Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 3/3/21
Finance Committee Meeting March 3, 2021 @ 5PM
This meeting was a joint meeting with the selectboard
Jon Sylbert, Michele Miller, and Rebecca Wolin present
2021/2022 budget
Jon Sylbert spoke about the tax levy and provided everyone with a copy from the earlier finance committee Steve and Don both commented that it was too complex to discuss tonight and they had to take it home and study it.
Rebecca asserts that we have overtaxed our taxpayers by a half a million each year and this needs to stop. Don made a remark about the finance committee had a hand in those budgets. I guess DC did not understand the comment.
Jon Sylbert and Rebecca Wolin made a comment that the Board of Assessors is not properly taxing the fire company. Jon reports that the Monterey Fire Company charity has not been filing the proper tax documents with the town or the Attorney General. Jon disputes the assessments for properties on their tax forms. He does not feel the town should be giving money to a charity that in his opinion is out of compliance. Jon and Rebecca were reminded that this falls outside the proper scope of the Finance Committee. Steve inquired if Jon and Rebecca were asking the Board to shut down the fire company and if not what remedy are they seeking? Obviously again the selectboard did not understand the issue. It was not about shutting down anyone, but to enlighten the selectboard that maybe not all the taxes that could be collected was collected. The selectboard had no interest in discussing whether the fire company was in compliance or not.
Questions arose as to who owns the fire company properties? Tax records show the fire company is the owner of the two parcils of land but Don asserts that in fact they do not because they cannot sell the building and you can’t own something you can’t sell Jon disagrees and states that this is wrong and Jon S wants this in writing from counsel. If the fire company stopped being a fire company the buildings/property become the towns. Jon and Rebecca stated that abatements issued by the Board of Assessors have not been proper for the last 15years and the fire company should’ve been sent a tax bill.
Don and Steve assumption that the land and building reverts to the town is true as it stand now and stated in the fire companies by laws as by laws can change by a majority vote of the fire company board.
A motion was made by the Finance Committee to request information/clarification on the status of the fire company’s tax commitments to Monterey and the Attorney General’s office. The motion was seconded. Rebecca yes. Jon yes. Michele left the meeting before the vote the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.