Dunbarton Board of
Assessors
Minutes of Meeting
Present: Timothy Terragni,
Chairman, Bryan Clark, John R. Swindlehurst
Linda L. Peters, Recording Secretary
Mr.
Swindlehurst stated that both he and member Bryan Clark had attended a funeral
in Henniker and requested that it be stated in these minutes that they
conducted no business at that time.
The
first appointment for the evening was with Ken Swayze, newly appointed Building
Inspector. The purpose of the
appointment was to discuss which information should be communicated between the
two departments. Mr. Terragni
explained to
Mr. Swayze that building permits are
what trigger the assessment of a property.
Mr. Swayze agreed that the status of the information
being conveyed was not what it should be and stated that the Building
Department is working on it. One thing
they are doing is evaluating the forms they currently use. He informed the Board that there is a permit
log and recommended the Board review it.
He also stated that in many cases, structures are not being built as the
permit shows. He now requires a site
plan showing the correct outline of a structure. He is trying to flag demolition permits. Demolition also affects assessment. Mr. Terragni noted
that sometimes the permits do not reflect a correct address or lot number. Mr. Swayze
explained that there are currently three different file systems set up
(Assessors, Planning and Building).
Planning and Building will now combine all files by tax lot
numbers. This will only be a problem
when land is subdivided.
Mr. Terragni
asked if space be designated for the paperwork for the town Assessor. Mr. Swayze will
talk to his secretary about that but stated that the Building Department is still
trying to re-organize it’s system. He showed the Board the 2003 building permit
log which reflects all the permits issued for the year. Compton French asked if when a Certificate of
Occupancy is issued that the date of issue be entered.
Mr. Swayze said they could, but there may only be 6 C/O’s
issued out of a hundred permits. Most of
the permits are administrative: swimming
pool, etc., and do not require a final inspection. Mr. Swindlehurst feels the Building
Department should be inspecting these.
Mr. Swayze agreed, and reminded the Board that
the Building Department is in the process of re-working the permit fees. Currently the income from the permit fees
reflects a loss if a second inspection is required. The Board would like to continue to see a
paper trail.
Mr. Swayze
asked if there was anything else his department could do to aid the Assessing
Department. Mr. French noted that he
would like more detailed information on the paperwork eg.
a permit may give dimensions but not number of stories. Mr. Swayze stated
that his department is now trying to do that by asking for more detailed
information from people filing for permits.
Mr. Terragni said that there are cases when
residents inform the Board that their house is in disrepair but do not tell the
Board when they have completed the repairs and improvements. He said that the inventory forms the town
once used were helpful for finding out that information. He asked if the Building Department could
take pictures – especially of extensive remodeling – and date the
pictures. It would be helpful if, for
example, the Building Department would take pictures of the roof trusses, floor
joists, etc. to see if they’ve been changed.
Mr. Swayze is asking his workers to look for
evidence of these changes to the base permit.
He stated that the department is already overextended but would be
willing to call the Board when a final inspection is being done. Mr. Swindlehurst agreed that the Building
Department should not be required to take pictures for the Assessors. Mr.
French asked if the Building Department would note if the blueprint had been
followed. Mr. Swayze
stated that they are trying to but a lot of moving is done during the
building. Linda Peters suggested the
Board start by using the permit log as Mr. Swayze
suggested then communicate suggestions between departments. The Building department can’t furnish the
Assessing department with all that they need, but may find that they can
replace information that neither department needs with data that both
need. Mr. Swayze
agreed and pointed out that the log shows a consecutive numbering system for
permits but does not show a date issued.
Mr. Swayze
reminded the Board that he also represents the Planning Board and asked if
there were any issues there. Mr. French
asked if they would show a total for each lots frontage on the plans. Mr. Swayze stated
that this is required in the subdivision regulations and he is requiring it be
done. He recognizes that it was not
being done in all cases.
Mr. Swayze
had questions regarding calculation of Current Use assessment. He said that people ask about this when they
come to see him. The Board explained how
they calculated the assessment.
Discussion continued until
Mr.
Swayze for his time.
