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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-12 Board of Assessors MinutesFEBRUARY 12, 2013 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 7:00 P.M. IN ATTENDANCE: BOA: FRED MCGRANE, RALPH COLORUSSO, ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. AND ROBERT I. NORDSTRAND (ASSOCIATE MEMBER). ROBERT I. NORDSTRAND LEFT @ 8:30PM. OTHER: VICTOR SANTANIELLO AND PATRICIA SULLIVAN. 1. APPOINTMENTS: - NONE 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S): The Board last met on December 19, 2012. A meeting had been scheduled for January 22, 2013 but was cancelled .at Mr. Santaniello's request. Mr. Quinn read aloud the draft minutes for the Board's November 8, 2012 Open Session which had been circulated on December 28, 2012. 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 December 19, 2012 Open Session will be taken up at the Board's,nezt meeting. 3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: A total of only 46 Abatement Applications have been received for FY 2013. The total includes 29 residential, 12 commercial and 5 personal property applications. None of the applicants have requested to meet with the Board to date. By comparison, a total of 76 Abatement Applications were received for FY 2012. Mr. Santaniello met with MADOR on Monday along with representatives from about 20 other towns. Points of emphasis included the valuation of gas stations and larger apartment buildings (Property Code 112 - more than 8 units). Property sketches for townhouse style condominiums should also be given special attention. Mr. Santaniello and Ms. Sullivan have been performing abatement related inspections together so as to achieve greater consistency in practice. Patriot Properties is making good progress with the cyclical data recollection program. Patriot is almost finished with the Barrows School district. The Birch Meadow School district will be canvassed next. General advisories continue to be placed in the local media and posted on the Town's website. Reading's reverse 911 has proven to be a useful tool in this endeavor. "I'm sorry I missed you" tags will not be hung on residents' doors due to security concerns. Mr. Santaniello reported that a concerned resident had inquired whether criminal background checks had been done for all of Patriot's field personnel. At the time, they had not. However, CORI checks have now been completed for all Patriot personnel working in Reading. Mr. LeLacheur helped Mr. Santaniello resolve this matter to the resident's satisfaction. 4. OTHER SIGNINGS: The Board approved Statutory Exemptions totaling $13,275 (including $1,400 relating to disabled veterans) and routine Motor Vehicle Excise Tax abatements totaling $6,465.47. Reading has had PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) Agreements with three tax exempt organizations for many years. The Board approved three letters (all dated January 30, 2013) showing the calculation of the FY 2013 PILOT payments due under each agreement. The total amount due for the FY 2013 is $58,957.93; the total amount due for the third quarter is $15,103.37. The Board also approved a $240 vendor invoice designated as Warrant T- 1334. 5. NEW BUSINESS: FY 2013 Abatement Applications - General. The following procedure was used by the Board in considering the FY 2013 Abatement Applications presented at this meeting. Mr. Santaniello and /or Ms. Sullivan made oral presentations to the Board with respect to each Abatement Application. Each presentation concluded with the Appraisers' joint recommendation. They also responded to questions posed by members of the Board. Mr. McGrane would then move that the Board grant or deny each Abatement Application in accordance with the Appraisers' recommendations. This motion was seconded by Mr. Colorusso and approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0 in every case, except for the one mentioned below. A motion by Mr. Quinn to table further consideration of the Abatement Application pertaining to a certain condominium unit pending further factual development was seconded by Mr. McGrane and was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. Personal Property Abatements. The Board voted to grant Personal Property Tax Abatements to five taxpayers who had submitted timely applications. The total tax impact of these abatements was $587.14. A detailed list of these abatements is appended to and made a part of these minutes. Real Property Abatements. The Board voted to grant partial Real Property Tax Abatements totaling $518,300 to six taxpayers who had submitted timely applications. The total tax impact of these abatements was $7,743.41. The Board also voted to grant Real Property Tax Abatements to the Town of Reading with respect to three small parcels owned by it and having nominal value. The total tax impact of these abatements was $25.39. A list of these abatements is appended to and made a part of these minutes. The Board also voted to deny one Abatement Application and to table consideration of another. Executive Session: A motion by Mr. McGrane, seconded by Mr. Colorusso to go into executive session to consider two applications for tax exemption was approved on a roll call vote with all three members voting in the affirmative; the Chair having previously declared that the purpose of the executive session was to comply with the confidentiality requirements of MGL c. 59 Section 60. The Board reconvened in open session at 9:10 PM. 6. General Business: NONE 7. CORRESPONDENCE: Letter dated January 30, 2013 from the Board of Assessors to Peter Sanborn Place, Inc., regarding FY 2013 PILOT payments. Letter dated January 30, 2013 from the Board of Assessors to the Reading Housing Authority, regarding FY 2013 PILOT payments. Letter dated January 30, 2013 from the Board of Assessors to the Reading Ice Arena Authority Inc., regarding FY 2013 PILOT payments. ADJOURNMENT: A motion by Mr. McGrane, seconded by Mr. Colorusso to adjourn at 9:15 PM was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. 8. NEXT MEETING(S): TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013 @ 7:00 P.M. 8a: Anticipated Topics: ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS - CONTINUED ADJOURNED: 9:15 P.M. ATTEST: BERT J. UINN, JR. -S CRE ARY