Dunbarton Board of Assessors

Minutes of Meeting

October 21, 2003

 

 

7:10 PM

 

Present:            Timothy Terragni, Chairman, John R. Swindlehurst

                        Linda L. Peters, Recording Secretary

 

The Board reviewed the agenda for the upcoming meeting.  It was noted that the tax rate had been set October 17 and was down $ 3.09 from last year:

 

                                               

 

2002

2003

School State

$       5.78

$       5.72

School Local

12.28

8.90

County

2.61

2.72

Town

4.11

4.35

 

$    24.78

$    21.69

 

 

Mr. Edward Wagner (H3-4-8) met with the Board regarding the Current Use Penalty on his property.  He furnished the Board with an original and several copies of a Request for Abatement.  Mr. Wagner asked the Board to review the request and offered to answer any questions the Board had.  Mr. Swindlehurst asked if the sale price included the structures. Mr. Wagner stated that it was land only.   Mr. Terragni asked if Mr. Wagner wished to add anything else.  Mr. Wagner wanted to discuss the amount of acreage that was actually removed.  He said the builder had applied for one acre and the Board allowed 20 acres for current use and removed 2.2 acres.  Mr. Wagner measured and came up with a basic measurement of the footprint of what would be used for the area.  He found it easier to square it off and subtract the areas they weren’t using.  Mr. Swindlerhurst asked if the solid bounds were marked so they could be identified in the future.  Mr. Wagner responded they will be marked if they are not already.  The Wagner’s are planning to build rock walls for some of the bounds.  Mr. Terragni asked how wide the road was.  Mr. Wagner responded the right of way is 40’; he calculated about 25’ for the driveway to be taken out of Current Use. 

 

Mr. Wagner confirmed that the building permit was pulled October 14 and the foundation was inspected October 29 so the land had been taken out of Current Use prior to October 29.   Mr. Wagner went on to explain how he arrived at his other figures. 

Mr. Swindlehurst reminded him that Current Use and the Town’s assessment for property are two different things.  After additional discussion, Mr. Swindlehurst complimented

Mr. Wagner, saying it was one of the nicest abatement requests he had ever seen.  He told Mr. Wagner the Board would review the request further and notify him of their decision.

 

 

            The Board reviewed and signed the following:

 

·        Minutes from the September 16 meeting

·        Current Use Penalty for Christian Labreque (H3-04-14) $ 7,000

·        Intent to cut timber – Rodney and William Doucet (B4-4-1)

·        Intent to cut timber – Town of Dunbarton Forest Committee (G2-4-6)

·        Warrant – Property Tax Levy, State of New Hampshire, Town of Dunbarton, Utility Properties $ 89,982.81

·        Warrant – Property Tax Levy, State of New Hampshire, Town of Dunbarton [non-utility properties] $ 1,385,897.38

 

The Board discussed the Wagner property further.  Mr. Swindlehurst made the motion to discuss with the Wagner’s a current use penalty of $7,000.  Based on time frame the lot was disqualified (October 29, 2002).  Mr. Terragni seconded the motion.  A letter explaining the Board’s decision was composed and sent to the Wagner’s.

 

The Board reviewed one bid for the upcoming revaluation and agreed that it was too early to made a decision.  The 2005 reval package is ready to go out.  Mr. Terragni noted that it is difficult to determine the level of involvement required of the recording secretary and how much should be requested of the Town Administrator. 

 

Recording Secretary Linda Peters informed the Board that she wished to resign her position with the Board.  She felt that now was a good time to make this known as the Board would be putting their budget together soon.  She offered to stay until a suitable replacement could be found.  She suggested the secretary currently being shared by the Police Department and Building Department.  Mr. Swindlehurst felt that Town Administrator, Janice VandeBogart would be a good choice for the position. 

Mr. Terragni will ask Mrs. VandeBogart.  He commended Ms. Peters on the work she has done for the Board.  Ms. Peters also offered to “fill in” in the event the new recording secretary was unable to attend a meeting.

 

            The Board reviewed the annual “pickup” package for the year 2004.   The date needs to be adjusted to October 21, 2003 and then it is ready to go.

 

            Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

Timothy Terragni, Chairman                                          John R. Swindlehurst