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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-19 Board of Assessors MinutesDECEMBER 19, 2012 r TOWN OF READING 16 LOWELL STREET READING, MA 01867 -2693 u 1l111W BOARD OF ASSESSORS TEL.: 781- 942 -9027 FAX: 781 - 942 -9037 MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:35 P.M. IN ATTENDANCE: BOA: FRED MCGRANE, RALPH COLORUSSO, ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. AND ROBERT I. NORDSTRAND (ASSOCIATE MEMBER). OTHER: VICTOR SANTANIELLO. ABSENT: PATRICIA SULLIVAN. 1. APPOINTMENTS: - NONE 2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING /S: Draft minutes for the Board's October 23, 2012 meeting were circulated on November 8tb' No changes were proposed. A motion by Mr. McGrane seconded by Mr. Colorusso to approve the minutes as submitted was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. Mr. McGrane read aloud the draft minutes for the Board's November 8, 2012 Executive Session. No changes were proposed. A motion by Mr. McGrane seconded by Mr. Colorusso to approve the minutes as read was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. The minutes for the November 8, 2012 Open Session will be taken up at the Board's next meeting. 3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: Mr. Santaniello reported that the he has had some additional discussions with the attorney representing the owners of 20 Walker Brook Drive. The owners have offered to settle the three cases now pending before the ATB, on the following basis. The assessed value of the subject property will be reduced to $18,500,000 for FY 2010, 2011 and 2012. In exchange, the property owners would agree to withdraw their appeals and to waive the interest which would otherwise be payable on the tax refunds. FY 2013 (Assessed Value of $22,078,500) is not to be included as part of this deal. Mr. Santaniello recommended that the Board accept the property owners' offer. The proofs of the actual FY 2013 Real Estate Tax Bills are undergoing final review. There have been no serious problems to report. Mr. Santaniello and Ms. Sullivan have been working together to streamline the ongoing inspection processes. They will recommend that the Board deny the Abatement Application of any Applicant who does not allow for the proper inspection of the subject property. Mr. Santaniello noted that he has had some discussions with RRC regarding FY 2014 personal property matters. 4. SIGNINGS: - The Board approved various Statutory Exemptions totaling $44,575, Property Tax Work -Off Abatements totaling $20,925.11 and routine Motor Vehicle Excise Tax abatements totaling $1,065.95. The Board signed the Property Tax Abatement Certificate for 0 West Street in the amount of $39,266.25. 5. NEW BUSINESS: - Appellate Tag Board Cases. Mr. McGrane began by stating that he was "inclined to accept" the settlement proposal as presented by Mr. Santaniello with respect to the 20 Walkers Brook Drive property. He then asked the Board for comments. Mr. Colorusso said that he was not in favor of the proposed settlement. In his opinion, reducing the property's assessed value to $18.5 million seemed overly generous, especially since there are three fiscal years involved. Accepting the proposed settlement would result in tax abatements totaling approximately $150,000 ($50,000 x 3 years). Mr. Colorusso suggested that the Board request an appraisal of the subject property. Mr. Santaniello replied that he considered an appraisal to be unnecessary. A general discussion then ensued. Mr. McGrane noted that an appraisal would itself be "open to debate" and would therefore probably not put the valuation issue to bed. Mr. Nordstrand observed that, historically, the Board was generally more willing to litigate cases of this nature rather to settle them. A general discussion then ensued as to the pros and cons of litigating versus settling tax cases and whether the Board should have its own dedicated legal counsel. Mr. Quinn allowed that the Board could be leaving some money on the table if it decides to accept the proposed settlement. On the other hand, settling these three cases now would avoid the costs and risks of litigation and give the Town Appraiser a clean slate going forward; these are the last significant cases still pending before the ATB from prior years. Mr. Quinn added that he particularly did not want to risk undermining the Town Appraiser's credibility with taxpayers by reopening negotiations at this late date. Mr. McGrane said that he did not want to kick the can further down the road. A motion by Mr. McGrane to approve the proposed settlement with the owners of 20 Walkers Brook Drive as described and recommended by the Town Appraiser for the Fiscal Years 2010, 2011 and 2012, was seconded by Mr. Quinn and approved by a vote of 2 -1 -0, with Mr. Colorusso opposed. The resulting tax abatements for FY 2010, 2011 and 2012 were calculated to be $51,192.63, $49,383.30 and $50,635.78, respectively. Mr. Santaniello assured the Board that there were ample funds available in the Overlay Account to absorb these charges. He also agreed to inform Mr. LeLacheur of tonight's action by the Board. Mr. McGrane and Mr. Quinn signed the appropriate Abatement Certificates and transmittal letter. Mr. Colorusso declined to sign these documents. ADJOURNMENT: A motion by Mr. McGrane, seconded by Mr. Colorusso to adjourn at 8:15 PM, was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. 6. General Business: NONE 7. CORRESPONDENCE: - • LETTER DATED 11126/2012 FROM VICTOR SANTANIELLO TO PETER HECHENBLEIKNER AND ROBERT LELACHEUR RE: FY2013 TAX LEVY CORRECTION. • EMAIL DATED 12/11/2012 FROM VICTOR SANTANIELLO TO FRED MCGRANE ET AL, RE: 20 WALKERS BROOK DRIVE. 8. NEXT MEETING(S): TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013 @ 7:00 P.M. 8a: Anticipated Topics: TBD ADJOURNED: 8:15 P.M. ATTEST: Rp BEAT.1,40NN, JR.- CRETARY