APPROVED 9-12-07
Minutes of Meeting
Town of Monson
Board of Assessors
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Meeting convened at 5:00 p.m.
In attendance: Russell Bressette, Chairman
David Royce, Assessor
Craig Benoit, Assessor
Diane Hildreth, Principal Assessor
The minutes from the July 25, 2007 meeting was approved as written.
The board reviewed the three Appellate Tax Board cases currently pending. Diane, acting as an authorized representative for the Board of Assessors, reached a settlement with one taxpayer. The two remaining ATB cases are both vacant land issues. Stephen Phillips, Trustee has three contiguous parcels on Wilbraham Road in which he contends Lot 2 is unbuildable due to wetlands. In order to make any adjustments the board would require a definitive letter from the Conservation Commission stating Lot 2 is not buildable as drawn on a Plan of Land dated 8/19/96. Although Mr. Phillips has submitted future plans for wetlands and conceptual lot reconfiguration, no decisions from the Conservation Commission or Planning Board has been determined. If the ATB hearing comes up prior to Mr. Phillips
getting a definitive letter, he could consider postponing the case and the board would agree to the postponement. The Board is also aware that a Motion to Dismiss is possible due to the late filing of the ATB appeal. The board would like to work this out with the taxpayer and last resort would be to file a Motion. A letter will be sent outlining the Board of Assessors position and request.
The second vacant land ATB issue is property located on Old Wales Road. This parcel although irregular in shape has enough frontage for two building lot and potential a third. According to the Hatch’s abatement application explanation was they have a lot of unusable land due to wetlands. They also stated to get more than one lot extensive work and money would be necessary. There is no information with the Conservation Commission as to wetlands on this property. Again in order to make any adjustments the board would require a definitive letter from the Planning Department confirming that there are not two buildable lots or from the Conservation Commission confirming that wetland would prohibit two building lots. A letter will be sent outlining the Board of Assessors position
and request.
The Board also discussed the classification coding of single-family homes with an accessory apartment. It has been determined the proper code should be 101 (single family) instead of coding these homes a 104 (multi- family). The additional kitchen value associated with each accessory apartment will be input in the Extra Feature section. The board also revisited the outbuilding valuation issue. After much decision the board unanimously voted to not value metal carports without a degree of affixation.
The Board approved the 2007 MV Excise Abatements in the amount of $1,379.09; 2006 MV Excise Abatements in the amount of $41.54 and the 2005 MV Commitment #13 in the amount of $2,148.76. The Board reviewed and approved one renewal application for Chapter 61 Forest land.
A sampling of the mapping project currently taking place was reviewed. Tighe & Bond is in phase two of the project. In this phase they are manually entering the metes and bound measurement. They have aligned the town maps to MASSGIS coordinates. Diane will be inquiring with Monson High & Pathfinder if they have a student intern who could assist in the review process while experiencing a potential career field the student might be considering.
The board reviewed all correspondence received since the last meeting including several upcoming seminars. The board member will review their schedules to determine if they will be attending.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.
Next meeting will be scheduled for September 12, 2007 @ 4:00 PM
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