Notes from the Board of Assessors, October 11, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Doug Goudey
• Michael Blay
• Via Zoom: Gary Pitney and Tom Stokes
• John Hart and via Zoom Peter Strauss

1. Valuations in review by Department of Revenue (DOR) — preliminary acceptance
2. Required public disclosure of new valuations
   1. Zip codes outside 01262 will be mailed by end of this week (October 14)
   2. Those in Glendale and Stockbridge (01262) can go to Town Offices, go to Town web site, or go to the library to see new valuation
   3. It will show old and new valuations
3. Blay said "This is the biggest change in values that we have ever done."
4. Stokes said first meeting of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) will take place October 20 — new members to committee Peter Strauss and Roxanne McCaffrey

Public Comment

1. Strauss — new valuations should be mailed to locals as well not just outside zip code especially because Blay said this was "biggest change in valuations ever."
   1. Blay wanted to do only what required by Commonwealth — outside 01262 zip code
   2. Strauss pressed for mailing to locals — Blay — no change
2. Hart wanted to hear pluses and minuses about Residential Tax Exemption (RTE) — returned after holiday to find many disgruntled locals re: RTE — petition circulating — he recognizes Blay is opposed but wanted to hear both sides
   1. Blay said he had no position on RTE
   2. Goudey said Assessor and Board of Assessors should stay in their lane — do daily business and not get involved in policy. Blay concurred solely up to Select Board — not Board of Assessors
   3. Brief discussion on whether RTE is a progressive tax and only is with respect to locals
   4. Hart said he knew second homeowners who were not opposed — they understand their activities — building and renovating — have raised valuations of local homes "biggest ever seen" and only fair to institute RTE to reduce that sharp rise for locals

Meeting adjourned

Photo: Joan Gallos