Williston tax-appeal hearing for GlobalFoundries recessed as parties pursue settlement

Andy Michael, chair of the BCA, opened a tax appeal hearing for parcel ID 04010Point027000 at 10:00 a.m. and then recessed the session after representatives for the town and the property owner said they had reached a tentative agreement to continue settlement discussions.

Mikaela from the assessor's office told the panel that "it is our understanding that we've kind of come to a consent consensus to kind of recess this for 60 days till the November date," and said she had drafted a good-faith letter that the listers will review at their next meeting. "I do have a good faith letter that we are going to review with the listers on Tuesday," she said, describing the procedural steps the town will take while the parties continue talks.

Ashley Castle, director of government affairs for GlobalFoundries, confirmed the owner's view: "Yes. That is our our understanding," she said, indicating the company expects to continue negotiations rather than proceed with formal evidence today.

Michael set a tentative resumption date of Monday, Nov. 17, at 6:00 (time zone not specified), saying the hearing would reconvene on that date "unless otherwise agreed." He told the participants that if they could not reach a resolution by then, the matter would move to the next formal step the BCA follows.

No formal vote or contested evidence was taken at the session; the parties agreed to pursue a negotiated resolution and to return on the scheduled date if necessary. The hearing was recessed with the expectation that the assessor's office and the property owner will exchange the drafted letter and related documentation before the listers’ meeting.