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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-05 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES December 5, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at the Senior Center. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary C. Smedile Chairman; James M. Xenakis; Susan Haltmaier; Donald Stewart; Mark Rees, Town Manager. (William Duffy, not present). Others in attendance: Garrett Boles, Chief Assessor; George Barker and Ernest Jones, Members of the Board of Assessors; Diane Huster, School Committee Member. PUBLIC HEARING: Tax Classification Hearing: Rosemary Smedile announced the only item on the agenda was the Tax Classification Hearing for FY02, notice of which was duly published in the Lawrence Eagle Tribune on November 21, 2001. Chief Assessor Garrett Boles reviewed the impact of various levels of classifications based on estimates of the various property values by classification and various shifts in rate in order for the Board to decide whether or not to shift some of the tax burden from residential taxpayers to business taxpayers. Garrett Boles suggested to the Board that given that tax rates would be falling for both residential and commercial/industrial that this could be an opportunity to eliminate the tax shift entirely. Ernest Jones was of the opinion that the Town should go to a 1.41 shift in order to maintain the ratio of residential levy to commercial industrial levy at 80-20. Mr. Jones stated that no one has shown that the tax rate was a major factor in whether or not a business located in a particular town. Diane Huster of the School Committee also recommended the 1.41 shift stating that residential tax payers on average have seen their tax bills go up, while commercial industrial tax bills have remained static or gone down. Town Manager Mark Rees recommended maintaining the current 1.16 shift due to the larger impact of the Community Preservation Act on businesses compared to residences and the need to create a positive environment for economic development in North Andover. Included in the agenda packet was a letter from Joseph J. Bevilacqua, President of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, urging the Selectmen to reduce the tax classification rate downwards for business and industry. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to keep the tax shift at 1.16; vote did not carry at 2-2. James Xenakis and Donald Stewart in favor, Rosemary Smedile and Susan Haltmaier opposed. Motion failed. Rosemary Smedile suggested a compromise by making the factor 1.18. Donald Stewart stated that while he was opposed to increasing the tax shift, he also recognized that without a compromise the Board would deadlocked and a tax rate could not be set,therefore he would abstain on a vote to increase the factor to 1.18. Susan Haltmaier made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile,to set the FY02 tax classification factor at 1.18; vote approved 2-1-1. Rosemary Smedile and Susan Haltmaier in favor, James Xenakis opposed and Donald Stewart abstaining. ADJOURNMENT: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Susan Haltmaier,to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 PM; vote approved 4— 0. Kathleen O'Neill Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board Transcribed but not present.