BOARD OF ASSESSORS

 

In 2000 there were many changes in the Assessors Office. Hugh McLaughlin was elected to the Board. He attended classes at the University of Massachusetts in August to complete his qualifications to assess. Our present Assessor Rena Swezey was Co-Chairman of the special class at Amherst, and Connie Rogers attended a class on GIS mapping. Jane Chalmers and Connie attended Computer Classes during the year and Chairman Ed Kopec attended meetings on “What's New in Legislation” during this time.

 

Going into Fiscal Year 2002, we will be upgrading all our valuations, as this is a re-valuation year. Sales are up and over our present assessments. In order for Groton to pass the Department of Revenue’s inspection, the valuations must be up to sale prices. (Assessed values in Massachusetts are based on “full and fair cash market value,” or100 per cent of fair market value). Some valuations will climb tremendously to meet the fair market value. With the raise in valuations, the tax rate should go down. (The assessors do not determine taxes. Property taxation is determined by the municipality itself, through its Town Meeting).

 

Presently we have four appraisers doing the upgrading and picking up new construction. These “field people,” as they are called, will be here until the job is completed.

 

Edward J Kopec,

 

In appreciation of a good leader, we would like to take this time to honor our “Chief”, Ed Kopec. In May of 1986 he was elected to the office of the Board of Assessors. In that time period he has served as Chairman for nine out of the 15 years. He is a hard working, dedicated man, one of the originals. He comes into the office almost every day with his “crusty” personality to cheer us, or to question “What's going on at so and so’s place?"

 

We hope he will continue to carry on his “Town Father” image for many years to come.

 

The Office Staff,

Jane & Connie

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Edward J. Kopec, Chairman

Hugh S. McLaughlin

Rena E. Swezey

Alexandria Tardiff

Constance A. Rogers, Assistant Assessor

Jane I. Chalmers, Office Assistant

 

BOARD OF ASSESSORS

 

Fiscal 2001 Recapitulation Abstract
Total Appropriations To Be Raised By Taxation:
	Budget		20,534,727.48
Total Cherry Sheets Offsets		12,847.00
Total overlay deficits prior years		0
Snow & Ice deficit Ch 44,Sec 31D		0
Total			12,847.00
State & County Cherry Sheet Charges:
Air Pollution Control		2,422.00
Transportation Assessments		16,231.00
Underestimates to be Raised		7,317.00
Total Charges			25,970.00
Overlay		102,003.63
Total Amount to be Raised			20,671,551.11
Fiscal 2000 Estimated Receipts From State, Local Aid, & Agency Funds
State Owned Land:		24,859.00
Veterans, Blind, Surviving Spouse		11,015.00
Elderly		12,847.00
Public Libraries Ch. 78		11,044.00
Highway Funds Ch. 81		94,085.00
Lottery, Beano, Charity Games		696,893.00
Total 2000 Estimated Receipts (State)			783,978.00
Estimate Receipts and other Sources:
Local Receipts		3,648,290.00
Other Available Funds		1,387,668.00
Free Cash		279,132.00
Total Estimated Receipts and Other Sources			6,169,830.00
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation			14,501,721.11
Assessed Valuation:
Personal Property		15,972,563.00
Real Estate		734,245,808.00
Total Valuation		750,218,371.00
Tax rate per thousand		19.33
Tax Exempt Property Valuation		117,195,528.00
Tax Dollars Loss		2,265,389.56
Dwellings:
1 Family - 2828	Condo Units - 72		Apartment Bldg. 14
2 Family - 165	3 Family - 15		Bldg. Permits - 467

BUILDING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT

 

Groton continues to grow at a rapid pace. In fact, the total number of building permits issued by the Building Department this past year exceeded all previous years' construction activity. The Department saw an increase in each of the areas for which it provides permits. Building, electric, gas and plumbing permits brought in more revenue for the Town than ever before.

 

It is this consistent increase in building activity that prompted the Department to undertake several long-term projects. Working in conjunction with the Assessor’s office, the mapping project is now in its final stages. The anticipated implementation of a town-wide Geographic Information System will increase the Department’s ability to better serve the public.

 

The Department also researched the revision of various permit fee schedules and determined that a modest increase in some of the fees was warranted. The revised fee schedules were recently approved by the Board of Selectmen and become effective on March 1, 2001.

