Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-02-27-BASS-min.pdf Meeting, February 27, 1940 All members present also Mr. Spencer and Miss Ready. Mr. John A. Lyons, attorney for Sydney H. and Beatrice M. Palmer of 28 0akmount Circle, came before the Board at 7:30 P. M. Mr. Lyons said the Palmers purchased the property in 1936 and paid $35,000 for it. Mr. Lyons referred to the. figures . stated on the application filed on October 17th, 1939. Property assessed for $42,490, asking for an abatement around 71000. Assessors had already abated the 1939 assessment from 042,490 to 040,000but the Palmers were not satisfied with the total assessment then. Mr. Steeves told Mr. Lyons that the property was originally assessed for 062,490. Mr. Lyons said the Palmers were;new comers to the town, that they paid 035,000 for the property because they wanted it, and they have created no expense to the town. Mr. Lyons told the Board that his appearing for the Palmers was not a business situation, that several Lexington residents including the Palmers and he belonged to a bridge club, and that he was asked by several of them to attend to their applications and if necessary to enter the cases before the Appellate Tax Board. Mr. Lyons said the . Appellate Tax Board favors the tax payer. The Board said yes they could see that by the reports they receive from that Board. Mr. Lyons said Mr. Palmer was dissatisfied with the assessment of 040,000. Some member of the Board asked Mr. Lyons do you feel he paid enough for the property? In the discussion of real estate values Mr. . Lyons referred to the Tower property, said large houses with plenty of land do not bring big prices in to-day's market. 4r. Lyons said Ed Childs' large house is on the market for sale and he cannot get $15,000 fot it. There is a 014,500 mortgage on the property. Feel he could not duplicate that mortgage to-day. Board t old Mr. Lyons that the Palmer house is a beautiful home, in a fine location and no doubt would not sell the property at the price {hey paid for it. Nos The fact was mentioned that Mrs. Sheldon was a willing seller. Mr. Emery said the Palmers were an English family aid from reports he does not feel that Mrs. Palmer feels she is getting enough from the town for what they pay to the town in taxes. Mr. Emery asked Mr. Lyons if he would recommend that all the neighbors in that location (Blake, Mayo, Prescott and Merriam) have their assessments reduced if the Palmer assessment was again reduced? Mr. Emery felt that all the neighbors should be treated alike. Mr. Lyons said let the others ask for revaluations. The Board felt if -s p � € Palmer' s is reduced that the surrounding parcels should be reduced also. Mr. Lyons said if the Palmers did not get what they asked for he would have to go before the Appellate Tax Board to determine for one thing the fair cash value of this estate. Mr. Lyons told the Board that he had laid the cards on the table. The Board asked Mr. Lyons how the Sydney Palmer house compares with Mrs. Blake' s new house. Mr. Lyons said he will ask the Palmers to withdraw the case if an abatement around 5000 614 ;$5500 is granted. He said the Palmers are serious and willing to so before the Appellate Tax Board. The Board asked Mr. Lyons if he knew the actual cost of the house. � � PP Mr. Lyons said there was a willing seller and a willing buyer for this estate. The Board said the selling price of $35,000 was not the value of the property. Mrs. Sheldon, widow, was leaving for the west coast and had to sell. The Board said the shrubbery on the property cost around 020,000; said the total cost of place was around 01060000. Mr. Lyons said he feels the Assessors have a tremendous task, but what can people get for their properties to-day. Said real estate has to be relieved. ' 1 The Nunn estate on Mass. Avenue was mentioned by. Mr. Lyons as a forced sale - got ' a willing buyer. I Mr. Steeves said he had been thru the Palmer house 4 times and 1 that he would be willing to have the Appellate Tax Board view the estate. He said the ,A.T.B. does not always know the facts of all cases that COMB before them for trial. Mr. Steeves said'the value is there and will be there still in 25 years to come, said if values are cut it is hard to increase them again. M . Lyons suggested that after good times come back again to increase these large estates. Board said place has taken its licking (willing seller - Mrs. Sheldon) . Mr. Emery said he feels the property could be sold again , at 035,000. It was mentioned that Mr. Palmer' s salary was 0115,000 per year, and if he was to leave the country he could hold out for his price as he would not have to sell immediately. Mr. Lyons said Mr. Palmer was a willing buyer and also an able buyer. The Board told Mr. Lyons that they would consider the matter further and let him know their decision on Wednesday. XMr. and Mrs. Titus, tenants of #32 Percy Road, came before the Board at 7:45 P. M. to see if the Board would lower the present 1 assessment on that property as they were considering buying It. They 1 told the Board that they were dealing with Mr. Boynton and that he I felt he was making a sacrifice and would sell it for $5000. The Board told the party that they had reduced the 19.39 assess- merit from 8050 to $7500. Mrs. Titus said the house was 40 years old and badly in need of repairs, water in the cellar. The Coburn property was mentioned and it was stated that the assess ment was $6300 on that parcel and that recently it was sold for $5000. 