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Canterbury Select Board tells camp president to file late exemption, discusses lien and building safety
Summary
At a Select Board meeting, Nathan Davis, president of a small religious camp, asked for time to resolve a surprise tax bill and lien; board members urged him to contact the town assessor, file a 2025 religious-exemption form and arrange building inspections, and discussed options including abatement, payment plan or town-held lien.
Nathan Davis, the president of a small religious camp that owns land in Canterbury, appealed to the Select Board for time and help after discovering the property had lost tax-exempt status and a lien had been filed.
Davis told the Select Board that “When we got the tax bill, I was totally just I didn't know. I thought we were a nonprofit,” and said he had been trying to rebuild the camp’s volunteer and financial base after multiple board members died and attendance fell during the pandemic.
The request prompted the board to lay out next steps rather than take immediate action. Select Board members instructed Davis to call Mandy Irvin, the town assessor, and to file the 2025 religious-exemption form that the assessor’s office had identified as overdue. Select Board member Ken said the “onus is on you to call Mandy Irvin as soon as possible,” and the board explained that the town could consider an abatement, a payment plan, or other remedies but that a lien already recorded on the parcel would remain until addressed.
Board members and staff also raised safety and permitting issues tied to the camp’s buildings. The building inspector, Joel, was asked to inspect the camp’s structures to confirm whether assembly permits or building-code updates were required before the camp could resume regular gatherings. The board said any decision about tax forgiveness or a payment plan would follow documented filings and inspections: “the way we proceed is he files the form that's already overdue for 2025, and and then only then can we take any action,” a Select Board member said.
Davis told the board he intends to pay what he can personally, recruit volunteers and pastors to help, and file required paperwork. He said he would contact the assessor and return to the Select Board after filing the 2025 exemption form. The board agreed to send written instructions and confirm a single town contact for Davis so future notices and deadlines are received and acknowledged.
The Select Board did not vote on abatement or a payment plan at the meeting. The board’s recorded options were: accept a payment plan, abate taxes under applicable rules, or leave the lien in place until satisfied. Davis was advised that if the town denied any abatement request, he could appeal to the state process for tax appeals.
The board recommended Davis ensure the camp files the religious-exemption paperwork by the assessor’s deadlines, meet with Joel for a building inspection, and return with documentation or a plan for payment. The board staff said they would prepare written next steps and an instruction sheet for Davis.
The discussion closed with Davis agreeing to contact the assessor and to return to the Select Board once the 2025 filing was submitted.
