HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 08/21/2021 - Morning sessionBOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY A.M. SESSION 21 AUGUST 2021
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a meeting on Saturday, 21 August 2021, at
9:00 a.m., in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market Street.
Members Present: C. Shaw, Chair; C. Trombly, D. Kinville, M. St. Germain, M. Mahoney, B.
Nowak, H. Riehle, M. Cota, Sen. M. Sirotkin
Also Present: M. Lyons, Assessor; J. & H. Ebbers, T. Azur, P. & L. Mickel, J. McLane, R. Goddard
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. Approve Minutes from 19 August 2021:
Ms. Riehle moved to approve the Minutes of 19 August 2021 as written. Mr. Trombly
seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
5. Hear appeals and set inspection date:
a. Jonathon & Heather Ebbers 8 Butler Drive
Ms. Ebbers said the house is a 4-bedroom cape now assessed at $511,000. They spoke to Tyler
and asked why it was so high in comparison to those around us. He didn’t know. He said it
might be quality. Ms. Ebbers said she thought Tyler might have wrong information.
For comparables, the Ebbers used 5 Butler Drive and 13 Butler Drive. The former is a bigger
house with a nicer kitchen and a finished basement. It is assessed at $431,000. #13 is a “dream
home” which Ms. Ebbers said is in superior condition to theirs. It is assessed at $479,000.
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Ms. Ebbers said they feel their assessment should be in line with those others and suggested
$409,000 to $431,000.
The Ebbers also showed sale data as follows: 14 Butler Drive sold in October, 202 for $409,000.
22 Butler Drive sold in April of 2020 for $479,000. 15 Adirondack sold in January 2020 for
$372,000.
Ms. Lyons said the home is of average/good quality. Homes of similar quality at 31 Butler Drive
and 22 Butler Drive sold in February of 2021 (#31) for $486,000, time adjusted to $511,166, and
in April of 2020 for $485,000 (#22) time adjusted to $505,000.
Ms. Lyons said she believes $511,500 is correct.
Sen. Sirotkin asked whether the properties Ms. Lyons mentioned were assessed at their sales
price. Ms. Lyons said she did not look at that.
Mr. Shaw noted a change in square footage for the Ebbers house from 2130 to 2170. Ms. Lyons
said she would have to check on that.
Mr. Cota asked if any appraiser went into the home. Ms. Ebbers said no one did.
Mr. Shaw noted that #13, which is a nicer home sold for $409,000 and asked why it wasn’t on
Ms. Lyons list.
Ms. Ebbers said their sales numbers are more recent than Ms. Lyons. Even with adjusting for
time, they are still lower than the Ebbers property.
Testimony was closed, and the hearing was continued until 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Ms. Riehle (team leader), Mr. Cota and Sen. Sirotkin was appointed.
They will inspect the property at 9 a.m. on 22 August.
b. Peter & Linda Mickel 21 Bower St.
Mr. Mickel said all of the homes in their area were built by the same builder and are of the
same design. All have 2-car garages with a window above the garage. He thought the assessor
might have seen that as usable space, but it is not, and there is no access to it.
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The home is now assessed at $503,600. This represents a 29% increase. Homes at 19 and 23
Bower received a 23.7% and 25.3% increase respectively. 21 Cabot, which is identical to theirs
was appraised at $57,000 less than theirs.
Mr. Mickel said he felt an appropriate assessment would be $440,000.
Ms. Lyons said she would check to see about the window over the garage. She cited sales at 57,
35 and 19 Bower as comparables, and felt the Mickel property was fairly appraised. She will
check to see if value was put to the space above the garage.
Mr. Mickel noted that #19 sold in December for $485,000. He said theirs is the smallest house,
so the appraisal doesn’t make sense. He also noted that when he spoke to Tyler, Tyler
admitted he’d never been in Vermont.
Sen. Sirotkin asked Ms. Lyons what makes her choose certain comps. Ms. Lyons said size and
sales.
