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Assessor outlines verification steps; committee raises data‑security questions
Summary
The assessor said applications will collect identifying information (driver’s license, Social Security number) and staff will verify entries via LexisNexis; committee members flagged privacy and storage risks and asked for secure handling and clear retention/shredding procedures.
Catherine displayed the attestation form and explained the verification workflow: staff will scan each form, assign a unique ID, verify identity (driver’s license, Social Security number) and check property ownership in LexisNexis before entering exemptions into the town’s quality‑data system. "I verify your Social Security number when I look it up in LexisNexis when I'm making sure that you don't own property anywhere else," she said, describing the standard verification practice.
Committee members pressed about security and storage: staff said paper files will be locked, attestation backups will be shredded after scanning, and the assessor's office will dedicate a locked cabinet and follow existing procedures for other exemptions. Members asked for an explicit plan on encryption, access controls, and whether forms could be accepted electronically; staff committed to clarifying procedures and limits of what can be done without higher budget or software changes.
