Swansea public meetings in 2023

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will meet to conduct a tax rate classification meeting. The session also includes the review of previous meeting minutes and the signing of vouchers and payroll.

• Tax rate classification meeting

The Board of Assessors approved the minutes of prior meetings and discussed the new tax rate classification set by the Selectmen: residential rate of $11.04, commercial/industrial rate of $17.43, and Water District rate of $0.95. The board also reviewed three pending ATB cases, budget status, and upcoming deadlines for Chapter Land and elderly/veterans exemptions. No substantive votes were taken beyond approving minutes.

• Approved minutes of 09/27/23 (2-0)
• Approved minutes of 11/14/23 (2-0)
• Noted new tax rates: residential $11.04, commercial/industrial $17.43, Water District $0.95 (reported, not voted)
• Discussed three ATB cases with no evidence of incorrect assessments (no action taken)
• Noted budget is high due to vehicle and toner costs (no action taken)
• Discussed Chapter Land deadline and 20% non-returned applications (no action taken)
• Noted elderly/veterans exemption deadline of April 1 (no action taken)
• Adjourned at 5:45 PM (2-0)

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will meet to review meeting minutes and sign vouchers. The primary item of new business is a request to release Water District Overlay funds totaling $214,200.19.

• Request to release Water District Overlay funds: FY2015 ($56,215.94), FY2016 ($79,213.86), and FY2017 ($87,770.39) for a total of $214,200.19

The Board of Assessors voted 3-0 to approve the release of $214,200.19 from the Water District Overlay Account for fiscal years 2015-2017. The board also approved the minutes from the August 22, 2023 meeting. The Principal Assessor reported that the Tax Rate Classification meeting information was delayed and will be ready for the November 28 meeting.

• Approved $214,200.19 Water District Overlay Account release (3-0)
• Approved revised August 22, 2023 meeting minutes (3-0)
• Adjourned meeting at 5:35pm (3-0)

Board Of Assessors

The Board approved the release of funds from the Swansea Water District's Overlay Account. Members also signed elderly and veterans exemption applications and approved previous meeting minutes.

• Approved release of $214,200.19 from Swansea Water District Overlay Account (3-0)
• Approved revised meeting minutes from August 22, 2023 (3-0)
• Signed outstanding Elderly and Veterans exemption applications

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will meet to review meeting minutes and sign payroll. The board is scheduled to discuss the enforcement of Chapter Land application deadlines and a tax rate classification meeting with Selectmen on November 14.

• Chapter Land application deadline enforcement
• Tax rate classification meeting with Selectmen on November 14
• Review of meeting minutes from 8/2/2023 and 8/23/2023

The Board of Assessors met on November 1, 2023, and continued approval of the August 2 and August 23 meeting minutes to the next meeting due to absent members. They discussed strict enforcement of Chapter 61 property filing deadlines and reviewed the upcoming Tax Rate Classification Meeting with Selectmen on November 14. No final decisions were made on these items; the meeting was largely procedural and informational.

• Continued approval of 08/02/23 & 08/23/23 minutes to next meeting (2-0)
• Adjourned meeting at approximately 5:30pm (2-0)

Board Of Assessors

The Board decided that filing deadlines for Chapter 61 Farm, Forest, and Open Space exemptions should be strictly adhered to, barring mitigating circumstances. The Board also reviewed the Assessor's report and deferred decisions on hard copy field cards and future meeting schedules.

• Voted 2-0 to continue minutes from 08/02/23 and 08/23/23 to the next meeting
• Determined Chapter 61 exemption filing deadlines should be strictly adhered to
• Tabled decision on disposal of hard copy field cards until all three members are present
• Tabled future meeting schedule pending availability of member Mr. Gray

Regular Meeting - No Quorum

The Swansea Board of Assessors met on September 27, 2023, but lacked a quorum, so no official business was conducted. Chairman Timothy Cabral called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM and adjourned it at 5:37 PM. No decisions were made.

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors voted unanimously (2-0) to transfer $1.5 million from the Overlay Account to the Town for capital improvement projects. They also discussed pending Appellate Tax Board cases, a request to purchase a new digital camera, and the need to establish rules for financial hardship exemptions. No action was taken on the August 2 meeting minutes or future meeting schedule.

