Board of Civil Authority / Board of Abatement

BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019 @ 5:30 P.M. CLAIRE BURKE CHAMBER AGENDA Pursuant to the provisions of 32 V.S.A., section 4404 (b), notice Is hereby given that the Board of Civil Authority within and for the City of Winooski will be on the 14th day of August 2019 at 5:30 o’clock in the afternoon, meet at Claire Burke Council Chambers in the City Hall in said town to here grievances of persons, or other parties, who are aggrieved by the action of the board of listers and a timely filed their written grievances with the town clerk. Hearings will continue as scheduled with appellants until all aggrieved parties are heard. Copy: Three Public Places Board of Civil authority Board Members Town Agent Chairman of Board of Listers by Carol J. Barrett Clerk 8/7/2019 1. Hearing the following appeal: 5:30 – 6:00 Denis Regan 95 W Spring St. TO THE APPELLANT PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO THE BOARD 2. Appoint Inspection Committee and schedule next meeting date. 3. Approve minutes of June 27, 2019. 4. Adjourn MINUTES The meeting was called to order by the Deputy Chair at 5:30 p.m. Members Present: Lucas Collins, Deputy Chair; Jay Lambert, Michael Leddy, Karen O’Hagan, Sally Tipson. Others Present: Ted Nelson, City Assessor; Carol Barrett, City Clerk; Janet Brouard, Asst. City Clerk; Denis Regan. The City Clerk gave the oath to the Board of Civil Authority and also gave the oath to Mr. Nelson and Mr. Regan. 1. Mr. Nelson said the homeowner converted the home from a two family to a single family home and as a result of that the value went up by $3900.00. Mr. Nelson said we did a re-appraisal in 2007 and we used cost software called Marshall Swift. It is a national cost table that’s used in the insurance industry, for claims adjustment as well as town wide re-appraisals. The costs are driven by tables that are collected for the tables are put into effect. The tables were put into effect back in 2004-2006 in that area and we applied them in 2007. We have used this since then with the same information. One of the quirks of the software is that if everything else is equal on a structure dwelling, then a two family is worth a little less than a single family, another words same quality, grade, same conditions. It’s a quirk of the software we discovered in 2007 and we have applied it uniformly throughout the town and we have had the reverse happen in the last few years where people have changed houses from single family homes to a duplex, didn’t change the size of the home and their value went down about the same amount of Mr. Regan’s property went up this year. We did research on this and the only conclusion we can come up with is that the cost service Marshall Swift believes that when they develop these cost tables that a single family home of like conditions, quality and ties is slightly more than a duplex of the same size of condition and quality. This is the only explanation we could arrive at in 2007 and that is what we present for you tonight. Mr. Nelson said that they looked at 25 sales of properties and he’s probably under value by $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 Mr. Nelson said Mr. Regan had appealed his assessment to the Assessor’s and was denied. The value under appeal is $210,300.00. Attached you will find exhibit A which includes copy of 2018- 2019 assessment information, comparable sales analysis. Mr. Regan presented his paperwork, called exhibit B. Mr. Regan said he still thinks there is a flaw. It doesn’t seem logical. I just recently changed it to a single family and decided not to be a landlord anymore. Mrs. Tipson asked if the difference is basically because he converted from a duplex to a single and is everyone treated the same. Mr. Nelson said yes that’s the only change we made from duplex to single family. Mr. Leddy wanted to make it clear that this is a single family home and if you were to go to the bank tomorrow or sell it what would you sell if for? Mr. Regan said he is in the process of gutting it. Mr. Collins said you called it a quirk in the software. Is it literally just a quirk or is there some support for it in the resale value. Mr. Nelson, understanding are conclusions, the software co does the cost tables that a single family of size, quality and condition is slightly more than a two family, we don’t have verification from that. Mr. Nelson said you should look at having an eye for what the property was like on April 1 because this is the date of value. Mr. Lambert said you should not take testimony when you go to inspect. The function is to view and assess the property. He also said you feel that the property being a single family home is its highest and best use because you converted it. Mr. Nelson said we take the owners preference and we go with that. Mrs. Tipson mentioned that the property values have been going crazy and we have to be careful that we keep this as it was appraised back in 2007 and not the market price of today. 2. Appoint Inspection Committee and schedule next meeting date. MOTION by Mrs. Tipson seconded Ms. O’Hagan to appoint Michael Leddy, Lucas Collins and Jay Lambert as committee members to inspect the property owned by Denis Regan at 95 W Spring St. and to also schedule the next meeting for September 11, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. Voted and passed unanimously. 3. Approve minutes of June 27, 2019. MOTION by Mr. Leddy seconded by Ms. O’Hagan to approve the minutes of June 27, 2019 as presented. Voted and passed 4-0-1 Mr. Lambert abstained. 4. MOTION by Mr. Lambert seconded by Mrs. Tipson to adjourn at 6:20 p.m. Voted and passed unanimously. ATTEST: _________________________ City Clerk