2021 Grievance Hearing Minutes Background: Change of appraisal notices were sent to property owners on 4/27/2021 and included the information that written notification of the desire to grieve the value of their property including the reasons for grieving and any documentation was to be received in the town office by 5pm on 5/25/2021. Also included in that notice was the information that grievance hearings would be held on Thursday, 5/27 from 3pm until 7pm, and again on Friday, 5/28 from 9am until 12pm. Five property owners mailed or emailed notification of their desire to grieve and hearing times were scheduled. We heard grievances from two additional property owners.
5/27/2021 3:15pm Property ID - 07-0136-000 Sarah Gallagher, owner Ms. Gallagher felt that the increase in value due to her recently completed porch and rear deck which had not previously been included in the valuation was excessive. During the hearing Ms. Gallagher compared her property to her neighbors and questioned a change in depreciation values.
5/27/2021 3:45pm Property ID - 99-2447-000 Paul Grindell, owner The change of appraisal reflected improvements to the building on this property. Mr. Grindell told the listers that the land that his home sits on has become more unusable because of continuing erosion and that his property has many sinkholes.
5/27/2021 4:15pm Property ID - 39-0045-000 Michael & Sue Wuerthele, owners The Wuerthele's, questioned an increase in value related to a new shed when no changes had been made to their property since 2014. The listers explained that there was a shed on the property that had not previously been included in the valuation. In addition, there was a screen porch that was not included in the previous valuation. Questions about how the numbers were derived were asked.
5/27/2021 5:45 Property ID - 99-0232-000 Robert Giolito, owner Mr. Giolito presented photos showing the state of completion of his home and shared recordings of road noises heard at various times from various places in his home. His presentation also included information about the traffic on Route 100 outside of his home.
5/27/2021 6:15pm Property ID – 07-0088-000 Bruce Shaw representing Pittsfield Federated Church Mr. Shaw and Mrs. Kathie Burns appeared. Mr. Shaw had submitted a letter objecting to the Board of Listers decision to no longer classify the Church Parsonage as non-taxable. The change of appraisal notice was a courtesy notification reminding them of the change in classification of which the church had initially been informed in July of 2020. There was no objection to the value of the parsonage. Mr. Shaw was informed that the law requires that a parsonage, to be considered non-taxable by the state of Vermont, must be occupied by a full-time, ordained minister of the church.
5/27/2021 6:45pm Property ID - 02-4010-000 Gary Stanley, owner Mr. Stanley acquired 7 acres last year from Mr. McGowan and questioned the value assigned to that property. Mr. Stanley stated he also owns property in Rochester that is contiguous with this Pittsfield property. He submitted a map showing right of ways through the property and stated that he felt those diminished the value.
5/28/2021 10:45am Property ID - 03-0447-000 Peter and Jody Wood, owners This grievance was heard based on documentation provided by the owners. That documentation was both the initial letter informing the listers of the desire to grieve the value and the reasons. In addition, Mr. Wood provided additional documentation in an email with possible comparable properties and made himself available by phone during the hearing time.
5/28/2021 9:15am Property ID - 99-3681-000 Beth Philhower, owner as of 4/6, grieving the value with permission of the owners of record on 4/1/2021. Ms. Philhower presented photos of the condition of her home and other information including the banks appraisal and comparables.
Minutes approved on 6/01/2021 by:
Elizabeth Warner (s)
Herbert Kuendig (s)
Jeremy Rayner (s)
5/27/2021 3:15pm Property ID - 07-0136-000 Sarah Gallagher, owner Ms. Gallagher felt that the increase in value due to her recently completed porch and rear deck which had not previously been included in the valuation was excessive. During the hearing Ms. Gallagher compared her property to her neighbors and questioned a change in depreciation values.
5/27/2021 3:45pm Property ID - 99-2447-000 Paul Grindell, owner The change of appraisal reflected improvements to the building on this property. Mr. Grindell told the listers that the land that his home sits on has become more unusable because of continuing erosion and that his property has many sinkholes.
5/27/2021 4:15pm Property ID - 39-0045-000 Michael & Sue Wuerthele, owners The Wuerthele's, questioned an increase in value related to a new shed when no changes had been made to their property since 2014. The listers explained that there was a shed on the property that had not previously been included in the valuation. In addition, there was a screen porch that was not included in the previous valuation. Questions about how the numbers were derived were asked.
5/27/2021 5:45 Property ID - 99-0232-000 Robert Giolito, owner Mr. Giolito presented photos showing the state of completion of his home and shared recordings of road noises heard at various times from various places in his home. His presentation also included information about the traffic on Route 100 outside of his home.
5/27/2021 6:15pm Property ID – 07-0088-000 Bruce Shaw representing Pittsfield Federated Church Mr. Shaw and Mrs. Kathie Burns appeared. Mr. Shaw had submitted a letter objecting to the Board of Listers decision to no longer classify the Church Parsonage as non-taxable. The change of appraisal notice was a courtesy notification reminding them of the change in classification of which the church had initially been informed in July of 2020. There was no objection to the value of the parsonage. Mr. Shaw was informed that the law requires that a parsonage, to be considered non-taxable by the state of Vermont, must be occupied by a full-time, ordained minister of the church.
5/27/2021 6:45pm Property ID - 02-4010-000 Gary Stanley, owner Mr. Stanley acquired 7 acres last year from Mr. McGowan and questioned the value assigned to that property. Mr. Stanley stated he also owns property in Rochester that is contiguous with this Pittsfield property. He submitted a map showing right of ways through the property and stated that he felt those diminished the value.
5/28/2021 10:45am Property ID - 03-0447-000 Peter and Jody Wood, owners This grievance was heard based on documentation provided by the owners. That documentation was both the initial letter informing the listers of the desire to grieve the value and the reasons. In addition, Mr. Wood provided additional documentation in an email with possible comparable properties and made himself available by phone during the hearing time.
5/28/2021 9:15am Property ID - 99-3681-000 Beth Philhower, owner as of 4/6, grieving the value with permission of the owners of record on 4/1/2021. Ms. Philhower presented photos of the condition of her home and other information including the banks appraisal and comparables.
Minutes approved on 6/01/2021 by:
Elizabeth Warner (s)
Herbert Kuendig (s)
Jeremy Rayner (s)
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