Westport Island First Selectman George Richardson announced Monday evening, June 22, the state Property Tax Review Board has ruled in favor of the Greenleaf Cove Association in its appeal of the selectmen’s decision to deny an abatement request. The association will obtain open space status for its common lot and receive a 45 percent reduction in property taxes.
This decision came down Monday afternoon after a hearing with the selectmen and their attorney, William Dale, in Augusta. The association was represented by Dennis Dunbar.
For the past three years, the association has appealed the selectmen’s decision to the state board. For the first two years, the state board ruled in favor of the town. However, on the third try, the ruling was reversed in favor of the association.
Dunbar, a member of the association and a strong advocate for the abatement, said, “We are pleased to have the Maine Board of Property Tax Review settle the case on its merits and resolve this long-standing dispute with the town. Protection of scenic and historic sites and water access points is an important issue for coastal Maine.”
When announcing the decision of the state board, Richardson said, “We are disappointed with the decision. The association fought hard and won. I shook hands and congratulated Dennis on the decision.”
The common lot is shared by 10 homeowners who are responsible for sharing the cost of maintenance and taxes on the lot. According to town records, the 1.1-acre common lot is assessed at $272,260.
Open space status will reduce the assessed value to $149,743 and result in an abatement for 2014-2015 of about $1,000.
The selectmen have maintained for the past three years that the common lot is not eligible for open space status because of a structure on the site.
Attorney Karin Marchette Porte had confirmed the selectmen’s justification to deny the request for open space status. Porte, an attorney who specializes in this category of law, agreed with the selectmen, according to a statement made in an earlier selectmen’s meeting.
Dale has represented the town on the three appeals before the state board at a cost to the town of several thousand dollars.
The next selectmen’s meeting will be held Monday, June 29, at 7 p.m. One of the first items on the agenda will be to appoint members to town committees.
