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Chelmsford Board of Assessors approves $37,546.72 in vehicle excise abatements, holds executive session on abatement records and litigation
Summary
At its May 13, 2026 meeting the Chelmsford Board of Assessors voted to approve vehicle excise tax abatements totaling $37,546.72, approved real estate and personal property commitments, and moved into executive session to discuss abatement/exemption records and pending litigation.
The Chelmsford Board of Assessors met May 13, 2026, approved vehicle excise tax abatements totaling $37,546.72 and took real estate and personal property commitments, then adjourned into executive session to discuss abatement and hardship exemption records and strategy related to pending litigation, the board’s minutes show.
Board member Michael Donoghue moved “to adjourn to Executive Session, pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(7), to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general law, specifically, to require confidentiality as defined in MGL Chapter 59 Section 60, Records of Abatements, and Chapter 214 Section 1B, Right of Privacy, to discuss abatement and/or hardship exemption actions as required, further, to discuss strategy with respect to pending litigation; upon conclusion of Executive Session, to return to Open Session.” The motion was seconded by Chief Assessor Samuel P. Chase and approved by poll vote; the board adjourned to executive session at 10:03 AM and returned to open session at 10:57 AM.
During open session the board approved vehicle excise tax abatements in four batches: April 2020 ($7,604.72), April 2023 ($1,004.20), April 2025 ($1,848.38) and April 2026 ($27,089.42), for a combined total of $37,546.72. Michael Donoghue moved to approve the abatements; Samuel P. Chase seconded. The minutes record the vote as 2-0 with signatures.
The board also approved Real Estate and Personal Property commitments: FY2025 Commitment 8 for $1,896.37 and FY2026 Commitment 2 for $643,775.98. That motion was likewise moved by Michael Donoghue, seconded by Samuel P. Chase, with the minutes recording a 2-0 approval and signatures.
Signatures were taken on prior approvals for Real Estate and the Community Preservation Act (CPA) for April FY2026 in the amount of $39,161.89.
The minutes record that the May 13, 2026 regular-session minutes were approved “motion by G. Francisco, second by S. Chase, vote to approve, 2-0.” The meeting roster, however, lists Gabriel Francisco as absent; the minutes therefore record an attendance/recording inconsistency. The minutes do not show additional roll-call votes by other board members or recorded votes from Regan LeMay or B. Corcoran on the matters noted.
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 AM. No public speakers were present for the open session.
