Town Council - Ways & Means Committee

Braintree Town Council MEMBERS Joseph Reynolds, Chairman Committee of Ways & Means Julia Flaherty, Vice-Chairwoman One JFK Memorial Drive Elizabeth Maglio, Member Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 MINUTES Tuesday, December 6, 2022 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in Johnson Chambers, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 6:30p.m. Councilor Reynolds was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan Cimino conducted the roll call. Present: Joseph Reynolds, Chairman Julia Flaherty, Vice-Chairwoman Elizabeth Maglio, Member Meredith Boericke, Council President (ex-officio) Also Present: Nicole Taub, Chief of Staff/Town Solicitor Ed Spellman, Finance Director Bob Cole, temporary Deputy Assessor Bob Cusack, Chairman of the Board of Assessors Susan O’Brien, Board of Assessors Robert Connelly, Board of Assessors Shawn McGoldrick, Town Auditor Approval of Minutes • None Old Business • None December 6, 2022 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 3 New Business • 22 065 Mayor: Tax Rate Classification or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Reynolds asked for a Motion to Take off the Table Order 22 065 Councilor Flaherty stated Motion to Take off the Table Order 22 065 Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to Take off the Table Order 22 065 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Chairman Reynolds asked if anyone would like to speak on Order 22 065. Nicole Taub stated there was an error on the original memo explaining the tax rate residential shift. See revision in the below sentence. By adopting a 175% shift, the average residential parcel valued at $593,028.06 would pay a bill of $5,793.88. Without the shift, the same property would pay a bill of$ 7,157.85 As a result, adopting the 175% shift reduces the average FY23 single family residential tax bill by over $110.00 per month, or $1,551.57 $1,300 in total. Chairman Reynolds asked for the increase from last year of the values. Nicole Taub replied the increase from last year of the residential values is up by 5.26%, the commercial values is up 3.47%, and industrial up by 6.94%. Meredith Boericke, Council President asked about a 30% reduction in the LA-13 from what we budgeted. Bob Cole explained the timeframe of 2021 those numbers were looked at there was no new construction therefore no new growth. Your budget has nothing to do with the value of the properties. As far as houses there were only 4 houses that were built. Utilities is your biggest new growth even if it is a replacement line considering it an infrastructure upgrade. You are coming off of two years of COVID that is why the new growth is at a 20 year low. Chairman Reynolds asked for a Motion to be read for Order 22 065 items 1 through 4. Councilor Flaherty read the following Motion for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 22 065 items 1 -4: 1. To apply the tax rate classification shift. MOTION: Be it ordained that the Town of Braintree, through the Braintree Town Council, adopt the recommendation of the Mayor and the Board of Assessors to approve the Classification Tax Rate Shift of 175% to be applied to commercial, industrial, and personal property. Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to approve Order 22 065 item 1 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) December 6, 2022 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 3 2. Re: The small business exemption. MOTION: To approve the "Small Business Exemption" as recommended by the Mayor and the Board of Assessors in a memorandum to the Town Council dated November 28, 2022, and as filed with the Office of the Town Clerk. Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to approve Order 22 065 item 2 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) 3. Re: The open space discount. MOTION: To continue to adopt the recommendation of the Mayor and the Board of Assessors, as outlined in a memorandum to the Town Council dated November 28, 2022, and as filed with the Office of the Town Clerk to decline the "Open Space" discount. Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to approve Order 22 065 item 3 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) 4. Re: The residential exemption. MOTION: To continue to adopt the recommendation of the Mayor and the Board of Assessors, as outlined in a memorandum dated November 28, 2022, and as filed with the Office of the Town Clerk to decline the adoption of the "Residential Exemption." Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to approve Order 22 065 item 4 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:57p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 22 065 Mayor: Tax Rate Classification or take up any action relative thereto December 6, 2022 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 3