Minutes 04/04/2011

Minutes of the April 4, 2011 Regular Meeting of the Board of Assessment Appeals.

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm with all members in attendance as well as Nancy Haase,

Board of Selectmen liaison, David Gardner, assessor, and appellants and their representatives as noted.
The board heard first from Penny Jackson concerning the assessment of her property at 2 Hamilton Lane.
She submitted a comparison in support of her petition. She estimated that the most appropriate assessment
would be $360,000.

Steve Antonio appeared on 133 Holcomb Street. His estimate of value was $412,000. Included in the
discussion was explaining that the increase in assessment was for a 20 foot by 20 foot shed.

Philip Gaucher appeared on his property at 16 Cobtail Way and on a 1988 Ferrari. In support of his
petition he presented home sales and in the case of the motor vehicle, a statement from a mechanic
indicating that the car was original.

The appellants represented by Marci Silverman, Esq. were heard beginning at 4:00 pm.
Marci Silverman, Esq., appeared as the authorized agent for the owners of fifteen properties on Cobtail
Way. She presented three copies of a booklet on each property (see the attached list.) indicating the issues
of concern (restrictions on maintaining the view, and increased noise from the Metacon Gun Club and the
state police firing range) and abbreviated Simsbury field cards from the e-Quality web site for properties
which were identified as comparable to each one being appealed; and in addition, a worksheet for each
property which details the calculation of the appellant’s estimate of value from the same properties as
identified in the booklet, with consideration for view restrictions and gun noise. Attorney Silverman read
to the board the pages which explained the issues common to all of the properties under appeal.
Attorney Silverman read each worksheet to the board and provided one copy. The documentation
presented is part of the board’s files. In addition to Ms Silverman, several homeowners were also present,
and spoke as noted below.

Mark Roellig spoke on his property at 11 Cobtail Way, and spoke of the purchase of the property as part
of a relocation.

Orest Stellmach spoke on his property at 17 Cobtail Way, and related his concerns about the topography,
the limitations on the view and gun noise.

David Gollob spoke on his property at 18 Cobtail and among other things, mentioned the purchase of his
property which occurred at about the same time as the purchase of 7 Lucy Way and commented on how
the comparison between the assessments had changed since then. He also commented on 22 and 24
Cobtail Way.

Anthony Lovallo spoke about his property at 21 Cobtail Way.

Diane McLean spoke on her property at 23 Cobtail Way, and made a point about the town’s taking
seriously the enforcement of the tree-cutting restrictions, and about the noise levels from the nearby
shooting ranges. She also played back a recording she said was made in March 2011 of the sound of gun
fire from the ranges as heard within her home.

Brad Baran, managing member of Quad B LLC, the owner of 25 Cobtail Way spoke about the lack of
view even from the time of purchase in 2007, and about the lack of disclosure to him of gun noise, among
other comments.

The board discussed its schedule and decided to cancel the meeting that was scheduled for April 7, 2011
and to add a meeting for April 14, 2011.

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
David M. Gardner, Assessor (Clerk)