Minutes of the

BOARD OF ASSESSORS MEETING

Town Hall, January 6, 2000

The following minutes are available on-line as a service and are not the official record due to changes in formatting for the Internet. The minutes may have attachments that are not included here in this format. The official, complete paper copy can be viewed during regular office hours, Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Office of the Town Clerk, 260 Commercial St. Provincetown, MA 02657.

 

CALL TO ORDER:                                The meeting was called to order at 9:35 AM by

                                                            Chairperson, Alberta Romano.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                        Ms. Romano, Mrs. Lina Berry, Ms. Parmakian, Mr. Jack Kosko.

                                                           

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:                   Mr. Blanchette, Mr. Cervantes

 

 

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

                                                            Warner, Assessing Department Clerk

 

MINUTES:

Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mrs. Berry, to approve the minutes of the November 4, 1999 meeting as written.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

 

PUBLIC STATEMENTS:

Provincetown Tennis Club:  Mr. Eric Dray and others from the Provincetown Tennis Club appeared before the Board to present information in support of the Club’s charitable exemption under Ch.59, § 5.  The Board will take the information presented under advisement.  

 

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

1.     A letter from James R. Johnson, Director of Accounts, Division of Local Services regarding the approval of the Fiscal Year 2000 Pro Forma Recapitulation.

2.     A letter from Paul Trainor of 188 Commercial St. regarding the classification of his property.

3.     A letter from Joyce C. Buck outlining the increase in cost of obtaining abstracts of  Barnstable County probates.

4.     A letter from Mr. Faris to Louis Cervantes inquiring about his intention to remain on the Board of Assessors.

5.     A letter from Mr. Cervantes resigning from the Board of Assessors as the alternate member effective immediately.

6.     A letter from Mr. Faris to Phillip B. Graham advising him of the procedure for requesting an apportionment of real estate taxes.

7.     A letter from Mr. Faris to Walter M. Richter of 3 Upper Miller Hill Rd. returning an untimely-filed abatement application.

8.     A letter from Mr. Faris to Robert W. Saben, Jr. seeking an estimate for preparing an appraisal for the Town of Provincetown for a parcel of vacant land located at 76 Race Point Rd.

9.     Several invoices for copies of assessing department data.

10.  A letter from Mr. Faris to Bryan Scanlon of Unit #A Shankpainter Sails Condominiums regarding the filing of abatement applications for Fiscal Year 2000.

11.  A letter from Mr. Warner to Harold Paige of 61 Pleasant St. accompanying a personal property inventory form.

12.  A memo from Stephan J. Nofield, Town Clerk regarding submissions for the 1999 Annual Town Report.

13.  An affidavit of posting of the Assessors’ notice State Tax Form 1 submitted by Manuel Martin, Constable.

14.  A copy of the Cape Cod Commission’s Fiscal Year 1999 Annual Report.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

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

1.     Seagull Realty Trust, 56 Shank Painter Rd. These cases have been continued until the ATB next meets on the Cape.

 

Clause 58, Section 8 Abatements:  There were no abatements to consider for this period.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

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

·       Fully abate four bills for 1999 which were issued in error.

·       Partially abate five bills for 1998/1999 due to sales or trades of vehicles.

 

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

·       Fully abate one bill for 1999 which was issued in error.

Charitable Exemption-Provincetown Tennis Club:  After some discussion, Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to review the materials disseminated and table the discussion until the next meeting of the Board.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Personal Property Tax Abatements of Preliminary FY 2000 tax bills:

1.     Griffey, Edward P. et al, #4 Delft Haven II CD.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Mrs. Berry moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of     4-0.

2.     O’Connor James et al, 77A-79 Commercial St.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of      4-0.

3.     O’Connor James et al, 77 Commercial St.  The tax bill was issued in error.  Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of      4-0.

4.     Weiss, Kenneth C., 99 Bayberry Ave.  The taxpayer is a year-round resident domiciled in town.  The tax bill was issued in error.  Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

5.     O’Neal, Jon T., 23A Mechanic St.  The tax bill was issued in error for this vacant parcel.  Mrs. Berry moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

6.     Prescro Inc., #2 Bradken House CD.  A tax bill was issued in error to this corporate owner.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mrs. Berry, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

7.     Cronin, William, 19 Court St.  The tax bill was issued in error as the apartment was vacant and under construction on January 1, 1999.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mrs. Berry, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

8.     Platt, Robert C. et ux, #X Race Point TH CD.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Personal property was removed prior to 1/1/99 pending sale.  Mrs. Berry moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

9.     Codinhas Yogurt Shop, Inc., 277 Commercial St.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Business ceased operation in December 1998.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mr. Kosko, to abate in full. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

10.  Green, James H., 237 Commercial St.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Business was destroyed by fire in February 1998.  Mrs. Berry moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

11.  Spigner, Kathy, 336 Commercial St.  Tax bill issued in error.  Business ceased operation in the Fall of 1997.  Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

12.  White, Maxine L., 409A Commercial St.  A coding error resulted in an error in valuation.  The value was $3,900 in FY’99.  Mrs. Berry moved, seconded by Mr. Kosko, to abate the assessed value to $3,900.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.

13.  Fay, Sandra L., #3 Milhill CD.  Tax bill was issued in error.  The taxpayer had purchased a single-family home and moved all personal property prior to 1/1/99.  Condo was sold six weeks later.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mrs. Berry, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

14.  Kennedy, Diane W., #13 White Dory Bay CD.  A coding error resulted in an error in valuation.  Taxpayer received an abatement in FY’97 abating the value to $1,000.  Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Mrs. Berry, to abate the assessed value to $1,000.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

15.  Poletto, Debra I., 8 Thistlemore Rd.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Taxpayer is a year-round resident.  Mrs. Berry moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

16.  Race Rip Realty Trust, 755 Commercial St.  Tax bill was issued in error as the property was under construction on 1/1/99.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mr. Kosko, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

17.  Kathleen DL Sterck Revocable Living Trust, # 2D Oceanside CD.  Tax bill was issued in error.  Taxpayer is a year-round resident with an out-of-town mailing address.  Ms. Parmakian moved, seconded by Mrs. Berry, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

18.  O’Hara, Edward J et ux, 23 Dewey Ave.  Tax bill issued in error.  Taxpayer is a year-round resident.  Mr. Kosko moved, seconded by Ms. Parmakian, to abate in full.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS:

 

Assessing Team and Office News:  Mr. Faris announced that the Board of Selectmen will hold the budget hearings for the Board of Assessors’ FY 2001 budget on January 11, 2000, and the Capital Improvements budget on January 31, 2000.

 

Future Meeting Dates:  There will be a meeting of the Board of Assessors on February 3, 2000 at 9:30 AM.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Kosko  moved that the meeting be adjourned at  10:45 AM  and the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

Respectfully submitted:

Lina Berry, Clerk                                                               Dana Faris, Principal Assessor