HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 09/11/2021 - Afternoon sessionBOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY PM SESSION 11 SEPTEMBER 2021
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a meeting on Saturday, 11 September
2021, at 1:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 180 Market Street.
Members Present: C. Shaw, Chair; C. Trombly, D. Kinville, T. Barritt, C. Wagman, B. Nowak, M.
St. Germain, B. Grossman, A. Grossman
Also Present: M. Lyons, Assessor
Prior to addressing the formal agenda, Mr. Shaw asked for a moment of silence in memory of
those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks 20 years ago.
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. Any Change in the order of the Agenda:
No changes were made to the Agenda.
4. BCA Oath:
Ms. Kinville administered the Oath to members of the Board.
5. Hear appeals and set inspection date:
a. Lynn Miller 107 South Beach Drive
Mr. Miller said they are assessed at $691,700. Or $385 a square foot. He noted that 3 Landings
properties have been sold. The average for the 3 interior units was $643,000 or $357 a sq. ft.
Mr. Miller also noted that since 2006, the increase in Landings properties has been 40% while
Bartlett Bay Rd. properties increased 14%, Brigham Rd. 21%, Queen City 11%, and Stanhope
Road 37%. Tyler valued all the landings properties at a total of $32,000,000. A recent
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professional appraisal of 2 Landings lakeside units suggested an 8.3% reduction in the Grand
List value. The appraisal said that unit 401 was overvalued by about $74,000 or 8.3%.
Mr. Miller said they are asking for at least a 10% reduction. He felt $600,000 would be
appropriate.
Ms. Wagner asked if all the units are the same. Mr. Miller said all the interior units are the
same; end units usually sell for more. This has not been reflected by Tyler. Some end units are
valued at less than theirs.
Ms. Lyons presented time adjusted sales figures for 201 South Beach Road ($728,994), 103
South Beach Road ($719,550), and 102 South Beach Road ($705,600). She felt the Miller
property was fairly assessed.
Ms. Miller said #201 is an upgraded unit, very high end.
An inspection team of Mr. Nowak (leader), Mr. St. Germain and Ms. Wagner was assigned to
view the property on 12 September, 1 p.m.
The appeal was continued to 16 September, 6 p.m.
b. Drew Gefenbein & S. Mekler 401 South Beach Drive
Ms. Kinville advised that this appeal has been withdrawn.
c. Sarah Cummings 407 South Beach Drive
Ms. Kinville noted that the appellant could not be present due to a family conflict. Ms. Kinville
suggested a continuance to 16 September, 1 p.m.
d. Charles Cramer & P. Galinski 604 South Beach Drive
Mr. Cramer said building 6 is unique. It is not on the water. It is adjacent to the railroad tracks.
All the units were the same, but over time others have had upgrades which contribute to their
value. This property is now assessed at $539,000. In December, 2020, #608 sold for $405,000.
On 1 April 2021, #607, which had a substantial renovation, sold for $442,000.
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Mr. Cramer felt their property should be appraised at approximately $400,000. He then
showed pictures of units 607 and 608. He noted that State law says sales should be normalized.
If this were done, #608 would be $397,000 and #607 would be $414,000. Mr. Cramer also
noted that the unit has been a rental unit with no upgrades and is pretty much in its original
condition.
Ms. Lyons agreed that #604 South Beach Drive was “out of whack.” She felt $442,000 would be
a fair appraisal.
An inspection team of Mr. Nowak, Mr. St. Germain and Ms. Wagner was assigned to inspect the
property on 12 September, 1:30 p.m.
The appeal was continued to 16 September, 6 p.m.
e. Lynn Romagnoli & P. Cassidy 605 South Beach Dr.
Ms. Romagnoli said that historically the difference between lakefront property and theirs was
several hundred thousand dollars. The fair market value has ranged from $405,000 to $442,000
(fully renovated). She also noted that on appeal, #603 was lowered from $540,000 to
$442,000; #607 was lowered from $539,000 to $442,000; #608 was lowered from $540,000 to
$405,000. She felt that $405,000 would be a fair value for #605.
Ms. Lyons said that $540,000 was not accurate and suggested $442,000 as a fair appraisal.
An inspection team of Mr. Nowak, Ms. Wagner, and Mr. St. Germain was assigned to view the
property on 12 September, 2 p.m.
The appeal was then continued to 16 September, 6 p.m.
f. Jason Eltman 805 Nowland Farm Road
Dr. Eltman said they bought the property for $710,000. It was in bad shape. Two months later,
an $889,000 assessment was reduced to $848,000. Since then, they have brought the property
up to par, but there is still a lot of work to do.
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The original appraisal was $1,240,000 which was reduced by Tyler to $1,190,400. Dr. Eltman
said they do not live in a million dollar house. They have an appraisal from the bank of
$1,026,000 which includes $140,000 from his student loan which was added in.
Dr. Eltman said the home was built in 1999-2000. He felt an appropriate appraisal would fall
between $886,000 and $1,026,000.
Ms. Lyons presented time adjusted sales for 427 Golf Course Road ($1,723,600), 475 Golf
Course Road ($1,412,744) and 695 Nowland Farm Road ($966,240). She said she believes the
current assessment is fair. If you time adjust the 2019 appraisal, it comes close to that figure.
An inspection team of Mr. Barritt, Mr. Grossman and Ms. Grossman assigned to view the
property on 13 September at 5 p.m.
The appeal was continued to 16 September, 6 p.m.
g. Bob Higgins 15 Sebring Road
Ms. Kinville advised that this appeal was withdrawn.
h. James Rock 100 South Street
Mr. Rock was not present.
Mr. Grossman then moved to continue the appeals of Sarah Cummings and James Rock to 16
September at 6 p.m. Mrs. Grossman seconded. The motion passed with all present voting in
favor.
Mrs. Grossman then moved to continue the appeals of Lynn Miller, Charles Cramer & P.
Galinski, Lynn Romagnoli & P. Cassidy, and Dr. J. Eltman to 16 September, 6 p.m. Mr. Grossman
seconded. Motion passed with all present voting in favor.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 3:11
p.m.
___________________________
Clerk