Minutes - Board of Abatement Hearing August 27, 2024, 143 Fifield Dr.

Town of Pittsfield Board of Abatement Hearing Minutes
August 27, 2024, Town Office 6pm
Present:
Board of Abatement-Tricia Abbondelo, Ann Kuendig (via teams), AJ Ruben, Joyce Stevens, Candy Kadimik, Beth Stanton
Board of Listers- Elizabeth Warner, Jeremy Rayner, Herb Kuendig
Public - Neil Lariviere.
 
New Business:

• Elect Chair
• Administer Oath of Office
• Abatement request- Peter and Maureen Olshewski, 143 Fifield Dr., Pittsfield, 68-0143-000.
• Board Decision

Trish called the meeting to order at 6pm, 2nd by Ann.
New Business:

• Elect a chair: Discussion, Trish has been the chair in the past for Abatement hearings.  Ann suggested that AJ be the chair and suggested that he remain the chair of the Abatement Board for the remainder of the tax year (2024). Ann moved to elect AJ as the chair, 2nd by Trish, all in favor.
• Administer Oath of Office, no applicants were present.  The witnesses were not asked to take the oath.
• Abatement Request: A request was received at the Town office from Peter and Maureen Olshewski on August 14, 2024. AJ read the claimant’s name, property address along with the parcel ID #.  Their claim was that a trailer was demolished on the property leaving vacant land.  The claimant stated that they contacted the town in Fall of 2023, she was told a physical visit would be conducted but never heard back.

AJ asked the board if they had questions.  Joyce asked the Listers if they received a letter, they did not have a record of any letter but do agree there should have been a change.  They did not drive up to check, Jeremy said it was missed by us.
The Listers made the following statement: “The Listers agree that a change in value should have occurred when the structures -Mobile Home and Outbuilding-were moved from the property at 143 Fifield Drive and that the Property Tax should be abated to reflect to reflect taxes on the land only.”  The listers recommended that $906.75 of the $1,579.88 tax bill be abated.
Joyce had suggested anytime someone calls with a change, we request changes in writing.  It was agreed upon that the Listers would do that moving forward.
 
The Board then entered a deliberative session.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 6:14pm

Respectfully submitted by:  Tricia L Abbondelo (s) August 28, 2024
                                                             Clerk
 
Approved by: AJ Ruben (s)  September 2, 2024
                             Chair