This is the uh twenty twenty six board of assessment review hearings first day.

Um just want to welcome everybody.

And uh as a reminder, these meetings are uh recorded.

Um let me uh uh take a roll call.

Uh my name is Joe Saya.

Master Paul.

William Apollito, Bill Ryan.

Okay, thank you for that.

And uh I think uh that's a good uh okay, very good.

Okay, so let's get right into it.

And there was a delay.

Uh apologize for that.

Uh it's uh 9 30 on Friday morning, February 6th.

Uh let's uh uh start with 161 Ridgewood Drive.

Yes, please.

I was unable to bring these prior to um due to um scheduling at work.

Okay.

What I'm gonna do is uh uh square you and welcome and uh and then uh uh and then I'll have you give those to me.

Okay.

Um and you're here for one property 161 Ridgewood Drive.

That's correct.

Okay.

Uh if you can raise your right hand, uh state your name for the record.

Melanie Martin.

You affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability.

Okay, very good.

Yes, that would be good.

Joe, if you could raise your right hand, uh state your name for the record.

So plus no.

You affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability.

I do.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

So Joe's all set.

Uh okay, so let me take those now if I could.

And and what did you say about these?

You weren't able to submit.

I was not able to submit them prior to due to uh scheduling for exchanging.

Okay.

Um the first one that you just handed to your right is the one that's closest to my property.

The other two are other properties within my neighborhood.

Okay, let me take that back if I could then.

Um I thought they were uh of the same thing.

No, there are three different three different cops.

All right.

And then when we done with those, I'll pass them along.

Okay, let me uh take a peek at the file and uh just call out some pertinent information.

So again, 161 Ridgewood Drive.

Um it's a single family home.

Uh we've got eighty thousand dollars as far as the current total assessed value, I think.

Uh the proposed change to 91.

Okay.

So eighty was the prior.

Correct.

1,000.

And of that the land value is 17,500.

And then you believe that your uh estimate of fair market value is 170,000, uh, which would be 88,400.

Okay, let me just take a key here.

So you purchased it in 2019 for 74,200.

And it was a cash purchase.

Everything else not applicable.

Okay.

Um, so why don't you start off with your property?

Uh and then we'll go from there.

Okay, so um uh my reason for grievance is I understand that the assessment needs to rise.

I was just concerned that it's a rise of 13.75% from 80 to 91, and I don't believe that my house would sell for over 170,000.

I have deferred maintenance um, especially compared to the other three comps that I brought in uh and I think I put in there that I could understand if you raised it to you know eighty-five thousand, that's six and it's it's just under half of the thirteen point seven five, a six point two five.

Um just for the way the properties are selling in my neighborhood.

The last time my assessment was raised, uh or was raised on that property, rather, was back in around 2018, and it went from 774 to 80,000.

So that was less than four percent.

Well that's right, but you you kind of uh uh stole my thunder, if you will, because I was gonna ask you when it was last uh assessed back in 2018.

I mean, so if you you know uh divide that eleven thousand increase over, you know, uh uh what do we got, seven, eight years?

It's nothing uh for the most part.

Well, it is a lot if the assessment value winds up at the assessment level winds up changing.

I mean 13.75% is still a a big difference.

I mean, I know if you're saying if it was stretched out, but it wasn't stretched out over all that time, it was understood.

Understood.

So, you know, uh probably uh under assessed for a certain period of time and now you know catching up, if you will.

Not making any decisions, of course, just trying to give you the other side of the the argument, if you will.

Okay.

Um and I think the city's at a full market value of 175,000 on uh 91,000, and you're at 170,000 at the 884.

So pretty pretty close.

Uh it looks like you know uh there's some close uh agreement there.

Um what can you tell us about uh you told us you know basically the numbers anything uh any issues with respect to your property?

Um deferred maintenance.

Right, uh defer.

Well, I mean I have um you know, like for instance, my garage is not nearly as in good a shape as the other three comps that I brought in.

My driveway needs to be repaired.

Um I have to have uh lead abatement.

We we're in the lead zone for water for the water district.

