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Berkley Board of Assessors accepts minutes, approves temporary tax-collector coverage and moves to reassess property for FY2024 abatement
Summary
At its Aug. 7 meeting the Berkley Board of Assessors unanimously accepted prior minutes, listed invoices for payment, approved three-day temporary coverage for the Tax Collector during a closure, and moved into executive session tied to a property reassessment that will result in an abatement for fiscal year 2024.
The Berkley Board of Assessors met on Aug. 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Assessors Office, Room 9. Chairman Mark Pettey Jr called the meeting to order; members Jeanne Russo (Clerk), Lisa Tetreault (Member) and Assessor Gary Hoitt were present. The board unanimously accepted the minutes of the July 24, 2024 meeting after a motion by Lisa Tetreault and a second from Jeanne Russo.
The board reviewed a short list of bills and invoices under the agenda item "Pay Various Bills," which included MAAO membership dues of $75 for Bonnie, a MapGeo FY2025 invoice for $7,680 and an invoice for services rendered by Richard Gonsalves for $2,275. The minutes record the listed items; they do not separately record individual roll-call approvals for each invoice.
Jeanne Russo reported ongoing work related to Clause 41A and said she will continue coordinating with seniors, the Berkley financial team and the Select Board to gather additional details for future Board of Assessors discussion. Members also updated training and scheduling: Mark Pettey Jr and Jeanne Russo still need to complete state ethics training; Gary Hoitt is scheduled to attend an MAAO class the week of Aug. 12, 2024 (IAAO Course 102: Income Valuation) and will teach an Excel class for BCAA on Sept. 26, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The board noted that the Division of Local Services' FY2025 final Cherry Sheet estimates were signed by Governor Healey and that Berkley will attend the DLS "What’s New in Municipal Law" seminar virtually on Oct. 10, 2024. Chairman Pettey will represent the Board of Assessors at a Financial Advisory Committee meeting on Aug. 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
The Tax Collector’s office will be closed the week of Aug. 12, 2024 for continuing education. The minutes state the board approved Bonnie to work three days that week to help cover Gary’s absence and to assist with Collector questions. Gary Hoitt reported that the certification and revaluation process is ongoing with Richard Gonsalves and that data collection in Berkley is continuing.
At 5:32 p.m. the board voted unanimously to enter executive session and not return to open session; the minutes link that executive-session action to an abatement matter. The minutes reference a July 31 conference call in which the client, Gary Hoitt, Mark Pettey Jr and Richard Gonsalves participated and agreed to reassess the property for fiscal year 2024 and issue an abatement for overvaluation. The minutes do not disclose additional details about the property or the abatement amount.
Lisa Tetreault moved to adjourn and Jeanne Russo seconded; the roll-call vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m. Minutes were prepared by Gary Hoitt.
What happens next: the board will continue the certification/revaluation process with Richard Gonsalves, pursue the details Jeanne Russo is gathering on Clause 41A and seniors outreach, and Chairman Pettey will attend the Financial Advisory Committee meeting on Aug. 14, 2024.
