Budget, Property Re-Assessment on Special Meeting Agenda Tonight

This year's budget and a possible property re-assessment are on the agenda for Monday's special mayor and council meeting, in the upstairs conference room in Borough Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. 

This meeting is a continuation of the introduction of the preliminary budget that began at last week's mayor and council work session. Mayor Subrizi scheduled these additional meetings in response to Councilman Austin Ashley's "no" vote to the introduction of the budget, citing the need for reductions and additional information from department heads, as well as similar concerns raised by Councilwomen Duffie and Grant. 

The council will also appoint a reassessment company at Monday's meeting. During the mayor and council Feb. 13 work session, borough tax assessor Maureen Kaman informed the council that since the 2004 revaluation, the housing market has sharply declined, taking property values with it.

Given the housing market fluctuations, the tax assessor said that tax appeals are on the rise with 123 property owners filing tax appeals in 2011.

"The town loses money with every appeal," Kaman said.

Performing reassessments will cut the number of tax appeals for 2013 and ultimately save the town money, Kaman added. 

Monday's meeting will also include the appointment of a professional planner to represent the town during the zoning board hearings regarding the development of the United Water Company property by New Milford Redevelopment Associates. 

During the Feb. 14 meeting, the borough's planner, Burgis Associates, was recused from the proceedings at the request of the applicant because the applicant's attorney performed work on behalf of the planner's wife.

At the request of Zoning Board attorney Scott Sproviero, the March 13 hearing was postponed until April 19 because the absence of "professional planning representation" gave Sproviero a "lack of comfort" in proceeding with the hearing.