HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 08/21/2021 - Afternoon sessionBOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY - P.M. SESSION 21 AUGUST 2021
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a meeting on Saturday, 21 August 2021, at
1:00 p.m., in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street and by remote technology.
Members Present: C. Shaw, Chair; C. Trombly, D. Kinville, H. Riehle, M. Mahoney, C. Wagner, B.
Nowak
Also Present: M. Lyons, Assessor; G. & C. Couture, T. & L. Piper (remotely), S. Katz, C. Berger, J.
Kellner
1. Emergency Evacuation Plans:
Ms. Kinville reviewed the procedure for evacuation in case of an emergency.
Mr. Shaw reviewed guidance for the wearing of masks which is encouraged but not mandated.
2. Comments from the public not related to the agenda:
No comments were made.
3. BCA Oath:
Ms. Kinville administered the Oath to members of the Board.
4. Hear appeals and set inspection date:
a. Sam Hoar, Jr., & Eve Pratt Hoar 5 Keari Lane
Ms. Kinville noted that the appellant had asked to reschedule. She recommended continuing to
7 October at 6 p.m.
b. Gerald & Cheryl Couture 4 Cabot Court
Mr. Couture said they were a substantial jump in their appraisal. They looked at new values to
some houses nearby and there is a disparity of $60,000-$80,000. They then looked at 5 similar
properties for size, quality, and they are at 85% of Zillow values (they used Zillow because that
is what the bank uses for refinancing). Ms. Couture said that using Zillow, they should be at
$499,000 instead of $561,600.
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Ms. Lyons said she used 3 comparables for sales, all of average/good quality. 35 and 43 Bower
were at $543,263 and $525,912 (adjusted for time), and 12 Cabot Court was at a time adjusted
sales price of $526,000. She felt the Couture property was fairly appraised.
Mr. Couture said he felt the square footage for 18 Cabot Court is wrong as they are the same as
his home. He noted that his house also backs up to other houses. He added that 43 Bower
which Ms. Lyons used has a finished basement, and their house does not. It also has a bigger
lot and many improvements.
Testimony was then closed. The appeal was continued to 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Ms. Kinville (team leader) and Messrs. Nowak and Maurice Mahoney was
assigned. They will view the property on 22 August, 10 a.m.
c. Tom & Lori Piper 7 Pavilion Avenue
Mr. Piper noted their lot is .06 acre, very small, and the house is 1850 sq. ft. It was built in 2000
and has had no remodels. The original roof needs replacing. There are no views.
The property is assessed at $583,000 which represents a 51% increase. The city average is 22%,
and their neighborhood average is 34%. He questioned what is different about their property
to make it a higher value. He felt it should be the opposite.
Mr. Piper then cited 9 Pavilion which is a bigger lot and has had a complete remodel. It is
assessed at $427,000. 9 Pheasant Way, which was just remodeled, is assessed at $349,000.
Mr. Piper said they are “the standout.” Even waterfront homes are assessed at only a few
thousand dollars more than they are. 114 Central Avenue, which is bigger and on the water is
assessed at only 7% more than their house. 6 Lyons, which is the same as their house, is
assessed at $322,000.
Mr. Piper said he felt their property should be assessed at $420,000.
Ms. Lyons said that when the square footage was corrected, the assessment was reduced to
$548,000. It was purchased in 2005 for $495,000.
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Ms. Lyons cited sales at 5 Pavilion in 2019 for $415,000 which would be time adjusted to
$544,882. A recent sale of 52 Central would be adjusted to $531,879. She believed 7 Pavilion
was fairly assessed.
Mr. Piper said if they are correctly assessed, then the whole rest of the street is wrong. He said
they do not want to be treated differently. For equity with other properties, he felt they should
be assessed at $420,000, and they shouldn’t be anywhere near a house on the water.
Testimony was then closed. The appeal was continued to 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Ms. Kinville (team leader) and Messrs. Nowak and Maurice Mahoney was
assigned. They will inspect the property on 22 August, 11 a.m.
d. Thomas & Maureen Rees 20 Keari Lane
The appellants were not present. The appeal was continued to 14 October, 6 p.m.
e. Janet Paulus & Jennifer Doody 270 Baycrest Drive
The appellants were not present. The appeal was continued to 14 October, 6 p.m.
f. Sheldon Katz & Claudia Berger 29 Imperial Drive
Mr. Katz noted he had asked for the algorithms but was denied and told he couldn’t have that
information. He then looked at 2019 sales between $400,000 and $600,000. The average price
over the assessed value was 15.9%. If that figure is applied to their home, the value should be
$486,000. They are assessed at $540,000.
Mr. Katz said they then compared their home to others on Imperial Drive. #34 is at $442,000.
They are also 30% higher than #403 and 17% higher than #17.
They also looked at Zillow. Their house is the only one on the street above the Zillow rate. The
average on their street is 11% lower than Zillow.
Mr. Katz felt they should be in the $430,000-470,000 range.
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Ms. Lyons said that based on sales she does not support the value of $540,000. Her suggestion
is $490,500, a 17% increase over the pre-appraisal value.
Testimony was then closed. The appeal was continued to 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Mr. Trombly (team leader), Ms. Riehle and Ms. Wagner was assigned.
They will view the property on 22 August, 11 a.m.
g. Jeanne Kellner 5 Adams Court
Ms. Kellner said she bought the property in 1997 for $309,000. She then spent $50,000 to
finish a bedroom. Her property is now appraised at $741,000. She felt $625,000 would be fair.
Ms. Kellner noted the comparables have more acreage and more updates. Her property also
has a below grade garage which the realtor said lowers the property value. She tried to sell the
property a year ago for $595,000 and could not get an offer.
Ms. Lyons cited time adjusted sales for 231 Baycrest ($716,380), 2 Vale Drive ($707,810), and
60 Foulsham Hollow Rd. (738,552). She felt the Kellner property was fairly assessed.
Ms. Kellner said there is no way her property will sell for $750,000.
Testimony was then closed. The appeal was continued to 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Mr. Trombly (team leader), Ms. Riehle and Ms. Wagner was assigned.
They will view the property on 22 August, at Noon.
h. Lynn Vera 11 Pavilion Avenue
Ms. Kinville advised that the appellant asked to be rescheduled.
Ms. Riehle moved to continue the appeal to 14 October, 6 p.m. Mr. Trombly seconded. Motion
passed with all present voting in favor.
Ms. Riehle moved to continue the appeal of Janet Paulus and Jennifer Doody to 14 October, 6
p.m. Mr. Mahoney seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
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Mr. Trombly moved to continue the appeal of Sam Hoar, Jr., and Eve Pratt Hoar to 7 October, 6
p.m. Ms. Riehle seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
5. Other Business:
No other business was presented.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Shaw moved to adjourn. Ms.
Riehle seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor. The meeting was adjourned
at 2:50 p.m.
_____________________________
Clerk