HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Abatement - 05/30/2019
BOARD OF ABATEMENT 30 MAY 2019
The South Burlington Board of Abatement held a meeting on Thursday, 30 May 2019, at 6:32 p.m.,
in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street.
MEMBERS PRESENT: C. Shaw, Chair; P. Taylor, Vice Chair; D. Kinville, T. Chittenden, L. Vera, M.
Mahoney, B. Davis, M. Emery, H. Riehle, T. Barritt, Sen. M. Sirotkin
ALSO PRESENT: M. Lyons, K. Donahue
Ms. Kinville presided over the meeting until the chair was nominated.
1. Instructions on exiting the building in case of emergency:
Ms. Kinville provided instructions for exiting the building in an emergency.
2. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items:
No changes were made to the agenda.
3. Comments & Questions from the public not related to the agenda:
No issues were raised.
4. Election of Officers:
Ms. Kinville opened the floor for nominations for Chair.
Mr. Taylor nominated Mr. Shaw. Ms. Emery seconded. There were no further nominations, and Mr.
Shaw was elected unanimously.
C. Shaw began as chair of the board and continued with the meeting.
Mr. Barritt then nominated Mr. Taylor for Vice Chair. Ms. Riehle seconded. There were no further
nominations, and Mr. Taylor was elected unanimously.
5. Approve minutes from 6 December 2018:
Ms. Vera moved to approve the minutes of 6 December 2018. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed
unanimously.
BOARD OF ABATEMENT
30 MAY 2019
PAGE 2
6. Hear Abatement Requests:
a. Jessica Kastner …………………………. 31 Greening Avenue
b. Maria Donahue ………………………… 277 Juniper Drive
a. Jessica Kastner: Ms. Kinville noted receipt of a letter from Ms. Kastner. She has made
progress paying off the debt and has now withdrawn her abatement request. Ms. Kinville
noted she told Ms. Kastner that she could reapply, if needed.
b. Maria Donahue: Mr. Donahue was presenting for his daughter who was out of town and Mr.
Donahue is on the deed for the property. He explained that the property tax bill for his
daughter’s property was sent to the prior owner as were the subsequent late notices. He
noted that Vermont law allows a city or town to avoid immediately updating property transfer
records if that property transfers between 1 April and 30 June. Mr. Donahue said when he
called the prior owner, he was told that the owners had called the city and then threw the
notices away. His daughter, who is a first-time property owner, then appealed to the City
Manager who would not waive penalties and interest (the only causes for waivers being
hospitalization or death).
Ms. Lyons said the total penalty is $681.54. By law the city can’t change the grand list until fall.
She added that if she gets a tax bill returned, she will investigate and send it to the new owner.
Sen. Sirotkin asked if the assessor’s office gets property transfer tax information. Ms. Lyons said
they do not. Sen. Sirotkin said it should have been Ms. Donahue’s attorney’s responsibility to tell
her to get the tax bill.
Ms. Riehle asked if Mr. Donahue is a co-signer for the property. He said both he and his wife are
co-signers.
Mr. Taylor said he would like to know how many people fall into this situation. Ms. Lyons said
very few. Mr. Taylor then said it “leaves a bad taste in his mouth,” and he was disappointed that
nothing had been done to avoid this situation. He added he always felt the tax bill should go to
the new owner, especially after they miss the first payment.
Mr. Donahue said his daughter was willing to pay the first late fee, but he was angry they couldn’t
a notice to a new owner by 15 August.
BOARD OF ABATEMENT
30 MAY 2019
PAGE 3
Mr. Chittenden asked if there had been an escrow for taxes at the closing. Mr. Donahue said there
had not. Mr. Chittenden then suggested the City send out a “welcome” letter to new owners with tax
information. Ms. Kinville said that the city, through the welcome center was designing a welcome
letter to South Burlington which would include the tax installment dates.
Ms. Riehle moved that the Board meet in deliberative session. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed
unanimously.
7. Other Business:
Ms. Kinville noted that there were a few JPs who still have to sign their JP oath and 2 of them did sign.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Riehle moved to adjourn. Mr.
Mahoney seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
___________________________
Clerk