TOWN OF NEWTOWN
OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
MINUTES
MARCH 20, 2012 @ 6:00 PM
NEWTOWN MUNICIPAL CENTER
3 PRIMROSE STREET
NEWTOWN, CT 06470
PRESENT: MARIANNE BROWN, MAUREEN C. OWEN & JAMES MCFARLAND
ALSO PRESENT: CHRIS KELSEY & PENNY MUDGETT
1. 11 Berkshire Road LLC
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 7B Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook, CT 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is excessively valued based on appraisal
conducted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 15 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook, CT,
06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is excessively valued based on appraisal
conducted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
3. 87 South Main Street Unit 14 LLC
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 87 South Main Street Unit 14, Sandy Hook,
CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is overvalued based on the (10%) penalty applied
for not submitting the annual Income & Expense form due in June.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Remove (10%) penalty based on paperwork
submitted.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $74,944
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $68,131
4. Andrew Hall
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: AJA Associates
Reason for Appeal: Business is in name only.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
5. William Brunetti Sr.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: B & B Home Improvements
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
6. The Bee Publishing Company
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT, 06470
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appeal withdrawn based on information discussed with the
board.
7. Robert & Linda Bennett
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 35 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook, CT,
06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes the appraised and assessed value are too high based on similar
units within the same complex.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change
8. Richard Billy
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 26 Oak Ridge Drive, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is overvalued based on comparable properties on
the same street. Price per square foot is basically consistent across the board with neighboring
properties while subject property has an inflated average per square foot.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Change the condition of the house from good to
average, and change the price per square foot to average out to $141/sqft.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $720,430
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $618,285
9. Harold A. Bochino Jr.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Ace Wood Floors
Reason for Appeal: Believes business assessment is too high due to annual Personal
Property Declaration not being submitted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Accept 2011 Personal Property Declaration plus
(25%) penalty for late filing.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $1,960
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $1,790
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 21 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes property is overvalued based on significant increase from 2010 to 2011, and compared to the current market value.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change. Condo changed to 100% complete for 2011.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 17 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes property is overvalued based on current market value.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Chaves Beth Therapeutic Message.
Reason for Appeal: Believes business assessment is too high due to annual Personal
Property Declaration not being submitted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Accept 2011 Personal Property Declaration plus
(25%) penalty for late filing.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $640
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $510
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 39 Oak Ridge Drive, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Disagrees with the property based on inconsistencies in valuing the property compared to similar ones in the same neighborhood. Attic is also listed as being 100% finished when in fact it is unfinished.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Change the condition of the house from good to average. Remove the attic finish area from finished square footage.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $908,718
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $825,070
14. Michael D. McCarthy
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Cross Cut Tree & Land Management LLC
Reason for Appeal: Believes business assessment is too high due to annual Personal
Property Declaration not being submitted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Accept 2011 Personal Property Declaration plus
(25%) penalty for late filing.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $14,200
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $7,260
15. Janice D. Brown
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: DIY Tool Girl
Reason for Appeal: Believes business assessment is too high based on excessive increase
even though business form was submitted on time.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Accept 2011 Personal Property Declaration with no
penalty applied since declaration was submitted by deadline date.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $4,062
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $50
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 1999 Plymouth Breeze
Reason for Appeal: Believes motor vehicle value is too high based on the previous assessment from Bridgeport which got reduced at their Board of Assessment Appeals prior.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Reduce the assessment of the motor vehicle to $500.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $2,210
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $500
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Elliott Construction & Services
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 60 Taunton Hill Road, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Property overvalued based on the current condition of the house. The subject property was purchased in a foreclosure, and the house was completely run down which requires extensive repairs.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Change the condition of the house from good to average.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $387,950
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $365,140
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Fitzgerald Engineering
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
- Food Automation-Service Techniques, Inc.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Food Automation-Service Techniques, Inc.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 66 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes property is over assessed based on current market value, economy, and similar units in the complex.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 1 Winslow Road, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Believes property is over assessed based on a fire 10/16/2011 that rendered the home inhabitable. Fire damage repairs are estimated to be completed in July 2012.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Inspection requested. Approved. Reduce the percent complete on the dwelling from 100% to 20% for 2011.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $284,420
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $192,600
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Hair by Andrea
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
- Hawleyville Development LLC
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 23 Barnabas Road, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Current appraised value is too high based on comparable properties.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
- Hawleyville Development LLC
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 64 Barnabas Road, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Current appraised value is too high based on comparable properties.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 28 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes property is overvalued based on removal of (5%) highway adjustment.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 29 Philo Curtis Road, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 87 South Main Street Unit 2, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is overvalued based on the (10%) penalty applied
for not submitting the annual Income & Expense form due in June.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Remove (10%) penalty based on paperwork
submitted.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $135,916
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $123,560
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 138 South Main Street, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is overvalued based on the current market value.
Piece of land which has been vacant for quite some time.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 146 South Main Street, Newtown, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes property is overvalued based on the current market value, and
the condition of the property.
Board Discussion/Resolution: No Change.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Newtown Pools LLC
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
- North American Association of Christians Social Work
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: North American Association of Christians Social Work
Reason for Appeal: Organization is tax exempt through the state of Connecticut. Submitted
M-3 Quadrennial, and 501(c)(3) IRS Form.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Delete for 2011 based on paperwork submitted.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $5,500
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $0
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 1 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Believes assessment is too high based on the noise disturbance from the
highway.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Denied.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Oriental Natural Health Care
Reason for Appeal: Duplicate account. Filed two trade name certificates, but in actuality only
one business at physical location.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Delete for 2011.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $5,510
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $0
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 29 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook, CT, 06482
Reason for Appeal: Appraised value, the amount used to calculate the assessed value) of the
condo far exceeds the amount paid in February of 2011, and what the condo could
realistically sell for. There also appears to be an inequality used to appraise/assessed values
of condos in the complex.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Denied. Deck which is listed as an outbuilding was not priced
for 2011 which caused the increase in assessment.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: P K Development LLC
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: 150 South Main Street, Newtown, CT, 06470
Reason for Appeal: Believes the property is overvalued based on the (10%) penalty applied
for not submitting the annual Income & Expense form due in June.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Remove (10%) penalty based on paperwork
submitted.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $569,746
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $517,951
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: R.F. Martens Construction LLC
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Richardson Diesel
Reason for Appeal: Believes business assessment is too high due to annual Personal
Property Declaration not being submitted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Accept 2011 Personal Property Declaration plus
(25%) penalty for late filing.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $22,210
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $3,200
- Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Appellant did not show.
Date: 3/20/12
Property Location/Description being appealed: Wellfleet Financial Service
Reason for Appeal: Believes business assessment is too high due to annual Personal
Property Declaration not being submitted.
Board Discussion/Resolution: Approved. Accept 2011 Personal Property Declaration plus
(25%) penalty for late filing.
2011 Original Property Assessment: $5,860
2011 Revised Property Assessment: $2,380
Board of Assessment Appeals adjourned at 10:30 PM
Mindy Kovack, Clerk
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