MINUTES
Nottingham Assessing Advisory Committee
NAAC
Monday October 20, 2008
I. Call to order
Chairman of the Advisory Assessing Committee, John McSorley called to order the meeting of the Advisory Assessing Committee at 7:29 p.m. on October 20, 2008 in the Nottingham Town Offices.
II. Roll call
John McSorley conducted a roll call. The following committee members
were present: John McSorley, June Proko, and Lisa Stevens. The following alternates were present: Bonnie Winona. The following members of the public were present: Heidi Seaverns.
III. Approval of minutes from last meeting
The meeting minutes from October 6, 2008 were reviewed and approved. A motion to accept the minutes as amended was made by Lisa Stevens and seconded by June Proko. June Proko, Lisa Stevens, Bonnie Winona and John McSorley who were present at the October 6, 2008 meeting approved the minutes by unanimous vote.
IV. Items discussed
Question was raised, if the newly formed BOA would receive a stipend. The Assessing Coordinator had polled other communities who had approved the BOA option and found that only one (1) did not receive any stipend. The committee will try to obtain more detailed information on this question. It was noted that a stipend of this type would require a warrant article for vote of the governing body of the Town of Nottingham at the March town meeting. Selectmen currently each receive a stipend of $3,600. The Committee did not recommend a dollar amount appropriate for this stipend pending further study.
Heidi Seaverns, Nottingham Assessing Coordinator, presented the Committee with the line item assessing budget proposed for 2009. Examination of the budget items for assessing indicated that the 2009 proposed budget is lower than the 2008 budget.
Committee also continued its discussion of what, if any, education would be recommended for newly elected Board of Assessor members. Especially, for those who have had no prior education or experience in the field of assessing. It was noted that unlike criteria for those hired to perform assessing services such as employees and contractors, those elected to perform assessing such as selectmen or assessors elected to a board of assessors were exempt by NH law from education and experience requirements. This, however, does not extend to an exemption to follow the laws and standards of assessing practice. These include, most importantly, that assessments be at market value and that they be proportional across the spectrum of properties within the municipality.
Committee will now devote its attention to those issues that it hopes will guide the newly elected Board of Assessors and provide some assistance in making the transition as smooth as possible of the assessing duties from the selectmen to the assessors.
Committee will also recommend assessing standards to follow regarding assessing and assessing equity in the Town of Nottingham.
V. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by June Proko and seconded by Lisa Stevens. Chairman of the Advisory Assessing Committee, John McSorley, adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
Minutes submitted by: John McSorley
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