===PAGE 1=== LUNENBURG BOARD OF ASSESSORS June 10, 2024 LOWER LEVEL, RITTER BUILDING 960 MASSACHUSETTS A VENUE Present members: Chair Brian Laffond, Vice Chair Sarah Cammer, Clerk John Rabbitt, Principal Assessor Lynda McQuade, Assessing Consultant Rena Swezey CALL TO ORDER The meeting opened at 6:30 PM. OPENING COMMENTS - Board Brian Laffond states that during executive session if a member recuses themselves, they should be excused from the room. This will be the process going forward. John Rabbitt disagrees and believes as a member of the community you always have the right to voice your opinion. Brian Laffond disagrees as this is only for executive session purposes. A member may decide to participate in deliberations and abstain, but if recused, must vacate the room. The Board received a message from a citizen that was reviewed last week in executive session. They were concerned that interpersonal relationships in the neighborhood were not good. John Rabbitt assured the individual that no information is ever shared with anybody. There was a discussion about the topography of this individual’s neighborhood. John Rabbitt voiced his opinion that the resident goes to the ATB and plead their cause. Brian Laffond states that deliberations in executive session are not for public consumption and that it’s not appropriate for anybody to share any information on what is deliberated. Sarah Cammer suggests that if a resident has a question, they should schedule to come into executive session to ask their answer. The Board can then discuss among themselves. - Public There were no comments from the public. STATUS REPORT FROM PRINCIPAL ASSESSOR. - Status of Abatement and Exemption Applications. Other items as needed. Lynda McQuade states there are 3 abatements left. 2 of those houses are scheduled for inspections. The other home did not provide their contact information and hasn’t responded to the documents left at their door. If no response is received by August 16th their abatement will be denied and no action needs to be taken. ===PAGE 2=== Lynda McQuade and Rena Swezey are working on completing the new construction, adding the information to Vision, and completing inspections. Lynda McQuade provided LA-19 Equalized Valuation Report to the Board per request of Heather Lemieux. The equalized value is produced by law every 2 years and has been a variable in distributing some state aid accounts and factors into determining county assessments and other costs. The town gets reimbursed, and the amount of aid received is based on these numbers. Sarah Cammer confirms that these numbers must be created to determine at what level each community is at for state aid. The numbers and sales to assessment ratio are reviewed to determine the estimated full value. Rena Swezey and Lynda McQuade met with an attorney for the State, Jim Crowley, at a conference. He answered many questions, explained exemptions and what needs to be adopted. CURRENT BUSINESS - Review and Approve Minutes of June 03, 2024. Minutes of Executive Sessions of May 20, 2024, June 03, 2024. There was a motion to accept the modified minutes from June 3, 2024, by Sarah Cammer, seconded by John Rabbitt. All in favor. There was a motion to approve the executive session minutes from May 20, 2024 & June 3, 2024, by John Rabbitt, seconded by Sarah Cammer. All in favor. - Review and Approve Invoices, Expense V ouchers, Payroll, Billing Errors, etc. ===PAGE 3=== The approved and processed real estate abatements and motor vehicle excise abatements were signed. - Update on Neighborhood Review Team proposal (schedule, membership, charge) There is a meeting scheduled for Friday via Zoom. This meeting will mainly be a meet and greet. Sarah Cammer has been in contact with 1 potential realtor and has contact information for another. - Brief Status of Roll out of Website- Test Plan, Release Schedule There were a few changes made to the website and work is still ongoing. Brian Laffond requests that John Rabbitt provide a discussed document with the pointer. POSTPONED TOPICS - Discuss details and development of Assessing Calendar. - Update status of investigation regarding Exemptions: including 17C, 22,37, 41C, (and potential 41D). - BOA Policies UPCOMING MEETING/EVENTS SCHEDULE - July 22,2024 - August 19, 2024 CLOSING COMMENTS - Public There were no comments from the public. - Board Sarah Cammer suggests adding exemption 18 to the list of exemptions to investigate. Rena Swezey states there is a Committee in Leominster through the Council on Aging that helps people determine if residents are eligible for any exemptions and helps fill out abatements. EXECUTIVE SESSION There was a motion to suspend open meeting and enter into executive session not to return to open session after executive session by Sarah Cammer, seconded by John Rabbitt. Roll call vote. The meeting closed at 7:33 PM. ===PAGE 4=== ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION – Suspend open meeting and enter into Executive Session, not to return to Open Session after exiting Executive Session. Motion to enter executive session under Purpose 7: "To comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements".