HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-11-26-BASS-min.pdf Meat ing, November 26, 1940 ,
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'1 Messrs Steeves, Cann, Burnham, Emery, Shanahan and Spencer were
,,•, present also Miss Ready.
t i Y
, Letter dated Nov}. 14, 1940 was received from Commissioner Long
; in which he gave the Assessors his authority under Sec. 8, of
' Chapter 58, General Laws to abate the following real e state amounts :
1
Year Total Tax Amount Abated
�` 1934 $702.90 $99.75
f �ff
1935 702.90 99.75
'i'.', 1936 659.75
_ 99.75
1937 563.64 99.76
0.'''' ' ' . 1938x572.05 • 99. 76
,��; 1939 597.29 99.76
til
'" , The Board at a previous meeting voted to accept a check for
t,,,, $2700 in settlement of Ethel F. Bean's Tax Title property on Bedford
�� t Street provided they received Commissioner Longts written authority
Aato abate. a certain part part of the tax assessed in each of the years
5 'k"; 1934 to 1939 inclusive.
WTax Title to be disclaimed by Tax Collector upon receipt of the
$ `'signed abatement slips from this office.
'` The' necessary papers to be signed by the Board and gr. Spencer,
`ft Secretary of the Board, were signed at this meeting.
IkCommitment of Water Liens amounting to $320.48 was signed by the
4 � ?3'3,4oard.
AtF? Letter from the office of Select .en informing the Board that they
UIt ;,'approved' the abatement of the apportioned, committed sewer interest on
$e Lot X and Lot 11 assessed to Lexington Real Estate Trust, Robert L.
I s, � Ryder, Trustee- was read and the Board voted to abate the following
p' interest amounts.
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f!z-,-Lot X ' 1937 x7.94 1939 $5.64
+, `I, .- 1938 6.361940 4.92
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,I6 Lot' 11 1937 57.80 1939 5. 52$
'''Y'"'' 1938 . 6.24 1940 4.86
''`',res Letter from the office of g the Selectmen informing
the Board that
,�� they authorized' the abatement of the balance off' the sewer assessment was
;o'', levied °against Isadore Berman on his property located on Hibbert St. read.
4 1940 committed apportionment abated by the Board of Assessors was .
4r412.00 plus $5.76 committed interest.
06,:: ' ' The balance of the uncommitted apportioned sewer assessment for
/11v;, the years 1941 to. 1947 amounting to $84.00 was voted and the: abate-
,y4', ..,
;.ment slips signed by the Board.
Ar, ,Letter from the Clerk of the Selectmen informing the Assessors
that they authorized the abatement of the, Committed Apportioned Sewer I
::,!K:Assessment Assessment billed to Mary E. Reardon of 22 Vine Street was read and
'0-W"—,
,, e Board voted to abate the sum of $18.00 and the interest item 1
j ',� of ;§'8,64.
14' The Board signed the abatement slips. 1
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Department bills amounting to h32.65 were approved and signed
by the Board for payment.
A list of uncollected 1940 poll taxes submitted by the Tax Collectt
was examined by the Board and they voted to abate said taxes amounting...
to $244.00.
The abatement slips were signed by theBoard.
Letters received from various real estate owners expressing their
thanks to the Assessors for the 1940 valuation reductions made were
read to the Board.
Letter from Mr. J. Chester Hutchinson of 5 Pelham Road was read
and the Board requested that the letter be acknowledged.
Letter from Mr. John F. Dowd of 14 Winthrop Road was read and .Mr;
apenc er, .said: the letter should be ackovrledged, , ,
Letter from Mr. J. J. Rym t of 12 Meriam Street was read and the
Board requested that the letter be answered.
Letter from John D. Barry of 22 Bow Street was read. The Board was '?
informed that the H.O.L. C. had paid all of Mr. Barry's 1940 real astat
tax bill.
The Board asked if Mr. Barry had shifted over his mortgage or what
arrangement he had with the H.O.L. C. and Mr. Spencer said he did not
know so the Board suggested that Mr. Barry be asked to come to the ne t'
meeting and discuss the tax matter with the full board.
Letter from Mrs. Concetta Cataldo of 47 Rindge Avenue asking for ;>3
some help on her 1940 *real estate tax bill was read and the Board
after discussing the matter voted to grant her an abatement of $32.20.
This abatement was granted under Clause 18 of Chap. 59.
Letter from Clarence S. Walker was read and the Board after dis-
cussing the matter voted to reduce the house assessment $1000 more.
