===PAGE 1=== LUNENBURG BOARD OF ASSESSORS September 18, 2024 BILOTTA ROOM, LUNENBURG TOWN HALL 17 MAIN STREET Present members: Chair Brian Laffond, Vice Chair Sarah Cammer (Zoom), Clerk John Rabbitt, Principal Assessor Lynda McQuade Absent members: Assessing Consultant Rena Swezey CALL TO ORDER The meeting opened at 6:40 PM. OPENING COMMENTS - Board Brian Laffond was approached by a member of the Budget Committee inquiring about the split tax rate. It was discussed that a split tax rate would not change the total tax levy, but it would change where the burden is distributed. The Committee agree to meet and discuss further with the Board. - Public There were no comments from the public. STATUS REPORT FROM PRINCIPAL ASSESSOR. - Status of Exemption Applications. Other items as needed. Lynda McQuade provided the below updates:  There has been a decrease in motor vehicle excise tax abatements received in the past couple weeks.  A review of the 2022 and 2023 permits has been completed.  4 abutters lists have been processed.  The office has been working on continuing the inspecting of new construction properties and building permits.  Lynda McQuade attended an Assessing Clerks Conference in North Chelmsford last week. There was discussion about new legislation called the Hero Act. This would allow veterans with 100% disability rating or if they are unemployable due to their service-connected disability to receive a full motor vehicle abatement for the entire year for 1 year. This would apply to the 22e exemptions. Currently, there are 27 veterans in town that would receive abatements on 1 vehicle.  Lynda McQuade provided a copy of her recertification from the Massachusetts Assessors Association.  An offer was made for the administrative assessing assistant position. Currently, Lynda McQuade is unsure if the position has been accepted. If the position is ===PAGE 2=== accepted the tentative start date is October 22. John Rabbitt shared his disapproval of the existing interview process. John Rabbitt believes the elected employees are bypassed regarding the interview process and voicing their opinion. Lynda McQuade confirms that herself, Rena Swezey, and Carter Terenzini completed the interview. The goals for next month include:  Finalizing the LA4 in Gateway and the FY 25 growth.  Prepare for the classification hearing in November.  Prepare for training of the new administrative assessing assistant position. Brian Laffond shares that there has been an inconsistency found in the zoning for the community. Zoning Building Officials, the Planning Board, and Town Clerk are conducting research to determine if the zoning needs correction. CURRENT BUSINESS - Review and Approve Minutes of September 4 and August 19, 2024, Executive Sessions of August 19 and July 29, 2024 The approval of minutes from August 19th and September 4th were postponed. The approval of executive session minutes from July 29th and August 19th were postponed. - Review and Approve Invoices, Expense Vouchers, Payroll, Billing Errors, etc. There was an invoice from Vision totaling $2,000 for the interim adjustments was signed. An invoice totaling $35 for Denise’s business cards was signed. Motor vehicle abatements were signed. - Update on Neighborhood Review Team proposal (schedule, membership, charge) Sarah Cammer states that th e review team hasn’t been able to meet. After reviewing information, the team is seeing a bunch of properties that are blank. Assigning numbers to those properties is a priority and anticipate having those completed by November 7th. The next step is to look for inconsistencies in the neighborhoods and make recommendation to the Board. - Finalization of Exemption/Deferral (41A) Warrant Articles for Fall Town Meeting The Board requests that 17e be added to the drafted document. The Board suggests adding 17e to allow the increase in assets. Lynda McQuade states that 17e would increase the asset amounts every year. Lynda McQuade confirms that whatever is voted on at November town meeting wouldn’t be effective until 2026. ===PAGE 3=== Last year, there were 21 applications that qualified for 41c. After looking at income, social security, and deductions there were 2 applications that did not qualify. Sarah Cammer questions if the values previously adopted in 2006 should be written or published in the article. Brian Laffond will work on a document and provide it to the Board. - Suggested Modification of Website John Rabbitt had no update. POSTPONED TOPICS - Discuss details and development of Assessing Calendar. There is a classification hearing coming up in early November. The Assessors Office needs to complete Interim and submit it to the Department of Revenue. The interim needs to be approved by the end of October. The first step is to get the LA4 submitted and then submit the new growth which is almost complete. - BOA Policies John Rabbitt questions if the DLS file has been updated by the Town Clerk. Lynda McQuade has a certified and notarized letter from the Town Clerk for Article 32. There was discussion about executive session meetings being make public when the issue is resolved. Brian Laffond states we need to get them publicized but it’s not the priority. UPCOMING MEETING/EVENTS SCHEDULE - October 2, 2024, at 6:30 PM - October 16, 2024, at 6:30 PM CLOSING COMMENTS - Public There were no comments from the public. - Board Brian Laffond states he wants to review minutes from prior meetings to get them approved and posted. Sarah Cammer is going to review the September 4 th minutes since Brian Laffond was unable to attend that meeting. ADJOURN There was a motion to adjourn by John Rabbitt, seconded by Brian Laffond. All in favor. The meeting closed at 8:11 PM.