After a lengthy debate at Special Town Meeting Monday night, a majority of Town Meeting Members voted to bring to the ballot the question of whether to change the Board of Assessors from elected positions to appointed ones.
“Although I don’t feel as strongly as I do about the appointed treasurer, I do feel like an appointed board gives us the greatest possibility of having the largest pool of candidates,” said Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Jack Weis, referencing the change last year in the treasurer position from elected to appointed.
Assessors determine the value of a town’s real and personal property to calculate property tax rates for the fiscal year. They must pass Massachusetts Department of Revenue training to learn state-approved methods for assessing the value of properties. According to the town, the assessors appraise about 8,000 parcels of property in Belmont.
Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Margaret (Peg) Callanan supported the change.
“I look forward, if this does prevail, to future improved collaboration that I think is so important, especially at this time, between the Board of Assessors and town administrators,” she said.
Other residents, however, felt the question would only distract voters if brought to the ballot, given the magnitude of the override question, which aims to address the $6.5 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2025. They also argued the change wouldn’t solve the Select Board members’ concerns about a lack of collaboration between financial boards and committees.
Currently, the three-member Board of Assessors serves staggered terms. If passed by voters during the April 2 election, the member seeking re-election on that same date, Patrick Murphy, would remain in his seat until the position is appointed by the Select Board, according to Town Clerk Ellen O’Brien Cushman.
The debate Monday night followed a 2022 report on the town’s financial structure by the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management. It recommended Belmont improve its governance by appointing the treasurer and assessors to professionalize the positions and foster closer coordination among financial functions.
The proposal started as a citizen petition from Precinct 8’s Angus Abercrombie.
Select Board Chair Roy Epstein and Vice Chair Elizabeth Dionne argued the proposed change would professionalize the position while improving collaboration on local government finance matters. Member Mark Paolillo expressed concern for the precedent the change could set.
“I think it’s really important for checks and balances,” he added. “I think it’s critical to have independence.”
Board of Assessors Chair Robert Reardon agreed with Paolillo.
“We’re working to make sure the [assessed home] values are fair and equitable to the citizens of the town. I think by changing to appointed, we’re losing the opportunity to allow all citizens of Belmont to elect representatives who would be on the Board of Assessors,” Reardon said. “Maybe at some point in the future, if there aren’t qualified people to run, we revisit this issue.”
After more than two hours of debate, Town Meeting voted 156-87 in favor of bringing the question to the ballot.
“I believe the voters should have the opportunity to make a decision that is in front of us tonight,” said Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Ellen Schreiber, who voted in favor.
