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Charlemont assessors review valuation-vendor quotes, approve routine tax documents
Summary
The Board reviewed three quotes for property valuation and inspection services and discussed combining vendors or contract lengths; it also approved a slate of routine fiscal and records items and reviewed a Krusz forest cutting plan approved by the Service Forester.
At its July 7 meeting the Charlemont Board of Assessors compared three vendor quotes for valuation and inspection services and approved a set of routine fiscal documents and records.
Staff summarized proposals from Catalis Tax & CAMA, CIDARE, and MAK Valuation Consultants, Inc. Catalis, the current vendor, submitted the lowest overall price but the board noted limits on inspector availability and owner scheduling. CIDARE offers high-tech property-data collection and an owner scheduler but does not provide personal-property valuation or cost-table adjustments. MAK would inspect personal property and produce cost-table adjustments and Gateway-report assistance but does not inspect real estate; its quote was higher than the others and covers three years. The board discussed options to combine vendors (for example, Catalis for valuation with CIDARE for real-estate inspections or CIDARE plus MAK to cover all services) and whether to request 1-year versus 3-year pricing to evaluate performance. Assessor’s Clerk Carlene Hayden reminded the board that by statute the town cannot enter an agreement until funds are secured for the relevant fiscal year; Hayden said two other RFPs remain outstanding and she would follow up on vendor questions and funding before the board takes a contract vote.
Separately, on a motion by Chair Karen Rau seconded by Anthony Ostroski the board voted unanimously to approve and sign a set of routine documents and invoices including: the Warrant to Collector and Notice of Commitment for Fiscal Year 2026 preliminary property tax commitment; Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers dues invoices for two members; CAI Technologies WebGIS support and quarterly tax maintenance invoices; the Omitted and Revised Assessment Report; the Amended Tax Base Levy Growth (LA-13A) Report; the monthly list of property and excise tax abatements for June 2025; and Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 records of abatement and exemption.
The board also reviewed a Krusz forest cutting plan for a large clearing on East Hawley Road; the plan was approved and signed by Service Forester Allison Wright. Chair Rau noted large clearings are sometimes carried out to encourage new growth and forest health.
The meeting adjourned to executive session at 8:02 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2025.
