Selectmen Continue To Question Assessing Practices

The Assessors Department is now fully staffed and gearing up for an aggressive outreach and education program for property owners in 2013, Selectmen were told Tuesday.  

Revamping the department was one of the top goals for Town Manager Robert Halpin when he was hired earlier this year. Changes already made include hiring to bring the department to full staffing levels and cross-training to enable workers to conduct both commercial and residential evaluations and to handle inquiries from taxpayers. 

Chief Assessor Dan Dargon also said the department plans more outreach to taxpayers in 2013, starting with a workshop on the abatement process scheduled for Jan. 24.  

Selectmen continue to have questions about the assessing process.

On Tuesday, for instance, as the board set a split tax rate for 2013, Selectman Ginger Esty asked why the recently transferred Grandview Apartments sold for more than $84 million while being assessed at around $58 million.  

Other things you missed from Tuesday's two-and-a-half hour meeting: 

• The position of Director of Inspectional Services is now being advertised and Town Manager Robert Halpin hopes to fill the slot before the end of January.
• Selectmen approved a first reading of a new policy on traffic calming that lays out a process for residents to request their roadway be reviewed and calming measures considered. The first test of the new policy will be plans to calm traffic on Edmands Road, where speed humps and speed tables are being considered to help slow cut-through traffic.
• Selectmen formally signed an energy services contract with Ameresco, which will provide a host of services aimed at reducing the town's energy cost and increasing access to renewable energy sources. 
• The Framingham Historical Commission has two new members. Selectmen tapped Susan Martone and Stephanie Mercandetti to fill two vacancies. 
• The 2013 update to the town's 2008 Open Space Plan is now underway. Selectman Laurie Lee said surveys are going out to residents. The 10-minute survey is also posted on the town's Website.