New Haven committee forgives half of interest on local salon owner’s delinquent tax bill; two other petitions passed over or withdrawn

The City of New Haven Tax and Payment Committee voted to forgive half of the accrued interest on property taxes for petitioner Thomas Angelini after hearing testimony that the tax bills had been sent to an incorrect address.

The action came during a committee meeting in which three petitions for tax relief were on the agenda: a petition from the Daughters of Isabella (item 1) that the committee passed over, a second petition from Sherry Redfern (item 2) that staff said had been withdrawn because a mortgage company paid the taxes, and a third petition from Thomas Angelini (item 3) asking for relief from interest on delinquent taxes for a business he operates at 607 Chapel Street.

The committee’s vote on Angelini’s petition followed extended discussion about whether the petitioner bore responsibility for four years of unpaid taxes after he said he did not receive bills because the street name on mailed statements was misspelled. Angelini told the committee, “I never received the bill,” and said he had paid a portion of the balance in person after discovering the outstanding account. He also told the panel he operates a single-chair salon and described financial strain; he declined to provide detailed income figures during questioning.

A staff member clarified the matter for the record: the committee was being asked to consider only waiver of interest; the interest amount under discussion was $636.62. During the hearing Angelini said the accumulated interest “got a little out of hand” and at one point stated the total interest had grown to “over $2,000,” a figure he later retracted and described as an approximation.

Committee members split on the appropriate remedy. Several members urged strict application of the city’s interest policy and noted the length of time — four years — that taxes went unpaid. Others urged leniency because the mailed bills contained a misspelling of the street name; one member said the city’s error meant the petitioner should not bear the entire penalty. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment to forgive 50% of the interest and then approved the amended motion. The committee recorded the motion as carried by voice vote.

On the other agenda items, the committee voted to pass over the petition filed by the Daughters of Isabella (item 1). Staff reported that Sherry Redfern’s petition (item 2) was withdrawn because her mortgage company had paid the taxes; the committee accepted that withdrawal.

The committee did not change property assessment procedures. Several members noted that any reassessment or valuation concerns must be routed through the board of assessment appeals or the appropriate assessment process; the committee’s action applied only to the interest on the tax account.

The committee did not provide a roll-call vote in the hearing record included in the transcript. Members who spoke during the discussion included Chair Frank Douglas and several alderpersons who debated whether the city or the taxpayer bore primary responsibility for the missed bills. Committee staff said follow-up on documentation and updated mailing addresses will be handled by the assessor’s office or legislative services.

Votes at a glance: - Item 1 (Daughters of Isabella, Mary A. Baron): Passed over (motion to pass over carried). - Item 2 (Sherry Redfern): Withdrawal accepted (staff reported mortgage company paid taxes; motion to accept withdrawal carried). - Item 3 (Thomas Angelini): Motion to grant waiver of 50% of the accrued interest on the tax account — approved (voice vote). The committee considered only interest relief; issues about assessed value or reassessment were not decided.

The committee meeting record indicates additional administrative follow-up by staff for documentation and address corrections; no change to assessment values was made during this meeting. The committee adjourned after routine motions following item 3.