Heniger Park Committee Meeting
Minutes 7/18/13
7:00pm
Otisfield Town Office Annex
Present: Rick Micklon, Anne Pastore, Judy Hall, Craig Turner, Hal Ferguson, Kyle Jordan, Karen Turino, Sandy Ouellette, Secretary.
Absent: Lenny Adler, Marianne Izzo-Morin
Meeting was called to order at 7:05pm by Hal Ferguson
A list of the new assessed values on Heniger Park land by Denis Berube of O’Donnell Associates was distributed to committee members and audience members.
R. Micklon stated that nothing had been decided by the committee as of yet as far as lease fees or lease lengths. H. Ferguson stated that the committee would like to have everything completed and available to be voted on at the next town meeting which is the last Saturday in June 2014.
The first hour of the meeting included questions and answers between the committee and the public in attendance.
Sample questions/statements from the public included:
- Do the the towns’ people know the history of Heniger Park? Answer: There would likely be a public hearing before town the meeting, and that information could be available.
- Heniger Park residents should not be taxed on leased land and it is not fair to tax them after they had built up their property. Also when will the leases expire? Answer: The property tax would be on the buildings. Land fees would be in the form of a lease. We are going to discuss lease lengths but nothing has been as yet decided.
- Recommendation that in the new lease agreement it should state which lots have rights to which beach. Answer: We will consider this.
- Recommendation that leases be for 50 years, so if they wanted to sell their property the long lease would make it a more attractive proposition to buyers. Answer: Duration has not as yet been decided.
- What would happen if the town’s people voted the new lease agreement fees down (at next town meeting)? Answer: There will be time to deal with that possibility after the town meeting as the first lease doesn’t expire for an additional year. Also the public was reminded that according to the will it is ultimately up to the selectmen to set new lease lengths and fees, but the selectmen have chosen to put it to the townspeople for a vote.
Peter Barber, President of the Lake Association, discussed the impact of road runoff into the lake. He also volunteered to help with any issues that came to the towns’ attention in regard to water quality.
PUBLIC LEFT AT 8:00 p.m. They were invited to remain for the remainder of the meeting, however questions and concerns appeared to have been addressed.
Discussion determined that there are indeed two different dollar amounts involved here, the “tax” on the building and the “lease” fee on the land. It was also agreed that the environmental impact of the properties be looked into. This would include septic systems and all operational functions that should be checked and approved by CEO before any lease renewal.
Opening discussions on lease fees began with a recommendation that they be at least double the newly developed land assessed values.
Additional discussions revealed several additional lease benefits:
- Deeded lake rights
- Year-round road maintenance
- Back property includes 95 about acres of “green” space that cannot be sold or built upon
- Rental income is possible, as well as selling the lease
- Can be deeded to family members
Possible lease fees discussed by committee members:
(Lease fees would be a multiple of the adjusted land value as identified on the Heniger Park values for assessors spreadsheet that was provided at the start of the meeting. Would be tied to any increases in the assessed land value and mil rates )
Front Lots – 1 ½ - 2 ½
Back Lots – 3 ½ - 4 ½
The general consensus of the committee is to have all expiring leases renewed to expire on June 1, 2032. This would extend all leases up to the same expiration date.
Plans for the next meeting includes emphasis on financial considerations and durations of new lease agreements.
Next meeting date: 9/26/13 at 7:00pm in the Town Office Annex.
Meeting adjourned: 9:00pm
Sandy Ouelette,
Edits/Tanya Taft
Recording Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on August 7, 2013
TAFT 08.12.13
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