HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-14 Board of Assessors Minutes` FR
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Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Assessors
Date: 2014 -10 -14 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location:
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Robert N. Marshall & Robert J. Quinn, Jr.
Members - Not Present:
Francis Golden
Others Present:
Victor Santaniello
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Robert J. Quinn Jr.
Topics of Discussion:
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THIS MEETING WAS HELD IN THE ASSESSORS OFFICE, 2nd Floor TOWN HALL.
PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED.
Page 1 1
OCTOBER 14, 2014 CONTINUATION SHEET
CALL TO ORDER:
Acting Chairman Marshall called the meeting to order at 7 PM. The Board last met on June 17,
2014.
1. APPOINTMENTS:
None.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
A copy of the draft minutes for the Board's June 17, 2014 meeting was circulated on October 9,
2014. No changes were proposed. A motion by Marshall seconded by Quinn to accept the
minutes as written was approved by a vote of 2 -0 -0.
3. TOWN APPRAISER'S REPORT:
Santaniello announced that the FY 2015 Classification Hearing has been scheduled for October
28, 2014. A "preliminary presentation" will not be made to the Board of Selectmen as was done
the past few years. However, Santaniello will be available to answer any questions from the
individual selectmen.
Santaniello expects to submit the LA -3 sales report to MADOR by the end of this week and
hopes to wrap up New Growth sometime next week. He estimated New Growth for FY 2015
would be about $600,000 + / -.
Appeals challenging the FY 2014 assessments of fourteen (14) parcels are on the Appellate Tax
Board's docket. Some of these parcels are owned by the same person. Many of the parcel owners
had also filed appeals for FY 2013 (all of which have since been resolved).
Joanne Fitzpatrick is on vacation this week.
4. OTHER SIGNINGS:
The Board signed routine Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Abatements totaling $36,221.27 ($7,164.06
+ $9,551.47 + $8,557.71 + $10,948.03).
On July 31, 2014, responding to a time sensitive request, Marshall and Quinn signed 2014 Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax Commitment #4 and two miscellaneous billings, all totaling $166,339.17.
On September 29, 2014, responding to a time sensitive request, Golden and Marshall signed
2014 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Commitment #5 in the amount of $110,327.10.
On September 17, 2014, responding to a time sensitive request, the entire Board signed a Forest
Land Tax Lien with respect to a 10.9 acre parcel located off of Main Street. Chairman Golden
also signed the related MADCR Certificate for Chapter 61 Forest Lands.
5. NEW BUSINESS:
Santaniello handed out copies of his summary of the key residential sale statistics and a Patriot
Properties' "Quick Sales Report". The summary updates and finalizes the "first and second
pass" information contained in Santaniello's September 14, 2014 e -mail. As noted therein, the
size of old Neighborhood 5 (representing about 44% of all residential parcels) has long been a
"bone of contention" with the MADOR. Santaniello's proposed solution was to split old
Neighborhood 5 into two new neighborhoods, using the railroad tracks as a "natural boundary"
of the new Neighborhood 51. The Board reviewed the final statistical data and other material
submitted by Santaniello and approved the results.
Santaniello will circulate draft copies of his Tax Classification Presentation to the members of
the Board for their review and comment.
The Board declined to consider a settlement proposal relative to two commercial parcels,
pending further factual development by the Chief Appraiser, who will confirm the ownership of
the two parcels and research any zoning restrictions that might apply.
The "realignment' of the Board was deferred until its next meeting when all members are
present.
6. CHARTER REVIEW:
No discussion.
7. CORRESPONDENCE:
September 4, 2014 e -mail from Victor Santaniello to BOA Chairman Francis Golden et al,
transmitting preliminary residential sales statistics for FY 2015.
October 9, 2014 e -mail from Robert J. Quinn to BOA Chairman Francis Golden et al,
transmitting the draft minutes for the Board's June 17, 2014 meeting.
8. NEXT MEETING:
The Board of Selectmen have scheduled the FY 2015 Tax Classification Hearing for October 28,
2014.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion by Quinn seconded by Marshall to adjourn at 7:43 PM was approved by a vote of 2 -0-
0.