Um those are the three things that really stick out.

What's uh the situation with the driveway?

Uh it's just it's it needs to be repaired and um it probably needs to be completely taken out and put back in um just from disrepair from the previous owner and I just haven't been able to address it, but that's something that probably needs to be taken care of.

And then the water line you're talking about um I don't I I it hasn't been um I haven't had the water department in to assess what my uh portion will be if I if it depends on where the pipes are and how how what my responsibility is in the cost of the repair, and that hasn't been assessed yet, but that is something that has to be taken.

Usually from the street or the sidewalk back to your house.

Um and then the garage.

Uh the garage does not have um it's a it's a two-car garage, but it only has one operating door.

Um, and it uh the foundation uh needs um repair work done to it.

So it's it's I can put a snowblower in it.

I can't put I wouldn't put a car in it.

As far as your garage is concerned.

Do you have a picture of your house?

I did not bring it with me.

I'm sorry about that.

All right.

You how about Joe?

You got a picture of the house?

Okay, all right.

That's good.

Uh Joe, hold on one second here.

So the comps you uh brought are pretty close, 175, 165, 170.

Did you guys see these also?

Okay.

Um so that's good.

Very close as far as the numbers are concerned.

So uh anything that you want to mention about the comps.

Other than the one that's I believe 170, it's on woodbine.

Yep.

Um that one is closest in size to mine, it is closest in lot size.

Um and uh the assessment on that one is um it's it's on the front.

I wrote it on there.

I can't remember exactly what I wrote.

Uh 65,000.

No, that's sorry, that's not the it's the one that sold for 165.

That one is assessed at 84.

That is that's almost identical to um my house size in the city.

Because this is kind of a weird looking.

Yeah, that one's a weird one, yeah.

But uh the other one is is closest to uh the realization of what my house looks like.

This is uh the one six five wood vineyards.

I got you.

Yep.

Yeah, there are two wood vine properties.

Those sales or zillow estimates.

Those are sales.

Those are actually sales, although from Zillow.

Yeah.

You want to take a peek at these?

No.

Okay.

All right.

Um, let's see what uh what your thoughts are.

Yeah, I think 175 is uh a fair assessment.

It's I believe also on the lower end of of the range for what 1400 square foot homes in Eastwood are selling for uh you know, house on the same block across the street, sold for 270 uh six months ago.

So I city's pretty comfortable with the assessment.

We got some comps in here.

Um did you buy the property from in 2020?

I brought it from my parents' estate.

Your parents' estate in 2019.

Okay.

I was gonna say because that was a hell of a price, it seems like as it should be based on this scenario.

Yeah, okay.

Okay, very good.

Uh okay, and the city's got some comps.

Uh you want to take a peek with these?

Yeah.

All right.

So the city supplied some comps as well.

Oh, yeah, I wanted to get a picture.

Okay.

And you're in the uh you're in your closest to James Street?

Yeah, in the 100 block.

Okay.

Um Ridgewood, nice, nice street.

Uh Glencove is probably it's like about two blocks above.

Yeah.

I'm in between Glen Cove and James Street.

Okay.

All right.

Uh last question.

Um, have you done anything major to the property since you purchased it?

I have not.

No, just pretty much uh same condition.

Older kitchens, older baths.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And uh how many bedrooms, how many baths?

Uh one bathroom, one full bath, and uh three bedrooms.

Three bedrooms, one full bath, full bath is upstairs.

Downstairs.

Downstairs.

Okay.

Uh okay.

Uh anybody have any questions?

Good, good, good.

Anything else you want to add?

No.

Okay.

Oh, I think we got a lot of information.

And it's yeah, it's in the ballpark.

Okay.

Um, but we'll definitely uh uh discuss it.

Uh and then the city will send you a uh notice uh uh probably first week of April.

Okay.

All right, but appreciate you coming in and and I appreciate the information uh uh that you provided.

Okay, and thank you all for your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, I sorry, did you are you have you I meant to look ask you?

Did you are you aware of the exemptions the city offers?

Uh if you're 65 years of age or older, you may want to go down.

