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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-07-BASS-min Board of Assessor's Meeting Open Session Minutes May 7,2019 A Meeting of the Board of Assessors was held on May 7,2019 at 5:00 p.m.in the Reed Meeting Room of the Town Hall Building. In attendance: Gregory Johnson,Chairman,Casimir Groblewski,Member,Robert F.Lent,Director of Assessing,and Sandra Pentedemos, Administrative Assessor. Member Edmund C.Grant was absent. The Chairman,Gregory Johnson called the Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Ooen Session Public Comment Time: None present. There were no discussions of Financial Issues including Overlay Fund. Mr.Paul Tucker presented the Telecom Site Analysis of the major telecommunications site and had evaluated cell towers and rooftop antennas for exempt and non-exempt properties to the Board. These new findings are likely to generate New Levy Growth for fiscal year 2020. Chairman Johnson made a motion that the Board of Assessors go into Executive Session under Purpose 7 in order to deliberate Fiscal Year 2019 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 5:15 p.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 7:20 p.m.and returned to Open Session of the Meeting. Coen Session There were no Fiscal Year 2019 Chapter 59,Section 59 Real Estate Abatement applications. There were no Fiscal Year 2019 Chapter 59,Section 59 Personal Property Abatement applications. The Board unanimously voted 3-0 in favor to approve one Fiscal Year 2019 Chapter 59 Section 5 Clause 41C Exemption,and one Community Preservation Exemption application. (See List in Executive folder) A motion was made and seconded to extend the 3 month deadline on the remaining FY2019 Tax Deferral Exemption applications due to the taxpayer to produce the Tax Deferral and Recovery Agreements approval from their lenders,provided that each applicant meets all of the criteria requirements of Gross Income. The Board postponed discussions of the Fiscal Year 2020 Chapter 59 Section 5 Clause 3,Form 3ABC Applications The Board discussed pending Appellate Tax Board actions.No decisions had to be made. The Board of Assessors next Meeting will be held on May 28,2019 at 5:00 p.m. There being no other business a motion was duly made and seconded at 6:35 p.m.to adjourn the Meeting. oard of Asse or 1.0 w � A A true record: Attest Sandra Pentedemos,Administrative Assessor Meeting Secretary May 7,2019 Paul Tucker—Telecom Site Analysis for the Town of Lexington • Over the past 2 years,we have begun to more fully identified the major telecommunications sites and have evaluated cell towers and rooftop antennas for exempt and non-exempt properties. • We assisted in Lexington's ATB cases vs.40 Hartwell Ave,resulting in Appellant's recent March,2019)complete withdrawal of 2 years appeals. • We are currently in the process of doing careful auditing of several telecom carriers to ensure personal property compliance as well as authentication of their locations. • The new findings of personal property valuation are likely to generate New Levy Growth of $7-8 million in Lexington for FY 2020. Exempt r a is Properties with taxable interest created by ground lease with carrier. Owners' lease information is a valuable resource in developing valuation. We recommend billing directly to tenant via an addition t the personal property account. Town property is included in this category and we have had issues with obtaining internal lease information that is being resolved. Valuation will require identifying actual and market rents. Taxable Properties Cell Towers We have verified that telecom rental income is accounted for in the existing record in the Vision Income Approach. However,the Cost Approach is being relied upon in the final valuations. Vision (Mike Tarello) is working with us to ensure that we have included value for these assets. Rooftop/Antennas We have identified most locations involved with the exception of some Sprint sites. We need to send Sprint an audit letter to require an asset listing showing location. This project was initiated in FY 2019 with an exhaustive review of the Form of List accounts® valuation impact is targeted for FY 2020 with procedures established for ongoing maintenance. Personal Property Many carriers are sending in their estimate of valuation and may be undervaluing their assets. We need to compare the permit files,forms of list,and asset listings.