Minutes of Meeting

                                                     Board of Selectmen

 

Meeting held upstairs in Town Hall                          Tuesday – February 5,2008

 

Those attending: Town Manager Edward Samson

                             Selectmen – David Stickney, Allan Carr and Leo Enos, Sr.

                            

 

Others attending: Joe Bachofer, Alan Savage, Murray Vashaw, Rev. Don Williams and Jason Call of Northtown Associates, LLC.

 

            The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chairman David Stickney, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

 

            At this time Town Manager Edward Samson said that they would be opening the bids on a parcel of land only on 644 Elm St.  Map R21 Lot 15 Approximately l.75 acres.

 

Bids submitted were:

            #1 – received on 2-5-08 – Don Doolan & John Brooks – Lancaster $  7,505.00

            #2 – received on 2-4-08 – Stan Hulse – Jefferson                                 $12,049.00

            #3 – received on 1-29-08 – Larissa Cassady – Lancaster                     $  5,021.94

            #4 – received on 2-4-08 – Alan Savage – Lancaster                             $ 9, 149.00

            #5 – received on 2-1-08 – Malcolm Tileston – Massachusetts   $ 4,650.00

            #6 – received on 2-1-08 – Wendy Tileston – Massachusetts                 $ 3,650.00

 

            The top bidder was Stan Hulse of Jefferson.  He will have to pay the Town 10% of the bid price within 48 hours of notification and then the remainder of the money in full in 30 days.

 

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to accept the bid of $12,049.00 from Stan Hulse of Jefferson for said lot.  A vote was taken and the motion carried.

 

Edward Samson said that if Mr. Hulse didn’t come up with the full amount of the sale by the 30 days given that the next highest bidder would be given the option to buy.

 

APPOINTMENTS:  

 

            At this time Jason Call of Northtown Associates, LLC spoke to the Board regarding the  “Statistical Update Contract” that he was presenting.  The Town is scheduled for a re-val this year as it is in the 5th year of the cycle.  He passed out information sheets to the Board so that they could see what was needed to be done. He and Edward Samson have both talked with DRA and everyone feels that the update can be done fairly with the statistics that the Town now has.  They would decide where each neighborhood would be and evaluate accordingly. This did not mean that the street where you reside would be the neighborhood, it would be according to houses with the same value.  They would use the same formulas as the last re-val, some of the houses may be moved to another neighborhood.  Their goal is to bring the town up to l00%.  It should be at least 90-100% anyway.  The proposal that his company has given the Town goes hand in hand with the things that they have been doing right along with the Town, and feels that with the software that they have things should move along smoothly.

            Edward Samson said that the DRA would do a ratio study. We are not planning to do an up-date. The Board of Land and Tax Appeals would mandate you do an update.   Building lots may see a jump in the tax rate but the average home would not.  Taxpayers need to tell the town if they have demolished any buildings on their property so as to adjust their taxes accordingly.  Everyone feels that the update is consistent with DRA standards.

            Edward Samson asked about “Completion of work 2.2.1 on Page 3”  He felt that not being ready by October 31st would be crowding the Tax Collector  so as to get the bills out in a timely manner.  The Board would like to see a date of September 30th, and  October 15th for pick-ups.  It was asked if the data could be entered in stages and the answer was yes.  Jason will have to work with Charity as there will have to be changes made on the computer. Jason Call said that there were 600 current use areas that needed to be done this year.

            Jason Call said that they would hold public sessions again like before and listen to the public if they have any concerns and then revisit their property.  He felt that by then all reviews would be done and there would only be some stragglers that might come in.

            Edward Samson said that people who challenge the re-val could take up more of their time.  They would then be subject to an appeal.  He felt that the best one to do the update was the ones who have been working on the data.

            Leo Enos asked how many homes had to be re-visited.  There were a lot the last time but it had been 15 years since the last re-val.  Edward Samson said that the people would be given all the information that they needed up front.  The more up front the Board is with all of this the less challenges we might receive.  Jason Call said that as they were doing the work if they found any errors they could correct them then and make the challenges less.

            Jason Call said that he would try to go for the October 10th deadline.  Edward Samson said that as soon as a change is made give it to Charity and pick-ups as soon as they are ready also.  Everyone should have their actual value by the 2nd tax billing.

            Jason said that he was going to talk to the company who did the last re-val and see what is the best way to go.

            Edward Samson asked Jason about item on Page 8 regarding contacting the applicant.  Jason said that he will work with the property owner so as to make it convenient for everyone.  The issue of mailing was acceptable and they will work out notification.  If they cannot reach the owner they will use the previous data that they have.

            Edward Samson questioned on Page 5 –“ 3.2.1 – USPSP Standard 6 Compliant Final Appraisal Report”. Jason felt that even tho DRA requires it, he didn’t think that it would be used as it is not a document that the public would need to see regarding the value. (A report would be given to the Selectmen as requested by DRA)  Ed again said that the results need to come in as soon as possible so as to set the tax rate

            Jason would not be doing any utilities as Skip Sanscoucy does that and he has been doing it for about 10 years and all have been satisfied with his work.  Jason also said that they would view all properties but they won’t measure each and everyone. He, Jason, feels that over the next 5 year period all the data will be current.

            Jason said that he would like to have something in the Town Report as to what they were doing but due to the time it was suggested that he put something together that could be a handout at the Town Meeting.

            Edward Samson said that he would send the contract to DRA as he also has a March 4th meeting with them.

            The Board thanked Jason for coming to the meeting and giving them the information that they had requested.

 

OLD BUSINESS;

            Department Head Up-dates – None

            Signing of Various Paperwork:

                        Intent to Cut – David Currier – Lost Nation Road – Cut 3 acres of  7.08

                        Veteran’s Credit Application – Denis Skora of 36 2nd St. - $100.00

 

NEW BUSINESS;

            It was noted that the Page Hill Mobile Home Co-Op would be at the February 19th meeting to discuss the new water billing.

 

INFORMATION:

            A newspaper article regarding the excellent service given by the Lancaster Ambulance Corp.

            Petition Warrant Article from Mt. Prospect Ski Club.

            Notice of  Public Hearing for Community Development Block Grant Project.

            Notice of Decision from Zoning Board on Raymond Dubreuil, Jr.

            Minutes of January 16, 2008 Zoning Board.

 

 

The Public Hearing for the Budget will be on Thursday February 7th at 7 P.M.

 

 

Noting that there was no further business to come before the meeting a motion was called for to adjourn.

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to adjourn.  A vote was take and the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                                        Approved:

 

 

Sandra E. Doolan – Clerk                                                     David Stickney

 

 

                                                                                                Allan Carr

 

 

                                                                                                Leo Enos, Sr.

 

 

 

                                                                                                Board of Selectmen