GUILFORD – In a resolution adopted Wednesday night following a heated public debate, the Town of Guilford abolished its board of elected assessors in favor of appointing a single person to that position.
There was a great deal of hostility at Wednesday’s meeting as town residents took the opportunity to express their opinion about the proposed town law, which would replace the municipality’s current board of three elected assessors with a sole, appointed assessor.
According to Councilman Bruce Winsor, the town started researching the option after the unexpected resignation of an assessor at the end of July. The position has yet to be filled. “We’re having a problem in this township,” said Winsor. “In the last twelve years, we have only twice had three people on the board.” This does not include someone who was elected to the position, but resigned before ever taking the oath of office.
“The system is not working right now,” Winsor added, citing the town’s equalization rate of 56.5 percent.
Bias and inaccuracies common under the current system were echoed by several residents, including Lianne Sprague, who sits on the Board of Assessors Review Board. She reported an occasion where she “subbed” on grievance day. “There were a lot of discrepancies,” said Sprague. “Even the square footage on some of the houses wasn’t right.”
More than 84 percent of the state’s municipalities are already served by a sole appointed assessor, said Jeffrey Bartholomew, regional manager for the New York Sate Office of Real Property Services in Syracuse.
A 1971 state law actually requires this model, Bartholomew explained, but an intentional loop hole allowed municipalities like Guilford to opt out and keep their three-member elected board.
The ORPS regional manager was interrupted several times as he gave a brief presentation about the benefits of this state-advocated assessment model. In addition to the sole assessor option being more efficient, Bartholomew listed greater accountability, better service to property owners and a lower overall cost as those key benefits.
He also cited the increasing level of knowledge and skills needed to perform the important role. While the town continues to elect their assessors, it is bound by law to choose from residents of the municipality. This limits the pool of qualified candidates for the position.
Susan McIntyre, one of the town’s current assessors, spoke in support of the proposed law. “How can the town be assured that the best people are doing the job of assessing when its so hard to even fill the slots with warm bodies?”
If the position becomes an appointed one, there would be no residency requirement, thus opening the field of candidates to experienced individuals living outside of the town limits.
“They are welcome to apply,” said the town’s legal counsel, Michael Ferrarese, responding to a question about whether the town’s current assessors will be eligible for the newly created position. “They will certainly be considered.”
Celeste Abers, who has one year left in her term on the board of assessors, said she had already consulted an attorney and alluded to taking possible legal action against the town if she is forced to leave her elected office early.
Many of those in the crowd were vocal in their opposition to the plan. While some resorted to blatant accusations and personal attacks against members of the town’s board, others were more eloquent in their arguments.
“We’re concerned about the loss of accountability,” said resident Gilda Ward. “I believe that is the crux of the issue.”
While the town could have chosen to go to a vote on the issue, board members have decided not to in favor of expediency.
“I don’t care if we have one assessor or three assessors,” said resident Robert Mackay. “What I care about is my rights and privileges, guaranteed under the Constitution, being taken from me.”
“We elect them to do our business,” said long-time Guilford resident Terry Ives, who was comfortable with the town board making an appointment without a vote.
The mood of the town board was somber when the meeting was called to order after the conclusion of the public forum.
Supervisor Alton Doyle and board members Winsor, George Seneck, Thomas Ives and Joseph Zaczek all voted in favor of the resolution, making it a unanimous decision to adopt Town Law Number One.
“We have made no determination of salary,” said Doyle. According to the supervisor and the town’s legal counsel, the part-time position will not include benefits. When details are finalized, the position will be posted. The board’s intention is to fill the position by Jan. 1.