Politics & Government
Somers Residents to Vote Nov. 5 on Eliminating the Board of Assessors
This is just one of a series of proposed charter changes residents will be presented with when they head to the voting booth next month.
Editor's Note: We have received updated information from Town Clerk Ann Logan. There will be no vote on any charter change regarding the Board of Education.
When Somers residents head to the polls on Nov. 5 they won't just be voting in candidates for local office.
Voters will be asked to cast a "yes" or "no" ballot on a series of proposed changes to the Somers Charter, courtesy of a monthlong review by the Somers Charter Revision Commission.
The adjustments in the proposed list of changes are, for the most part, clarifications to the current charter's language surrounding issues the Board of Selectmen elections and the number of members serving on various municipal boards.
Perhaps the biggest change, however, is a proposal to eliminate the Board of Assessors, said First Selectman Lisa Pellegrini, who is running for office again in 2013.Â
"While we value (the board members)Â there really is not a statutory need for them," Pellegrini said "(The board) would be replaced with a recommendation to have a certified assessor."
The assessor's office is responsible for determining the taxable value of all of Somer's properties and assuring that residents are taxed properly according to state and local laws.
While technically the assessor answers to the Somers Board of Assessors, the board, in turn, actually relies on the assessor's expertise, the first selectman said.Â
Here's the language on the proposed elimination, (pulled from the above public notice made available on the town's website):
When Somers residents head to the polls on Nov. 5 they won't just be voting in candidates for local office.
Voters will be asked to cast a "yes" or "no" ballot on a series of proposed changes to the Somers Charter, courtesy of a monthlong review by the Somers Charter Revision Commission.
The adjustments in the proposed list of changes are, for the most part, clarifications to the current charter's language surrounding issues the Board of Selectmen elections and the number of members serving on various municipal boards.
Perhaps the biggest change, however, is a proposal to eliminate the Board of Assessors, said First Selectman Lisa Pellegrini, who is running for office again in 2013.Â
"While we value (the board members)Â there really is not a statutory need for them," Pellegrini said "(The board) would be replaced with a recommendation to have a certified assessor."
The assessor's office is responsible for determining the taxable value of all of Somer's properties and assuring that residents are taxed properly according to state and local laws.
While technically the assessor answers to the Somers Board of Assessors, the board, in turn, actually relies on the assessor's expertise, the first selectman said.Â
Here's the language on the proposed elimination, (pulled from the above public notice made available on the town's website):
"Remove from the charter and recommend the authorization for the appointment of an assessor by a panel, requiring professional credentials commensurate with the requirements of the role."
If a resident has a dispute over their assessed property value, then that person can still file an appeal with the elected Zoning Appeals Board, Pellegrino noted.Â
"There’s an alternative to ensure that assessments are being handled properly and that the appropriate people are in the right role," she said.Â
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