HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 10/14/2021BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY 6:00 p.m. 14 OCTOBER 2021
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a meeting on Thursday, 14 October 2021,
at 6 p.m., in the conference room, City Hall, 180 Market Street.
Members Present: C. Shaw, Chair; D. Kinville, C. Trombly, M. Mahoney, T. Barritt, C. Santorello,
B. Nowak, M. St. Germain, M. Emery, Sen. T. Chittenden, Sen. M. Sirotkin,
Also Present: M. Lyons, City Assessor; L. Vera, J. & S. Finnigan, K. Khosravi, Mr. Shedd
1. Review evacuation plans in case of an emergency.
Ms. Kinville reviewed emergency plans. Mr. Shaw noted that the wearing of masks is
encouraged in City Hall.
2. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda:
No comments or questions were presented.
3. Any change to the order of the agenda:
No changes were made to the agenda.
4. Minutes of 7 October 2021:
Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Minutes of 7 October 2021 as written. Mr. Nowak seconded.
Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
5. BCA oath administered:
Ms. Kinville administered the oath to Board members.
6. Hear Appeal from:
Mr. Shaw explained the appeals process.
a. Lynn Vera 11 Pavilion Drive
Ms. Vera said she spoke with Andrew at Tyler, and he said he would “take a second look.”
What he looked at was the card, not the property.
Ms. Vera then showed photos of her basement flood damage. She said she put in a drain and
pipe to a drain in the driveway. This has diminished the value of her driveway (the land under
the driveway now belongs to the city) which has divided her land. The dehumidifier in the
basement has been running constantly.
Ms. Vera then addressed comparables. She showed photos of a “gentrified” house which went
up less in value than hers. It is lakefront with stairs to the beach. #6 Birch went down in value,
and it has lake views and 4 full apartments.
She felt her property should be valued at $300,000 to $310,000.
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14 OCTOBER 2021
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Ms. Lyons said she does not have a dollar amount assigned to the driveway. She said the
property has a fair/average quality rating which reflects the basement and drainage easement.
She then presented three comparables: #5 Pavilion sold for a time adjusted sales price of
$444,882 and #52 Central Avenue sold for a time adjusted sales price of $531,879.
Based on the comparables, Ms. Lyons felt that Ms. Vera’s property was fairly assessed at
$337,800.
Mr. Trombly asked whether the condition of the basement equals a fair/average rating. Ms.
Lyons said it does, considering the overall condition of the house.
Ms. Vera asked how much of the land was deducted because of the easement. Ms. Lyons said
it was part of the land grade change (0.90).
Ms. Vera said she has done everything she can regarding the flooding. CWD says it is the result
of development. She also cited houses that are far better than hers which had less of an
increase.
Testimony was then closed and an inspection team of Mr. Nowak, Sen. Sirotkin, and Mr.
Mahoney was assigned to view the property at 9 a.m. on 17 October.
The appeal was continued to 21 October at 6 p.m.
b. Thomas & Maureen Rees 20 Keari Lane
The appellants were not present. This is the second hearing at which they have not appeared.
Therefore, the appellants’ letter will be the only testimony from them.
Ms. Lyons said the property is assessed at $559,900. It has an average/good rating with an
unfinished basement.
Ms. Lyons then presented three comparables: 17 Keari Lane sold for a time adjusted price of
$601,660; 5 Harbor Ridge Road sold for a time adjusted price of $591,065; and 12 Harbor Ridge
Road sold for a time adjusted price of $617,608.
Based on those sales, Ms. Lyons felt 20 Keari Lane was fairly assessed at 559,900.
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14 OCTOBER 2021
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Testimony was then closed.
An inspection team of Mr. Nowak, Sen. Sirotkin and Mr. Mahoney were assigned to inspect the
property at 10 a.m. on 17 October 2021.
The appeal was continued until 21 October, 6 p.m.
c. Dion Murnaghan 133 Golf Course Road
Mr. Murnaghan was not present.
Ms. Lyons said the property is valued at $919,400. It has a very good/excellent rating and has
an unfinished basement.
Ms. Lyons presented comparables from #133 Golf Course Road (the appellant’s property) which
was sold in June 2020 for a time adjusted sale price of $826,977, #363 Golf Course Road with a
time adjusted sale at $927,651, and #63 Golf Course Road with a time-adjusted sale of
$862,932. Based on these sales, Ms. Lyons felt that Mr. Murnaghan’s property should be
assessed at $827,000.
Testimony was then closed.
