WISCASSET — As of today — with assessing issues looming on Tuesday night’s special town meeting agenda — the town was awaiting a legal opinion on whether the Board of Selectmen has the right to conduct assessing duties.
Money to cover former assessor Sue Varney’s severance package and another article seeking funds for the department, meanwhile, are on the special town meeting warrant. The meeting, at Wiscasset Middle School, begins at 7 p.m.
“As of now,” Town Manager Laurie Smith said today, “we have no legal opinion. I’m hoping to have one early next week.”
Last week, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 to delay action on conducting assessments pending legal advice. While one selectman said last week he will not do assessing, a Budget Committee member replied that it is a board duty.
The union that represented Varney informed town officials earlier this year that it would sue the town if anyone other than she performed assessing jobs. Despite that threat, residents voted last month for the second time not to fund the assessing department, putting Varney out of a job.
Those who gather for the town meeting, meanwhile, will vote on four articles, following the election of a moderator.
— Article 2: Shall the town change to Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, and Friday, April 25, 2014 as the dates when semi-annual tax payments are due and payable and instruct the tax collector to charge interest at the rate of 7 percent on all taxes unpaid after said dates?
— Article 3: To see what sum the town will vote to raise and appropriate to supplement the $16,780 already approved for the assessing budget. Selectmen and Budget Committee both recommend.
— Article 4: To see what sum the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the assessor’s contractually obligated severance pay. Selectmen and Budget Committee both recommend $67,340.
— Article 5: To see what sum the town will vote to raise and appropriate to supplement the $34,000 already approved for the town legal accounts. Selectmen recommend $20,000; Budget Committee recommends $0.
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