BOARD MEETING AGENDA
October 24, 2007
PRIMARY:
7:00PM INFORMATION MEETING – ASSESSING
Mr. Methe opened the meeting at 7:05pm. He welcomed the people and reviewed the ground rules – this meeting is to discuss the 2007 update but not individual assessments. Mr. Roberge began by reviewing how the values were derived. He discussed the various characteristics of the bodies of water, how views were established based on sales. He stated that the new assessments are 99% of market value with a COD of 5.5 and a price differential of 100. All of the information came from sales in Fitzwilliam from the period of 10/01/05 to 9/07. Mr. Roberge said that the total value of the town increased approximately 18%. Ms. Wittenborg asked if the increase represented the difference between 2005 assessments and 2007 assessments. Mr. Roberge said that the increase is from 2006 assessments to 2007 assessments. Mr. Massin questioned why, if
the town went up 18%, a property that he had questions on went up 60%. Mr. Roberge said that he would be happy to look at that property and would get together with Mr. Massin after the meeting to tonight to schedule that. Mr. Parker said that approximately 25% of the properties in town decreased in assessed value. David Green stated that he has done extensive research on the cost models used by Avitar to establish values and he feels that the cost models do reflect the sales data. He said that there are no systemic errors, although view values may be a bit conservative. Mr. Green stated that, overall, he is very satisfied with the work that Avitar has done for the town. Mr. Roberge said that the full sales manual is available in the selectmen’s office. All the information has been updated on their website and the town is paying to host the assessments on the Avitar website so that people can easily get information for free. At 7:44pm, Mr. Methe asked if there were any other
questions and there were not any.
8:00 MEET WITH CLAYTON NASH – Mr. Nash said that he was very disappointed with the way that Vision handled themselves when scheduling his property for data collection. He also doesn’t agree with the value Avitar has placed on his property. He says he can’t sell his home today for what it’s assessed for. Mike said the assessments reflect April 1, 2007 and today’s market is different from what it was in April. Mr. Parker said that we could have the Avitar assessor go look at his property. There could be an error and if so we would want to correct it. Mr. Nash said that the situation is that the taxes keep going up and people are selling their homes and leaving because they can’t afford the taxes. Mr. Parker said that the board is
working hard to make sure that everyone is assessed fairly. The tax rate is based on the amount of money we have to raise by taxes – people vote what they want to spend. Mr. Nash said that he made an appointment for an informal hearing but when he brought in all the research he had done, he was told that there wasn’t enough time to go through it all. An assessor did go with him back to his property and they found some errors – some which added value and others that decreased value. Mr. Nash said that when he looks at Fitzwilliam he doesn’t see that he is getting great services for the taxes he pays. He said that he has his own water, septic, terrible internet, bad cell service, the dump is bad and he hears that he might have to pay for ambulance service. Mr. Methe clarified that if the town did have a fee to use the ambulance, it would be people’s insurance that would pay. If their insurance did not pay, the total amount would be forgiven. Mr.
Parker said that more money would need to be raised and taxes would go up if the town dramatically increased town services.
8:15 MEET WITH JOHN & EUGENIA DOUCETTE – Non-public session
*** MEET WITH POLICE CHIEF
Chief Kassotis would like to go back to paying hourly for call. We are currently paying $50 per week. Mr. Yon asked why the chief is recommending a change from weekly to hourly. Chief Kassotis responded that the problem is that most people don’t want to be on call for the entire week. It is better if it is split among a couple of officers. Chief Kassotis anticipates that once the department is fully staffed, call pay will average less than it does now. He suggests $1.50 per hour to be on call. This would average $55 – 57 per week. Mr. Yon made a motion to change the call pay to hourly, at $1.50 per hour. Mr. Methe seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Chief Kassotis submitted a draft of a through trucking ordinance last week. Mr. Yon asked if he has any thoughts about what the vehicle weight restriction should be. Chief Kassotis feels it should be the same as Keene – 8,000 lbs. The draft that the Chief has submitted has been tried and tested and it is enforceable. It is essentially what Keene has.
