Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nonprofit Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board to mail public hearing notice; requests nonprofit paperwork on parsonage use
Summary
The board approved bulk mailing a flyer announcing an April 28 public hearing on articles including property revaluation and ordinances, and scheduled an assessors’ review of nonprofit paperwork after Calvary Church representatives described church activities and the board requested financials related to a parsonage occupancy potentially affecting tax-exempt status.
The Andover Select Board voted March 31 to bulk-mail a flyer announcing a public hearing on April 28 covering the property revaluation article and other warrant articles, and it set a separate review date for nonprofit property tax exemption paperwork.
Chair Brian Mills said the flyer will summarize key articles, including FEMA updates, road work and finance, a property maintenance ordinance, personnel policy and solar ordinances, and Select Board pay. The board’s goal is to mail the flyer within a week to inform residents about the April 28 hearing.
During the meeting, Keith and Jenni Smith, representing Calvary Church, described church activities that support its tax-exempt purpose and said the church operates a parsonage occupied by a pastor and not rented. The board requested a written list of the church’s activities and asked that financial paperwork be provided to the Board of Assessors for review. Justin Thacker said state guidance permits assessors to review nonprofits receiving public money and noted that a statutory parsonage exemption can apply depending on dwelling use; he described a statutory exemption amount “up to $20K” as a factor in some cases. The board set April 7 at 5:00 p.m. for the Assessors to review submitted nonprofit paperwork prior to the next Select Board meeting and discussed posting requirements for that review.
The Select Board also asked staff to verify whether the Andover Food Pantry is an entity associated with the church when considering contributions and public funding questions. No formal change to tax-exempt status was made at the meeting; the board requested documentation to inform any future assessor determination.
