Charlemont Board of Assessors Meeting Minutes
Date: Present: January 10, 2007 Carol A. Rice, Michael E. Kane and Andrea Santos
The meeting was convened at 6:30 p.m. The Board reviewed and approved the minutes of the December 27, 2006 meeting. The minutes of the December 13, 2006 meeting have been e-mailed to the website. The Warren Group faxed a sample of our FY 2007 data and requested that some be checked for accuracy, any corrections noted and then the page initialed by Mr. Kane. The data was checked and approved by Mr. Kane and faxed back to The Warren Group during the meeting. Mrs. Rice signed a letter to Point Software thanking them for reviewing our FY 2007 promptly so that there were no last-minute problems when our tax data was being prepared. The Board made a request that the format for our commitment book for next year be more user-friendly than this year’s. Mrs. Rice signed a letter to Roy Bishop regarding our FY 2008 revaluation. His contract was requested and he was also asked if we should send a letter noting the revaluation with the forms of list that are sent to second-home owners. Mr. Bishop called our office with information to forward to the property owner who had questions about the valuation of his property. The Plainfield Assessors requested information on how Charlemont values landlocked parcels and parcels with conservation restrictions. Since the form that was sent had limited room, a letter was prepared with the information. Mrs. Rice signed the letter; it will be faxed to the Plainfield Assessors. Questions received by telephone by the Tax Collector and our office were addressed. A letter of explanation was prepared to a property owner whose father has a life estate and, therefore, is listed as an owner also. A new owner of record wanted his name put on the property he purchased during 2006; the letter explained that the ownership is changed as of January 1 of each year so the previous owner’s name will be on the bill until FY 2008. Mrs. Rice signed both letters. Copies of recorded Chapter 61 documents were made for the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The cover letter also requested information on a property that has an amended certificate in process; our office has no notice of any change from the owner. The first big motor vehicle excise of 2007 is due at any time; it is always a huge project. The Board voted and signed the monthly list of 2005 motor vehicle excise abated in December 2006 in the total amount of $342.70. A conservation restriction was received on property on Maxwell Road. adjusted as of FY 2008. The assessment will be
Two letters sent by the Board in December regarding personal property issues with campers were returned with notes and additional information on them. One said he had no information and the other provided more documentation but it did not alter the legality of the personal property bill for FY 2007. The Board dictated a letter to the second person; Mrs. Rice will come in to sign it.
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The building permit summary and the occupancy permit summary for December were reviewed and will be filed for future reference. Information was made available to the Assessors that will assist in sending forms of list to people who will need to be assessed personal property for FY 2008. The forms of list for FY 2008 will be sent out as soon as possible, but before the end of the month. A letter was received from the Selectmen reminding Boards that minutes need to be forwarded to them and e-mailed to the website after they are approved. The areas requested at the last meeting by Mr. Kane were unable to be copied using Pictometry because our license had expired. Ryan Clary came to the office and renewed our license. The areas were copied and reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed setting a time for inspections to begin for FY 2008, preferably when the weather is good. The listing of the last inspections in the notebook will be updated so that units that are gone are noted and new owners included. The January 2007 issue of the RV Blue Book will be ordered; there is money in the budget for it. It was noted that the owners of the campgrounds will be contacted prior to the inspections to set up dates/times agreeable with them. The FY 2007 abatement applications were reviewed generally. Several had long letters that will be copied for the Board’s use at the next meeting. Those needing Mr. Bishop’s assistance will be listed. Lynn Hathaway completed a list of those who applied noting that all had paid the first-half tax without penalty. Several applications were mailed but not returned; those were mentioned to the Assessors. A worksheet was prepared with a copy for each Assessor to use during deliberation of the applications. A DLS Alert was reviewed concerning an employment opportunity for Director of Accounts for the D.O.R. in Boston (details online). The M.A.A.O. Winter Meeting will be held in Randolph on January 18; no one from our office will attend. The January issue of The Beacon was received. The Assessor/Secretary for Heath came to the office today for a copy of Mrs. Purinton’s job description; it will be adjusted for her use. She has worked as secretary for a year and earns $12 an hour. She also was given the CSC website contact information so Heath can put its data online and the toll-free number for ordering a RV Blue Book for use in assessing units in Mohawk Estates. Mrs. Purinton will try to have the omitted assessment paperwork for FY 2007 ready for the next meeting. The Town Hall will be closed on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The next Board meeting will be on Wednesday, January 24, 2007. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Jean Purinton Secretary
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