Uh I have the gray hair, but I'm only putting it in the same way.

So when you're the first to the state.

No, my parents always told me it was 55 and over.

No, basic star is you have to do that with the state.

Uh maybe just write that number down the case.

Sorry, I meant to bring this up.

I was looking at the delta six.

Thank you.

I always do raises, I guess, or no question.

Exactly.

No, it's it's the way to do it.

No, just do case.

I think 4572.

Right next to that.

457 2036.

Either or I should bring it.

I should I would every year I come do this and then I say I'm gonna bring a sheet.

Whoops.

Bring a sheet with this information, and then I for always forget until the next year.

Do you have the exemptions?

Call the state and then register, apply for the star.

Tell them you've been an owner, and my understanding is they'll rape they'll retroactively issue a check for uh and then for the bait it would be the basic star.

And then when you turn 65 under that income, they'll automatically change the enhanced, but also call our office in the year you turn 64 because of other exemptions.

Okay.

No, that's just six.

She has to go to the stall the state, yeah.

Okay.

And uh just for my edification.

Uh uh how old is she?

Less than sixty-five.

Less than sixty-five.

So I I didn't I wasn't zeroing in our age.

Uh so less than sixty-five.

The way our the way the city's taxable status date works, you have to apply in the year that you're 64 in order to receive the exemptions when you're 65.

Okay, and that's as far as the city's concerned.

What is she doing with the state?

Call the state.

And yeah, and you have to handle it with state.

Star credit.

Star program.

The star.

Yes, that's what I was trying to zero.

Okay, it's a star.

Okay, thank you.

You probably have the star, the old style on your tax bill.

In 200 18, 15, somewhere in that range, the state changed the law and you apply with the state, and then over the course of the years they've been tinkering with it.

And now we're pretty much we still administer it, uh, but we don't take any new applications for anything with star anymore.

So we just if you don't have it, you go to the state and the state notifies us if you continue to receive basic or your switch to enhanced.

Have it in your system as to whether somebody has the star.

Yeah, I just look I looked it up before we came.

She started, and I meant to ask her about it, but I forgot.

And she doesn't have to be aware of the exemptions.

Yeah.

Okay, good.

Just for future.

Uh okay.

Um so next up 145 uh home croft.

Okay.

Good morning.

How are you?

I'm really sorry.

Okay, no, no problem.

No problem at all.

Um so you're here for one property 145 home cross road.

Okay.

All right.

Um I'm gonna swear you in and then uh and then ask some questions and then we'll take it from there.

Um and the the prior gal, she lives in that, yeah, she's the owner occupied.

Yeah, okay.

Um, so if you could raise your right hand, state your name for the record.

The lobby is until good year.

Do you s do you I'm sorry, do you affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability?

Okay, all right.

Um so what I would say just because of your voice is if you want to lower that and try to speak right into it, that'd be great.

Uh the microphone.

You want to yeah.

I mean does explain what I tried to say.

Okay.

Take that, unless you need it.

No, okay.

That's just the razor too.

Sorry.

I should have it on.

Okay, all right, very good.

All right.

So I swore you in.

Let me just uh look over some information and uh uh read some information in to the record.

Um so we've got 145 home croft road.

Uh current uh tentative assessed value 112,000 with a land value of 17,800.

Uh and then petitioner believes the fair market value is 173,000, which would be an assessed value of 89,960.

Um this is a single family home?

Yes.

Okay.

Do you live there?

Yes.

Okay.

And so we purchased in uh 212, so about a year from uh now uh go 172,000.

And um then the city's fair market value is 215, 385 based on 112,000 assessed value.

Okay.

Uh and then you handed us a couple of documents.

One is uh uh what you're gonna explain to us, and then we have a copy of uh uh appraisal information.

Uh so it's not the whole report, but uh it's the first uh couple of pages.

I see the house here.

Okay.

Um all right.

I'm gonna turn it over to you, and it please include uh if you did anything to the property since you purchased it.

No major, just painting and stuff.

Just uh cosmetics painting and whatever.

