Montville residents OK revaluation

MONTVILLE – At their annual town meeting on Saturday, residents approved a proposal to hire a contractor to complete a townwide property revaluation.

The proposal, endorsed by selectmen, generated about 90 minutes of discussion and some procedural moves to try to kill it, but in the end, it was approved in an 83-69 vote.

Outgoing First Selectman Bill Terry said town properties were being assessed at 55 percent of market value. In addition to falling short of the state’s requirement that property be assessed at closer to actual market value, Terry said the problem is that some properties are valued at 30 percent, and others at 110 percent.

Selectmen entered into a contract with certified assessor Jackie Robbins of Monroe, contingent on town meeting approval, to visit each property in town and set a more accurate value, Terry said. Robbins agreed to do the work for $31,500, and said she could complete the project in time for next year’s tax bills.

Other firms bid $50,000 to $70,000 for the work, selectmen reported, and would not take up the project for at least two years.

“I feel this would serve the town. There’s a lot of inequity,” Terry said. “I feel it’s something we should do.”

Terry later read from a 5-year-old town report in which selectmen advocated for a revaluation.

Selectman George Maendel said that selectmen, who also act as assessors, are perpetuating an unfair taxation system.

“What you’re asking the selectmen to do is commit unfair taxation right now,” he said.

But some residents said selectmen have been setting property values for 200 years, and argued that they ought to be able to continue to do so.

Many had questions about the revaluation process and what it would mean. An information meeting held earlier in the month was attended by some in town, but other residents said they were not notified of the meeting.

Resident Jeff McKeen asked if the state was pressuring the town to revalue its properties, and Terry said there was no pressure from the state, but the town was losing out on veteran and homestead property tax exemptions by assessing at a low percentage of actual value.

Debi Stephens opposed the outside revaluation plan; she argued the town would have to borrow the funds to complete the work, which would drive up taxes.

“I don’t believe she can do it for $31,000,” she said of Robbins’ bid, and predicted that actual costs would be higher.

But others spoke in favor of the proposal.

Floyd Wygant said when he moved to town, a previous group of selectmen valued his residential property equal to a large farm, which he believed was an act of discrimination against him as a newcomer. He said an outside person setting values would result in a fairer assessment.

Resident Glenn Couturier said residents had control over how much they spent, and that a revaluation would shift the burden only slightly.

“It’s highly unlikely that everyone’s value is going to be higher,” he said.

Terry said some values will increase, some will decrease, and some will stay the same.

“It’s a matter of what’s fair and equitable for the people of Montville,” he said. “And I think it’s off right now. In fact I know it’s off.”

Terry spoke highly of Robbins.

“I think she’ll give you a good job,” he said.

Maendel said Robbins completed a revaluation in nearby Thorndike, and residents were pleased.

In elections, Maendel was elected to the first selectman seat and Carrie Peavey was elected to the second selectman seat.

In a three-way race for the third seat, Randy Hayes won with 72 votes, while John Bednarik received 32 votes and Amy Stairs received 29 votes.

Residents set annual pay for first selectman at $10,000, second at $5,000 and third at $3,000.