APPROVED 11-19-07
Minutes of Meeting
Town of Monson
Board of Assessors
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Members Present: Assessors David Royce and Craig Benoit
Members Absent: Chairman Russell Bressette Jr.
Principal Assessor: Diane L. Hildreth
Open the Meeting: The meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm.
Accept the Minutes: A motion was made by David and seconded by Craig to accept as amended the minutes of October 24, 2007. Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
Appellate Tax Board Cases: Craig briefed the board on the outcome of the ATB Telephone Conference call. The ATB Commissioner, after hearing from both parties has granted a continuance to be held May 13, 2008 at the ATB in Boston. Diane will contact ATB to see if this can be heard in the Western MA area.
NEW BUSINESS:
Preliminary Certification: On November 6th Diane petitioned the Division of Local Services to start the Public Disclosure and was grant permission but cautioned that all news articles must include the wording “pending”. Fortunately Preliminary Certification was fully approved on November 7th. Public Disclosure period will take place from November 7 –November 16. The Board will reconvene on November 19th to finalize the documentation to resubmit to Boston. Information is on the Website, in the office and at the library.
Excise: The board approved all 2005, 2006 & 20077 Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise abatements in the collectively amount of $401.25.
Uncollectible RE Tax: The board revisited the Uncollectible RE Tax request from the Tax Collector. David followed up with the Collector and learned a lien was placed on the property in question. At the next meeting we will vote to approve the request upon gathering of the lien document.
Chapterland Liens: The last of the chapterland liens for land to be classified for FY 2009 was signed and will be recorded at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds.
Classification Code Change: Due to the recent changes in the Chapters 61, 61A & 61B the town will need to consider if they want to add a local option section to each of the three chapters to be able to have classified land under Class two, open space. If this local option were added it would have an impact if the community adopted the “open space discount”. The board will forward this information on to the Board of Selectmen and suggest a discussion might be warranted prior to the Annual Town Meeting.
Office Updates: The town will withhold 10% of the total contracted amount of the Tighe & Bond mapping project until after the proofing process and final maps are delivered. Tighe & Bond is aware and in agreement with this. Our MHS intern begin to assist the map proofing process. The Senior Exemption Seminar was well received and beneficial to the attendees.
There will be a Vision Seminar that Diane will plan on attending November 29, 2007. A reminder of the Special Town Meeting to be held November 26, 2007
NEXT MEETING: The next meeting has been scheduled for November 19, 2007 @ 11:00 am.
ADJOURN: At 5:55 p.m., a motion was made by David and seconded by Craig to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously.
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