Property located at #9 Berwick Road and assessed as of 1/1/1940
to Robert C. Merriam.
Mr. Steeves told the Board that Mr. Walker hadTspoken to him in
regard to the first valuation reductionranted stating' that the sale
price was $9200 and that he spent about $600 on repairs, and that he `,j
still felt that the property was over assessed.
The Board was informed of the, letter received from Mrs. Annie 'Born.:
stein and the Board voted that no abatement be granted to her.
Letter from. John W. & Edward C. Whitney in regard to out buildings
assessed and which were not on their property as of Jan. 1st, 1940
was read and Mr. Spencer said he would view the property and then
inform the Board as to what out'-buildings are ,now on the land.
The matter of abatement on the 1940 tax bill to be taken up at a
later date.
The Board was informed that the Boston Federal Savings & Loan
Association had filed an appeal with the Appellate Tax Board on proper-4
ty located at 337-339 Mass. Avenue and assessed Jan. 1st, to Boston
Co-operative Bank.
The Board at a previous meeting voted that no reduction be made on
the 1940 assessment. 1
The matter of expenses incurred during the year and the rents' receive
was discussed and one member of the Board said he felt the rents being :_
ul paid were higher than those stated on the abatement application and hi
said he would check that matter and report back to the Board.
Letter received,from Sullivan .& Sullivan, Attorneys, .dated
Oct. 22nd, ih regard to the Appellate Tax Board ease on property
located at 15 Sylvia .Street (Boston Five Cents Savings Bank
Joseph Lassof property) was read.
Mr. .Spencer:told title Board the facts of the-:case :.and that he had the
tapp.al ) withdrawt:for to t,imtbeing because after he receivedward
the'. case was to be and he 'deuld not get the Assessors together4ssoc
that the case.could be heard:
Some members of. the Board are not familiar with the conditions of
the property and before taking any action on the abatement reduction
asked for they decided not to act on the matter at_ this meeting.
Letter from Mrs. -Evelyn M. MeVetty of 4 Taft Avenue Was read and
the Board talked over the matter of her request for additional help
on her 1959tax bill but no d.efin.te action was taken on the matter.
Monthly lists of excise taxes abated were signed by the Board at
this meeting.
Mr. Raymond Bond came before the Board again to talk- over with them
the assessment on his wife's property located at#T3 Pelham Road which
he still felt was to `much even with the 43000 valuation reduction made
on the 1940 assessment.
Mr. Bond said he purchased the property from Mr.. Harvey C. Wheeler
for $10,000 and that the vacant lot of land assessedseparately by the
Assessors, for 41500" was ` also included with the buildings and houselot
containing, about 70,200 sq ft.
Mr. Bond told the Board about the terrible condition >the house was
in when he took possession of it, and he said he was told by a former
Assessor that if the property was let lay unoccupied for three more
years that there would be no taxable value there for the Assessors to
assess.
Mr. Bond said the purchase price was $10,000 and he had statements
with him of what he spent amounting to $17,328.56, making the total
cost to him for the whole Wheeler -Estate $27,328.56.
Mr. Bond said if he did not purchase the Wheeler property and spend
the money that he did to bring it to its present condition that the
Board:could not assess it as it is now assessed, he said he created
something for the Assessors to assess
One member of the Board for valutytion comparison said if two parties
had identical houses built at the state time, one ,costing_ $16,0.00and the
other costing $20,000 could the Assessor assess one for one value and
the other house for another value. Mr. Bond said because one contractor
charged more than the other builder he could not Say what the Assessors.
would assess the two 'houses for, but he felt the party that got the
house. built for $16,000 was the -hest business party while the other
was.`not so lucky.
Mr. Bond....informed the Board that he knew.;of a particular ease-in
Brookline where an estate cost around $300'000 to build and that `"it
sold-for less than $100,000,
Mr. Bond said Mr. -Sidney Palmer looked at;:the Wheeler property
before he built his home but because of the run down condition of
the Wheeler house,he would not consider buying the property.
Mr. ' Bond told the Board that he did. not steal a going piece of pro-
perty, " it was property that was up for sale and that it had been
uneccup .Ed: for some tiime and that every' year its value was depreciat-
ing- and' that Mr. Wheeler, the owner of it, was glad to sell it for
X10,000.
Mr. Steeves asked Mr. Bond what was the difference between his figure
paid the Board's assessed figure and Mr. . Bond replied $3071.00.
