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Home My Public Portal AboutAssessors Board -- 2020-09-15 Minutes gao°�epElWywyG TOWN OF BREWSTER OFFICE OF: O� at"� "i �9 2198 MAIN STREET _� •, BOARD OF ASSESSORS i BREWSTI;R, MA 02631 co _s PHONE: (508) 896=3701 EXT 1137or LL FAX : (508) 8964089 MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS Date : September 15 , 2020 — Regular Session Time : 6 : 30pm Location : REMOTE PARTICIPATION Remote Participants : Members G . Howard Hayes & Diane Salomon; James Gallagher, Deputy Assessor Call to Order : Mr . Hayes called the meeting to order at 6 : 30pm and announced the remote participation guidelines and notifications . All members were participating remotely and could hear each other . Pursuant to Governor Baker ' s March 12 , 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law and his March 15 and March 23 , 2020 Orders imposing strict limits on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible . Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting may be found on the Town ' s website at www, brewster-ma . gov , For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen to the audio broadcast may do so via the Town of Brewster website at http : //livestream . brewster-ma. gov or on Channel 18 . No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means . The Town has established specific email addresses for each board and committee that will be meeting remotely so that residents can send their comments in writing either before or during the meeting . In the event we are unable to live broadcast these meetings , despite best efforts , we will post on the Town website an audio recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting at http : //tv .brewster-ma. gov . To submit public comment or questions to the Board of Assessors prior to or during the meeting please email to assessor e ,brewster-ma. gov . — Please include " September 15 Meeting" or " 9/ 15 Meeting" in the subject line . James Gallagher was monitoring the public comment/question email address and confirmed that no questions or comments had been received . Regular Session • Report of the Deputy Assessor : Mr . Gallagher reported that Town Meeting was held on September 12 , 2020 and the budgets were approved . The Tax Rate Classification Hearing will be held by the Select Board on Monday, September 21 , 2020 at 6 : 15 pm . • Rescind and re -vote Veteran Work- Off Application : W W W . BREWSTER-MA . GOV 1% E1We TOWN OF BREWSTER "01", p 11U s m OFFICE OF: QSire F dT :rr, 2198 MAIN STREET BOARD OF ASSESSORS - 3 BRE WSTER, MA 02631 ° _ PHONE : (508) 896-3701 EXT 1137 FAx : (508) 8964089 OAP on .R mannmr!KNI$ �` Mr . Gallagher reported that one Veteran Work- Off was reported as $ 250 at our last meeting and the Work- Off amount has since been revised to $ 500 . Mr . Hayes moved to rescind the $250 Veteran Worlc- Off Abatement for Frances Zepeda and grant a $ 500 Veteran Work- Off Abatement . Ms . Salomone seconded the motion. Roll call vote : Hayes — aye ; Salomone — aye ; approved unanimously . • Uncollectible Personal Property Tax Abatements : Mr . Gallagher presented a list of uncollectible PP bills from the Treasurer/Collector. These were all properties that have since changed hands and efforts to collect from the previous owner has been unsuccessful . Mr . Hayes moved to approve the Uncollectible Personal Property Tax Abatements dated September 10 , 2020 in the total amount of $ 354 . 22 . Ms . Salomon seconded the motion. Roll call vote : Hayes — aye ; Salomone — aye ; approved unanimously . • Review FY2021 Department of Revenue DLS Gateway Forms : Mr . Gallagher reviewed the LA4 which shows total assessed value by class and the LA4 comparison report which compares with FY2020 . He pointed out the most significant change is in the Public Utility Valuations . Due to recent court cases , the valuation methodology has changed on Public Utilities (gas & electric) and there is a significant increase on their valuations . • Discuss and vote on FY2021 recommended allowance for abatements and exemptions (Overlay) : Mr . Gallagher reviewed the Town ' s Financial Reserves policy which sets the Overlay target at 1 -2 % of the General Operating Budget , FY21 General Operating Budget is around $ 43 Million so 1 -2 % is $430 , 000 - 860 , 000 . Our July 1 overlay balance was around $ 749k. Mr . Gallagher also reviewed the OL- 1 form which shows the past 5 -year average of abatements & exemptions . We have transferred $ 80 , 000 to Overlay surplus to fund the valuation contract and we average $ 167k/yr in abatements/exemptions . So , we expect to expend around $ 250k from overlay this year . The Town Finance Team is recommending an allowance for abatements and exemptions of $ 125 , 000 for FY21 . We are aware that this amount is less than we expect to expend, but our reserve balance is at the high end of the recommended range . Mr. Hayes moved to set an allowance for abatements and exemptions of NOT LESS THAN $ 125 , 000 . Ms . Salomone seconded the motion. Roll call vote : Hayes — Aye ; Salomone — Aye ; approved unanimously . • Classified Land Applications : Mr . Gallagher reviewed the Shady Knoll Campground renewal application . Ms . Salomone moved to approve the Chapter 61B application for Shady Knoll Campground . Mr . Hayes seconded the motion . Roll call vote : Hayes — Aye ; Salomone — Aye ; approved unanimously . W W W. BREWSTER-MA. GOV a`ewW° " /�Y TOWN OF BREWSTER OFFICE OF: eaewsr �, 2198 MAIN STREET BOARD OF ASSESSORS - BREWSTER, MA 02631 to r _ _ PHONE : (508) 896-3701 EXT 1137 FAX : (508) 896-8089 �QlmAlnllll N NRiN\0\\�\0� • Review & Commit Water Liens : The Assessors received the list of Water Liens from the Water Department. These are outstanding water bills that will be attached to the Real Estate Tax Bill . Mr . Hayes moved to commit the water liens dated 9/4/2020 . Ms . Salomone seconded the motion. Roll call vote : Hayes — Aye ; Salomone — Aye ; approved unanimously . • Review and approve Regular Session Meeting Minutes — August 25 , 2020 : Mr . Hayes moved to approve the August 25 , 2020 regular session minutes as presented . Ms . Salomone seconded the motion . Roll call vote : Hayes — Aye ; Salomon — Aye ; approved unanimously . • Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate : None • Future Meetings : September 29 , October 13 , October 27 • Executive Session (To comply with or act under the authority of any general or special law or federal grant-in- aid requirements : MGL Chap 59 Sec . 60 and MGL Chap . 214 Sec , 1B) : At 6 : 45pm Mr . Hayes moved to enter Executive Session for the reasons noted above, not to return to regular session . Ms . Salomone seconded the motion . Roll call vote : Hayes — Aye ; Salomone — Aye ; approved unanimously . Documents Reviewed : • Revised Senior and Veteran Work- off List and email dated September 3 , 2020 from Susan Broderick, Assistant Town Administrator • Uncollectible Personal Property Bill memo dated September 10 , 2020 from Lisa Vitale, Treasurer/Collector • FY2021 Department of Revenue DLS Gateway Forms (LA4 , LA4 Comparison Report, OL- 1 ) • Chapter 6 1 B Application — Shady Knoll Campground • Water Lien List dated September 4 , 2020 • DRAFT Regular Session Meeting Minutes : August 25 , 2020 v Approved : lQ " Z � Zy Signed : Awm' gi, A Date WWW. BREWSTER-MA. GOV I