 

The Building Department will be recommending to Town Meeting that the Town exercise its authority under state law to implement a policy regarding abandoned and unsafe buildings. Approval and funding will be sought in order to bring such properties into compliance with state regulations and to provide a higher level of public safety.

 

The Department is open Monday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. All building, electric, gas and plumbing permit applications may be submitted during those times.

 

Building and electric inspections may be requested in person, or via telephone. The office telephone number is: 978-448-1109. Messages may be left at any time. Gas/ plumbing inspections are requested directly via the inspector, Norman R. Card, Jr., at 978-448-9203.

 

The Department personnel consists of: the Building Commissioner/Zoning Enforcement Officer (Michael A. Tusino), the Local Inspector (Michael Giampetro), the Office Assistant (Paula D. Martin), the Part-time Clerical Assistant (Patricia Campagna), the Senior Work Credit Program Volunteer (Grace Strand), the Electrical Inspector (Louis D. Shattuck), and the Gas / Plumbing Inspector (Norman R. Card, Jr.).

 

The following is a report of the Department’s activities for the year 2000.

Building / Zoning

 

1998    1999 2000

Value of Construction              $24,398,440. $34,619,199. $27,612,972.      

Permit Fees Collected              $153,546.47 $170,993.79 $195,149.14

Number of Permits Issued                     422        453         530

Inspections Performed                         939                  934                  945

 

98 99 00 98 99 00

Residential: Commercial:

Single family homes:        99     80     77

Two family homes: 0 1 1 New: 2 5 2

Multi-family units: 0 0 1

Additions: 81 92 75 Additions: 1 4 2

Renovations: 121 126 136 Renovations: 8 19 22

Accessory buildings: 51 43 88 Accessory buildings: N/A N/A 2

Foundation only: N/A N/A 0 Foundation only: N/A N/A 4

Demolitions: N/A N/A 11 Demolitions: N/A N/A 6

98 99 00

Other: Communication towers                          1             0           0

Temporary trailers      2    1           1

Tents                 5             6         14

Special: Annual Inspection Certificates             10           30         15

Farm Labor Certificates                 3             2           1

Home Occupation Certificates    10           11         23

Wood Stove Permits                          19           16         24

 

Electric

 

1998 1999 2000

Permit Fees Collected $33,520. $32,623. $33,980.

Permits Issued 380 412 397

Inspections Performed N/A N/A 636

 

Gas

 

1998 1999 2000

Permit Fees Collected $ 8,022. $ 6,575. $ 8,161.

Permits Issued 160 131 157

Inspections Performed N/A N/A 157

 

Plumbing

 

1998 1999 2000

 

Permit Fees Collected $21,474. $18,541. $18,417.

Permits Issued 212 198 197

Inspections Performed N/A N/A 295

BUILDING MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT

 

Accomplishments:

 

·      Compiled a Ten Year Capital Expenditure Plan for all the municipal buildings in Town for what their needs will be in the future, along with a Capital Planning Real Estate Owned Data Collection of essential equipment in each building, and submitted it to the Capital Planning Committee.

 

·      The project for the repairs due to water damages sustained at the Town Hall from the fire suppression sprinkler system pipe bursting has been completed.

 

·      The Legion Hall’s deteriorated exterior trim work was refurbished last fall.

 

·      An equipment list was made of items that need preventive maintenance throughout the year in buildings that are under the Building Maintenance Department's care, which are the Town Hall, Legion Hall, Senior Center, and Public Safety Building. Squannacook Hall and the Center Fire Station will be added in FY02.

 

·      Annual inspections and testing of fire suppression sprinklers and fire alarm systems have been scheduled and are on going. All HVAC equipment has been scheduled or already has had its annual preventive maintenance performed on it.

 

·      Janitorial services were performed at the Town Hall, Legion Hall, Senior Center and on a part time bases at Squannacook Hall and the Center Fire Station.

 

·      The fire alarm system at Squannacook Hall has been reconnected to the West Groton Fire Station that rings into the Dispatch Office.

 

·      The Senior Center that is used for an emergency shelter has had its emergency generator rebuilt, has been put back on line, and is operating correctly.

 

·      The elevators at the Town Hall, Library and Public Safety Building were put under one contract for better pricing and service.

