TOWN OF MONTEREY
Board of Assessors
435 Main Rd., P.O. Box 448
Monterey MA 01245
Minutes, November 4, 2006 Meeting
Stan Ross called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM. Bob Lazzarini, Bob Gauthier, Don Clawson and Linda Hamil were present.
The first order of business was a discussion of acquiring the Commonwealth’s approval for our new tax rate of $5.40 per thousand dollars of assessment. All the reports for calculating this number have been completed and all local signatures obtained. The final report been sent it off to DOR for their approval.
Second order of business was a spirited discussion of the “Neighborhoods” that the BOA set up for assessment purposes. Bob Lazzarini believed that the current neighborhoods do not reflect the “desirability” of the land parcels. He stated that they have been greatly modified since originally draw up by our consultant, Duane Adams. For instance, at the suggestion of DOR representatives, we eliminated most cases where roads crossed into two different neighborhoods. Bob Lazzarini cited several examples of what he thought were faulty neighborhood assignments. He suggested that we score property using a panel of “desirable traits” to define “most desirable” (M3), “above average desirable” (M2), and “average desirable” (M1) neighborhoods. This panel might include such factors as 1) whether the parcel abuts the State Forest or Restricted lands, 2) Proximity to mountain ridgelines (Elevation), Type of flora (woods or fields vs trash trees and swamp), 3) Proximity to lakes and ponds
and 4) the average assessed value of houses in the neighborhood. Validation would come over time from sales that would reveal whether our assessments matched the fair market value. While there was general agreement that the current classification of neighborhoods needed revision, the other assessors did not accept this proposal. They argued that the initial classification needed to be driven by sales statistics. Accordingly the BOA placed a phone call to the consultant to set up a meeting where this could be worked out.
Third order of business was a discussion of the Business neighborhood. Properties in this neighborhood appear to be at the M2 level, but they are classified as in the business district (defined by the zoning bylaws) and use a different size and values for the building site and excess acres than does the M2 neighborhood. Does this result in any inequity with properties in other neighborhoods? No. Bob Lazzarini discussed his calculations for land assessment values for 3 different sized parcels (0.25 acre, 2.0 acre and 10.5 acre) in either the Business or the M2 neighborhoods. It all cases the assessment value of a single parcel size for was very close to or the same for the Business and M2 neighborhoods. The Board decided to ask our consultant to alter the curves for
assessment of excess acreage to further reduce even this small difference.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 AM.
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