DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL FINANCE - ASSESSORS’ OFFICE

BOARD OF ASSESSORS MEETING

Town Hall, January 8, 2002

CALL TO ORDER: In the absence of Chair Richard Blanchette, the meeting was called to order at 9:05 AM by Jack Kosko

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ms. Pam Parmakian, Mr. Jack Kosko, Ms. Leslie Parsons, Mr. Rick Tourgee

MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Richard Blanchette (excused)

OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Betty Newman, Mr. Dana Faris, Principal Assessor; Mr. John Warner, Assessing Department Clerk

MINUTES:

Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mr. Tourgee, to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2002 meeting as written. The motion carried by a vote of 3-0.

PUBLIC STATEMENTS: There were no public statements.

CORRESPONDENCE: Mr. Faris reported on the following recent correspondence sent or received by the Assessors’ Office:

1. A copy of a memo from Warren Alexander, Building Commissioner, to Keith Bergman, Town Manager, regarding the classification of the property located at 12 Aunt Sukey’s Way.

2. A letter from Mr. Faris to Sharon M. Pelosi, Program Chief of DEP Waterways Regulation Program, regarding the cartway that runs between the two parcels comprising Fisherman’s Cove condominium.

3. A copy of the published public notice regarding Assessors’ Form 1.

4. A letter from Richard Blanchette offering his immediate resignation from the Board of Assessors.

OLD BUSINESS:

Appellate Tax Board Cases: Mr. Faris reported on the following Appellate Tax Board cases:

1. Verizon Advanced Data Inc. vs. Commissioner of Revenue and Board of Assessors. Mr. Faris reported that this appeal has been withdrawn.

2. 141-143 Commercial St. Realty Trust & 583 Commercial St. Realty Trust. Mr. Faris reported that the hearing for these pending cases has been rescheduled for January 17, 2002.

NEW BUSINESS

(Ms. Parsons arrived at 9:15 AM.)

Chapter 58, Section 8 Abatements: Mr. Faris presented the following abatement applications to the Board:

1. 2 & 2A Bradford St. The assessors discovered only this year that these two properties, which have been receiving separate tax bills, had been combined in FY 1997 by a Land Court plan and deed that had been filed without being entered into the computer. Therefore, Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to petition the Department of Revenue for authority to abate $331.03, the amount of tax overassessed by virtue of these properties being valued as separate parcels. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

2. #A Sandcastle Condominium. This property, the site of the former Pronto’s restaurant, was purchased at foreclosure in 1997. Because the restaurant had not operated for more than two years, the nonconforming use was deemed abandoned and required a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which variance was granted and then successfully appealed by the abutters. In FY 2000, the valuation of the property was changed from a restaurant to storage space. Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to petition the Department of Revenue for authority to abate $1,704.77 from FY’99 taxes, which amount represents the differential taxes between use as a restaurant and use as storage space. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Abatements: Mr. Warner reported on the following application for abatement and recommended that it be granted:

· Partially abate one bill for 2000 as a result of a sale.

Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to grant this abatement based on staff recommendations. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Boat Excise Tax Abatements: Mr. Warner reported on the following application for abatement and recommended that it be granted:

· Fully abate one bill from 2001 as a result of a sale prior to the tax period.

Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to grant this abatement based on staff recommendations. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Executive Session: At 9:30 AM, Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to go into executive session for the purpose of setting values for FY 2002. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

At 10:30, Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mr. Tourgee, to adjourn until 9:00 AM, January 22, 2002 and to continue this meeting at that time. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

The meeting continued at 9:03 AM, Tuesday, January 22, 2002 with the following members present: Ms. Parsons, Ms. Parmakian, Mr. Kosko, Mr. Tourgee, and Mr. Roderick.

(Steven Roderick was appointed as a regular member of the board by the Board of Selectmen on January 14, 2002.)

At 10:05 AM, Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mr. Roderick, to come out of executive session. The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS:

Assessing Team and Office News: There was no assessing team or office news that was not fully covered elsewhere in the minutes.

Future Meeting Dates: There will be a meeting of the Board of Assessors on January 29, 2002 at 9:00 AM.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Parmakian moved that the meeting be adjourned at 10:10 AM and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted:

__________________________ ______ __________________

Jack Kosko, Clerk Dana Faris, Principal Assessor