1 The Coburn property is in better condition that the Boynton house. The Board asked the Titus party if an assessment of 06500 would be satisfactory to them and they accepted it. I I After Mr. and Mrs. Titus left the office the Board talked the 1 ] ] matter over and said they felt 06000 was a fair assessment considering i the condition of the property, and they so voted. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. and Mrs. Titus and to in- form them that the assessment as of January 1st, 1940 on #32 Percy Road would be $6000 instead of 06500. I f' Mrs. Josephine Mirabelli of 1965 Mass. Avenue came before the ] Board at 8 P. M. to talk over the present assessment on her Mother' s I property. (Maria kmaru) Board told Mrs . Mirabelli that they were surprised to receive the 1939 abatement application from her mother as they felt that the assessed value that they arrived at last year was satisfactory to them. Mrs. Mirabelli said"we did accept the compromise figures but we still felt the property was over assessed.') Assessment prior to Jan. 1st, 1939 was 018,790. Assessment as I of Jan. 1st, 1939 was 015,750. Mrs. Mirabelli told the Board thatshe; felt the 1939 application on file was quite Clea -and that it gave the correct figures, and all the necessary facts, but that she was willing to answer any questions. they might want to ask. Mrs. Mirabelli said her people were considering auction- ing off the place as it was a white elephant. Expenses more than the income and continual expenses for repairs are going onall the time. She said the building in the rear where she lives needs a new roof but that her people 'cannot afford it. Father in Italy at the present time . Cannot get $10,000 for a sale value. Honestly and sincerely do feel the property should be assessed at 010,000. Large house rents for 075.00 per month, house in rear for 05.00. Tenant in front house owes back rent. Board told her that the 1st mortgage interest item should not be included in the expenses and that the tenants should pay for the excess water charges. Mrs. Mirabelli said her people purchased the property in 1924 at the peak time, purchase price being between 020,000 and $25,000. She said every real estate party has place for sale, and that last year only two parties came to look at the property. The Board felt the income from the property was good, but comparing the size of the house, the location right beside a church and the values on large housesthrough out the town that they would consider the present assessment and let her know their decision. After Mrs. Amaru' s daughter left the office the Board dis- cussed the separate assessments on the two buildings and on the land and they voted to make the following new asssessment. large house 1;7500 garage and tenement 3000 land 3000 013500 new assessment . Mr. Cann told the Board that Miss Johanna Kennedy of 977 Massachusetts Avenue had been calling him and asking for some help on her unpaid 1939 real estate tax bill. Miss Kennedy had her left arm amputated late in 1938; upper part of her house not rented and she needed help. As some members of the Board were anxious to leave early no definite action was taken on the matter. Matter laid on table until next meeting. The Board was informed of the tax situation on Mrs. Alice C. Mellow' s property located at 7 Smith Avenue, she being a widow with two young children. Boy works at Childs' Filling Station, daughter to graduate from school this June. The Board has granted Mrs . Mellow the widows allowance on her 1938 and 1939 real estate taxes. The Home Owners' Loan Corporation representative asked Mr. Spencer to bring the matter before the Board and see if they would be willing to abate the balance of her 1939 tax bill if they paid up the rest of the taxes due and had the tax title disclaimed. Board felt this was a worthy case and would like to see the woman save her home if she possibly can so they voted to abate the balance due on the 1939 tax. Department bills ware examined and approved for payment . List of uncollected 1938 poll taxes amounting to $318.00 were abated by the Board. Authority to the Assessors from Commissioner Long having been received. List of names and reasons why the taxes 4 were not collected appear on the list submitted by the Tax Collector. Mr. Spencer informed the Board about the Cushman case and said that the Board abated their 1937 real estate tax and that now the request to help them on the 1938 tax had been received. Mr. Cushman is a cripple and this being a worthy case the poard voted to abate the total of their 1938 real estate tax. The appor- tioned sewer betterment and interest item alto be abated. dr" The Board having looked at the real estate parcels owned by the following and having examined the abatement applications filed by the owners voted at this meeting to grant the following