Mr. Bond in describing the house said it was falling apart in a good
many places , the blinds were already to drop off, ceilings in very bad
condition, sinks and toilets throughout the house were in poor condition,
also the frame of the house was old.
Mr. Bond was asked what it would cost him if he were to have the
same house built to-day and he said he could not say. He did say that
Mr. Custance had been down to his home recently and he told him that he
could build a lot of a house for 4318,000 or $20,000 to-day.
Mr. Bond referred to his property at #37 Somerset Road and said the
house was less than 30 years old ,that it cost around $7000 to build,
but that he had spent considerable for alterations and that it was now
assessed for 0.5,120 and he felt this new piece of property should be
assessed on the same basis, namely the cost of the property plus the
extra money put in to make it what it really is.
Mr. Bond said he took a wreck and spent so much money.
The Board asked Mr. Bond what he felt the property should be assessed
for and he said he would like to have them assess it for around $27,500.
He said besides paying J10,000 hefalso paid the 1937 and 1938 taxes plus
interest.
He informed. the Board that he purchased the property in May 1938 and
moved in around Nov. 12th, 1938.
The Tower property was mentioned and it was stated that Mr. Engstrom
no doubt purchased the Tower property after the large house was demol-
ished to protect his own beautiful estate, and he also was interested.
in his daughter Mrs. Bond purchasing the Wheeler estate to also protect
his property.
Various real estate facts and values were discussed and then the
Board informed Mr. Bond that they would consider the valuation on his
home again and let him know their decision.
Mr. Steeves told the Board after Mr. Bond had left that he felt Mr.
Bond's argument was perfectly justifiable.
After Mr. Bond left the Board voted to reduce the present assessment {\
on the Bond house $2000 more. (house assessed January 1st, 1940 for
$25,000; 1;2000_ off at prior meeting also $1000 off the 70,200, sq ft
parcel of land) total reduction voted on the 1940 assessment S5000.
Mr. Edward J. Sheehan who purchased the Ward property at 3 Eliot Rd
from the Lexington Trust Company during the summer of 1940; came before
the Board in regard` to the assessment. Mr. Sheehan informed the Board
that he paid $15,500 for the property and that it is assessed for 29,65O.
Mr. Sheehan told the Board that he merely had in mind making a home
hexe when he purchased the property; that he and his wife liked the place,
but that he gave very little consideration t o the assessment on the pro-
perty at the time. He said he and his wife were willing to pay their
part of the town tax burden and to do their duty but that they would like
to have the Assessors reduce the valuation to a figure somewhat lower
than it is now. He said it was difficult times for everyone and it
might look selfish on his part to want the property reduced to near his
purchase price. He stated he was 30 year old and that the taxes were
their largest item to meet.
Mr. Sheehan said he would like the Board- to reduce the present assess-
ment figure for 1940 if possible or for 1941.
The Board informed Mr. Sheehan that Mr. Ward who had plenty had
these buildings built in 1928, that the house cost a great deal to
build, and that the building was done during the high cost peek of
times. Property was first assessed for $50,560, and that during the
past few years the assessment has been cut several times.
Mr. Sheehan said he could do without the property and could no doubt
dispose of it in case he has to.. He said s ome repairs were now necessary
that soine, of the beams Were in poor condition and that some of the
- wood,was' rotting away.
The Board told Mr. Sheehan that if they cut the present assess-
ment on the house that they would have to lower the assessment on a
good many of the large houses in that neighborhood and those other
houses did not cost anywhere near what the Ward house cost to build.
Mr. Sheehan said heand his wife were driving thru Lexington early
In May and saw the Bank property up for sale, they both liked,it very
much so got in touch with Mr. Couette, Agentfor the Bank, and made him
an offer. Mr. Sheehan said he and his wife went back to their apart-
ment in Boston and talked it over, and the next day Mr. Couette called
them a nd said the Bank had accepted their offer of 015,500.
500.
The Board asked Mr. Sheehan if he had looked at arg other parcels
of real estate that was for sale in Lexington ,and he said no that this
ras the only s,;;lection eelhg: of the town that they looked at.
The Board informed Mr. Sheehan that the bank has wanted to sell the
property and get rid of carrying the load and that they let it go to
him for yd-;15,500, but that the B did net feel that the price he paid for
es it was the fair .market value. a-b
The Board asked .Mr. Sheehan what he had the buildings insured for
and he said $18,500.
Mr. Steeves spoke of the failure of many persons not investigating
with the Assessors as to the assessment and betterments on properties
{',0ie they are considering purchasing, until after the, sales are completed.
