Board of Assessors

Minutes of the Board of Assessors Meeting of April 3, 2014 A meeting of the Board of Assessors was held on Thursday, April 3, 2014 in Room 208, 2nd floor of City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 8:15 AM by Chair Dominic D’Antoni. Members Present: Dominic D’Antoni Robert Earley Daniel Gagnon Assessing Staff Present: Andrew LeMay Cheryl Walley Minutes of the Meeting: The minutes for the meeting held on March 20, 2014 were approved. Abatement Requests Presented: A complete list of abatements presented is available in the Assessor’s Office. Appointments: 8:30 – Mr. Brendan Keegan and Ms. Elizabeth Keegan, regarding a hardship abatement request for property located at 20 Meade Street (Mr. Keegan has Power of Attorney for the owners) Chair Dominic D’Antoni advised Mr. Keegan that the Board members have received the paperwork submitted and asked him if he has anything more to add. Mr. Keegan advised the Board after both his parents went into the nursing home, he and his wife discovered the property taxes were not paid for 2013. They had tried to apply for an elderly exemption earlier in the year but had missed the deadline due to his father’s declining health. He explained that their disabled daughter (his sister) is residing in the property and therefore it would not be reasonable to sell the property as she would have nowhere to live. He said both his parents and his sister receive public assistance. Due to a high mortgage on the property, they are unable to refinance the house to cover expenses. Live-in caretakers have been hired recently and are taking care of his sister now that her parents cannot. He said he does not expect a problem with paying the taxes for 2014, as that is part of the payment arrangement with the caretakers. They are also looking into the possibility of putting the house in the disabled daughter’s name and possibly applying for a disabled exemption, but since the process is quite complicated that may take some time. The Board members noted that according to a memorandum they received with their meeting material, Chief Assessor Angelo Marino is recommending approval of this hardship abatement. After some discussion, the Board members made the following motion: MOTION BY Robert Earley that this hardship abatement be approved for 2013 for the property located at 20 Meade Street, as it has been demonstrated that the owners have a hardship and it would be unreasonable to relocate, refinance the home, or otherwise obtain additional public assistance (Ansara v. City of Nashua (1978) 118 NH 879, 395 A2d 513). SECONDED BY Daniel Gagnon. MOTION CARRIED unanimously. 1 of 2 Staff Items: The Board had received all the paperwork submitted by the owner of 13 Manchester Street with their application for a tax deferral for 2013. According to a memorandum included in the Board’s meeting material, Mr. Marino recommends the tax deferral be approved as the applicant meets the criteria. After some discussion the Board of Assessors made the following motion: MOTION BY Dominic D’Antoni that the 2013 tax deferral be approved for the property located at 13 Manchester Street as the applicant meets the criteria set by RSA 72:38-a. SECONDED BY Daniel Gagnon MOTION CARRIED unanimously MOTION BY Robert Earley to adjourn at 8:30 SECONDED BY Daniel Gagnon. MOTION CARRIED. Transcribed by: Cheryl Walley Department Coordinator 2 of 2