Board approves abatement for veteran David Santoro despite assessor memo limiting retroactive relief

The Harwinton Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to abate resident David Santoro’s 2025 grand list taxes under Connecticut’s recently adopted veterans exemption. Selectman John Duffy moved to override the Assessor and Tax Collector’s recommendation and abate the 2025 taxes; Selectman Evan Brunetti seconded and the motion carried.

The town’s Tax Collector and Acting Assessor submitted a written review recommending limited relief. The memo states, "we believe Mr. Santoro to be eligible to receive the 100% P & T exemption beginning on the 2026 Grand List," and explains that late filing rules allow proof of a permanent and total (P & T) disability rating to be submitted late but do not excuse a failure to file the DD-214 by the assessment date for an earlier grand list. The memo authors concluded Mr. Santoro was eligible only for a 2026 grand-list exemption, not for 2025 retroactive relief. The board’s motion nonetheless instructed staff to abate the 2025 grand list taxes under the veterans exemption law the state recently adopted.

Board minutes record the action as approved unanimously: "All in favor; Motion carries." The record does not include further explanation of the legal basis the board used to depart from the Tax Collector and Assessor’s written recommendation, nor does it record any separate legal opinion being read into the record at the meeting.

The item links to the town’s process for applying veterans exemptions; the Tax Collector and Assessor memo (on file with the town) identified the relevant filing deadlines and the one-year allowance for late proof of a disability rating under guidance from the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research.