An inspection team of Ms. Emery, Mr. Santorello and Sen. Chittenden will view the property at
2 p.m. on 16 October.
The appeal was continued to 21 October, 6 p.m.
d. Joseph & Susan Finnigan 85 Upswept Lane
Mr. Finnigan said their assessment went from $503,400 to $734,900, a 46% increase. The
average residential property increase was 29%. The property is a carriage house with no land.
Mr. Finnigan then presented a list of all the sales in the neighborhood for 10 years. He noted
that based on that analysis, a neighbor’s (#99 Upswept Lane) assessment was reduced to
$590,000 by “someone in the city.” That neighbor had gotten no response to an appeal to
Tyler. Mr. Finnigan said his response from Tyler was that the assessment was “in line with
sales.” Mr. Finnigan said it definitely is not. He added that #99 is similar to their house and has
one more bedroom.
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14 OCTOBER 2021
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Ms. Lyons said the property has a very good rating with a partly (586 sq. ft.) finished basement.
She presented three comparables, all on Upswept Lane: #59 sold for a time adjusted price of
$528,200; #74 sold for a time adjusted price of $547,034; and #96 sold for a time adjusted price
of $565,128.
Based on those sales, Ms. Lyons felt the appellants’ property should be fairly assessed at
$620,550.
Mr. Barritt asked if the square footage is accurate. Ms. Lyons said this is what was on the old
card before the reappraisal.
Testimony was then closed.
An inspection team of Ms. Emery, Sen. Chittenden and Mr. Santorello was assigned and will
inspect the property on 16 October at 2:30 p.m.
The appeal was then continued to 21 October, 6 p.m.
e. Katarina Khosravi 192 South Pointe Drive
Mr. Shedd, who appeared with Ms. Khosravi to assist with the appeal, testified that the home
was built in 2006, and there have been no additions or improvements. He noted that the
assessments in the rest of the neighborhood went up about 23%, Ms. Khosravi’s went up
58.4%, the highest of all the units. He then presented an analysis of all the condos sold. The
highest was for $585,060, and is a newer unit built in 2015. Mr. Shedd noted that some of
assessments were reduced after appeal and had the same square footage as Ms. Khosravi’s
unit.
Mr. Shedd said they feel the property should be assessed at $590,000 to $599,900.
Mr. St. Germain asked if there is a reason for such a high increase for this property. Ms. Lyons
did not know.
Ms. Lyons then said the appellant’s property has a very good quality rating and a partly finished
basement. She then presented three comparables, all from South Pointe Drive: #180 sold for a
time adjusted price of $532,000; #177 sold for a time adjusted price of $591,644; and #165 sold
for a time adjusted price of $583,924.
Based on those sales, Ms. Lyons felt the appellant’s property should be fairly assessed at
$620,400.
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14 OCTOBER 2021
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Mr. Barritt asked why this property would be over $600,000 when the comparables were under
that. Ms. Lyons explained her method of computation. Mr. Shedd said the highest sale last
year was $585,000. and was a newer unit than theirs. He felt $590,000 would be fair.
Testimony was then closed.
An inspection team of Ms. Emery, Sen. Chittenden and Mr. Santorello was assigned to inspect
the property at 3 p.m. on 16 October.
The appeal was continued until 21 October, 6 p.m.
7. Hear inspection reports from 16 and 17 September:
a. Technology Park Partners 5508C Community Drive
Ms. Emery reported there is nothing on the land. The majority is wetland, and what could be
built on is encumbered by power lines.
b. Pizzagalli Properties 118 Tilley Drive
Ms. Emery said there were no discrepancies with the card. The building is mainly medical
offices, some non-medical offices. It is in excellent condition.
Ms. Emery then moved that the Board meet in deliberative session. Mr. Barritt seconded. The
motion passed with all present voting in favor.
Following the deliberative session, Mr. Mahoney moved to continue agenda items “a” through
“e” until 21 October at 6 p.m. Mr. Barritt seconded. The motion passed with all present voting
in favor.
8. Other Business:
Ms. Kinville noted the state has found a benefit to ballot drop-off boxes which would have to
meet specific regulations including it must be on municipal owned property, constant
surveillance and being rooted firmly to the ground. Ms. Kinville said that with the regulations
the only place in city where we could place the ballot boxes would be city hall, police station,
highway building or the schools. The board agreed to think about this at a later meeting.
Ms. Kinville also noted that there will be a Webinar for JP’s on have to do marriages for hearing
impaired people. It is free with a sign-up.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Emery moved to adjourn.
Mr. Barritt seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.
__________________________
Clerk