HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 08/28/2021 - Morning sessionBOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY - AM SESSION 28 AUGUST 2021
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a meeting on Saturday, 28 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. Emery, H. Riehle, Sen. M. Sirotkin,
Sen. T. Chittenden, C. Santorello, C. Callea
Also Present: M. Lyons, Assessor; S. Fortner, C. & K. Freeman, D. Hanson, T. & C. Basiliere, C. &
J. Tadeschi
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.
Mr. Shaw reviewed inspection team requirement of wearing masks for inspection team
members and a reminder that all members of the inspection team must inspect the inside and
outside of a property or the appeal is considered withdrawn.
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 26 August 2021:
Ms. Riehle moved to approve the Minutes of 26 August 2021 as written. Ms. Callea seconded.
Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
5. Hear appeals and set inspection date:
a. Emily Bean 7 Beechwood Drive
Ms. Kinville advised that this appeal has been withdrawn.
b. Stephen Fortner 27 Brookwood Drive
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Mr. Fortner advised that the property is in trust between his mother and aunt. He is
beneficiary of the trust. He said he inherited a house with 25 years of deferred maintenance. It
needs extensive repairs. He noted that Tyler did reduce the assessment by $10,000.
Mr. Fortner outlined some issues with the house including the front porch buckling, a crooked
roof, siding that needs replacement, soffits with dry rot, a crack in the garage floor, uneven
floors inside, 1979 windows (one broken). A realtor told Mr. Fortner that any one looking at
the house “would have a heart attack.” He also was told there is no way he could get $341,000
for the house. He also noted the card indicates a basement, and there is no basement.
Ms. Emery asked what value he would put on the house. He said $300,000 based on repair
estimates and findings on Zillow.
Ms. Lyons presented sales (time-adjusted) of comparable homes on 8 Brookwood ($409,360),
82 Oakwood ($367,738) and 48 Sherry ($394,009). She felt 27 Brookwood was fairly assessed.
Mr. Shaw noted the card says the property is in average condition. Ms. Lyons said that will be
up to the team to decide if it should be lower.
Sen. Sirotkin noted the card indicates $21,000 value for a basement, and the appellant says
there is no basement. Mr. Shaw said the first floor may have been considered a basement. Ms.
Kinville noted that if Ms. Lyons corrects the card to indicate there is no basement Mr. Fortner
would have 2 options. Once to continue the appeal or he would have until Thursday to
withdraw his appeal if he agrees with Ms. Lyon’s new assessed value.
The appeal was continued to 2 September, 6 p.m.
An inspection team of Ms. Emery (team leader), Mr. Santorello, and Ms. Callea was appointed.
They will view the property on 29 August, 9 a.m.
c. Joseph & Barbara Greenwald 70 East Terrace
The appellants could not be present. Members agreed to reschedule the appeal to 4
November, 6 p.m.
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d. Cyndi & Ken Freeman 68 East Terrace
Ms. Freeman noted the home across the street (#67) has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and is
2,056 square feet. It also has had improvements. Their new appraisal is $433,000. Ms.
Freeman also noted that #28 is dilapidated, unlived in, and it got a $70,000 increase.
She was concerned that taxpayers paid $400,000 for the appraisal and nobody even drove by.
Ms. Freeman felt their appraisal of $441,600 should be $20,000 lower.
Ms. Lyons presented time-adjusted comparables at 69 East Terrace ($503,811), 40 East Terrace
($448,572), and 67 East Terrace ($438,657). Based on those comparables, she felt 68 East
Terrace was fairly assessed.
Ms. Lyons noted there were no in-person assessments from March 2020 because of COVID.
Tyler’s contract price was reduced, and the fund to pay for this come from the State of
Vermont. No additional property tax money paid for the reappraisal.
Sen. Sirotkin asked the average assessment increase. Ms. Lyons said it was 29.1%. She noted
that #68 was increased by 28%.
An inspection team of Ms. Emery (team leader), Mr. Santorello and Ms. Callea was appointed.
They will inspect the property on 29 August, 9:30-10 p.m.
The appeal was continued to 2 September, 6 p.m.
e. Dale & Diane Hanson 92 Country Club Drive
Ms. Hanson said the property is located near the Airport. Their appraisal went from $287,700
to $411,700, a 43% increase. The average increase in their development was 31%.
Ms. Hanson noted that they tried to sell their house 10 years ago for $288,000, but there were
no takers because of the Airport noise and the condition of the house.
