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Home My WebLink About2013-05-14 Board of Assessors Minutes/ bwri C;ePit,-,e-- TOWN OF READING 16 LOWELL STREET READING, MA 01867 -2693 BOARD OF ASSESSORS TEL.: 781 - 942 -9027 FAX: 781 -942 -9037 >o7-0 CD*rn -- 5 z6 OPEN SESSION MINUTES D M rin MAY 14, 2013" .can J MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. IN ATTENDANCE: BOA PRESENT: FRANK J. GOLDEN, FRED MCGRANE & ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. BOA ABSENT: NONE. OTHERS PRESENT: VICTOR SANTANIELLO. 1. APPOINTMENTS: - NONE 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S): The Board last met on April 9, 2013. A copy of the draft minutes for the Board's March 12, 2013 meeting was circulated on April 24, 2013. No changes were proposed. A motion by Mr. McGrane seconded by Mr. Quinn to approve the minutes as written was approved by a vote of 2 -0 -1, with Mr. Golden abstaining. A copy of the draft minutes for the Board's April 9, 2013 meeting was circulated on May 1, 2013. No changes were proposed. A motion by Mr. McGrane seconded by Mr. Quinn to approve the minutes as written was approved by a vote of 2 -0 -1, with Mr. Golden abstaining. 3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: The Board has previously acted on all but two of the 46 Abatement Applications received for FY 2013. Mr. Santaniello said that he had not heard from any of the property owners who were impacted by the Board's previous abatement decisions. However, he did hear from an applicant who was granted a partial hardship exemption. The Board agreed to hear this matter in executive session. The only FY 2012 appeals still pending before the ATB relate to four smaller properties all owned by the same individual. Mr. Santaniello will contact the owner with the hopes of resolving these cases. MADOR representatives have been out in the field. As expected, they have found some incomplete interior data fields, sketch errors and assorted inconsistencies. Basement garages have proven to be problematic. Mr. Santaniello noted that approximately 1,600 residential properties have basement (versus detached) garages. The review of 2012 single family (Code 101) sales has been completed. Patriot Properties ( "Patriot ") has completed its data collection project. Mr. Santaniello estimated that the related data entry is about 75% to 80% complete. Patriot inspected about 2,800 housing units; the budget allowed for 3,600 units, so some funding remains. Mr. Santaniello is working on an RFP for the FY 2014 revaluation. He noted that Finnegan Appraisal did not do any data entry. Although this saved some money in the short run, it may well prove to be a false economy in the long run. A number of other topics were discussed, including: higher than expected values, the propriety of topographical adjustments in unique or extraordinary circumstances, the use of depreciation tables versus effective year built and the identification of neighborhoods for valuation purposes. 4. OTHER SIGNINGS: The Board approved FY 2013 Tax Deferral Certificates in the amount of $4,758.39 and $5,118.44 for 51 Tennyson Road and 74 Sturges Road, respectively. The Board also approved some routine Motor Vehicle Excise Tax abatements totaling $12,084.94 ($8,791.09 + $3,293.85). 5. NEW BUSINESS: Board Assianments: Mr. McGrane welcomed newly elected member Francis J. Golden to the Board. He replaces former Vice Chairman Mr. Colorusso who did not seek re- election. Mr. Golden confirmed that he has taken the oath of office. Mr. Golden is currently Watertown's Town Assessor and has held similar positions in Reading and Beverly in the past. Mr. McGrane nominated Mr. Quinn to serve as the Board's Secretary for the coming year. Mr. Quinn accepted the nomination and was duly elected by the unanimous vote of the Board, 3 -0 -0. Mr. McGrane nominated Mr. Golden to serve as the Board's Chairman for the coming year. Mr. Golden accepted the nomination and was duly elected by the unanimous vote of the Board, 3 -0 -0. Mr. Quinn nominated Mr. McGrane to serve as the Board's Vice - Chairman for the coming year. Mr. McGrane accepted the nomination and was duly elected by the unanimous vote of the Board, 3 -0 -0. The Town Website will need to be updated to reflect these changes. Executive Session: Mr. Quinn reminded the members of the Board's recently •adopted policy that all applications for tax abatement and /or exemption will be discussed in executive session. A motion by Mr. McGrane to go into executive session to reconsider its previous decision with respect to a certain application for tax exemption was seconded by Mr. Quinn and approved on a roll call vote with all three members voting in the affirmative; Chairman Golden having previously declared that the purpose of the executive session was to comply with the confidentiality requirements of MGL c. 59 Section 60. While in Executive Session, the Board voted to stand by its previous decision. 6. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Quinn announced that he had completed the third session of Course 101 on April 29th and would be taking the test later this week. 7. CORRESPONDENCE: April 24, 2013 e-mail from Joanne Fitzpatrick to BOA Chairman Fred McGrane et al, transmitting the draft minutes for the March 12, 2013 open meeting. May 1, 2013 e-mail from Joanne Fitzpatrick to BOA Chairman Fred McGrane et al, transmitting the draft minutes for the April 9, 2012 open meeting. May 9, 2013 e-mail from Victor Santaniello to BOA Chairman Fred McGrane et al, containing a preliminary update and suggested agenda items for tonight's meeting. ADJOURNMENT: A motion by Mr. McGrane, seconded by Mr. Quinn to adjourn at 8:50 PM was approved by a vote of 3 -0 -0. 8. NEXT MEETING(S): TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013 @ 7:00 P.M. 8a: Anticipated Topics: ADJOURNED: 8:50 P.M. ATTEST: BERT J. , JR. -SEC TARY