Wayland 2023 Candidate Profile: Massimo Taurisano, Board Of Assessors

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland voters will vote in a competitive race this year that may sound obscure, but is very important.

There are three candidates running for two seats on the Board of Assessors: incumbents Massimo Taurisano and Philip Parks, and challenger Mary-Ann Wohlfarth, Wayland's former assistant assessor.

The Board of Assessors helps the town value property so that it can be taxed to generate revenue for the municipality. Voters have the chance to elect representatives who will play a key role in deciding tax bills each year.

Wayland Patch sent questionnaires to each of the three candidates to help voters get to know them betters. Here's how Taurisano answered:

Why are you running to keep your seat on the board of assessors in 2023?

I’m running to retain my seat to continue the work that we have been doing with the other board members and the director of Assessing and his office. We overcame difficult times, including Covid, where we worked with personnel leaving and had to help manage the office of Assessing with part time staff, contractors and divisive issues. The new director, hired by the Board, successfully brought stability to this important and critical office for our town. That’s why I would like to continue to offer the experience of my professional real estate background, and most importantly, with my interest and experience in public service for the town that I came to love since we moved here with my family nearly 15 years ago.

Can you explain what the board of assessors does and how it affects the public?

Bottom line keeping the process of property assessments fair and equitable for everyone and approve all the warrants to collect taxes to balance the town budget. We also help overseas the department of Assessing by meeting all the Town and State filing and deadlines to keep the all process compliant. We also approve all the abatements and releases for the elderly and the veterans. This is a very rigorous and intricate process with deadlines and decisions that need to be made on time and not be dragged on. Consequently, in the best interest of the public and the Town, it is important to have a board that is cohesive and non-divisive that can work and coordinate with the Office of Assessing and the other departments.

One of your main jobs is setting property values. How do you as a member (or potential member) fit into that process?

This is done on a rolling basis every year through a very specific process that includes looking over sales data for all properties, understanding unique circumstances and conducting property inspections. Final proposed assessments are sent to the State for certification.

Do you think enough people in Wayland participate in the annual tax classification process? If not, do you have any ideas for increasing participation?

No, I do not believe enough people participate in the process. I have rarely seen, if ever, any participation of the public in our meetings, which are open to the public (except for executive sessions).

I believe that education, information and transparency are paramount, especially during these times when our town is experiencing a multitude of divisive issues. It is in our community’s best interest to remember and realize that politics cannot be a spectator’s sport anymore.