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Board weighs full-time assessor, extends appointment of temporary hearing members and scrutinizes short appeal window
Summary
Board members discussed whether the assessor should be full-time, raised concerns about reassessment timing and short appeal windows for residents, and appointed two temporary members to the Board of Assessment Review under state law.
Members of the Grand Island Town Board discussed assessment office capacity, questioned whether a part-time assessor arrangement is costing the town revenue, and expressed concern that residents have limited time to file formal challenges after receiving tentative assessments.
Several board members cited examples of delayed reassessments or misapplied assessments that may have resulted in undercollections that, they argued, could justify funding a full-time assessor. The board discussed options for ending an intermunicipal agreement with Tonawanda (which has been assisting) and asked for a workshop to examine the town’s assessment process and options for staffing.
On the appeals process, board members criticized a compressed schedule that left residents roughly 9–11 days to prepare appeals after receiving mailed notices; members asked the assessor, Jill, to consider scheduling additional hearing dates and to accept filings postmarked on the statutory due date to reduce unfair haste for residents who wish to challenge their assessments.
The board also considered and then moved to appoint two temporary members — Rebecca Simpson and Ashley Klenck — as temporary members of the Board of Assessment Review pursuant to section 5-23-a of the Real Property Tax Law for a one-year period starting May 2025, so the board can assign panels and handle a heavier hearing schedule. The appointees are expected to follow the same qualification, training and disclosure requirements as regular board members.
Action: the board moved and seconded a resolution to appoint Rebecca Simpson and Ashley Klenck as temporary members of the Board of Assessment Review under section 5-23-a of the Real Property Tax Law; the motion carried (voice vote). The board also asked staff to explore whether the town is foregoing revenue due to assessor staffing levels and to schedule a workshop to examine whether to move to a full-time assessor model and to address scheduling of hearings so residents have adequate time to prepare appeals.
