BOARD OF ASSESSORS
TOWN OF
Present: Timothy Terragni,
Chairman
John R. Swindlehurst,
II
Bryan Clark
Meeting call to order at
The following items were
reviewed and signed:
·
Minutes of the
·
Timber tax warrant for: Doucet, B4-4-1; Moquin, B5-2-26;
·
Timber Tax certification for
Mann & Kennedy lots
·
Abatement on Current Use
penalty for Cimray to correct the lot number.
·
New Warrant to replace above
current use penalty on Cimray.
·
Tax Warrant for added tax on
Michael & Lisa Poirier, B3-2-8.
·
Intent to Excavate: Kevin McDevitt,
H2-2-6A
The Board reviewed
applications for veterans credits on the following and
approved all.
·
John Casey, E3-6-8
·
George Harman, E2-2-1
·
Melicien Gendron, D6-5-9
The Board reviewed the
report of excavation submitted by Kevin McDevitt. It was decided that they needed more
information. Janice will contact Mr. McDevitt.
John Swindlehurst
made the motion to accept the proposal from Harlan “Bud” Noyes and to hire him
to do the pick up appraisals for the Town of
It was brought to the
Board’s attention by Appraiser Bud Noyes that John Brown,
The Board met with Vision
Appraisals: J. Michael Tarello, District Appraisal Manager and Richard Romano,
Regional Sales Manager.
Jim Gibney
from NH Department of Revenue was also present.
The group reviewed the
contract between the town and Vision Appraisals for the revaluation of the
town. Changes to the agreement were
brought up for discussion by the Assessors.
The board required that after changes are made Vision please send an
updated copy with the changed areas highlighted. They agreed.
Reviewed contract page by
page as follows:
Page 3: 3.3.1-John Swindlehurst
stated that he wants the traditional hard cardboard cards. Vision stated that they would have to send
them out to be printed up and would be an additional cost involved. The lazer printers
are unable to use the cards to print on, only paper. Could use a heavier paper
stock. Tabled
this issue until later in the meeting.
Page 4: 3.5.1 – First sentence change “the property”
to “their property”. Also, Vision will print books of everyone’s
assessment. They will make as many books
as the town
wants and the assessments will be on the internet. There will be a search for sales also on the
website.
Page 5: The Board stated they wanted all kitchen
fixtures listed so that everyone will be able to see what was there and could
make better comparisons to other properties.
Also, it would help the town in case someone made appeal. Mike showed how the program is set up. Mike stated they could make the columns and
add those items on the program.
Mike spoke about those
houses that Vision could not get in to. He said they make three attempts to get in. Two attempts in person and then a
letter.
Discussed paved driveways. Board wanted to measure paved
driveways. Mike stated that Vision uses ratings for driveways
but do not measure. This would involve
more cost to the town. Vision would
take into consideration the condition of the paved driveways when rating
them. Jim Gibney
stated that most towns are rating driveways, not assessing by measurement. Tim Terragni
recommended that the discussion move on and will come back to driveways later.
Buildings are measured from
the outside and list the number of rooms inside. Do not measure the individual rooms.
Page 7: 5.1 - Tim Terragni asked if Public Utility assessments were
included in the bid (the town does not want Vision to assess the utilities). Vision stated that the bid did not include
the utilities. John Swindlehurst
questioned the paragraph regarding Tax Appeals (#6 on page 7). Dick Ramono stated
that this paragraph had to be worded this way because the State had insisted
that this clause on public utilities be included on all contracts. Mr. Gibney stated
that this could come out, because the state does not require this any
longer. John stated that $700 was
figured into the costs for utilities and should be taken out. Dick stated the charge was not included. He stated that the wording could be changed
now and they would be glad to make the changes.
The appeal process was
discussed: Vision and Town would meet
with those appealing and then if the taxpayer appeals to the State, Vision
would represent the town up to five days (included in the contracted price) and
after that there would be a charge of $700 per day. Preparation would be part of this time so
anything the town can do to prepare for court would be less of a charge. The five days would be based on an 8 hr.
day. Tim asked if there was a time limit
on this because some cases take up to two years to be heard. Vision would represent the town whenever the
case was to be heard.
Town will interview the taxpayers, the town’s appraiser
could help with preparation and cut down on the costs. Vision will assist the town in reviewing
their appeals. All covered under
contract.
Dick Ramono agreed
to re-write the paragraph on Tax Appeals on page 7.
Page 7: 7.2 -
Vision will base assessment on what the property can be sold for. They will look at other houses in the
neighborhood. Water front properties
were discussed. John mentioned a new
method of assessing frontage. This will
be looked into by Vision as well as Mr. Gibney.
John Swindlehurst
asked about an insurance policy. Wanted
the Town of
Vacant land was defined as
land with no improvements on it. Further
define vacant land according to whether they are buildable
or non buildable.
Status meetings will take
place throughout the revaluation.
Probably have them once a month depending on progress. In the beginning may have meetings every
other month.
They will re-write contract and e-mail it with changes to the Town
Office. They agreed to list the kitchen
appliances. Vision gave a copy of the
guidelines to the Board for their review.
John Swindlehrust
stated he would like the following in the contract:
·
All built in kitchen
appliances, broke down individually.
·
Bathroom fixtures, spas,
etc.
·
Fuel storage tanks, number
of buried tanks.
·
Paved walks and driveways,
value on driveways no walks.
Mother in law apartments were discussed.
Vision will assess for additional kitchens, etc. Can assess on market value. Vision will identify the properties and check
when sold. Will give an income analysis
on a four family or more.
Home occupations in
town: These properties will be
identified as well and classified as mixed use. Added value will be put on those properties
with special exceptions. These will have
to be identified from town records.
Current use values were
discussed. The figures for current use should come from the
town. Assessors will have to go over the
surveys and advised Vision of the rates used.
A public hearing will be
scheduled for mid May.
Vision representatives left
at
Chuck Williamson made a call
to Tim Terragni regarding current use. He has a 4 acres parcel which he wanted to turn
into a field to hay. He wanted to cultivate it, take rocks out, fill in low
spots, and turn it into a hay field. It
was agreed this would not change the use according to current use rules. Mr. Williamson also wanted to screen and sell
loam that he would excavate from the property.
This would disqualify the property from current use. John referred to page 5 of
the current use booklet, item 4 B2.
Tim will contact Chuck with information.
The Board reviewed the current use application
from James Halla.
The board approved the application and signed the form.
A letter from Cimray Homes was given to the board members for their
review. This will be tabled until their
next meeting.
The Board had a brief
discussion on a current legal case.
Adjourn at
__________________________________
Timothy Terragni, Chairman
__________________________________
Bryan
Clark
__________________________________
John R. Swindlehurst, II
Dunbarton
Board of Assessors