Chief Kassotis expects that the new cruiser will be on the road within a week. Carmen asked if we are being consistent in our stops for speed. The chief said that are. They have had people ask for increased patrols on certain roads in town because of speeding - and most of the people that are being stopped are towns’ people.
*** Mr. Parker made motion to remove the add-on for waterfront for two properties located on Stone Pond, Map 11 Lot 68 and Map 11 Lot 69. Mr. Yon seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Mr. Parker made a motion to eliminate the add-on for water view on two properties located on the swamp on West Lake Road, Map 11 Lot 13-02 and Map 27 Lot 13 and any others who have an assessment on this swamp. Mr. Methe seconded. Mr. Yon abstained. The motion passed with two in favor and one abstention. Mr. Parker made a motion to remove any add-on for water view/nature view on all properties that border the beaver pond across the street from the town hall, Map 32 Lots 17, 18, 19, 16, 15, 14, 13, 02-01, 04, 05, 06. Mr. Yon stated he would abstain from this vote. He agrees that it may be questionable but on the other had he does feel
that it adds value to these properties. Mr. Yon said that he has to go along with what Gary had established on these properties. Mr. Parker said he’s happy with the work Gary has done but doesn’t feel this “mud hole” adds value. Mr. Methe seconded and motion passed with 2 in favor with one abstention. Mr. Yon asked if Gary had gone back to look at the inequities on the swamp on West Lake Road. Mr. Parker said that this is the same body of water – it borders both West Lake Rd and Royalston Road. This is different from Horseshoe Pond which is a man-made dam. Mr. Yon made a motion to accept the values (with the changes Tom and Mike voted to make tonight). Mr. Parker seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Mr. Parker said that there are some properties in town that need to be looked at. There are some that are unique and there is additional value that needs to be looked at. These properties need to be flagged to be looked at in the future.
*** CHANGE OF USE – MAP 03 LOT 07 – It has come to the attention of the board that the property owner has a shed on this property and it is all in current use. They would like a letter sent to her that we will either have to remove property from currently use or she will have to remove the shed.
*** The selectmen would like a letter sent to the firewards in regard to the personnel matter currently pending. Mr. Parker wants it to be clear that the firewards are to deal with this and take away any assumption that the selectmen will deal with it.
*** BUILDING PERMIT VIOLATION – MAP 10 LOT 48-01 – There is a large, wood shed on this property and the owner did not submit a building permit before construction. The selectmen would like a letter sent asking the owner to complete a building permit application and pay the fee, double the normal fee because the construction began prior to obtaining a permit.
*** DISCUSS DOOMAGE ASSESSMENT – MAP 29 LOT 19 – The selectmen don’t feel that there has been any logging on this property even though he filed an intent to cut. Mr. Methe will check to confirm this is the case. He has not filed the required report of cut form with the town but doomage cannot be assessed because no wood was cut. We will turn this over to the State.
*** SIGN PERMIT APPLICATION – 27 NH RTE 12 SOUTH – The selectmen voted 3-0 to approve sign application.
*** HEALTH INSURANCE 2008 RATES – The health insurance premiums for the plan the town has are going up 11.5%.
*** LETTER FROM SWRPC – INVENTORY OF CLASS V ROADS – SWRPC has a contract with DOT to update the list of town roads in Fitzwilliam. There is information they are requesting from the town.
*** 2007 BUDGETS – The selectmen will work on these at their next meeting 10/31.
· GENERAL GOVN’T BUILDINGS
· EXECUTIVE
· CODE ENFORCEMENT
· EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – GRANT TO ADD ANNEXES TO EOP
*** CALCULATION OF CHESHIRE COUNTY TAX ALLOCATION – The selectmen reviewed this information.
*** DES COPY OF LETTER TO HABERMAN – The selectmen reviewed this information.
*** HHS COPY OF LETTER RE: PATEL FOOD LICENSE – The selectmen reviewed this information.
*** FOREST LAW WORKSHOP – The selectmen reviewed this information.
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