Board of Abatement Meeting Draft Minutes 12.01.25

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Guilford Board of Abatement: Abatement Hearing 2

Monday, December 1st, 2025, at 10:30am

Guilford Town Office 239 School Rd., Guilford, VT 05301

BOA MEMBERS PRESENT: Don McLean, Chair (JP), Verandah Porche (Selectboard), Elly Majonen, (Treasurer), Uriel Najera (Town Clerk), Mike Szostak (Selectboard), Roberta Bremmer (JP), Richard Smith (Lister), Sheila Morse (Selectboard), Cathi Wilken, (JP), Shaun Murphy (Lister), Sara Coffey (JP).

PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Skye Morse (JP), Stephen Soszynski (Lister), Pat Haine (JP), Akiva (Todd) Mandell (JP), Anna Klein (JP), Emily A. Rothschild (Applicant)

Draft Minutes

  1. Call to Order by the Town Clerk at 10:31 a.m.
  2. Rules of Procedures. The rules were read by the Chair and informed that these were voted upon during the first BOA hearing on 11/21/25.
  3. Abatement hearing
    Emily A. Rothschild and Joshua A. Beauregard of 1919 Green River Road, Parcel#523. The Chair recognized Emily A. Rothschild. Emily took the oath and reviewed the details of the application. The BOA asked the applicant to identify the statutory criteria that correlates with the application for abatement. The applicant identified: Taxes in which there is or a mistake of the listers. 24 V.S.A. § 1535(a)(4). The applicant responded to questions posed by the BOA. Sara asked the town office staff to speak on office procedures pertaining to address changes. The treasurer and town clerk responded that there is no direct communication between the post office and the town office. The town assessor clerk will not change the address on the Grand List bill unless there is direct approval from the resident. The resident must be listed in the deed.  It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to contact the town office directly with address changes.
  4. Executive Session for Decision (1 V.S.A. § 313 (a)(1))
    Motion: Sheila moved to enter into Executive Session, and Mike seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor, no objections, no abstentions. Motion passed. Executive Session occurred 10:56 a.m. – 11:14 a.m.
  5. Decision
    The BOA invited the applicant back into the hearing. The chair informed the applicant that the application was denied and that it would be communicated in writing.
  6. Adjournment
    Motion: Cathi moved to adjourn and Mike seconded. The vote was by roll call. All were in favor, no objections, no abstentions. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 11:16 a.m.

Meeting Recording: https://youtu.be/v1j_aU6pnkk