Public Information Meeting
8/6/2013
The Public Hearing on whether to place the question of three elected assessors or one appointed assessor on the ballot came to order at 6PM.
Supervisor Boisen led us in the Pledge to the Flag.
On roll call Board Members present were Councilman Wrisley, Councilwoman LaPine, Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman MacDougal, Councilman Garvey and
Supervisor Boisen. Also present was Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk.
Attendees were Olive Alexander, Rita-Ann Fitzgerald, Anita Shaprio, June Lawrence, Ben Brewster, Ann Brewster, Kevin Delaughter, Wayne Bailey,
Patricia Gardner, Bill Poppino, Katie Krier, Paul Krier, Alexandria Noble,
Dianne Lansing, Pat Tivnan, Bill Finucane, Michael Pratt, Sylvia Tospann, and Steve Phillips. Sandy Lewis was also present but failed to sign in.
Supervisor Boisen offered the courtesy of the floor.
Wayne Bailey was the first to speak. Mr. Bailey wanted to know how many parcels are there. Supervisor Boisen stated there are 806. He also wanted to know what the three elected assessors are paid. Supervisor Boisen stated the
Combined salaries for three elected assessors is $11288. Mr. Bailey read an ad for Cambridge, NY another Town similar in size to Essex for one sole assessor at a salary of $14,500. This was for part-time, one day a week. Mr. Bailey stated he feels the current system does not work.
Anita Shapiro wanted to know how often properties are assessed. It is done every five years as required by the State. It is mandated that we assess at 100% of market value. The assessors have to look at sales every year and adjust accordingly.
Ben Brewster stated he would be more comfortable if he could see the language to be used on the ballot. Mr. Brewster stated that he has used the small claims court to challenge his assessment. He has studied comparable properties to see if his assessment was fair or not. Last year was a big shock, but after looking at comp sheets of several similar properties my assessment was right in line. Mr. Brewster said he then had no reason to go to court. This is not a perfect system.
Assessors are human beings like we are and at least there are three of them so they disagree among themselves and maybe that is helpful to get a better result. Mr. Brewster said all are accountable at the ballot box. Mr. Brewster stated he was not sure how he would vote.
Supervisor Boisen stated it would be a simple question on the ballot answered yes or no. I would like the Town to go to a sole appointed assessor or have three elected assessors.
The question was asked what are the benefits to going to a sole appointed assessor. There are pros and cons. All but seventeen percent of the Towns in NYS have gone to the sole appointed assessor. One assessor versus three would mean only one was interrupting tax law instead of three. One assessor would answer to the Town Board. Elected assessors could be influenced by voters who put them in office. Training for a sole assessor is more involved than for elected assessors.
Supervisor Boisen felt it was time to get the public’s opinion on what they want.
A sole appointed assessor or three elected assessors. Supervisor Boisen said she would be in favor of what the public wants.
Councilman MacDougal stated he is undecided himself. I am not happy with the assessment. Willsboro went to a sole assessor and people were not happy with what happened there. Councilman Garvey stated that at Willsboro Central School it was a nightmare. Star program was not properly maintained. We had to budget $50,000 to $60,000 a year to pay back the residents who challenged their assessments and won. Councilman Garvey stated his opinion was when you have one sole assessor you are only getting his interpretation. At least when you have three assessors you have oversight and people talking.
Councilwoman LaPine stated that if you go from three elected assessors to one appointed you cannot go back to elected assessors.
Mr. Brewster stated he has done a lot of reading on assessment equalization Law. It is amazing how many things assessors have absolute unquestionable discretion. Mr. Brewster said he would rather have this in the hands of three elected assessors than one appointed assessor.
Mr. Poppino asked what are the term limits for elected assessors. Dianne Lansing stated it is a four your term. Mr. Poppino stated an appointed assessor’s term is for 6 years.
Supervisor Boisen stated there was talk about the County providing assessor service. This was not brought before the Board of Supervisors for a vote.
Supervisor Boisen said the question is the public in favor of having the choice on the November ballot for one assessor appointed or three elected.
Pat Gardner wanted to know if the information should have been available to the
Public before the meeting so they could have had time to look over the information.
This Public Informational Meeting came about because the Town Board wanted to get the opinions of the public before they made any decisions on appointed or elected assessors.