abatements: Elizabeth Kirk - 0560 valuation reduction; $19.88 abated. Meyer Rubin & Harry G. Seligman003455 valuation reduction; $122.65 abated. M & L Realty Co. 4000 reduction; 0142.00 abated. Daniel Daniels 05000 reduction; $177 .50 abated. , The Board was informed that Leeland G. & Mildred I. McConchie were assessed for a barn as of Jan. 1st, 1939. This barn was der. stroyed by fire in 1938. The Board voted to grant this abatement of 035.50, as the barn was assessed for $1000. The Board was informed of the 1939 statutory exemption applica- tion received from Mrs . Emma J. Hadley of Fern Street, she being a widow and in need of the total abatement of her tax. Every year the Board abate the total tax billed to Mrs. Hadley. The Board voted to abate the tax of $106.50 under. Clause 18. Letter received from William J. Marshall of 9 Independence Ave. was read and the Board voted to grant Mrs. marshall an abatement of 017.75 on her 1939 real estate tax bill. Mr. Spencer informed the Board that Mrs Anna Goloboy had been in to see him and put up a sad story and asked him to have the Board reconsider her case again. The Board after hearing the facts from Mr. Spencer voted to grant her an abatement of 035.50 on her 1939 real estate tax bill. Letters received from the Soldiers' Home Chelsea and from the Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary in regard to Antonio Cataldo' s hospital treatment were read and after the Board talked over the matter they voted to abate half of the 1939 real estate tax assessed to Mr. 1 Cataldo' s wife. Amount abated being $79.87. Abated granted under Clause 18. The 1939 statutory exemption application received from Gwendoline F. Baker, widow, owner of the property at 32 Downing Road was examined and because her equity was under the 02000 limit the Board voted to ' grant her the widows allowance. List of excise abatements abated during January and February amounting to 018.60 was signed by the Board. Letter from Mrs. ' Catherine A.. Kimball' of 211'' Mass. Avenue was read by Mr. .Shanahan. Mr. •Shanahan told the Board e:b.oit L the>.:manYg ood deeds• that Mrs. Kimballparents haddone`childrenfor -the Dickerson • family which,.consisted of the; and 13` . . ,Last fall the 15ickerso family moved out of the house leaving her holding the bag and-several years of back taxes due on the pra- Y perty. The :title to:>._the :property ';stands in the; name of Mrs. Dickerson and`Mrs.' Kimball`. Mrs.. K$mball,..asked..the Assessors to help her on the tax matter, , as she 'did not 'feel like paying •all the back taxes due on the• • property. Mr. Shanahan told the Board that Mrs. Kimball had spoken to Mr.. Giroux about the matters : The house had been broken 'into and the stove and many other articles taken f rom =the house. The Board after hearing the facts voted to abate the- full amount due on 'back -taxes. The tax title on the property to be disclaimed. 'TheBoard signed three abate ' abatement slips for 35 uncollected 1939 poll taxes. Various reasons why the taxes should •be abated were listed- on the list against each 'name. • Uncollected 1937 poll taxes amounting to 4340.00 were abated by the Board. List submitted by the Tax Collector gave the reasons why the taxes were not collected. Commissioner Long gave the Assessors authority to abate these taxes. Letter from' Selectman Giroux informing the. Assessors .that •: the item of 440.00 asked` for the folding gate had been eliminated :/ by' the- Appropr•iation Committee was read and placed• on` file. • • Letter from Commissioner 'Long in• reply to "a letter sent to` ,,. him under` date .'of Feb. 14th asking his opinion on a- matter that the- Selectmen: had• written about in a letter to Chairman Steeves (Cherry Sheet - Metropolitan • Water Tax a nd Middlesex County • Sanatorium Assessment), was read and the , Chairman suggested that a ,copy of Mr. Long's letter be given to the Selectmen. • The Board was informed that Marion R Coughlin of 52 Dexter Road :had entered her case with' the Appellate `Tax' Board. The Board .at a :prior mee:ting'voted that no reduction be f". made on Mrs. Coughlin's property. . • • Mr.. Spe nee•r told the Board that he had talked' with Mr.` ,'z C•oolidge, representative for the Prudential- Insurance Company of America, owner �of the property located at #31 Slocum Road, and he' felt 'if the .owner'' was granted an additional abatement on $2000 that it would be satisfactory and the case now before` , the Appellate Tax Board. might be` withdrawn. The:. Board v iewed the, property early in the year- and reduced Y the land assessment, but Mr. Coolidge notified Mr. Spencer , that the reduction in -the valuation was no.t sufficient, that they still -felt the property was over assessed. -, The;: Board after: discussing the_matter, voted to grant the owner an abatement on $20000 but not to reduce the present assessment of S14 330. TheBoa0 Spencer felt that - the rd anMr. property might be sold soon and if the'.new owner, applied for a ,re-valuation they kr ' would then consider the assessment of 4314,330. ,yea, The Board agreed to meet again on Wednesday evening, March 6th, and consider the rest of the correspondence on hand.