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Farmington board authorizes commercial appraisal to pursue DES reimbursement for cemetery easement
Summary
The Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to let the Town Administrator hire a commercial appraiser so the town can seek DES reimbursement for payments related to a cemetery easement tied to the well project; Bergeron Appraisal was recommended and the appraisal cost was estimated at roughly $1,000–$4,000.
The Farmington Board of Selectmen voted Monday to authorize the Town Administrator to hire a commercial appraiser so the town can document the value of gravel rights tied to a cemetery easement and pursue reimbursement from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES).
Interim Finance Administrator Kelly Heon told the board DES requires a formal appraisal to substantiate the value the town agreed to pay the cemetery for an easement related to the town’s well project. “There is a very strong possibility that the money … can get reimbursed from the whole well project and those monies … will require a commercial appraisal of the land,” Heon said. Acting Town Administrator Paul Sanderson recommended Bergeron Appraisal, which performed similar work for Greenland, and estimated the cost would likely be between $1,000 and $4,000.
Board members discussed whether the town’s subcontractor Avitar could perform the appraisal; Sanderson said that was unlikely and recommended contracting an outside certified commercial appraiser with experience performing before-and-after valuations required under USPAP for DES-funded projects.
The board approved the motion (mover: King; second: Scruton) to authorize the Town Administrator to find and hire a commercial appraiser. The motion passed 4-0.
Why it matters: DES is channeling federal funds through the state and requires documentation supporting negotiated values when a town seeks reimbursement. An appraisal will establish a basis for claiming the cemetery easement expense against the grant and may reduce net project costs to the town.
Next steps: Staff will solicit a qualified appraiser and return to the board with a contract for signature. The Finance Administrator noted the appraisal cost itself can be claimed under the grant.