Ms. Hanson presented comparables to 12 other homes. She noted theirs is the second highest
in value but the others have more square footage. Theirs is the second highest value per
finished square footage and the highest per total living square footage. Ms. Hanson said there
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have been no upgrades to the house. A deck had to be removed, and the breezeway is not
heated. The houses in the area that sold had renovations and/or additions.
Ms. Hanson felt that $370,000 would be an appropriate assessment based on a 28.61%
increase.
Ms. Lyons presented time adjusted comparables from 46 Country Club Drive ($416,532), 21
Mountain View Boulevard ($406,240), and 25 Country Club Drive ($418,570). Based on these
figures, she believed 92 Country Club Drive was fairly assessed.
Sen. Sirotkin said it defies common sense that this neighborhood has gone up- so much because
of its proximity to the Airport.
An inspection team of Ms. Riehle (team leader), Sen. Sirotkin and Sen. Chittenden was
appointed. They will view the property on 2 September, 9 a.m.
The appeal was continued to 2 September, 6 p.m.
f. Dan & Danielle Woods 14 Mountain View Boulevard
Ms. Kinville advised that this appeal has been withdrawn.
g. Carolyn & Tony Basiliere 11 Simpson Court
Mr. Basiliere said they are across the street from St. John Vianney Church. He felt they were an
“outlier” with a 43% increase from $319,800 to $457,200. He noted that 2 Woodland Place had
a 34.4% increase and it has half a bath more and more square footage. 43 Elsom has more
square footage.
Mr. Basiliere felt $420,000 was an appropriate value for their home.
Mr. Basiliere said the house was built in 2009. It has had no upgrades. There is no storm drain,
and the first year the basement was filled with water coming up from the ground as the
builders dug the basement too deep. They have everything up on pallets because they don’t
have the money to fix the issue. The adjacent house and adjacent garage are right on the
property line; others have more distance from neighbors.
Ms.Lyons presented time adjusted comparables at 4 Slocum St. ($478,080), 11 Heath St.
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(453,711) and 11 Beacon St. ($494,086). She felt that based on those figures, the Basiliere
property was fairly assessed.
Mr. Basiliere said they want to stay in their house as long as possible, but the “COVID thing” is
forcing Vermonters out of their homes. He felt he deserved a fairer appraisal.
An inspection team of Ms. Emery (team leader), Mr. Santorello and Ms. Callea was assigned.
They will inspect the property at 10:30 a.m. on 29 August.
The appeal was continued to 2 September, 6 p.m.
h. Jennifer Woodard 2 Chelsey Circle
Ms. Kinville advised that this appeal has been withdrawn.
i. Colin & Jennifer Tedeschi 23 Southview Drive
Mr. Trombly noted he had worked with Mr. Tedeschi at a previous job but felt he can be
impartial.
Ms. Tedeschi said they had an appraisal done on 15 July 2021 by Champlain Valley Appraisal.
The appraiser looked at both the outside and inside of the house. It was rated in average
condition and was appraised at $418,000.
Ms. Tedeschi noted that several houses in the area have been on the market 90 days or more.
She felt the market may be “correcting.”
They paid $356,000 for the property in 2011. The current assessed value of $454,900 (it had
been $350,800). This was a 29.67% increase.
Ms. Tedeschi said she felt the whole process was flawed. She noted that Tyler told people the
first round would be “an automatic denial.”
Ms. Lyons noted the card says the house is average/good quality, and their appraisal said it was
“average.” She felt the inspection team should look at that.
Ms. Lyons then presented time adjusted comparables at 4 Slocum St. ($478,080), 11 Heath
Street ($453,711) and 11 Beacon Street ($494,086). She noted that 11 Heath St. is not in the
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same neighborhood but is similar in style.
Mr. Trombly asked how they should deal with what the Tedeschi’s appraiser said. Ms. Lyons
said it is an opinion. If 5 people did an appraisal, you would get 5 different numbers. It is “a
range.”
Sen. Sirotkin noted that all the comparables in the 15 July appraisal are within the same range.
He asked how Ms. Lyons chose her comps. Ms. Lyons said ‘size and range’ on what she had
available. It is up to the BCA to figure out what is more reasonable.
Ms. Tedeschi said if she can only get $418,000, no one will by it with a $454,000 assessment.
An inspection team of Ms. Riehle (team leader), Sen. Sirotkin and Sen. Chittenden was
appointed. They will view the property on 29 August, 9:30 p.m.
The appeal was continued to 2 September, 6 p.m.
Sen. Sirotkin asked if they could get information prior to the hearings. Ms. Kinville said she has
been told the information must be presented at the hearing, but she will check on that.
6. Other Business:
No other business was presented.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
11:20 a.m.
_____________________________
Clerk