Board of Assessors

Minutes of the Board of Assessors Meeting of June 16, 2011 A meeting of the Board of Assessors was held on Thursday, June 16, 2011, in Room 208, 2nd floor of City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 8:15 AM by Chair Marylou Blaisdell. Members Present: Marylou Blaisdell Kevin Moriarty Assessing Staff Present: Angelo Marino Drew Lemay Gary Turgiss Doug Dame Greg Turgiss Cheryl Walley Minutes of the Meeting: Minutes of the meeting June 2, 2011 were approved. Abatement Requests Presented: A complete listing of all abatements approved/denied is available in the Assessor’s Office. Regarding two settlements presented by Deputy Assessor Drew Lemay for 2010 abatements for 7-7C Paige Avenue and 15 North Southwood Drive, the Board tabled their decision and asked for more information supporting the proposed assessment on each property. Mr. Lemay told the Board he will try to get this requested information and if successful will present it to the Board at a subsequent meeting. Appointments: 8:30 – Pastor Berube of the Grace Fellowship Church regarding the religious exemption of the property located at 12-14 Front St. Pastor Berube was welcomed by the Board. Ms. Blaisdell advised the Pastor that the Board has read the correspondence submitted regarding the use of the property and verified with him that each of the three units are being used as the residence of ministers. Pastor Berube advised the entire property is being used for religious purposes as each unit is the resident of a minister involved with the church. One of the units has been used as a residence for ministers and missionaries here on a temporary basis but as of July 4, 2012 there will be a minister and his family residing there on a full-time basis. Chief Assessor Angelo Marino told the Board that the property was listed as a 2-unit and after information was received that this may be a 3-unit, Commercial Appraiser Doug Dame inspected the property and verified there are 3-units within and changed the assessment data to reflect that. Mr. Dame also was asked to obtain the use of each of the three units. 1 of 2 It was noted that one of the units was being used as the residence of the school’s Music Director and Mr. Marino stated he thought this information should be presented to the Board for their review but also wanted to give Pastor Berube an opportunity to provide more information if he so desired, since Mr. Marino does not believe this use would meet the criteria to receive the religious exemption. Pastor Berube said that the Music Director is also the Youth Pastor. Mr. Marino said the Assessing Department was not aware of that and in light of this new information he would recommend that unit remain exempt. Mr. Marino then told the Board that the unit which is being used as a temporary residence as of April 1, 2011, for visiting missionaries and ministers was also one which was questioned because of the temporary and not full-time residential use and he would ask the Board to make the decision as to whether or not a temporary residential use for that unit would qualify for the religious exemption for 2011. After reading and listening to all of the information, the Board made the following motion: MOTION BY Kevin Moriarty to allow the religious exemption to remain for the entire property owned by Grace Fellowship Church located at 12-14 Front Street. SECONDED BY Marylou Blaisdell. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION BY Marylou Blaisdell to adjourn at 8:40 AM. SECONDED BY Kevin Moriarty. MOTION CARRIED. Transcribed by Cheryl Walley Department Coordinator 2 of 2