Testimony was then concluded. The appeal was continued to 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Ms. Riehle (team leader), Mr. Cota and Sen. Sirotkin will inspect the
property on 22 August, 9:30 a.m.
c. James & Ilean Smith 30 Butler Drive
The applicant was not present. Members agreed to continue the appeal to 7 October, 6 p.m.
d. Tricia Azur 51 Bower Street
Ms. Azur said her new appraisal is $515,000. #53 Bower Street, which has more square
footage, a bigger lot, and a big front porch is appraised at $490,000. It just sold a few weeks
ago. She thought the appraisals for those 2 properties might have gotten mixed up.
Ms. Azur noted that the original owner was part of a class action suit to replace windows due to
a mold condition. Since she was not an original owner, she will have to bear that cost herself.
She said her front porch also needs repair, and there is water damage on ceilings.
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All of the other properties in the area are assessed at under $500,000. She thought that
$497,000 would be a fair value for her property.
Sen. Sirotkin asked about the cost for the windows. Ms. Azur said about $500 a window, about
a total of $15,000-$20,000. She can’t afford to do it now.
Ms. Lyons said the property is in average/good condition. She noted that #51 and #45 Bower
are assessed higher than Ms. Azur’s as is 12 Cabot. She felt 51 Bower is fairly assessed.
Testimony was closed. The appeal was continued until 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Ms. Riehle (team leader), Mr. Cota and Sen. Sirotkin was appointed.
They will view the property on 22 August, 10 a.m.
e. Elizabeth Copeland & J. Bond 198 Rye Circle
The appellants were not present. The appeal was continued until 7 October, 6 p.m.
f. James McLane 577 Golf Course Road
Mr. McLane said his property is assessed at $599,200.
Mr. McLane cited sales at #563 which sold for $450,000, time adjusted to $595,000; #560 which
sold for $440,000, time adjusted to $93,000; #579 which sold for $450,000, time adjusted to
$520,000, and #596, a 3-level condo with deck and screened porch which sold for $569,000
about a year ago.
Mr. McLane said his property is on a slab and has a broken water line. #596 has a finished
basement.
Mr. McLane felt his assessment should be $540,000.
Ms. Lyons said the property has an excellent rating. She said #539 is identical and sold in
January, 2018 for $549,000, time adjusted to $632,448.
Ms. Lyons felt the McLane assessment was fair.
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The testimony was closed. The appeal was continued to 26 August, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Mr. Trombly (team leader), Mr. Nowak and Mr. Maurice Mahoney was
appointed. They will inspect the property on 22 August at 9:00 a.m.
g. Linda Beasimer 1 Oak Crest Drive
Ms. Beasimer was not present. The appeal was continued to 7 October 2021, 6 p.m.
h. Dion Murnaghan 133 Golf Course Road
Mr. Murnaghan was not present. The appeal was continued to 14 October at 6 p.m.
i. Rose Godard 639 Golf Course Road
Ms. Godard said her appraisal is at $539,100. She believes $518,000 would be a fair value.
She compared her home to 29 others, all built at about the same time and are in about the
same condition, though some have different amenities. Hers has no amenities and no
basement. She felt her value should be the same or less than the lowest other assessment.
She cited 496 and 497 Golf Course Road and #601 which is assessed at $518,000. #596, which
has a finished basement and deck and enclosed porch is assessed at only $560,000. She felt
that made no sense.
Ms. Lyons said she shows more square footage than Ms. Godard indicates, and the assessment
is based on that higher amount. She suggested a brief recess while she got the correct square
footage and recalculated the appraisal.
Following the recess, Ms. Lyons came back with a new value of $519,900. Ms. Godard then
withdrew her appeal.
Mr. Mahoney then moved to continue the hearings for Smith, Copeland, and Beasmire until 7
October, 6 p.m. Mr. Trombly seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
Mr. Mahoney then moved to continue the hearing for D. Murnaghan to 14 October at 6 p.m.
Mr. Trombly seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
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6. Other Business:
No other business was presented.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Mahoney moved to adjourn.
Mr. Nowak seconded. All present voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 12:07 p.m.
_____________________________
Clerk