SELECT BOARD MINUTES FOR MEETING
Tuesday August 30, 2016 - 7 pm
Holland Town Hall
27 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA
Present: Elias Gillen, Chair
Bettina Schmidt, Member
Lawrence Mandell, Member
Kelli A. Robbins, Esq., Executive Secretary
Call to Order:
Mr. Gillen called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Minutes
Motion 083016-1 Ms. Schmidt to waive the reading of the minutes of July, 5th, and approve as written. 2nd Mr. Gillen. So voted
Meetings with the Board:
Joint meeting opened 7:15pm
Erik Iller was present for the joint meeting of the School Committee to appoint two new members respectively; Laura Prunier for Elementary School Committee and Debra Bertrand for Tantasqua School Committee.
Mr. Mandell asked if the committees would be full after these appointments. Mr. Gillen stated the Tantasqua School Committee would be but the Elementary School Committee would not.
Motion 083016-2, Ms. Schmidt to appoint Laura Prunier to the Elementary School Committee. 2nd Mr. Mandell. Roll call vote: Elias Gillen, aye, Bettina Schmidt, aye, Larry Mandell, aye, Erik Iller, aye.
Motion 083016-3, Mr. Mandell to appoint Debra Bertrand to the Tantasqua School Committee, 2nd Mr. Iller, Roll call vote: Elias Gillen, aye, Bettina Schmidt, aye, Larry Mandell, aye, Erik Iller, aye.
Motion 083016-4, Mr. Iller to adjourn joint meeting of the Select Board and Elementary School Committee. 2nd Mr. Mandell. So voted
Joint meeting closed.
Old Business
Adoption of the proposed policy for the Senior Abatement Program. Documents were presented to the Select Board with the suggested language and rules for the Senior Abatement Program policy by Ms. Robbins (see exhibit A).
Discussion of reasons for the language and documents requested. Changes were recommended.
Changes in bold underlined.
Holland Guidelines
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The Town of Holland will use the Federal Poverty Level Chart to determine eligibility for the program.
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The Select Board, after discussion with the Board of Assessors, will annually determine the number of positions available for the program.
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If an applicant's gross family income falls outside the poverty guidelines but has extra-ordinary medical expenses that cause them to fall within said guidelines, medical expenses can be considered.
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Documents required with application:
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MANDATORY FORMS:
□ Federal W4
□ State M4
□ I-9 Employment Verification with two forms of identification
□ OBRA Form
□ Social Security Disclosure
□ Ethics On-Line Training
□ Employee Information
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Medical expenses as reported on income tax
The Select Board reserves the right to request further documentation of income.
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Minimum age to participate 60
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- Own and occupy a residential property in the Town in the immediate fiscal year
preceding the fiscal year applying to volunteer services; if in a trust, senior must be trustee and have possession of property; Life Tenancy will be treated as fee simple ownership
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- Cannot be a regular compensated full time employee of the Town during the fiscal year for which the tax credit is sought
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- Able to perform the essential and major functions of the work you have volunteered your
Services.
- One abatement per property/residence
- There are spots available
- Community Center kitchen 2
- Community Center maintenance 2
- Community Center Office 1
- School Crossing Guard 1
- Town Hall Clerical 2
- School Maintenance 1~
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2016 Federal Poverty Level Chart*
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issues poverty guidelines that are often referred to as the “federal poverty level” (FPL). Federally-facilitated Marketplaces will use the 2016 guidelines when making calculations for the insurance affordability programs starting November 1, 2015.
*Chart is for 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; for Hawaii and Alaska please visit the website of the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE): http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm.
**Dollar amounts are calculated based on 100% column; rounding rules may vary across federal, state, and local programs.
Senior Tax Work-Off Abatement Program
(M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5K)
Accepted:
Annual Town Meeting
May 13, 2003
Local Regulations:
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting July, 2016
Implemented:
January 1, 2017
Updated: May 21, 2010 to be $750
Updated: May 2015 to $1,000.00
Town of Holland
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Senior Citizen Tax Work-off Abatement Program
Section 5K of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws
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Eligibility and Program Guidelines:
1. Age
Taxpayers must be over 60 to earn a property tax abatement under this program.
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2. Property Ownership
Taxpayers must be an assessed owner of the property as of January 1 of the applicable assessment
year or, if the property is subject to a trust, the senior must have legal title, (i.e. be one of the
trustees) to the property on which the tax to be abated is assessed. Where there is a question, the
Board of Assessors will make a final determination.
The taxpayer must have owned and occupied a home in Holland for at least five (5) years.