The Board told Mr. Sheehan that it was their duty as Assessors to
P';m assess property at its fair cash value and that they do not feel that
U,; this estate under consideration is over assessed,
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The d.iffe.rent members of the Board told Mr. Sheehan that he got a
ti' f�, real bargain when he purchased this fine estate for . 15,500; and Mr.
said' if .I got ;a bargain. I guess I will have to feel that way also.
3 Mr. Sheehan; said he will have to make a few improvements and that.
�
ysr he would like to have the property assessed around 0.8,500.
°" The Board asked Mr. Sheehan if he would swap his house for the
; ` -Hutchinson house assessed for 820,000, and he said it was a good look-
W ing house but that he was not familiar with it or any of the surround-
� ,�:, "i:ng properties.
3.
' Asked what the house could be built for Mr. Cann said he did not
Fiji ' think the house could be built for less than $30,000,with his income
'" Mr. Sheehan said he thinks he could managenEo carry the property
,�,) if the assessment was $20,000.00. Mr. Sheehan said he understood
"#` Mr. Ward did well, had this beautiful house built: well, but he feels
'¢ Mr. Ward could have had it built for less although it was built dur-
ing the peek of high prices.
r t The. Board asked Mr. Sheehan if Mr. 0 uette suggested him going
'4',' before the Assessors to get the assessment reduced and Mr, Sheehan
<<:' said Mr. Couette did not suggest that to him.
u‘,., ,, The Board informed Mr. Sheehan that the Bank refused to sell this
Oaaaparticular piece of bank property for $29,003within the last year or
P? so and that the party went to Winchester and purchased a home there.
Vfl'''7i
F,� The Board told Mr. Sheehan that if he looked around and found out
t s, whit other large houses in Lexington were assessed for that they did
�it4, nothink he would feel so badly as to his purchase price and the
t„�,, Present assessment, in comparison with other Lexington homes that did
i �' not begin to cost what this house originally cost.
r:f” The Board told Mr. Sheehan that they would consider the matter
i x further and let him know their decision.
;z'
Mr. Sheehan thanked the Board for granting him this hearing.
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Letter from Mrs. Maud Sherburne of 39 Marrett Road dated Nov. 20th,
was read and considered by the Board along with .the 1940 real estate
rl abatement application filed by her on August 29th.
;;, The full Board of Assessors went thru her various buildings prior
ii to their meeting held Nov. 5th, at which time they voted to reduce the Agg
'611 assessment on the buildings S9250. ',
Mrs. Sherburne was not satisfied with the abatement granted and
li', in her letter she described the buildings and hoped the Board would
iHi arrive at a valuation which she would accept. -
{ i ' The Assessors do not feel that the buildings are all over assessed,
they felt that the new values that they placed on the buildings were fair
iH
considering that the buildings are all being used and also what it would
� cost to reproduce them. "
The Board did not feel that the values as stated in Mrs. Sherburne 's
jii letter represented their fair market value.
The Board said that because this property is not for sale it was hard
Hito say just what this large and beautiful estate could be sold for.
Hlk After some discussion the Board voted to make an additional valuation
reduction of 03500 on the large/house assessment and x`1000 reduction on
the laundry building.
11, Some members of the Board wondered if the total valuation could not
HII, be lowered somewhat to Mrs. Sherburne 's figures by reducing th.e land
assessment and it was stated that Mr. -Carter, Attorney for Mrs. Sherburne,
was not asking for any reduction on the land assessment. Their estimate
of the fair cash value of the whole estate was $32,250 while the Assessors'
valuation as of Jan. 1st, 1940 was $56,750. The'. assessment had been
I that since 1935 when the valuation was lowered.
The three acre parcel of land around the house assessed for $6600 was
mentioned and the Board felt that land was worth that assessment and that
the '. land-.was not over assessed, but as the Assessors felt they .had cut
the assessment .on the buildings as much as they could at this time and ti �
to grant Mrs. Sherburne another valuation reduction. the Board voted to
! H cut the H6600 land assessment to $3500, thus reducing the land assess-
ment $3000.
A letter was sent to Mrs. Sherburne informing her that the 1940
valuation had been cut $7500 additional, thusmakingthe total assessment
, ,I now $40,000. _
Original assessment was ; 56,750.
Assessment after the Nov. 5th reduction ,wasl;47,500
Assessment to-date is now $40;000. / -
1 ; , , quiztAd1/41:1/4 tO f Ar I f
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- Secre L. , of he Board
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