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SPENCER – The Board of Selectmen on November 18 adopted a single use tax rate of $11.74 for residential and commercial/industrial/personal properties.
Their decision followed a presentation by Principal Assessor Linda LeBlanc that outlined options for exemptions related to small commercial, open space and residential (vacation homes/non-owner-occupied properties), which the board did not approve.
For an average value home in FY25 of $393,738, taxes would total $4,622 or $327 more than the previous fiscal year.
In FY24, the average value home was $375,432 with a tax rate of $11.44 and average bill of $4,295.
Spencer is comprised of 88.9% residential properties and 11% commercial/industrial. LeBlanc noted 34% of cities and towns in the Commonwealth adopted split rates.
During the town administrator’s report, Jeff Bridges informed the board that an expected contract fell through with Tighe and Bond for burn dump.
He said the engineering firm delayed giving a response on contract terms and provisions, leading to an “impasse.”
“We will not be using them,” Bridges said, noting the firm’s liability terms were unacceptable.
He said the sample language the town presented included text about putting forth “best effort,” something Tighe and Bond was “not going to commit to,” Bridges said.
The firm agreed to “average effort,” with liability only to the value of the contract.
“They are taking a hard line here,” Bridges said. “The town (client) hires them for their expertise and relies on them because we are not engineers.” And the firm is shifting liability back to the town, Bridges said.
“So we’d pay them for us to take the responsibility,” Selectman Gary Woodbury said.
“Exactly,” the town administrator replied.
Bridges added he is “a little bit out of shape with Tighe and Bond,” over this issue. Because ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds are involved, the work must be under contract very soon.
“We’re on a time clock,” Bridges said, adding that he is making calls to get another firm as soon as possible.
In other business, the town administrator spoke about a meeting held earlier in the day about regionalizing dispatch services. He said the conversation was mostly about “leadership and governance,” with most of the towns “on the same page…”
In addition to Spencer, the other communities are Southbridge, Sturbridge, Charlton and Auburn.
“They want some independence but with responsibility back to all municipalities,” he said.
Also on Monday, the town administrator said, a public hearing on electric aggregation lasted 12 minutes and prompted only one question from a resident. Those running the hearing said the question had to be handled “offline,” so Bridges said he would meet with the individual and address concerns.
Regarding another matter, Selectman Tony Pepe asked about timing for a possible Proposition 2 ½ override request.
Bridges replied it would be for the spring 2025 election ballot.
Selectmen have been meeting with town department heads over the past few months to hear about their needs. The next workshop to talk about a potential override is scheduled for Monday, November 25 at 6 p.m.
Selectmen also heard that installation is underway of a handicapped accessible structure, a merry-go-round that accommodates wheelchairs, at Powder Hill Park.