• Approved $1.5M transfer from Overlay Account to Town for capital improvements (2-0)
• Discussed but did not vote on August 2, 2023 meeting minutes
• Discussed but did not vote on purchasing a new digital camera
• Discussed but did not vote on establishing rules for financial hardship exemptions

Board Of Assessors

The Board voted unanimously to hire James Sullivan of Glocester, RI as Deputy Assessor, allowing property inspections to be done in-house. They also approved an abatement for Richard and Kelly Soares at 21 Delmage Road after reconsideration due to extenuating circumstances. Minutes from July 19 were deferred.

• Hired James Sullivan as Deputy Assessor (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for 21 Delmage Road (unanimous)
• Deferred approval of July 19 meeting minutes
• Signed all vouchers/payroll and documents

Board Of Assessors

The Swansea Board of Assessors met on July 19, 2023, and approved regular and executive session minutes from May 10 and May 24, 2023, all unanimously. Principal Assessor Minardi reported that the ATB denied a case for 57 Emelia Court (DaCosta) and that Gator Properties withdrew three ATB applications. The board also discussed rounding assessments to the nearest thousand dollars and ongoing administrative tasks such as entering building permits, scanning documents, and hiring a Deputy Assessor.

• Approved regular session minutes of May 10, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved and released executive session minutes of May 10, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of May 24, 2023 (unanimous)
• Signed all appropriate vouchers, payroll, and documents
• ATB denied case for 57 Emelia Court (DaCosta)
• Gator Properties withdrew three ATB applications
• Discussed rounding assessments to nearest thousand dollars (no vote recorded)
• Authorized ad for Deputy Assessor position (four interviews scheduled)

Board Of Assessors

The Swansea Board of Assessors approved the budget including a new position, signed vouchers and payroll, and discussed several property assessment matters. They denied an abatement for Rosemarie Alvarnas and noted that an abatement for Richard and Kelly Soares was too late to apply. The board also addressed office reorganization and the purchase of desktop scanners.

• Approved budget with new position
• Signed all appropriate vouchers/payroll and documents
• Denied abatement for Rosemarie Alvarnas, 19 Willow Circle
• Noted abatement for Richard and Kelly Soares, 21 Delmage Road, was too late to apply; card adjusted for future
• Advised emailing Town Administrator about invoicing Water District for necessary scanners
• Approved regular session minutes of May 10, 2023

Board Of Assessors

The Swansea Board of Assessors approved regular and executive session minutes from April 5, 19, and 26, 2023, with some abstentions. They signed all vouchers and payroll, and discussed updates on scanning, a Deputy Assessor position (A&F voted 6-5 in favor), and a boat excise tax commitment of about $10,000. In executive session, they voted to change the unit price on a land line at 1788 GAR Highway from $200,700 to $25,000 per acre.

• Approved regular session minutes of April 5, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved and released executive session minutes of April 5, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of April 19, 2023 (majority, Gray abstained)
• Approved and released executive session minutes of April 19, 2023 (majority, Gray abstained)
• Approved regular session minutes of April 26, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved and released executive session minutes of April 26, 2023 (unanimous)
• Signed all vouchers and payroll (unanimous)
• Changed unit price on 1788 GAR Highway land line from $200,700/acre to $25,000/acre (unanimous)

Board Of Assessors

The Board unanimously accepted the drafted Annual Report. The Board also reviewed several tax abatement and senior exemption applications, granting some and denying others.

• Accepted the Town Annual Report as presented (unanimous)
• Approved senior exemption for Carol Lopes at 47 Hornet Road (unanimous)
• Denied senior exemption for Carol Raush at 609 Warren Ave. (unanimous)
• Abated application #41 for KTT LLC at 0 Baker Road in the amount of $8,482.85 (majority)
• Abated applications for 81 Kendra Circle, 473 Ocean Grove Ave., 471 Ocean Grove Ave., and 72 Main Street (unanimous)
• Abated application #54 for Lees River Realty Inc. at 0 GAR Highway (unanimous)
• Denied abatement applications for 50 GAR Highway, 19 Willow Circle, 2340 GAR Highway, and 2327 GAR Highway (unanimous)
• Denied abatement applications for 573 GAR Highway, 718 GAR Highway, and 728 GAR Highway (unanimous)

Board Of Assessors

The Board unanimously accepted the drafted Annual Report and processed several tax abatement and senior exemption applications. Decisions included granting abatements for multiple residential and commercial properties while denying others.

