HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 07/25/2024
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BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY
25 JULY 2024
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a meeting on 25 July 2024,
at 2 p.m., in the Auditorium, City Hall, 180 Market St., and by remote
participation.
Members Present: C. Shaw, Chair; T. Barritt, C. Wagner, D. Kinville, H. Rees, L.
Smith, E. Fitzgerald, A. Chalnick, M. Sunderland, S. Katz
Also Present:
1. Instructions on leaving the building in the event of an emergency:
Ms. Rees provided instructions in case of an emergency.
2. Welcome Newly Appointed JP’s:
Mr. Shaw welcomed new JP’s Donna Kinville and Margaret Sunderland.
3. Comments & Questions from the Public not related to Agenda Items:
Mr. Doyle said he had spoken with the Secretary of State regarding appointments.
He felt the City has not been following the regulations which require
appointments to be made in public with a reason given for the appointment. The
Council has been making appointments in executive session and confirming them
in the Consent Agenda. The first line of amelioration rests with the BCA.
4. Review Open Meeting Laws/Hybrid Meetings and Recording Mandates:
Ms. Rees reviewed elements of Act 133 (S.55), the updated Open Meeting
regulations. The BCA will need to record meetings and provide hybrid attendance
options. She indicated that she is working with the City’s Communications
Manager to record meetings. Recordings will be kept for 30 days after the last
approval of the Minutes of a meeting. Executive sessions will not be recorded.
BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY [DATE] | PAGE 2
New training will be required regarding open meeting laws; this must be started
by December. This applies to all regulatory bodies.
Ms. Kinville asked how this will affect the presentation of personal and sensitive
income/financial records of appellants, especially at the Board of Abatement. Ms.
Rees said she will discuss this with the City Attorney. Mr. Shaw said he would be
interested to hear what the Secretary of State’s Office has to say about this as
well.
5. Review of Tax Appeal Hearing Process:
Ms. Rees noted that 3 BCA members are needed for an assessment appeal, and 11
members are needed to a tax abatement appeal.
Mr. Shaw reviewed the process for an assessment appeal and noted that it
includes a mandatory visit to the property by a team of BCA members. The BCA
can decide to uphold the assessment, reduce it, or even increase it. The BCA
decision is appealable to the State Appraiser or to the Environmental Court.
Mr. Katz asked about the tax sale process. Ms. Rees said the BCA is not part of
that process.
Ms. Rees said she will email all of this information to members in the next day or
so.
6. Set Dates for Upcoming Appeals:
Ms. Rees said that both assessment and abatement appeals are scheduled for 12
September at 2:00 p.m. Each should last about half an hour. She reminded
members that 11 members will be needed for the abatement hearing. Mr. Barritt
noted he will be recused from that hearing.
7. Confirm Date for Pre-Election/Logic & Accuracy Testing:
Ms. Rees said the pre-election testing of tabulators is scheduled for 5 August at 5
p.m. She hoped there would be at least10 to 12 members present for the testing.
8. Confirm Date for Pre-Processing:
Ms. Rees said pre-processing of early ballots is scheduled for 9 August, from 9-11
a.m. About 700 ballots have received as of today.
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9. Review Initial Election Schedule for 13 August:
Ms. Rees said she will have a tentative schedule sent out to members. She asked
anyone who can’t work to let her know soon.
10. Other Business
No other business was presented.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Smith
moved to adjourn. Mr. Chalnick seconded. The motion passed with all present
voting in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 2:49 p.m.