2020-09-24-BASS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Board of Assessors Meeting Open Session Minutes September 24,2020 A remote participation meeting of the Lexington Board of Assessors was called to order at 10:30 a.m.on Thursday,September 24,2020 via Zoom remote meeting services.The Meeting was publicly posted for 10:00 a.m.but experienced delays due to technical issues,Gregory Johnson,Chairman,Edmund C,Grant,Member,Casimir Groblewski,Member,were present as well as Robert F.Lent,Director of Assessing, Michael E.Golden, Residential Field Manager/Assistant Assessor and Sandra Pentedemos,Administrative Assessor. The Chairman,Gregory Johnson stated the remote participation meeting is being held in accordance with Governor Baker's March 12,2020 Executive Order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law to allow remote participation during Massachusetts'State of Emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-1 9. Mr.Johnson provided instructions to the members of the public,who were watching or listening to the meeting via the Zoom application regarding the procedure of making a public comment, Q12gn$ggjn Public Comment Time: None present, There were no discussions of Financial Issues including Overlay Fund, Chairman Johnson made a motion that the Board of Assessors go into Executive Session under Purpose 7 in order to deliberate Fiscal Year 2020 Statutory Exemptions,Real Estate Abatement Applications and Personal Property Abatements since deliberation in Open Session could be detrimental to potential appeal or litigation matters,consistent with requirements and practices specified in the Open Meeting Law Guide. The Board voted,3-0 in favor to go into Executive Session at 11:00 a.m. Executive Session occurred here: details may be viewed In separate Executive Session folder. Upon motion duly made and seconded,the Board of Assessors adjourned the Executive Session at 12:15 p.m.and returned to Open Session of the Meeting. Open Session Mr.Lent presented his preliminary certification submittal of the Towns Fiscal Year 2021 properties class valuation of assessments to the Department of Revenue(DOR).The Board reviewed the LA-3(calendar 2019 market sales analysis)along with the LA-4 Growth(assessment comparisons). The Board discussed the Fiscal Year 2021 Growth analysis results of a 1 million dollar valuation increase from last fiscal year. Come mid-October 2020,the DOR will analyze the LA-13 form that Mr. Lent has prepared, When the DOR certifies the Towns property class valuation of assessments,the Board may then present with the Finance Director,Carolyn Kosnoff for preparation of the Town Select Board's Preliminary Tax Classification Hearings of setting the tax rate shift options(minimum residential factors). The Board unanimously voted 3-0 in favor of the approved status for the Fiscal Year 2020 Chapter 59,Section 6 Clause 41A Property Tax to Deferral Exemption Application. (See list in Executive folder). The Board unanimously voted 3-0 in favor of the denied status for a Fiscal Year 2021 Chapter 59 Section 59,Real Estate Abatement Application.(See list in Executive folder), There were no Fiscal Year 2020 Personal Property Abatement Applications, Mr. Lent presented an Appellate Tax Board decision for discussion. (See Executive folder) The Board reviewed and approved the Meeting Minutes of November 18,2019 and December 2,2019. The Board of Assessors next Meeting will be held on October 08,2020 at 9*00 a,m, There being no other business a motion was duly made and seconded at 12:30 p.m.to adjourn the Meeting. Board of A ses or W A true record; Attest Meeting Secretary,Sandra Pentedemos,Administrative Assessor