Lawrence Town Council Appoints New Tax Assessor Amid Concerns Over Experience

The Lawrence Town Council meeting focused heavily on the appointment of Henry J. Nornberg Jr. as the new municipal tax assessor and the ensuing discussion about the need for additional support due to his lack of experience in handling tax appeals. The council passed several resolutions related to retaining professional services to aid in tax assessments and appeals, highlighting concerns about the new appointee’s preparedness for the role.

01:30Henry J. Nornberg Jr. was appointed as the municipal tax assessor, succeeding the retiring Ken Pacera. Nornberg will complete Pacera’s term and then begin his own four-year term starting July 1, 2025. The appointment raised questions from the public, particularly from a resident who expressed concerns over Nornberg’s lack of experience in managing tax appeals. The resident highlighted the additional costs that might arise from hiring extra consultants to cover Nornberg’s gaps in experience. The council reassured that the measures taken are standard practice and are intended to support Nornberg as he acclimates to his new role.

11:08To address the concerns about Nornberg’s experience, the council approved a professional service agreement with BRB Valuation and Consulting Services for $10,000 to provide expert assistance in tax appeals, particularly commercial ones. The council also appointed David J. Levy and Jennifer Caravali as tax assessor consultants, with each earning $250 per hour, to provide backup support. Levy is noted for his extensive experience and previous tenure in Lawrence Township, while Caravali is a former deputy tax assessor for the township.

06:26In addition, the council amended a resolution regarding a professional service agreement with Mason Griffin and Pearson to serve as conflict tax attorneys. This amendment rectified an error in the agenda, which mistakenly listed them as tax attorneys for a specific property.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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