The Town of Lebanon is looking to appoint a member to the Assessment Board of Review.
Lebanon Supervisor Jim Goldstein reports that long time member John Mayer recently submitted his resignation after many years of service. He said the Town was appreciative of Mr. Mayer’s effort and years of service on both the planning board and assessment board of review.
The Assessment Board of Review, made up of three members, oversees Grievance Day and the review of assessments. Current member are Ada Symonds of Bastain Road and John “Jack” King of Craine Lake Road.
Interested candidates should submit letters of interest and backgrounds who are residents of the Town of Lebanon to:
Town Supervisor, Town of Lebanon, 1210 Bradley Brook Road, Earlville, N.Y. 13332;
Fax it to 837-4152; or e-mail it to [email protected].
The Town Board will review applications at the April 13 meeting at the Smith Valley Community Center in Randallsville on River Road.
Supervisor Goldstein predicted that this will be a very busy grievance day year as there are a number of significant complaints about the asesssment process during this year’s revaluation. He said he hopes that the Assessment Board of Review takes to heart the current state and national economic and housing crises that emerged last fall including the rising unemployment rate locally, changing housing market and economic conditions of Madison County and the Town of Lebanon in its deliberations.
Goldstein reported that he has fielded nearly 24 complaints on assessments revaluations to date given the large increases imposed on some property owners that he concurs are excessive and not keeping with current economic trends locally. He predicts the Assessment Board of Review will be appropriately busy.
Lebanon town board members heard complaints from approximately 10 residents at their March 9 town board meeting concerning their revalued assessments. Goldstein said that he has consulted with the town attorney and Association of Towns to consider action that the Town Board might contemplate should the current review process not produce an appropriate response from Assessor David Gray in response to the unprecedented number of property owners from Lebanon who are challenging their increased assessment.
Lebanon participates in a Coordinated Assessment Program with the Towns of Georgetown and Eaton, which are also undergoing the same revaluation process. Goldstein said he spoke to Eaton Supervisor Priscilla Suits, a former town assessor, and Georgetown Supervisor Russell Hammond about the concerns in his town about the revaluation at the March 10 Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting.