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3. Maximum Abatement and Hourly Rate
The maximum abatement taxpayers may earn is $1,000.00 per fiscal year. In addition, they
cannot receive credit for their services at an hourly rate higher than the state’s minimum wage
(currently $10.00 per hour) or lower than the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour).
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The Town of Holland follows its regular employment practice and offers reimbursement at
the Massachusetts minimum wage rate.
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Only one qualifying owner of the parcel may earn an abatement under this program per fiscal
year. If a selected owner cannot fulfill the commitment for all hours, another owner of the same
property may complete the program if he/she meets eligibility criteria and meets the requirement
of the position.
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4. Qualification
The number of taxpayers who can earn a maximum abatement of $1,000.00 depends on the
available balance in the overlay account and must be approved by the Board of Assessors for each
fiscal year. At $10.00 per hour, taxpayers must work a total of 100 hours to receive an
abatement in the maximum amount.
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If a volunteer leaves the program before the full number of hours is worked, and no other owner of the parcel can complete the hours, another taxpayer owning another parcel may work the remaining number of hours not worked by the previous volunteer and receive an abatement for his/her hours worked.
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Taxpayers must complete an application form and participate in a selection process. Seniors must
be qualified to perform the essential functions of the position under this program with or without
reasonable accommodations as outlined in the job description for the position for which he/she is
applying.
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Seniors may be asked to interview for a position and the person who best meets the needs of a
position will be selected. All applications will be submitted to the Executive Secretary
in the Selectmen’s Office, where the application will be screened for eligibility.
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The applications will then be forwarded to the department director who will make a
recommendation for selection to the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen assigns the
program participants to the positions.
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Program Selection is valid for one year. Applicants must re-apply annually if they wish to
continue participation.
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5. Selection
Selected individuals will receive written confirmation from the Selectmen’s Office stating their
job duties, location of job and name of supervisor, scheduled hours, and hourly rate of credit
earned. They will receive necessary tax forms to be completed.
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Hours worked are documented on a monthly attendance sheet and signed by the volunteer and
his/her supervisor.
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6. Certification
The hourly worksheets will be turned in to the Executive Secretary's office for compilation.
At the time the senior has worked up to 100 hours or voluntarily ends participation in the program,
The Executive Secretary or their designee will complete a certificate of completion with the number of hours worked, and the amount of the abatement earned by the senior. The Executive Secretary will forward it to the Town Treasurer for tax calculations, and forward the actual abatement amount to the Board of Assessors.
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As a result, credit earned for hours worked between July 1 and June 30 of any given year will be credited for the next fiscal year. (i.e. hours worked and credit earned between July 1, 2011 and
June 30, 2012 (FY 12) will be certified for FY 2013).
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7. Tax Withholdings
The abatement earned is subject to federal social security and Medicare withholdings and the
senior is responsible for filing the income earned. The abatement is not subject to state income tax
withholdings. The town will pay the employer share of the federal withholdings in the same
manner as it does for all other employees. The employee’s share of these deductions will be
deducted from the abatement amount.
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This means that the actual amount abated from the tax bill will be the amount earned less Federal Tax withholding.
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Questions regarding the program may be directed to C Kelli A. Robbins, Esq.,
Executive Secretary, Town of Holland,
27 Sturbridge Road, Holland, MA 010521 413-245-7108 ext 101
Motion 083016-5 Mr. Mandell to adopt the Senior Abatement guidelines with amendments 2nd Ms. Schmidt, so voted.
New Business
Vote on who will sign warrants effective November 7, 2016.
Motion 083016-6, Mr. Mandell, to table. 2nd Ms. Schmidt. Item tabled.
Motion 083016-7, Ms. Schmidt to appoint Larry Mandell as Emergency Management Director for FY 2017. 2nd Mr. Gillen. Mr. Mandell accepted.
Motion 083016-8, Ms. Schmidt to appoint Fran Gallo as Alternate to Council on Aging.
Motion 083016-9, Mr. Mandell, to appoint Andrew Harhay as “At Large member to the Capital Planning Committee” for FY 17. 2nd Ms. Schmidt. So voted.
Legal activity update:
None
Announcements
Weed treatment at Hamilton Reservoir August 31st
Awards from state - ltr
State Primary – THURSDAY Sept. 8th/Register to vote by Fri. Aug. 19th
State (Presidential) Election – Tues. Nov. 8th/Register to vote by Wed. Oct. 19th
Public Access
Motion Mr. Mandell, to adjourn. Ms. Schmidt 2nd. So voted.
Meeting closed 7:24 PM
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