 

·      A new rubber roof was installed on the Radio Tower Building to protect the essential equipment from a leaking roof.

 

·      The Public Safety Building’s dispatch office flooring was changed to a rubber material to stop the static electricity from disturbing equipment and personnel.

 

·      The broken window glass and frames have been repaired and guards have been put over low windows in the children’s play area at Squannacook Hall.

 

·      Installed exterior covers on the fire alarm pull station located in the garage next to the Town Hall to prevent false alarms.

 

·      Moved the thermostat in the Public Safety Building for proper sensor location, giving better efficiency and control of temperature.

·      Installed a storm door on the north side of the Town Hall.

 

·      Filled the chilled water system at the Town Hall with correct amount of glycol for freeze protection.

 

·      Procured heating oil for the municipal building that requires it for the heating season.

 

·      Updated and rescheduled janitorial duties at municipal buildings.

 

·      Re-routed condensate drain lines on Town Hall HVAC units. Installed wire mesh over louvers with removable winter covers to keep snow out of the garage adjacent to the Town Hall.

 

Projects in Progress:

 

·      Repairs are being done on the exterior of the Public Safety Building that has rotted wood columns, trim and siding due to improper removal of rain water from the roof.

 

·      Installation of a walkway on the Senior Center grounds for senior’s access to outside activities.

 

Future Projects:

 

·      Install new shingles on Legion Hall roof.

 

·      Repair and paint Senior Center's exterior siding.

 

·      Install ice and snow melt cable on Senior Center Roof.

 

·      Paint exterior wood siding on Squannacook Hall.

 

·      Refurbish Senior Center’s HVAC system.

 

·      Refurbish Town Hall’s front lobby flooring.

 

·      Coverage of more janitorial duties at the Center Fire Station and Squannacook Hall.

 

·      Install glycol and water treatment to the Town Hall’s hot water heating system.

 

·      Upgrade basement sump pump system at Squannacook Hall.

 

·      Insulate chilled water supply lines to HVAC units in the Town Hall.

 

·      Update fire alarm system at Squannacook Hall to code.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

John A. Estabrook, Building Maintenance Supervisor

CABLE TV ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Most of our time this year was spent in working toward our new franchise agreement with Charter Communications. This involved doing a needs assessment by holding two public hearings and sending out a survey. Many thanks to those who came to the hearings or wrote letters, and to the 499 people who responded to the survey. The majority of those who responded have Expanded Basic Service, and most people consider their cable access good, and a fair value for the money. The biggest demand is for high speed Internet access which 244 people hope to use, with another 156 who said they might. A summary of the results is available at the Town Hall.

 

The information we gathered will be used in our negotiations. In addition, we have hired and met with a lawyer who is helping us with the renewal process, and a consultant to help us with our equipment needs, as it is time to update our facility. We are asking Charter to provide new equipment as they did in the original franchise agreement. We hope and expect that the new franchise will be in place by June 1, 2001.

 

Programming on Channel 17 continues to offer a variety of locally produced shows, as well as community and school activities, including School Committee and Building Committee meetings. Jane Bouvier’s “Around Town,” which airs live on Thursdays at 7:30 PM and features a wide variety of guests, had its hundredth show in October. Programming on Channel 18 features the Selectmen’s meetings live on Monday nights, with repeats during the week, as well as occasional telecasts of important meetings of other boards and Town Meeting. Much of this programming is made possible by the purchase of hours from Charter in addition to the 20 they already provide so that we have almost 40 hours a week of time for our Access Director to maintain and schedule the studio, teach courses in camera and editing, cover meetings, and facilitate the production of shows.

 

We are also very grateful for the many hours donated by the volunteers who are the backbone of our programming, and without whom there would be much less to watch. They help by videotaping and editing most of what you see, and by acting as crew for locally produced shows. For example, Around Town, our most labor-intensive offering, involves many hours each week of volunteer Jane Bouvier’s time to contact and schedule her guests, and plan her interviews. Other volunteers direct the show, operate the cameras, monitor the sound, adjust the lighting, and arrange the set under the supervision of Glen Carbutt, who facilitates and makes sure all studio operations run smoothly. To volunteer, enroll in a course, or put on a show call the Access Director, Glen Carbutt, at Groton Cable Access 448-3796.

 

We look forward to another successful year.