Minutes
Selectmen’s Meeting
October 1, 2007
6:30 PM Chair Bock opened the meeting and asked all those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Peter Bock, Bill Netishen, Mary Bonser and Town Administrator Charles Brown.
Others: Approximately 220 taxpayers/residents and Heidi Seaverns.
6:30 PM Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to enter non-public session under RSA 91A: 3 II (a) & (c).
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board moved to conference room #2 for the non-public session.
6:47 PM Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to come out of non-public session.
Vote: 3-0 in favor. No action was taken.
6:48 PM Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to keep all discussions non-public.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board reconvened the meeting in the multi-purpose room. Mr. Bock read the letter that had been sent to the property owners whose values had been updated. He then gave a brief synopsis of the timeline of events that led up to the update and read RSA 75:8, which gives the Board the authority to perform the update. Mr. Bock then recognized Tom Duffy who stepped forward to address the Board. Mr. Duffy read a statement, that he asked be part of the record, asking the Board to wait until next year to implement the new values. He feels that the reassessment was done in a rush and people need more time to discuss the issue before the abatement process. He referenced prior reassessment procedures and wants everyone to get due process. He spoke briefly about his own experience with the abatement process a few years ago. He also
referenced the fact that the Town had to have spent money on legal fees for that abatement. Rick Morrissey was the next person to address the Board. He stated that he thought the sales used in the analysis were stale. He also stated that the site-specific adjustments should have included deductions for lot size and restrictions and also questioned why the site-specific adjustments were made. He also stated the reassessment had been done too quickly. Ms. Seaverns attempted to explain the reason why the site-specific adjustments were used. The Co-efficient of Dispersion (COD) measures equity of assessment within a group of properties. The COD for the waterfront properties was high indicating inequity within the group. The decision was made to view the properties from the water in order to ensure that properties were being assessed equally; that is everyone that has a beach is assessed for it, etc. Clayton Button was the next individual to speak. He spoke about how unfair the
assessments were and he urged the Board to go back to the 2005 values. He asked if the meetings, which the reassessment had been discussed, had been posted. Ms. Seaverns stated they had been posted. He spoke against the process that had been used and stated he thought it was spot assessing. Ted Menswar, Jr. spoke against the new values since he has been unable to sell his property for two years. Therese Thompson spoke against the increase. Dotty White asked how property could be assessed from the lake if no one could see it. Steve White urged the Selectmen to take into account the large number of abatement s that would be filed if this increase was left in place. Mike Ruggerio asked for an accounting of where the increase would be spent. Pam Kelley asked the Board to wait to implement changes so people would have a chance to discuss the issue. She stated she did not agree with the Board’s interpretation of RSA 75:8. Charles Walsh quoted a couple of values from the list
and went on to say the process had not been done right and the Board should go back to the old values. Mike Rose asked why the assessing company had been to his property twice in one year. Judy Doughty spoke against the increase and stated it was unfair to tax someone for a retaining wall. Mary Markham thanked all for coming and asked if the assessment by boat had been done in 1 day. It was stated it had been done in 1 day. Ms. Markham asked what size lot corresponds to the $ 270,000 figure and why there had been no deductions for properties on emergency lanes. Dianna Watts asked the Board to please reconsider implementation of these values and to consider the people on fixed incomes. She suggested the Board could just raise the values of the properties that have sold rather than all properties. John Moreau stated he had purchased a property last year for less than the assessed value and now the assessed value had increased again dramatically, while the value of the property had
gone down. Nan Vigars stated that the DRA website states that property owners must be notified of a revaluation. Stephan Landry stated he feels values have declined and will continue to do so for a while. Denise Nadeau spoke about restrictions that had been put on her property and the values were too high. Dave Galpin suggested that the rest of the Town’s valuation be brought down to the level of the waterfront property. Shane Carey asked the Board to wait a year to implement values. Chris Mills spoke about declining real estate values. Dick Westrick stated he thought he was being taxed twice since he owned a water access lot and has an interest in a common lot. Bob Rydeen talked about incorrect frontage on his lot. Dan Burke stated his taxes have doubled in 10 years. He thinks Proposition 2 ½ in Massachusetts is a good idea. Mike Ruggerio spoke again about an itemized statement of where the money would be spent. Mr. Netishen reminded the audience that the tax rate has
not been set yet and that the budget was passed in March so there would be no additional spending. Ms. Seaverns attempted to explain how the tax rate was set. Gary St. Pierre said that the Board had tried to do a good job, but they had failed. He urged the Board to go back to the old values. Stephan Landry asked why the Town did not send notices to the property owners before the values were updated. Nan Vigars asked for a definition of a higher end property. Mike Ouellette asked what the process was and how did the Board plan to answer the questions asked. Mr. Bock stated that the questions would be answered but since some were of a technical nature, it may not be this evening. Fred Jackson and Barry Dunfey spoke against the increase. Mr. Dunfey went on to say that it was not realistic to review all the properties in 1 day and that the whole process was rushed. There was a brief discussion about land in current use. Clayton Button stated that the Board had submitted the MS-1 to the
State on September 12th. The question was asked if the values could be changed at this date. Mr. Bock stated that Mr. Brown would call DRA in the morning to see what the options are. Pam Kelley asked if the State had mandated this update. Mr. Bock stated they had not. Gary St. Pierre asked if the Board was following Town or State laws. He also suggested that the Board implement tax credits, not increases. Bev Caldon asked how the Board planned to get the information out since there was no newspaper in Town. Gene Reed stated he was a critic of assessing policy. He went on to say everyone should review his or her property card yearly to insure accuracy. He advised the crowd to keep in mind that the abatement process can take a long time. Sue Horton asked the Board to use the old values. Jeff Gurrier asked how improvements at the back of the property were considered. Karen Davidson reminded the Board that the Forum newspaper online was available to get the information out
to people. Mr. Bock thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. He urged the crowd to be as active as possible in Town. He went on to say that the Board would get the answers they were looking for. Ms. Bonser thanked all for attending as did Mr. Netishen. This portion of the meeting concluded and the audience left.
The Board continued the meeting in Conference Room # 2.
Regarding outstanding minutes, the Board will act on the minutes at their next meeting.
The Board then reviewed bills and the mail.
The Board reviewed a potential deed list from the Tax Collector. Mr. Brown informed the Board of a request from a resident to intervene in a rumored lawsuit in reference to Nottingham Lake. The Board is not aware of any pending litigation and Mr. Brown will inform the resident. The Board reviewed a memo from the Town Clerk in regard to mailing reminders for vehicle registration. The Board suggested that the Town Clerk contact surrounding towns to see what they charge for the service. Mr. Brown gave the Board a memo about the budget and a memo from the Planning Board in regard to a work-study position. This will be reviewed further as time allows. Mr. Brown informed the Board that he would be instituting a spending freeze with their approval. Any expenditure over $250 other than regular preventative maintenance and parts
needs to be approved by the Town Administrator. The Board authorized the spending freeze effective Tuesday October 2, 2007. The Board reviewed the budget workshop schedule. Mr. Brown reminded the members of a walk through at the new Fire Station on Tuesday evening at 7:00PM.
The Board decided they would have a workshop meeting on October 5, 2007 starting at 8:30 AM.
Having no further business,
9:55 PM Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Seaverns
Approved as amended
10/15/07
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