Supervisor Boisen stated there is a lot of information on line. She will gather it and make it available on the Town website essexnewyork.org. Another site to visit is NYS Real Property Tax Services. Tonight we are gathering information to see if the public wants this on the ballot, before we do a local law. You can sign up a tour web site and get all the mass emails, public meetings, public notices that have been published in the newspapers and agendas.
The question was asked about how long has this been in effect and has it been long enough for the towns to have experience with it. Supervisor Boisen said it began in 1972. All towns were supposed to pass a local to keep three elected Assessors. If this law was not filed then the towns would become a sole assessor town. Supervisor Boisen called the Real Property Tax law department told her it was nothing to worry about.
A question as to what the salary would be for a sole assessor. Three elected assessors is $11,288. Supervisor Boisen said it would be comparable to the three elected assessors. Supervisor Boisen said the Board would offer a yearly salary not payment per parcel.
The expenses associated with the position of a sole appointed assessor was discussed.
If this is put on the ballot would this be a binding referendum. Supervisor Boisen stated no, the Board would take the information and make the final decision.
The question was asked if the Board could just do a law even if the public did
Not wish to have a change. The answer was yes.
Another question was how many people are qualified to be a sole assessor.
Supervisor Boisen stated she thinks they have a year to be qualified. The
Town has three elected assessors that are qualified.
Mr. Finucane stated he was in favor of the sole assessor. He felt that the higher education requirements were good. The person appointed does not need to live in our Town and that might better if they do not so they maybe more impartial.
We are paying taxes to Essex County and Willsboro School district so we might as well have an assessor who is using the same approach as assessors in other Towns and especially in the school district. Last year when the Essex assessors raised our assessments collectively they made a nice gift to the tax payers of Willsboro by having us pay a greater share the school budget.
Mr. Bailey asked about the County sending assessors for $15 per parcel.
Supervisor Boisen stated there was a short discussion on this option.
It has not been brought to the table for a vote and it does not appear that it will be.
It is not an option that we can consider at this time. Mr. Bailey stated he would like to review the information and he would like to see the question on the ballot.
Anita Shaprio asked if a tax payer has a problem with their assessment will there be a board they can go to. The BAR will still be in place to hear the
Tax payer’s complaint.
Sandy Vance stated she likes to be able to vote for assessors. She feels that we should maintain as much local control as we can.
Councilman MacDougal feels we have jumped the gun on this meeting. We have a lot of questions our self and it takes a lot to get all the information.
Supervisor Boisen stated the question is not whether or not we want a sole appointed assessor or three elected assessor. The question is would the public like the choice on the ballot or not. The Board of Elections needs to know so the question can be placed on the ballot. It is important to allow the public to voice their opinions on this important issue.
A summer resident thanked the Board for having this meeting during the summer months. It was good to get the information before they would have to fill out
Their absent t ballot.
Mr. Sandy Lewis Wanted to know who would make the decision to put the question on the ballot. Supervisor Boisen stated the Town Board of five would make the final decision. Mr. Lewis stated that he and his wife have looked at how this system of three elected assessors functions. Mr. Lewis stated in the last few years he has questioned the accuracy and integrity of this process and has no doubt what the conclusion is. Mr. Lewis went on to talk about the court case with the Town of Essex over his disputed assessment. Supervisor Boisen asked Mr. Lewis to stay on the topic of giving the resident a choice to have the question of one appointed or three elected assessors put on the ballot. Mr. Lewis stated this Town should close down and join Willsboro. Mr. Lewis stated that it is hard to get good people to serve. Mr. Lewis talked about the lawsuit with the Town.
Supervisor Boisen tried to get back to the issue of one appointed or three elected assessors. The members of the audience voiced their opinions about Mr. Lewis’ wanting to talk about the lawsuit. Mr. Lewis left the meeting.
Dianne Lansing said that anyone who wants to discuss their assessments should call and make an appointment with an assessor who would be very willing to go over their assessment with them.
Mr. Bailey thanked Supervisor Boisen and the Town Board for the information and discussion on this question of having a choice on the ballot.
Councilman MacDougal and Councilwoman LaPine stated they would support the decision made by the voters. Pat Gardner asked where the information would come from on this matter. Supervisor Boisen stated the she would work with Real Property and the assessors to get this information to the public. Both pro and con information will be available so that an informed decision can be made by the voters.
Adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted by
Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk
