Board of Aldermen 04-09-2019 Page 2
The Chief Assessor’s position was one that was very difficult to fill last time; one applicant is one reason
for what was recommended in the audit. The number | think is 190 residential abatement requests; 190
is in line with previous revaluation years. There are another 190 or so commercial abatement requests
but they are in different in character in the sense that seeking, there’s a business really that has evolved
regarding seeking commercial abatements. Some property owners just file on every property every
year. There are people out here who offer their services free of charge to any commercial owner who
wants to seek an abatement and like a contingency fee on an attorney, agrees to take a share of the
profit or the savings. So there is a bit of business and | think the residential are different in character
from the commercial in the sense that the residential are really people who on their own individual
homes believe they were improperly assessed. Certainly they should pursue the abatement process as
far as it takes them; there are some abatements that are being granted and others denied by the Board
of Assessors.
We have instituted some deadlines and other things in the office to try to handle the work flow, to try to
complete as many of the abatement requests as possible by July 1, when abatement requests go up to
the Board of Land & Tax Appeals or the Superior Court. We met with Commissioner Stepp who is the
DRA Commissioner and her staff. She has said that Nashua is in compliance with all of their
requirements right now and certainly we are going to continue to work with them, as every City and
Town has an obligation too, to make sure that the assessing goes well. But again they reiterated that
we are in compliance with all of their requirements. So | would ask that you enable us to move forward
as quickly as possible with the improvement of City Hall Operations that will be accomplished by the
creation of the Administrative Services Position; not only in Assessing but in other areas and that you
pass Ordinance O-19-040.
The only other thing | was going to mention Mr. President, is the bond issue for the landfill. This will
enable us to expand the landfill, so-called Phase III, to extend its life by 10 to 15 years. Right now there
is maybe a year to a year and a half left on the life of the landfill. The next stage, which has begun,
Public Works has begun to seek to license Phase IV which would extend the landfill for another 40 years
or so. But the landfill is a valuable asset, this has of course received the recommendation of the Budget
Committee and | ask you to consider it favorably. And of course | am available for questions or
comments but that is all | have Mr. President.
Vice President O’Brien
Do any members of the Board have any response to the remarks of the Mayor?
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR - None
RECOGNITION PERIOD - None
READING MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
There being no objection, Vice President O’Brien declared the minutes of the Board of Aldermen
meetings of March 25, 2019, March 26, 2019, and the public hearing conducted by the Committee
on Infrastructure on March 27, 2019, accepted, placed on file, and the readings suspended.
COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRING ONLY PROCEDURAL ACTIONS AND WRITTEN REPORTS
FROM LIAISONS
From: Larry D. Goodhue, CEO/CFO, Pennichuck Corporation
Re: Annual Meeting of Sole Shareholder
There being no objection, Vice President O’Brien accepted the communication, placed it on file,
and referred it to the Pennichuck Water Special Committee.
