HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120110 - Board of Assessors - Meeting MinutesTown of Hopkinton
Board of Assessors Minutes of Meeting held January 10, 2012
A regular meeting of the Board of Assessors was held on January 10, 2012 in Conference Room
107 at the Town Hall. A Notice of Meeting was duly posted. The meeting commenced at 5:20
p.m. In attendance were John Duffy and John Palmer, a majority of the members of the Board. Also in attendance was Robert Bushway, Principal Assessor, and Jon Steinberg, Assistant Assessor. John Duffy presided and John Palmer kept the minutes.
The Board approved the minutes of the regular meeting held on December 13, 2011.
Messrs. Bushway and Steinberg made a presentation concerning the qualifications of Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc. (RRC) and recommended them as the Town’s outside consultant on
personal property valuations. In this role, RRC would replace the personal property valuation
work previously performed by Patriot Properties. After discussion, the Board unanimously voted
to approve the recommendation. Mr. Steinberg then left the meeting (5:45 p.m.) The Board reviewed and approved a bills payable warrant for $1,000.
The Board approved and signed an abatement of an apportioned sewer betterment for 44 Ash St.
The betterment was erroneously double billed. The Board reviewed and approved for submission, the annual report of the Assessor’s
Department for inclusion in the Town Annual Report. The Board also reviewed and approved
for submission, an article for the next Annual Town Meeting relating to property tax exemptions.
Mr. Bushway provided a summary of the amounts in the overlay account for preliminary review by the Board. No action was taken pending a more thorough review at a future meeting(s).
Dr. Duffy led a discussion concerning the concept of a “virtual open meeting” for which
comments were requested by the Board of Selectmen. The Board approved the text of a response that, in essence, would defer comments until more information becomes available.
Mr. Bushway provided the Board with a revised Departmental Budget for FY 2013. The
revision reflects an additional amount for salaries as a result of recent payroll changes in FY
2012. Mr. Bushway provided the Board with the amount of “rollback taxes” applicable to a proposed
sale of property located off West Main St. The Town holds a right of first refusal relating to this
property.
The Board reviewed and approved the following personal exemptions for FY 2012: Clause 41C – 2
Clause 22a – 1
Clause 37A – 1
CPA - 1
The next meeting of the Board was scheduled for January 24, 2012 at 5:15 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John Palmer, Clerk