Minutes of the

BOARD OF ASSESSORS MEETING

Town Hall, Tuesday, June 11, 2002

 

CALL TO ORDER:                          The meeting was called to order at 9:05 AM by Chairperson Jack Kosko.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                   Mr. Kosko, Ms. Pam Parmakian, Mr. Steven Roderick, Ms. Leslie Parsons,

                                                           

MEMBERS ABSENT:                     Mr. Rick Tourgee, Ms. Betty Newman (alternate)

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT:                        Staff:  Mr. Dana Faris, Principal Assessor; Mr. John

                                                            Warner, Assessing Department Clerk

 

MINUTES:

Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2002 meeting as written.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

PUBLIC STATEMENTS:  There were no public statements.

 

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

1.      Five invoices for copies of assessing department data.

2.      A copy of a letter from Keith Bergman, Town Manager, to Representative Shirley Gomes and State Senator Robert O’Leary regarding the status of home-rule petitions filed pursuant to the April 2001 town meeting.

3.      A copy of a letter to Mr. Bergman from Senator Robert O’Leary responding to his inquiry about one of the pending home-rule petitions.

4.      A copy of a letter from Mr. Bergman to Atty. Edward Veara regarding the Town’s interest in property located at 12 Franklin St., currently owned by the estate of Mary Towne.

5.      A copy of a letter from Atty. Veara to Mr. Bergman regarding clearing the title to the property located at 12 Franklin St.

6.      A copy of a letter from Atty. Jeanne McKnight, Town Counsel, to Mr. Bergman, regarding clearing the title to the property located at 12 Franklin St.

7.      A letter from Anthony Rassias, Deputy Director of Accounts for the Department of Revenue informing the Board that the FY’02 tax rate has been reviewed and approved.

8.      A memo from Mr. Faris regarding the apportionment of preliminary taxes.

9.      A memo from Mr. Bergman regarding the Selectmen’s policy to waive regulatory fees for housing projects which are 100% affordable.

10.  A memo from Mr. Bergman regarding the Chapter 91 license and status of the cart road between 145 & 147 Commercial St.

11.  A letter from Mr. Faris to the Department of Revenue requesting authority to assess taxes to unknown owners for the property located at 33 Creek Rd. beginning in fiscal year 2003.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Chapter 58, Section 8 Abatements:  Mr. Faris reported on the following unpaid tax bills:

1.      Edwards, Kent, 309 Commercial St.  Mr. Roderick moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to abate an FY’01 personal property tax bill in the amount of $5.94 that was issued in error in accordance with authority granted by the Department of Revenue.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

2.      McDermott, Bradley M., 56A Franklin St.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to abate an FY95 personal property tax bill in the amount of $17.48 that was issued in error in accordance with authority granted by the Department of Revenue.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

3.      Vannoy, William, 141 Bradford St.  Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate personal property tax bills from FY’98, 99, 00, 01 totaling $168.04 that were issued in error in accordance with authority granted by the Department of Revenue.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

4.      Estate of Albert E. Carter, 2A Bradford St.  Mr. Faris read into the record the May 1, 2002 letter from the Department of Revenue denying the board’s request to abate a portion of the taxes from FY’98 through 2001.

 

Appellate Tax Board Cases:  There are no pending ATB cases.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Senior Volunteer Exemptions:  Mr. Faris presented one application for exemption under Clause 5K, Senior Volunteer Service.  Mr. Roderick moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to grant this exemption.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Exemptions:

Mr. Warner presented the following applications for exemption under M.G.L. Ch. 59 § 5 with the following recommendations:

 

Clause 17D-Surviving Spouse/Elderly:  There were eight applications to consider for this period. Mr. Warner stated that all the applicants have received the exemption in the past, and all meet the current requirements.  Therefore, Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to grant these exemptions.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Clause 22-Veteran:  There were 13 applications to consider for this period.  All but one applicant have received the exemption in the past, and all meet the current requirements.  Therefore, Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to grant these exemptions.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Clause 37A-Blind:  There were three applications to consider for this period.  All applicants have received the exemption in the past and all meet the current requirements.  Therefore, Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to grant these exemptions.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Clause 41C-Surviving Spouse/Elderly:  There were 23 applications to consider for this period.  All applicants have received the exemption in the past and all meet the current requirements.  Therefore, Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to grant these exemptions.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Clause 42-Surviving Spouse of a Police Officer:  There was one application to consider for this period.  The applicant has received the exemption in the past, and meets the current requirements.  Therefore, Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to grant this exemption.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

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

·        Fully abate 14 bills for 2001/2002 that were issued in error.

·        Partially abate 24 bills for 2001/2002 as a result of sales or trades.

Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to grant these abatements in accordance with staff recommendations.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

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

·        Fully abate 14 bills from 2002 that were issued in error.

·        Partially abate five  bills from 2002 as a result of sales or data correction.

Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Ms. Parsons, to grant these abatements in accordance with staff recommendations.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS:

 

P. I .L .O .T. Bill: Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to issue a fiscal year 2002 tax bill to the Provincetown Housing Authority for various properties it owns in accordance with the P. I. L. O. T. agreement established with the Town.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Warrant for Additional Tax:

2 & 2A Allerton St.  The FY’02 value of this divided parcel increased by $115,900 due to an error in calculating value and tax on the original tax bill.  Therefore, Ms. Parsons moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to assess additional taxes in the amount of $752.08.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

County Tax:  Mr. Roderick moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to authorize the Treasurer to pay Provincetown’s share  of the County Tax in the amount of $78,593.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.


Cape Cod Commission:  Mr. Roderick moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to authorize the Treasurer to pay Provincetown’s share of the Environmental Tax in the amount of $72,622.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

Mr. Roderick also requested that the Board obtain a copy of the Commission’s operating budget prior to next year’s request for payment of these invoices.

 

Assessing Team and Office News: 

 

Antique Assessors’ Maps:  Mr. Faris reported that he has obtained authorization to purchase three museum-quality assessors’ maps from 1910 to be displayed in Town Hall.

 

Website Update:  Mr. Faris reported that our office will now be responsible for updating and maintaining the town’s website.  Additionally, he informed the Board that frequently-requested forms are now available on line.

 

Public-Access Terminal:  Mr. Faris informed the Board that the public-access terminal will be up and running sometime in the month of July.

 

Future Meeting Dates:  There will be a meeting of the Board of Assessors on July 11, 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 10:00AM and the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

__________________________                                            ______            __________________

Pam Parmakian, Clerk                                                              Dana Faris, Principal Assessor