TOWN OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT
BOARD OF ABATEMENT MINUTES
August 30, 2023 4:30PM
Manchester Town Hall
*DRAFT*
BOARD ATTENDEES: Brian Vogel (Town Treasurer), Gordon Black (Town Assessor), Cynthia Kilburn, Martha Heilemann, Rebecca Nawrath, Richard Long, Charles ‘Chic’ Murphy, Frank Kropa, Wayne Bell, Anita Sheldon (Town Clerk), Greg Cutler (by phone only) and Ruth Hoffman (by phone only).
ABSENT: Alison Hill, Barbara Powers, Kelsey Towslee, Ivan Beattie, Heidi Chamberlain, Jan Nolan, Laurie Kunz
TOWN STAFF ATTENDEES: Jennifer Roy
PUBLIC ATTENDEES: Paul E. Wheeler Jr.
Cynthia Kilburn called the meeting to order at 4:30 P.M.
ELECTING A CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR
F. Kropa moved to elect C. Kilburn as chair, seconded by B. Vogel. With no further nominations, the motion was approved unanimously. W. Bell nominated R. Long as vice-chair, seconded by F. Kropa.
With no further nominations, the motion was approved unanimously.
MINUTES OF April 13, 2022
B. Vogel moved to approve the minutes of April 13, 2022 as presented. The motion was approved unanimously.
ABATEMENT HEARING
Paul Wheeler - 100 Back Nine Bluff
Assessor Gordon Black stated the current value of the property was $601,000. The building value was $463,000, yard items were $13,000 and the land value was $125,000. Paul Wheeler stated the house located at 100 Back Nine Bluff, experienced a catastrophic fire on July 12, 2023 and was deemed a complete tear-down by the insurance inspectors. The extensive smoke damage in the logs made mitigation impossible and it would take approximately one year for a modular replacement, since a stick-built home would be at least 2 years out. Wheeler was hopeful the basement would be salvageable, but the insurance company was not certain at the time of the hearing.
M. Heilemann moved, seconded by B. Vogel, to go into deliberative session at 4:46 PM. The board came out of deliberative session at 4:50 PM. W. Bell moved, seconded by F. Kropa to abate taxes associated with the building value and yard item value due to a house fire on July 12, 2023 and the homeowner being displaced from the home for at least one year. Wheeler will be responsible for paying municipal and education taxes on the land value of $125,000. Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Sheldon discussed scheduling abatement hearings every four months for the convenience of constituents and the Board. A. Sheldon moved to schedule a meeting every 4 months on the first Wednesday of the month beginning at 5:30 PM, seconded by R. Nawrath. The meeting dates will be January 3, 2024, May 1, 2024, and September 4, 2024. Motion carried unanimously. SIC: A. Sheldon initially referenced the incorrect dates of January 3, 2023, May 3, 2024 and September 6, 2024. R. Long provided the correct dates for the first Wednesday of January, May and September 2024 (1/3/24, 5/1/24, 9/4/24).
With no further business, B. Vogel moved, seconded by R. Long to adjourn at 4:50 PM.
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Anita L. Sheldon, CMC/CVC
Clerk, Board of Abatement