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Board discusses need for full-time real property appraiser amid assessment problems
Summary
Trustees debated hiring a full-time real property appraiser (or assessor) after problems with the recent revaluation and concerns about data entry and continuity when a long-serving employee leaves.
Grand Island Town Board members discussed staffing changes in the assessment office, saying recent problems with a vendor-conducted revaluation and the pending departure of a long-serving employee justify adding in-house appraisal capacity.
Board members said the town relied on a contractor for a reappraisal that performed poorly in their view and that a full-time local appraiser could improve data accuracy and continuity. The board discussed hiring a real property appraiser — a distinct role from the assessor position — to handle appraisal work and to ensure staff can enter and check data before the current staff member leaves.
Speakers noted the position might be civil service and that the town should confirm job requirements and pay scale. Board members discussed potential short-term steps: downloading and preserving data from the current assessor and placing a qualified staff member in position to enter appraisal data. They also said salary and budget implications must be evaluated at budget time.
No formal motion was made; trustees agreed to continue discussing the staffing proposal and to follow up with staff about candidate qualifications and budget implications.
