HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Board of Abatement - 05/30/2019 BOARD OF ABATEMENT 30 MAY 2019
The South Burlington Board of Abatement held a mee ng on Thursday, 30 May 2019, at 6:32 p.m., in theConference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street.
MEMBERS PRESENT: C. Shaw, Chair; P. Taylor, Vice Chair; D. Kinville, T. Chi enden, L. Vera, M. Mahoney, B.
Davis, M. Emery, H. Riehle, T. Barri , Sen. M. Sirotkin ALSO PRESENT: M. Lyons, K. Donahue
Ms. Kinville presided over the mee ng un l the chair was nominated. 1. Instruc ons on exi ng the building in case of emergency:
Ms. Kinville provided instruc ons for exi ng the building in an emergency. 2. Agenda Review: Addi ons, dele ons or changes in order of agenda items:
No changes were made to the agenda. 3. Comments & Ques ons from the public not related to the agenda:
No issues were raised. 4. Elec on of Officers:
Ms. Kinville opened the floor for nomina ons for Chair. Mr. Taylor nominated Mr. Shaw. Ms. Emery seconded. There were no further nomina ons, and Mr. Shaw waselected unanimously.
C. Shaw began as chair of the board and con nued with the mee ng. Mr. Barri then nominated Mr. Taylor for Vice Chair. Ms. Riehle seconded. There were no further nomina ons,
and Mr. Taylor was elected unanimously. 5. Approve minutes from 6 December 2018:
Ms. Vera moved to approve the minutes of 6 December 2018. Mr. Barri seconded. Mo on passedunanimously. BOARD OF ABATEMENT
30 MAY 2019PAGE 2 6. Hear Abatement Requests:
a. Jessica Kastner …………………………. 31 Greening Avenueb. Maria Donahue ………………………… 277 Juniper Drive
a. Jessica Kastner: Ms. Kinville noted receipt of a le er from Ms. Kastner. She has made progress payingoff the debt and has now withdrawn her abatement request. Ms. Kinville noted she told Ms. Kastnerthat she could reapply, if needed.
b. Maria Donahue: Mr. Donahue was presen ng for his daughter who was out of town and Mr. Donahue ison the deed for the property. He explained that the property tax bill for his daughter’s property wassent to the prior owner as were the subsequent late no ces. He noted that Vermont law allows a city or
town to avoid immediately upda ng property transfer records if that property transfers between 1 April
and 30 June. Mr. Donahue said when he called the prior owner, he was told that the owners had calledthe city and then threw the no ces away. His daughter, who is a first- me property owner, thenappealed to the City Manager who would not waive penal es and interest (the only causes for waivers
being hospitaliza on or death).
Ms. Lyons said the total penalty is $681.54. By law the city can’t change the grand list un l fall. She addedthat if she gets a tax bill returned, she will inves gate and send it to the new owner. Sen. Sirotkin asked if
the assessor’s office gets property transfer tax informa on. Ms. Lyons said they do not. Sen. Sirotkin said it
should have been Ms. Donahue’s a orney’s responsibility to tell her to get the tax bill. Ms. Riehle asked if Mr. Donahue is a co-signer for the property. He said both he and his wife are co-signers.
Mr. Taylor said he would like to know how many people fall into this situa on. Ms. Lyons said very few. Mr.Taylor then said it “leaves a bad taste in his mouth,” and he was disappointed that nothing had been doneto avoid this situa on. He added he always felt the tax bill should go to the new owner, especially a er they
miss the first payment.
Mr. Donahue said his daughter was willing to pay the first late fee, but he was angry they couldn’t a no ce
to a new owner by 15 August.
BOARD OF ABATEMENT
30 MAY 2019
PAGE 3
Mr. Chi enden asked if there had been an escrow for taxes at the closing. Mr. Donahue said there had not. Mr.
Chi enden then suggested the City send out a “welcome” le er to new owners with tax informa on. Ms.Kinville said that the city, through the welcome center was designing a welcome le er to South Burlingtonwhich would include the tax installment dates.
Ms. Riehle moved that the Board meet in delibera ve session. Ms. Emery seconded. Mo on passedunanimously.
7. Other Business: Ms. Kinville noted that there were a few JPs who s ll have to sign their JP oath and 2 of them did sign.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Riehle moved to adjourn. Mr. Mahoneyseconded. Mo on passed unanimously. The mee ng was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
___________________________ Clerk