Board of Assessment Appeals

TOWN OF SIMSBURY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Subject to Vote of Approval - Special Meeting Minutes: April 10, 2015 - 2 pages

The April 10, 2015 Special Meeting of the Board of Assessment Appeals took place in the Town Hall Main Meeting Room. Those present included appellants; board members Stephen Nocera and Sharon Lawson, and the Assessor, David M. Gardner.

Mr. Nocera heard the appeal of Barbara Barhsay on her 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser and the appeal of Kathleen Phelan, on her property at 315 West Mountain Road

Mr. Nocera made a motion to start the meeting at 6:21 p.m. Ms. Lawson seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed. Since the BAA Board is comprised of three members, two members constitute
a quorum. The board was in session to hear appeals on the October 1, 2013 Motor Vehicle Supplemental list and on the October 1, 2014 grand list.

 BAA board members swore each appellant in before hearing their concerns.

Ms. Lawson heard the appeal of  Kimberly Steele her property at 22 Neal Drive.  Mr. Nocera joined in hearing the appeal after he finished hearing the appeal of Kathleen Phelan.

Both board members heard from Noris Christensen, who appeared for the purpose of contesting the board’s proposed valuation of Lot 13-3, Shingle Mill Road.  He expressed the belief that it should continue to be assessed as classified farm land, and brought an excerpt from the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association’s Guide to PA 490.  He also presented the pertinent portion of his subdivision map, and answered questions on the development cost of preparing that lot for building, and other features; and its history.

The board then heard the appeal of  Thomas Evans on his commercial property at 155 Hopmeadow Street.  He reviewed the recent development history and noted that he had not been eligible to apply to the CT DOT until after his local approvals were complete.  This he did November 16, 2014, (apply for an encroachment permit) and to date he has not received it.

The board took the opportunity to begin deliberations, and voted 2-0 in favor of Stephen Nocera’s motion, seconded by Sharon Lawson, to set the market value of Barbara Barhsay’s 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser at $6,500 and it assessment at 4,550.

At about 7:20 PM, the board resumed hearing from appellants.  Ms. Lawson heard the appeal of Heidi and Eric Higham, the new owners of 8 Elliott Drive.  The presented an appraisal, an assessment comparison and a calculation of what they believe their property’s assessment ought to be.

At about the same time, Mr. Nocera heard the appeal of Robert Oleskewicz on the 2013 Supplemental Motor Vehicle List and on the October 2014 list in both cases on his 2004 Olds Alero.

7:30 PM:          Stephen Nocera met with Maureen and Joel Hoffman on the assessment of their property at 19 Tootin’ Hill Road.   The Hoffman’s presented comparisons with other properties.  The assessor answered questions on some minor features that were on the property record card.

7:35 PM:          Sharon Lawson heard the appeal of Wasim Syed on his property at 575 Hopmeadow Street.

After that appeal, Ms. Lawson heard the appeal of Stella Frasca, presented by her son Carlo Frasca, on her condominium unit at 3A Tunxis Place.

Following the hearings, the board deliberated and voted on all of the remaining matters except 19 Tootin’ Hill Road and 22 Neal Drive.

The votes are grouped in order of maker and seconder, and all passed 2-0.  Stephen Nocera made these and Sharon Lawson seconded them:

To set the market value of 315 West Mountain Road, property of Kathleen Phelan, at $376,111 and its assessment at 263,280.

To set the market value of 8 Elliott Drive, property of Eric and Heidi Higham, at $429,000 and its assessment at 300,300.

To reduce the assessment of 575 Hopmeadow Street, property of Wasim Syed, by 1,000.

To set the market value of 3A Tunxis Place, property of Stella Frasca, at $69,485, and its assessment at 48,640.

To set the value of Robert Oleskewicz’s 2004 Oldsmobile Alero at $1,000 for the 10/1/2013 Supplemental Motor Vehicle List and $960 for the 10/1/2014 list at its assessment at 700 and 670, respectively.

Sharon Lawson made and Stephen Nocera seconded these motions:

To increase the vacancy factor from -20% to -40% on the lot value, and to apply a 50% reduction to the surplus acreage on Shingle Mill Road Lot 13-3, property of Noris Christensen, resulting in an appraisal of $95,194 and an assessment of 66,630.

To retain the value of 155 Hopmeadow Street that it had on the 2013 grand list, which was a market value of $289,660 and an assessment of 202,760.

The assessor mentioned the need to schedule an additional meeting.

Stephen Nocera made and Sharon Lawson seconded a motion to adjourn, which the board did, at 9:03 PM.

Respectfully Submitted

David M. Gardner, Assessor

Acting Clerk