Stonington board awards 2027 residential and commercial revaluation contracts

The Stonington Board of Selectmen voted June 24 to award the town's 2027 residential revaluation contract to Melissa Bear Appraisal Consulting for $180,000 and the 2027 commercial revaluation contract to Lawrence Revaluation Services for $135,000.

Jennifer Lenaweaver, Stonington's Director of Assessment, told the board the residential bid opening produced three proposals: Vision Governmental Solutions at $339,000; Melissa Bear Appraisal Consulting at $180,000; and Municipal Valuation Services at $95,000. "Ms. Bear brings 30 years of experience in the revaluation industry," Lenaweaver said, noting Ms. Bear's prior work in Connecticut waterfront communities and expertise with CAMA modeling. For the commercial work she recommended Lawrence Revaluation Services, which bid $135,000 and has more than 25 years of commercial and industrial valuation experience.

A selectman asked why bids varied so widely. Lenaweaver explained that bids reflect different scopes: a full measure/list project with field data collectors typically costs more than a statistical update or limited inspection approach. She said New London County per-parcel pricing typically ranges "between 22 and 25 dollars a parcel," and added concern about the lowest commercial bid: "I'm hesitant to think that a project...could be done for that little," referring to the $35,000 Municipal Valuation Services commercial bid.

Lenaweaver also reviewed inspection and statutory practice: Connecticut requires assessors to attempt a full physical inspection of every property within a 10-year window, but assessors now may use data mailers and high-resolution imagery (a change Lenaweaver said came in the most recent legislative session) to help meet inspection tracking over that period. She clarified that revaluations in Connecticut occur every five years and that assessment changes between cycles usually follow property changes such as permits or fire.

After Lenaweaver's presentation the board moved to award the residential contract to Melissa Bear Appraisal Consulting ($180,000) and the commercial contract to Lawrence Revaluation Services ($135,000). Both motions were seconded and carried on voice votes recorded as "I" or "aye" by the chair; the transcript records the motions as passing but does not provide a roll-call vote tally.

The board did not debate amendments or add conditions to the contracts during the meeting. Next procedural steps (contract execution, start dates, or vendor timelines) were not specified on the record.