We hold abatements once a year, near the end of the year.  Our Treasurer
presents a list of the odd-ball mobile homes that are long gone, foreclosed,
etc. and we maybe have one or two others for the whole year.  There is
something with Irene this year though, with the State abating the "state
school" portion of the taxes.  But I believe the deadline for that was April
15th, and the requirements are very strict.  There is no reason you should
be holding abatements so often.

Cassandra J. Barbeau
Assistant Town Clerk
Bennington, VT
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Find us on the web at www.bennington.com/town


-----Original Message-----
From: Vermont Municipal Government Discussion Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Heidi Racht
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 11:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: abatements


Hello Clerks,

As I sit here writing up the minutes and the Board of Abatement decisions
for our chair to sign, I am wondering how other towns deal with these.

Since I have been elected clerk (March 2006), our BOA considered one
abatement, which was for a long-departed mobile home. We have already
dealt this year with five abate requests. They are kind of dribbling in.
The BOA met to consider the last two requests on Monday night, finishing
the meeting at 7 pm. Then, another one came in via email at 9 pm.

Can someone please give some insight as to how to keep from meeting every
other week? Do you set a schedule in case you get requests? Do you "end
the season" at some point or do these continue all year?

I am also wondering if I missed some exciting news story on abatements,
which is why there has been this rush of requests. Is this interest
because of Irene? Just curious since I don't have television and think I
have missed out on the latest trend...

Thanks very much.

Heidi Racht