Enfield to seek independent firm to investigate assessment discrepancies
The Town of Enfield is under fire for it’s record-keeping in the Assessor’s office, specifically when it comes to minutes of meetings of the Board of Assessment Appeals held early this year.
Several residents spoke to the Town Council about discrepancies in minutes posted on the town’s website, which were allegedly taken down and/or re-posted with deletions and some information missing or changed, including different values placed on the same homes.
The Town Council had an item on its agenda for its June 20 meeting that included a resolution asking the council for a bid waiver to retain an independent review of revaluation issues. It was proposed that the item be tabled, but some said a sense of urgency would be preferred.
“If some councilors have some reservations, people have to be comfortable,” said council member Michael Ludwick. “Maybe it takes a little longer, but councilors have the right to want that sort of view. I’m comfortable to wait. If you want to go to bid, I’m comfortable with that, too.”
“We all can agree that there is definitely a need for an independent review,” said Town Manager Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, calling the information “technical.”
“There is information and technical issues that go into the revaluation and assessments that none of us up here are experts on,” she said. “We felt strongly that going out and creating a pathway in order to evaluate who actually has that skill has the availability, and doesn’t have a conflict would be the way to go.”
Town Attorney James Tallberg said that his office received a BAA report two weeks ago that caused concern, as well as a report from the town that also raised issues. He was tasked with finding someone to conduct an independent review.
“What we’re talking about.... are issues of Connecticut law,” he said, adding that there is only a small group of lawyers in the state qualified to do such a review.
“In order to figure out these issues, you have to understand the interplay between the statutes of the case law, the supreme court decisions, new legislation, and personnel issues,” he said, adding that a request-for-proposal process would take at least weeks, so instead he was tasked with coming up with a shortlist of candidates, which have been narrowed down to three - two of which were weeded out because of some connections to Enfield or the Assessor’s office.
The remaining firm, Berchem Moses of Milford, was ready to begin the review of the situation, but tabling the bid waiver would allow for other entities to be considered.
Council member John Santanella said he was prepared to move forward at the June 20 meeting, but was bothered by the suggestion that the Berchem Moses firm was hand-picked.
“I want to see it resolved and I want it to be resolved quickly,” said council member Marie Pyznar. “But, it’s more about accuracy, and it’s about gaining the respect back of our citizens. I would like to be a bigger part in choosing.”
“I’m also ready to vote tonight,” said council member Cynthia Mangini. “This is a situation where time is of the essence, and we have an issue that needs to be resolved.”
The council tabled the item, but promised prompt action, including an interview with the firm and possibly others.
For more information, visit www.enfield-ct.gov
