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Select Board appoints Donald Freddette to Zoning Board; rules on multiple assessment appeals, including Rideout recusal
Summary
The Select Board appointed Donald Freddette to a regular Zoning Board seat through 2028, accepted abatement recommendations on several Rideout-family parcels with Selectman Rideout recused, and denied multiple 2024 assessment appeals following Northtown Associates’ recommendations.
The Lancaster Select Board on July 7 appointed Donald Freddette from an alternate to a regular member of the Zoning Board, with a term expiring in 2028.
The board also reviewed several assessment appeals based on recommendations from Northtown Associates. Selectman Leon Rideout recused himself from discussion of parcels owned by the Rideout family. Selectmen Shane Beattie and Kathy-Jean Lavoie voted to accept the abatement recommendations and refunds for Rideout-family parcels (Tax Map P02 Lots 018–020 and Tax Map R05 Lot 011); the motion carried with Rideout recused.
Separately, the board reviewed recommendations and voted to deny the 2024 appeals for several properties: Tax Map R18, Lot 023-L01 (Netafy, Inc.), Tax Map R10, Lot 070 (Mattos), Tax Map P03, Lot 018 (Dupont), and Tax Map R11, Lot 018 (Emerson). During the Emerson discussion Selectman Lavoie asked whether the 2025 assessment reflected flood damage from July 2024; Northtown Associates’ recommendation confirmed the 2025 assessment had been updated to account for that damage.
Motions were made by Selectman Lavoie and seconded by Selectman Rideout or Selectman Beattie as noted in the minutes; most motions carried unanimously except where a recusal was recorded. The minutes do not detail the calculation methodology used by Northtown Associates; the board relied on the consultant’s recommendations when voting.
