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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-12 Board of Assessors Minutes7ozu� GeexL,@. RECEIVEDTOWN OF READING READING. Ma16 LOWELL STREET 1013 MAY IS A ]DING, MA 01867 -2693 MINUTES MARCH 12, 2013 BOARD OF ASSESSORS TEL.: 781 - 942 -9027 FAX: 781 - 942 -9037 MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. IN ATTENDANCE: BOA PRESENT: FRED MCGRANE AND ROBERT J. QUINN, JR. BOA ABSENT: RALPH COLORUSSO AND ROBERT I. NORDSTRAND (ASSOCIATE MEMBER). OTHER: VICTOR SANTANIELLO AND PATRICIA SULLIVAN. 1. APPOINTMENTS: - NONE 2 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S): The Board last met on February 12, 2013. A meeting had been scheduled for March 5, 2013 but was cancelled at Mr. Santaniello's request. Mr. Quinn read aloud the draft minutes for the Board's February 12, 2013 open meeting. A preliminary draft had been circulated on March 8, 2013. No changes were proposed. A motion by Mr. McGrane seconded by Mr. Quinn to approve the minutes as read was approved by a vote of 2 -0 -0. The draft minutes for the Board's December 19, 2012 meeting were available but had not been circulated in advance. The Board decided to take them up at its next meeting. Ms. Sullivan was asked to e-mail a copy of these minutes to all Board members. 3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT: As previously noted, a total of 46 Abatement Applications were received for FY 2013. The total consists of 29 residential, 12 commercial and 5 personal property applications. By comparison, a total of 76 Abatement Applications were received for FY 2012. The Board acted on 12 Abatement Applications at its previous meeting, including all 5 abatement applications pertaining to personal property. Coming into this meeting, there are 34 Abatement Applications still pending; all of them pertain to real property. Mr. Santaniello reported that no applicants have asked to meet with the Board to date. He also stated that he has not heard from any of the property owners who were impacted by the recent (FY 2013) decisions of the Board. Ms. Sullivan confirmed that the 3rd quarter PILOT billings have all been collected. Patriot Properties ( "Patriot ") continues to make good progress with the cyclical data recollection project. Mr. Santaniello noted that Patriot had hit the ground late, starting field work on January 28th. No major issues have been encountered and the coordinated data entry is progressing. Mr. Santaniello expects that the project will be completed by April 30,2013; this should not be a problem. Patriot is not presently working on Saturdays. General notices of Patriot's canvassing activities are being published in the Advocate, Chronicle, Boston Sunday Globe, Reading Notes and on the Town's website. The use of Reading's reverse 911 system has been limited to those residents who are enrolled in it. Mr. Santaniello agreed to monitor entry rates for the interior inspections and to provide the Board with some statistics at its next meeting. Mr. Quinn noted that his home (in the Birch Meadow area) was one of those recently visited by Patriot. He told those present that the Patriot representative properly identified himself and was very courteous. Mr. Quinn estimated that the interior inspection only took 5 or 10 minutes. 4. OTHER SIGNINGS: The Board approved Statutory Exemptions totaling $5,325 and routine Motor Vehicle Excise Tax abatements totaling $16,098.91 (_ $9,596.25 + $6,502.66). 5. NEW BUSINESS: The Division of Open Government has issued guidance (in a FAQ format) with respect to the handling of Applications for Tax Abatements and/or Exemptions under the Open Meeting Law. The guidance confirms that a Board of Assessors may meet in executive session to discuss and vote on applications for tax abatement or exemption. On the other hand, a Board may choose to hold the discussion in open session if it believes that it can effectively discuss the application for abatement or exemption without revealing any protected confidential information. However, the FAQ guidance concludes with the following caveat: "...that any document... "used" during an open session meeting is no longer exempt from disclosure pursuant ...to the Public Records Law." Mr. Quinn thought that the Board would be forced to walk a tightrope if it were to continue discussing tax abatement and/or exemption applications in open session. The need to safeguard an applicant's confidential information would likely impede the full and effective discussion of many applications. He would prefer the Board err on the safe by requiring that all applications for abatement or exemption be discussed in executive session, going forward. A motion by Mr. Quinn that all applications for tax abatement and/or exemption shall be discussed and voted on in Executive Session as a matter of policy was seconded by Mr. McGrane and approved by a vote of 2 -0 -0. Executive Session: A motion by Mr. McGrane to go into executive session to discuss some of the pending applications for tax abatement and/or exemption was seconded by Mr. Quinn and approved on a roll call vote with both 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 8:45 PM. Property Tax Abatements: While in Executive Session, the Board voted to grant partial Tax Abatements totaling $1,362,700 to the owners of nine parcels. The total tax impact of these abatements was $20,358.74. The Board also voted to deny Abatement Applications for nine other parcels and to defer action on an application for a hardship exemption until its next meeting. 6. OTHER BOARD BUSINESS: Mr. Quinn announced that he is registered to attend the Spring 2013 Course 101 which will meet in Boston in April. 7. CORRESPONDENCE: March 8, 2013 e-mail from Robert Quinn to Fred McGrane et al, transmitting the draft minutes for the February 12, 2013 open meeting. August 16, 2012 e-mail from Bob LeLacheur to Fred McGrane et al, re: Open Meeting Law FAQ regarding Applications for Tax Abatements or Exemption. ADJOURNMENT: A motion by Mr. McGrane, seconded by Mr. Quinn to adjourn at 9:05 PM was approved by a vote of 2 -0 -0. 8. NEXT MEETING(S): TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2013 a* 7:00 P.M. 8a: Anticipated Topics: TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS ADJOURNED: 9:05 P.M. ATTEST: R ERT J. QU , JR.- SECRET Y