HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-07-BASS-minOpen Session Minutes
June 7, 2017
A Meeting of the Lexington Board of Assessors was held on June 7, 2017 at 8:45 a.m. in the
Reed Room of the Lexington Town Hall Office Building.
In attendance: Gregory Johnson, Chairman, Edmund C. Grant, Member, Casimir Groblewski,
Member, Robert F. Lent, Director of Assessing, and Janneke Donovan, as Secretary.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Meeting was called to order at 8:45 a.m.
Open Session
Public Comment Time opened at 8:50 a.m.: The public comment time continued for 15 minutes,
No citizens were present.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was decided that at future Board of Assessors'
meetings the public comment time will always be first on the agenda, except when special
circumstances call for a planned session of public comment time.
Chairman Gregory Johnson stated that all 3 Board members have been able to review
(individually, outside of scheduled meetings) with Director Lent the FY 2018 3ABC applications.
All 3 members now have a good idea of the process to make 3ABC exemption decisions.
Chairman Johnson stated that the Board wants to adhere fully to Mass General laws, and so it
should tread cautiously because the exemption determination process is complicated and he
wants all 3ABC applicants (as well as the general taxpaying public) to be treated equitably.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following was decided:
1. All properties that were recognized as exempt for FY1 7 will maintain their fully exempt
status for FY 18 ®® if they have filed their 3ABC applications;
2. During the next 12 months the Board will research and create guidelines for how they
would turn an previously "fully" exempt property into partially taxable, for FY 2019;
3. If any FY 17 exempt property owner fails to file their 3ABC application for FY 18 by
September 30, 2017, the Board will have no other choice —by adhering to GL® than to
recognize such property as taxable for FY 18 (Jan 1, 2018 will be first tax bill);
4. To make sure that all exempt property owners are aware of above-mentioned under 1-3,
the assessing department will take the following action:
® Mail by June 15 a statement to all FY 17 exempt property noting continued tax
exemption in FY 18 due to efforts to assure correct MGL interpretation, accurate
application of taxes, and reasonable equity among stakeholders
* Mail by June 30 a reminder to file 3ABC form, sent to all non -responders to FY1 8
request made in February, 2017; and
* Make a (last effort) phone call by August 31, 2017 to the (short list do FY 17 tax
exempt property owners that have failed by that time to file a 3ABC form.
There were no discussions of Financial Issues including Overlay Fund.
Chairman Greg Johnson made a motion that the Board of Assessors go into Executive Session,
in order to deliberate Statutory Exemptions that would be detrimental in Open Session.
Roll call vote, 3®0 in favor to go into Executive Session at 9:15 a.m.
Executive Session occurred here on
folder.
Open Session Minutes
June 7, 2017
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Assessors adjourned the Executive Session
;),t 10:03 a.m. and returned to Open Session of the Meeting.
The Board unanimously voted 3-0 in favor to deem deny one Chapter 44B exemption application
and deem deny two 59, Section 5 Exemption applications. (See list in Executive folder).
The Board unanimously voted 3-0 in favor to approve two 1 B-3 Applications for Statutory
Exemption. (See list in Executive folder).
The Board unanimously voted 3-0 in favor to approve the final settlement for Stedman Rd., Map
24, Lot 83B.
The Board postponed reviewing and discussing previous Meeting Minutes
The Board did not set a date for the next Meeting.
There being no other business a motion was duly made and seconded at 10:05 a.m to adjourn
the Meeting.
A true record° Attest
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