• Approved Town Annual Report (Unanimous)
• Abated application WD #4 and #41 for KTT LLC at 0 Baker Road (Majority, Chairman recused)
• Approved senior exemption for Carol Lopes at 47 Hornet Road (Unanimous)
• Denied senior exemption for Carol Raush at 609 Warren Ave (Unanimous)
• Abated application #44 for Bette Enos Costa at 612 Warren Ave (Unanimous)
• Abated applications #47, #52, #53, #54, and #59 (Unanimous)
• Denied applications #55, #56, #57, #58, #60, #61, #62, and #63 (Unanimous)
• Deferred meeting minutes of April 5, 2023

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors approved several tax abatements based on property condition and financial hardship. Three applications for Gator Swansea Property were denied due to active litigation with the town. The board also approved the meeting minutes from March 22, 2023.

• Approved FY23 financial hardship application for Kevin Nunes (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for John and Anne Marie Motta to average condition and 10% site value reduction (unanimous)
• Granted continuance for application #30 at 1788 GAR Highway (majority vote, 1 abstain)
• Denied applications #31, #32, and #33 for Gator Swansea Property due to active litigation (unanimous)
• Denied abatement application #34 for Christopher and Kristin Kennedy (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Swansea Bowlaway, Inc. reducing condition to fair and external obsolescence to 30% (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Russell J. Castonguay to a value of $25,000 (unanimous)
• Approved regular and executive session minutes from March 22, 2023 (unanimous)

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors approved several tax abatements and financial hardship requests while denying others due to active litigation or other factors. The board also approved meeting minutes from March 22, 2023.

• Approved FY23 financial hardship application for Kevin Nunes (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for John and Anne Marie Motta to average condition and 10% site value reduction (unanimous)
• Granted continuance for application #30 at 1788 GAR Highway (majority vote, 1 abstain)
• Denied applications #31, #32, and #33 for Gator Swansea Property due to active litigation (unanimous)
• Denied application #34 for Christopher and Kristin Kennedy (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Swansea Bowlaway, Inc by reducing condition to fair and external obsolescence to 30% (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Russell J. Castonguay to a value of $25,000 (unanimous)
• Approved regular and executive session minutes from March 22, 2023 (unanimous)

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors approved several water district and property tax abatement applications while denying others. The board also approved meeting minutes from March 8, 2023, and signed payroll and vouchers.

• Approved Water District abatements for Barbara Vieira, Bertha Costa, and 433 Purchase Street Solar NG, LLC (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Peter Carvara to a value of $133,000 (unanimous)
• Denied abatement applications for Katleem Wagner, Armanua and Lorena Dauteuil (two applications), and Richard and Kelly Soares (unanimous)
• Approved abatements for Timothy Levesque, Tiago and Edna Silva, Giovanni and Melinda Pimentel, and Michael and Dawn Langton (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Jeremy Colton and Madeline McGreavy to an approximate value of $430,000 (unanimous)
• Approved regular and executive session minutes from March 8, 2023 (unanimous)
• Deferred meeting minutes from March 22, 2023

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors reviewed seven abatement applications, approving three and denying four. The Board also agreed that an appraisal for Gator Properties is necessary, pending budget identification.

• Denied abatement application #13 (107 Marvel Street) (unanimous)
• Denied abatement application #14 (101 Marvel Street) (unanimous)
• Approved abatement application #15 (31 Keller Street) to approx. $85,000 (unanimous)
• Denied abatement application #16 (110 GAR Highway) (unanimous)
• Denied abatement application #17 (40 Clancy Street) (unanimous)
• Approved abatement application #18 (92 Louis Street) to approx. $450,000-$460,000 (unanimous)
• Approved abatement application #19 (81 Tanglewood Dr.) by adjusting construction quality (unanimous)
• Agreed to perform appraisal for Gator Properties at a cost of approx. $13,000

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors approved three tax abatement applications and denied four. The board also approved minutes from four previous meetings and signed payroll and vouchers.

• Approved abatement for David and Monique Nasiff at 84 Locust Street (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Nuno and Antuerpia Chitas at 274 Keiths Circle (unanimous)
• Approved abatement for Michael and Nancy Annunziata at 500 Ocean Grove Ave. (unanimous)
• Denied abatement for George A and Karen Auclair Oliveira at 25 Bryants Way (unanimous)
• Denied abatement for Dana Dussinger and Courtney Ponte at 135 Cortland Court (unanimous)
• Denied abatement for Paula Smith at 18 Bayside Avenue (unanimous)
• Denied abatement for Christopher Carreiro at 21 Lands End Way (majority, one abstain)
• Approved regular session minutes from Jan 25, Feb 8, and Feb 22, and executive session minutes from Feb 22

Board Of Assessors

The Board approved rollback taxes for 0 Marvel Street and a Forestry Chapter land application for 0 W S Colletti Lane. In executive session, the Board voted to adjust land values and grant tax abatements for multiple properties. The Board also agreed to implement daily updates for the online GIS system.

