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~ ✓ <br /> lonnecting veterans,families and the community since 1983 <br /> r 247 Stevens Street, Suite E • Hyannis, MA 02601 <br /> 011TRE.M31 <br /> � 508.7781590 • Fax 508.77 8.1094 <br /> BOINRD OF <br /> Cuwm OF MASNP � www,capeveterans,com <br /> ORS <br /> r <br /> July 1, 2018 <br /> Dear Director Streebel: <br /> I am writing in response to your letter to me of April 27' informing me that the Mashpee Board <br /> of Assessors has determined that our property at 33 Seanest Drive does not qualify for <br /> "preferential tax treatment" as a charitable entity, and has entered a pro forma denial of our <br /> application for exemption from the payment of real estate taxes to the Town. <br /> To begin, we appreciate the Board of Assessors sensitivity to our organization's goal to <br /> refurbish the facility to serve the mission of our veterans' charity. We appreciate also, your <br /> patience, and understandthat it isyour responsibility to remain apprised of the use of a,bttilding <br /> in your town.owned by a charitable entity. . <br /> I hope to expand your full understanding of our purpose and use beyond inspections of the <br /> interior of which we were unaware, and beyond "speaking with several people with knowledge <br /> of the facility". Obviously the only people with reliable knowledge of the f4cility would be we, <br /> the owners. I therefore will respond to the seven areas which you outlined in your letter that <br /> would better inform the Board of Assessors of the actual status of the Grace Building's use by <br /> our 501 c 3 veteran charity. <br /> 1. You first requested evidence of property improvements since 2016. As you must be <br /> aware, our progress in building improvements had been significantly impaired by the boiler <br /> failure in 2013, and the lack of insurance at this time of transfer of ownership to cover the costs <br /> of repairs. We persevered in our attempts to remedy the damage, largely with volunteer help <br /> and supplies, including the contributions of both on the part of your selectman, Tom O'Hara. <br /> Our own Staff and Board also contributed to this effort as well in their free time. Obviously, <br /> however, we were,only.able to proceed to a certain point, and then both our funding and our <br /> time were exhausted. <br /> Serving Veterans of All Conflicts and Eras - <br />