10/29/1991 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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BOARD OF SELECTMEN Page 4 MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1991 Town Counsel Expense : Mr . Harrington suggests to carefully scrutinize the account so there is not a shortfall . He recommends the Board immediately re-issue it August 22 , 1990 policy as to better ensure cost contain- ment. It is obvious Attorney Reardon and Attorney Morse have worked on alot of cases for the Town states Selectman Jacobson. She notes the policy of August 22 , 1990 adopted by the Board give access to Town Counsel with prior approval from the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen or Executive Secretary. When the decision was made, it was intended for the people within the Town Boards and not the individual Selectmen. Obviously we have to be more careful with everything informs Selectman Caffyn. She notes the budgeted $150 , 000 is lower than the last four years . Attorney Reardon ' s grand total last year was $75 , 812 . The .figure from 1989 was $166 ,000; 1990 $243 ,000 and 1991 $188 ,000 states Selectman Caffyn. Mr. Harrington suggests the Board review the expense of Town Counsel on a monthly basis and watch it more closely. Selectman Jacobson agrees. To understand the total cost , we should determine the engineering costs in addition to Town Counsel states Selectman Caffyn. She asks • if we have reached 50%? It is greater than 25% reports Mr. Harrington. Selectman Hanson also notes there are other Counsel involved as well as Town Counsel to be factored into the figure . Diane Rommelmeyer informed the Board that 49 . 3% has been expended through October 31 , 1991 for the whole account of Legal and Engineering. 7 : 55 p.m. Apportionment of Bowdoin Road. Betterment: The Town did a taking of Bowdoin Road and it became a public way informs Counsel . The Board of Selectmen assessed betterments against the owner . One owner of the parcel recorded a master deed creating a commercial condominium unit complex on one of the parcels . The owner has requested the Board of Assessors to apportion the taxes . This is common to divide the taxes informs Counsel . When the owner sells , it allows him to get the amount of taxes due between the buyer and the seller . In addition to taxes , there was a betterment assessment against the property. Theapportion of the betterment assessment is done by the Board that created the betterment. Town Counsel recommends the Board of Selectmen follow the same procedure as the Board of Assessors with reference to the betterment assessment on the 14 units . This requires a vote by the Board of Select- men to make the apportionment . The betterment assessment for the registered owner who is Martex Corporation is $14, 142 . 87 reports Counsel . Under Chapter 80 Section 15 • Division of Assessed Plan informs Counsel , the Board would vote to apportion the betterment assessment to the Martex Corporation into 14 equal parts. Instead of one piece of property, the owner would have 14. He has a right to make this request informs Counsel and we have our obligation.