• Approved rollback taxes for 2019-2023 for 0 Marvel Street (unanimous)
• Approved Forestry Chapter land application for 0 W S Colletti Lane (unanimous)
• Adjusted secondary land value for 0 ES Foxhill Way to approximately $10,200 (unanimous)
• Approved 90% land value reduction for 0 W S Dillon Lane (unanimous)
• Reduced land and external obsolescence by 5% for 16 Ian Street (unanimous)
• Abated $98.97, $2.02, and $29.32 for Map 13, Lot 6B, 6C, and 6D (unanimous)
• Approved 6-month personal property filing extension for 35 Cole Street (unanimous)
• Agreed to switch online GIS to daily updates

Board Of Assessors

The Board approved several property value adjustments and tax abatements during executive session. It also approved a Forestry Chapter land application and rollback taxes for a property on Marvel Street. The Board agreed to move GIS updates to a daily schedule.

• Approved rollback taxes for 2019-2023 for Map 27 Lot 9 (unanimous)
• Approved Forestry Chapter land application for Map 5 Lot 5 (unanimous)
• Approved daily GIS updates
• Adjusted secondary land value for Sunshine Realty Trust to approx. $10,200 (unanimous)
• Approved 90% land value reduction for William H Graff (unanimous)
• Reduced land and external obsolescence by 5% for 16 Ian Street (unanimous)
• Abated $98.97, $2.02, and $29.32 for Andrea J and Diane Rousseau (unanimous)
• Approved 6-month personal property form extension for Thomas H Morton (unanimous)

Board Of Assessors

The Board approved a chapter land application for forestry for a property on Colleti Lane. The Board also approved several sets of meeting minutes from 2022 and 2023 and signed payroll vouchers.

• Approved chapter land application for Sarah Morrison and Matthew DaCosta (Map 5 Lot 5 Colleti Lane) (Unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of January 18, 2023 (Majority, 1 abstain)
• Approved executive session minutes of January 19, 2022 (Majority, 1 abstain)
• Approved regular session minutes of March 2, 2022 (Majority, 1 abstain)
• Approved regular session minutes of March 16, 2022 (Majority, 1 abstain)
• Approved executive session minutes of March 16, 2022 (Majority, 1 abstain)
• Approved regular session minutes of March 23, 2022 (Majority, 1 abstain)
• Approved executive session minutes of March 23, 2022 (Majority, 1 abstain)

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors unanimously approved a series of Chapter Land applications for various residential and organizational properties. The Board also authorized CSC Global to use its own personal property forms.

• Approved multiple Chapter Land applications (61A, 61B, and Forestry) for various property owners (unanimous)
• Approved request from William Spencer of CSC Global to use personal property forms (unanimous)
• Deferred approval of regular and executive meeting minutes
• Signed all appropriate vouchers and documents

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors unanimously approved multiple Chapter Land applications for residential and commercial properties. The Board also authorized CSC Global to use its own personal property forms. Meeting minutes were deferred.

• Approved Chapter Land applications for 38 different applicants (unanimous)
• Approved request from William Spencer of CSC Global to use personal property forms (unanimous)
• Deferred approval of regular and executive meeting minutes
• Signed all appropriate vouchers and documents

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors voted to hire Michael Minardi as the Principal Assessor effective January 30, 2023. The Board also approved several sets of previous meeting minutes and signed appropriate vouchers.

• Hired Michael Minardi as Principal Assessor effective January 30, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of November 30, 2022 (unanimous)
• Approved but did not release executive session minutes of November 30, 2022 (unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of December 14, 2022 (unanimous)
• Approved and released executive session minutes of December 14, 2022 (unanimous)
• Signed all appropriate vouchers and documents

Board Of Assessors

The Board of Assessors voted to hire Michael Minardi as the new Principal Assessor. The board also approved several sets of meeting minutes from November and December 2022.

• Hired Michael Minardi as Principal Assessor effective January 30, 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of November 30, 2022 (unanimous)
• Approved but not released executive session minutes of November 30, 2022 (unanimous)
• Approved regular session minutes of December 14, 2022 (unanimous)
• Approved and released executive session minutes of December 14, 2022 (unanimous)