HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-22 Board of Assessors MinutesA
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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MAY 22, 2012
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MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M AT
WAKEFIELD
IN ATTENDANCE:
RBOA: FM, BQ, BN (ASSOCIATE)
ABSENT: RC
WBOA: JANE D'ADDARIO, CHRISTOPHER WILCOCK
ABSENT: SEBASTIAN P. TINE
OTHER: VICTOR SANTANIELLO, WAKEFIELD'S DIRECTOR
OF ASSESSMENTS
1. APPOINTMENTS: -
NONE.
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING /S:
NONE.
3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT:
NONE.
4. SIGNINGS: -
NONE.
MINUTES CONTINUED
5. NEW BUSINESS: -
NONE.
6. General Business:
6a. Regionalization:
The meeting began with each participant introducing him/herself including a brief
description of his/her professional background. BQ and CW are the newest
members of their respective Boards. CW also serves as the Appraiser for the
Town of Tewksbury.
FM reviewed the circumstances that led to this meeting, including the unexpected
resignation of Reading's head appraiser in late March and the ongoing search for
his replacement. Reading is in the process of converting its mass appraisal system
over to Patriot Properties' Assess Pro.
Wakefield BOA member Sebastian P. Tine was not able to attend. However, he
had prepared a written statement which was distributed to the meeting
participants. Mr. Tine opined that, "Victor Santaniello is one of the best and most
proficient users (of Patriot Properties' Assess Pro system) in the area." Mr. Tine
also wrote that he has "every confidence that Mr. Santaniello could manage both
Reading and Wakefield well and bring a financial savings to both towns"
BN then distributed some materials relative to certain feasibility studies
undertaken by Hamilton- Wenham and the Cape Cod Commission. These studies
generally concluded that the potential financial savings resulting from sharing the
Assessing function was rather small.
VS noted that Reading & Wakefield have very similar profiles. Combined, there
are approximately 17,000 taxable parcels divided more or less equally between
Reading and Wakefield. CIP is roughly 10 % in both Towns. Wakefield, unlike
Reading, currently employs a split tax rate.
Reading, Wakefield and Melrose already share the cost of certain Health
Department services; Wakefield and Lynnfield also share the cost of a Building
Inspector. Steve Mayo, Wakefield's Town Administrator, has reportedly
"blessed" the idea of "regionalizing" the Assessing function.
It is also generally understood that Melrose may eventually be willing to
participate with Reading & Wakefield, but not at this time.
MINUTES CONTINUED
VS lives in Wakefield and has been that Town's Director of Assessments for the
past 7 years. He said the he resolved about 500 abatement applications and 70 or
80 ATB cases when he first came on board in FY 2005. VS said that he was able
to settle the potential liability of roughly $3 million for about $300,000.
FM then asked VS why he seemed so "hell bent" on becoming the appraiser for
both Reading and Wakefield — was it because he was bored?
In essence, VS replied that he wanted to reinvigorate his career with a new
professional challenge now that he had successfully restored taxpayer confidence
in Wakefield's tax assessment function, as evidenced by the reduction of annual
abatement requests (to about 100) and the annual overlay requirement (to about
$300,000).
VS also provided the RBOA with a copy of Wakefield's Tax classification
presentation as an example of his work.
A discussion ensued as to some of the practicalities: current and future staffing
requirements, office hours, retention of policy making authority, frequency of
BOA meetings, etc.
CW noted that Tewksbury's policy is to inspect every one of its 11,600 parcels on
the basis of a 5 year cycle, even though it only had two full time data collectors.
BQ asked VS if had calculated the potential cost savings from combining the
Assessing functions of the two Towns. VS replied that he had not.
VS then left the meeting in order to facilitate further candid discussion between
the two Boards. FM inquired about VS management style and working
relationships with other Town employees and Vendors. The WBOA assured the
RBOA that VS was not threatening to leave them. WBOA comments were all
positive; they did not note any significant concerns with respect to VS's
performance.
7. CORRESPONDENCE: -
UNDATED LETTER FROM SEBASTIAN P. TINE
8. NEXT MEETING(S):
MONDAY, NNE 4, 2012 @ 6:00 P.M.
8a: Anticipated Topics:
PREPARE FOR MEETING WITH ADING BOS AND FINCOM
ADJOURNED: 8:30 P.M. ATTEST: k —
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