In a recent government meeting, council members discussed the expiration of a two-year tax abatement agreement related to a former middle school property. The agreement, initially granted by a previous council to facilitate development, has come under scrutiny due to an inadvertent taxation issue. The city assessor identified that one of the two years was incorrectly taxed, prompting a reversal for the second year and a necessary abatement for the first year.

Mayor expressed concerns regarding the process by which the tax agreement was authorized, noting that it was unusual for the city solicitor to have the authority to approve such agreements without direct council approval. He emphasized the lack of progress on the property over the past two and a half years, stating that he would not support any further discussions on the tax agreement unless there is visible activity on the site.

Councilman Gendron clarified that while the solicitor signed the agreement, it was the council that had ultimately authorized it. He acknowledged the need for more substantial criteria in future tax stabilization agreements to ensure accountability and progress on development projects.

The meeting also included the approval of Malcolm LLP as the city's auditor for the fiscal year 2023 audit, indicating ongoing efforts to maintain financial oversight amid discussions of property tax agreements and development accountability.