manager.
Mr. Santaniello volunteered to attend the FINCOM meeting. Mr. Quinn and
Mr. Nordstrand (a non - voting member of the Board) said that they would also
try to attend if they could.
PRELIMINARY EXPENSE FORECAST:
The Board then reviewed a preliminary expense forecast which Mr.
Santaniello had prepared. This forecast covers Fiscal Years 2013 through
2017.
Mr. Santaniello explained that the $32,500 of Revaluation Services shown for
FY 2014 and FY 2017 are based on his experience with Patriot Properties in
Wakefield. He has put a call into Patriot to ask for a reality check.
The expense forecast includes $6,500 per year for Form of List Reviews, etc.
The proposed vendor is Real Estate Research Consultants ( "RRC "). Mr.
Santaniello believes that these expenditures will result in incremental revenue
to the Town which will far exceed the cost.
The Board noted that the forecast did not include any labor costs. Mr.
Santaniello confirmed that he is an employee of the Town of Wakefield. He
estimated that he is currently spending about 60% of his time in Reading and
understands that Wakefield has just recently begun billing Reading for his
time and/or expenses.
Mr. Quinn suggested that the Board confirm that the Finance Department is
solely responsible for reviewing, approving and paying Wakefield's invoices
under the relevant Cost Sharing Agreement.
OPEN MEETING LAW TRAINING:
Town Clerk Laura Gemme has organized some training sessions relative to
the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Mr. Colorusso said that he has already
attended one of the sessions. Mr. Quinn plans to attend the afternoon session
on September 18''. Mr. McGrane said that he will not be able to attend
because of work commitments.
6. General Business:
7. CORRESPONDENCE: -
9/7/2012 EMAIL FROM BOB LELACHEUR TO FRED MCGRANE
ETAL
8. NEXT MEETING(S):
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 @ 7:00 P.M.
8a: Anticipated Topics:
• PROGRESS REPORT CAMA CONVERSION
• FOLLOW -UP WITH TOWN COUNSEL RE: ATB CASES
• REVIEW FINNEGAN APPRAISER REPORT
"SYNOPSIS ".
ADJOURNED: 8:10 P.M. ATTEST:
OBERT QUINN, JR. -S RETARY