TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
BOARD OF ABATEMENT MINUTES
January 25, 2022
BOARD ATTENDEES: Cynthia Kilburn, Leslie Burg, Barbara Powers, Rebecca Nawrath, Wayne Bell, Frank Kropa, Ruth Hoffman, Laura Streiber, Martha Heilemann, Kelsey Towslee, Brian Vogel, Gordon Black, Laurie Kunz, Anita Sheldon
ABSENT: Alison Hill, Ivan Beattie, Heidi Chamberlain, Jan Nolan, Greg Cutler
TOWN STAFF ATTENDEES: None
PUBLIC ATTENDEES: Erich Gutbier
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Cynthia Kilburn called the meeting to order at 4:03 P.M.
MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2021
Vogel moved, seconded by Heilemann, to approve the minutes of June 23, 2021 as presented. Minutes were approved with Bell recusing himself.
ABATEMENT HEARING
Gutbier gave an overview of his written abatement request (see attached). Gutbier’s mother, June, passed away in 2018. Although the estate appeared to be simple, there were many delays. Tax bills were not sent to the correct address, nor did the Town attempt to contact Gutbier by other means of communication.
Black stated property taxes were paid in February of 2019, September of 2019 and February of 2020. Black questioned what had changed, as payments were current until February of 2020 and asked if Gutbier had notified the Town of an address change. Gutbier explained the mail forward must have expired and he did not notify the Town.
Nawrath asked if the Finance Director would provide an overview of his written testimony. Since Finance Director Michael DeCubellis was unavailable, Black provided an overview of how address changes are made in the Assessing department and in other departments after documents are recorded in the Manchester land records. As noted in his written testimony, DeCubellis was unaware changes needed to be made in previous tax years (see attached).
Gutbier agreed it was an innocent mistake and noted there was due diligence on his behalf by paying taxes as soon as possible.
Black moved, seconded by Burg to go into deliberative session for decision making at 4:21 P.M. The board came out of deliberative session at 4:33 P.M. Bell moved, seconded by Black, to abate $622.32 due to a manifest error on behalf of the Town of Manchester. The motion was approved with Sheldon and Streiber recusing themselves.
Heilemann moved, seconded by Burg to adjourn at 4:38 P.M.
Anita L. Sheldon, CMC/CVC
Clerk, Board of Abatement