A significant portion of the meeting focused on proposed changes to the property tax exemptions under the 3911 act and the 41c exemption. The board members discussed the financial ramifications and the number of individuals that might be impacted by these changes. Concerns were raised about the board’s capacity to understand the full financial implications due to limited access to certain reports and data from the state. Furthermore, there was discussion regarding the feasibility of the assessor’s office to manage the exemptions process given the existing constraints and the impending busy season, which could affect the assessor’s availability for a proposed public Q&A session through Zoom.

The board also approved a motor vehicle abatement totaling $6,295.23 and discussed the last motor vehicle commitment for fiscal year 2023. The next meeting was scheduled for April 1st, with additional tentative dates set for the 22nd and possibly the 29th. The board is considering forming a committee, potentially including citizens and individuals with expertise in assessing, to address neighborhood determinations as part of the revaluation process. The intent is to make the five-year revaluation process more transparent and to involve the community in decisions that affect property valuations.

In parallel, there was notable progress on the town’s website development, with a “sandbox” version available for the board to visualize and modify before going live. This step is part of the board’s broader efforts to improve community outreach and provide residents with easier access to assessment services and information. The board expressed satisfaction with the progress on the website and provided feedback on the sandbox model.

The board has been addressing the extensive task of excise tax abatements and issues in matching data between the munis and vision systems. The acknowledgment of this workload came with an understanding of the need to respond to residents’ questions in a timely and efficient manner. Public comments highlighted both appreciation for the board’s efforts to make assessment data available online and concerns about the timing and process for addressing resident inquiries.

Additional administrative matters included the signing of motor vehicle abatements and the approval of invoices for maintenance services and from Vision for completed work. The board emphasized the importance of ensuring that all invoices are directed to the correct recipients and the proper process for signing official documents. There was also a discussion about the availability of stamps needed for signing documents.

Discussions on forming ad hoc citizens committees surfaced during the meeting, with an emphasis on defining their structure and purpose before empowering them. The board also addressed the upcoming fiscal year, contemplating the tasks related to property inspections and data collection, including the review of deeds to ensure arms-length transactions and the potential role of a data collector.

The board discussed consolidating written questions from the public and the formation of an ad hoc committee to address them, with the intention of reviewing the questions at the next meeting and forwarding them to relevant parties for responses. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn and a call for a formal announcement to recruit a replacement for a departing member.