The next appointment was with Barry Danceiwicz and Karen Gagne regarding the non-buildable lot agreement for lot K1-13-5. Since all three members were not present at
the last meeting, they wanted to present their case again so that all members
could hear it. They feel that Roberta
entered into an agreement with the town when she did not own the land. She did not own the land as of 1991 and the
agreement was signed in 1996. He stated
that the three children are willing to sign affidavits that the signatures on
the [non-buildable agreement] are not their
signatures. The Danceiwicz
family has sold the land and can show the sales agreements with the correct
signatures of the children. They can
show that they are not the same signatures that are on the non-buildable lot agreement.
They feel they are being punished for an agreement their mother entered
into but did not have the legal right to.
They are willing to pay the town the taxes for all the years they were
abated. Mr. Swindlehurst stated that
those documents were signed under perjury and that they had a legal problem
with Roberta. Mr. Danceiwicz
felt that the town acknowledged Roberta as the owner. Mr. French asked if the children knew she was
negotiating the property with the town.
Mr. Danceiwicz said they did not. Mrs. Gagne
said the town accepted her as the owner of
the property when she wasn’t; the tax records show that she was not the owner
of the property; the deed was conveyed in 1991 and the agreement was signed in
1996. Discussion again turned to the
notary acknowledgement and the signatures on the agreement. Mr. Swindlehurst
said that from what he has learned the paperwork was sent to her (Roberta) in
She referred to
the tax record of 1996 that did not contain Roberta’s name.
Mr. Swindlehurst
felt that the Board had a signed document and should stick with it.
Mr. Danceiwicz felt this was misrepresented and agreed to by
the Town. Mrs. Gagne asked how the town
could go into an agreement with a woman who did not own the land. Mr. French
told her that the town can send the tax bill to anyone they are instructed
to. Mrs. Gagne pointed out that at the
June meeting the Board examined the tax card and saw that the property was conveyed
in February and she didn’t own the land anymore. The tax bill was going to Barry Danceiwicz. Mr. Swindlehurst felt that since the form was signed under
penalty of perjury that the children should go back to their Mother. Mr. Danceiwicz
asked again about the town’s liability for accepting a signature of an owner
who didn’t own it. He asked if the Board
was stating that it would not rescind the document in which case he would have
to get an attorney involved. He felt
that if the Board was in full agreement it would be a waste of his time to stay
and talk any longer. Mr. Terragni told them that the Board usually discusses a
situation and makes a decision afterwards.
He asked for an address where the decision could be mailed. Mr. Danceiwicz and Mrs. Gagne left the meeting.
The Board reviewed all of the documents. Mr. Swindlehurst
moved that the Board not rescind the agreement. Mr. Terragni
seconded the motion. The motion went to
the floor for discussion. They decided
that further research was needed and would look into contacting the town
attorney regarding the matter. A letter
was drafted (see attached) and sent to Mrs. Gagne.
The Board
reviewed and signed the following:
·
Notice
of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber for the following:
Constance
George E6-3-6
Mark
and Lisa Perreault I2-2-8
Antonio
and Rosa Sutra I2-2-4
·
Certification
of Yield Taxes Assessed from Apri1 1, 2002 to
·
Timber
Tax Warrant for:
Fred
Cross F4-1-6 $ 592.71
Douglas
Ryan I3-4-2 $ 16.60
Appeal from Ann Hanlon: (Also discussed at the
Alan Cushing Property Tax
Abatement: (See
The
Board drafted and signed a cover letter to accompany the Current Use
form that will be mailed to all property owners with land in current use. The Board will have the forms and labels
printed by the Selectman’s office which will also furnish postage. Once they are printed, members will each take
a portion to prepare for mailing.
Michael
Fraser H3-4-16 Current Use Penalty: Mr. Fraser purchased an eleven acre lot from
Right Way Builders on
Other
business: Mr. Swindlehurst
referred to a conversation he had with the Town Administrator. The new subdivision lots coming out of
current use have lot numbers but do not have any values attached to them. This affects our ratio. He feels it would be wise to assess an arbitrary
standard figure of $ 100,000 on all new unsold lots. Mr. Swindlehurst
will consult with the Town Administrator to establish an effective date. This
will get something on the books as a basis for taxes.
The
Board will ask the Town Administrator not to schedule any meetings for July so
they can focus on the bid specs for re-valuation.
Meeting
adjourned at
Timothy Terragni, Chairman Bryan
H. Clark John R. Swindlehurst