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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, Colgate News

Board Voices Disapproval of Revaluation Process

Tue, May 10, 2011

The Hamilton Town Board voted 4-1 Monday to approve a resolution expressing its dissatisfaction with the work done on the recent property revaluation. Supervisor Bob Kuiper cast the lone dissent on the symbolic disapproval.

Four of the five members of the Hamilton Town Board Monday night officially added their names to the growing list of residents unhappy with how the recent property revaluation was conducted and its outcome.

At a meeting at the Hamilton Bible Fellowship Church, Carolyn Todd and Peter Darby voted in favor of a resolution offered by Dave Crumb and Dave Holcomb that calls on Town Assessor Dave Roach to reject the revaluation performed by the Maxwell Appraisal Service Syracuse. Supervisor Bob Kuiper voted against the resolution.

The vote came at the end of the fourth contentious meeting about the reval and a highly visible protest Saturday at the opening of the Farmers' Market, whcih was attended bt Assemblyman Bill Magee and Senator Dave Valesky. Michael Maxwell, principal in the Maxwell firm, answered questions and faced a steady barrage of complaints from the 100 or so folks who attended the meeting.

Board members went out of their ways to remind people that this was a symbolic vote of no confidence, as they do not have the power to force Roach to negate the revaluation. They also were emphatic in reminding people to follow the process to seek a reduction in their assessment through a meeting with Roach and/or through the grievance process.

Maxwell fielded numerous complaints about inaccurate property descriptions, how property values were calculated and about the sale of comparable properties. 

Mike Hotaling, a Hubbardsville resident who owns properties in several nearby towns said the assessment for his land in Hamilton was far higher than the others. He told the board that he was willing to pay for a legal challenge to the entire assessment, which he called "an absolute joke."

Trustee Holcomb also exprressed his frustration with the revaluation and the response of Maxwell and Roach.

"I've had it with this," he said. "This has been a farce since day one."

Holcomb said in his almost 12 years on the board he has sat three three revaluations and the ones previous to this caused nowhere near the concern and contention the current one has.

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Comments(1):

  1. Town Board Actions

    Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Ben

    Thanks to the Board for their symbolic vote. However, the "cats out of the bag". The Town Assessor has indicated he has no intention of rejecting this abomination. We believe he will be the one who allows this mess to become law, and in doing so will cause irreparable damage to the Town in general and the agricultural community in particular. Isn't this enough to start seeing "For Sale" signs popping up like the spring flowers? We have had many people indicate to us that they will be FORCED to sell as they will NOT be able to afford to live here. Couple this reval with the proposed Town tax hike, and you might just see a "For Sale sign in front of our place. We agree with the old addage of "I love New York, but I hate the taxes"! We ask, "Will the last one out, please turn off the lights". Thanks, Ben & Susan Barrett Payne Street Hamilton