Still I have to do only have one bathroom downstairs, that's all I have.

How many bedrooms?

Three bedrooms.

Three bedrooms.

Three bedrooms, one bath.

And this is uh what is this a Cape Cod style?

It's uh I think the uh the bedrooms are on the second floor.

One upstairs.

One upstairs, two on the first floor, and that's where the bathroom is.

Yes.

Okay.

Uh and so all you've done is some interior cosmetics.

It's painting to get the room ready for the kid, yeah, pretty much.

Okay.

Let me take a look at uh anything you want to pull out of this or or you or you want us to take a look at uh uh information.

Basically your argument is that you paid 172, 173.

If I want to try to settle now, I didn't think we'll get to 1500.

That's what I'm trying to say.

That's that's the only thing.

Okay.

All right.

It's just a big jump for me.

Unless an eight.

And and uh who did you purchase the property from?

The owner.

The owner's the estate of the owner.

Was it uh oh was it an estate?

Okay, it was an estate and uh was it on the open market MLS?

Okay.

Yeah, it was yeah, it was like through a realtor.

Yes, yes.

Okay.

All right.

Joe?

Uh I just wanted to point out that it was uh administrator's deed, so it would not be an arm's length sale, according to New York State.

Uh as far as the assessment goes, relative, you know, the median selling price of 400, 1400 square foot homes.

Sorry, what do you mean does it mean Armor links?

Sorry.

What do you mean?

It wasn't Armor Lynx, you said uh New York State has guidelines on what is uh what sales we can use or are acceptable in like a valuation setting.

No, is it armor lengths is right?

I mean because you bought it from like an estate sale.

No, not a state.

I mean the lady she passed away, their kids sell the home.

Right.

That that type of sale is considered a distress sale under New York State's guidelines.

I mean if I wouldn't be able to stay if I hit like it's not it's nothing you did, it's just the way it is.

No, it's like is say Armour's links right there, yes.

Well, the the the both both have good points.

It was on the MLS, um, so we take that into consideration as well.

I got it from Zillow, who wasn't Zillow and I when there was my relator and I bought it.

I don't know what's wrong with that.

No, that's the two things can be true at the same time.

It it's not considered an arm's length transaction because of the estate scenario, but it is considered an arm's length transaction because it was MLS and on the open market, and everybody had access to it.

So you didn't you don't have to uh hang your hat on that, don't worry about it.

Uh it's just a point of information that uh the assessors make.

That's my first housing bottom.

Yeah, no, you you did fine.

There's nothing nothing, it's just a just a point so that we know.

Uh and then like I was uh I would say the selling price is on the low end of the range, so depending on condition, the median selling price of homes of that style and square footage is more in the two low 200s, so you know whatever leave it up to you guys to decide what you think is appropriate.

Okay.

And um the how about uh um the modernization or not of kitchen and baths.

Uh what's the same stuff in this sense when they have the house, everything in the house is the same?

More on the original side.

Yes.

Do you uh I'm just saying uh because of what he purchased it at and where you're at.

Um do you think that obviously you haven't been inside?

Do you think it warrants a walk through?

I don't think so.

You don't think so?

Unless he's claiming something really distressing, then I just assume that's it sounds like maybe it is on the older side as far as inside, but it's just the that's just the the nature of homes in Eastwood or in the city for that matter.

They're all across the board.

You know, we're trying to if we had to nip, you know, to uh it's hard to determine, you know, based on unless it was something major, right?

Uh where we've got rough leaking and and uh it's just a typical home in Eastwood, then I'm I'm not really that worried about it.

Okay.

I'm okay with that uh uh thought process.

Let me just make a note here.

This is from Joe.

Okay.

All right.

Um so you supplied some good information, which we will go through.

Oh, that's right.

Okay, we understand the situation.

Um both uh yourself and the assessor have uh brought up some good points for us to uh discuss.

Uh and uh we'll make a decision and then uh uh the city will send you a notice first week of April.

Is there anything else you want to say or add?

Like I said, the the whole house to get to this price, I have to do everything new.

Like kitchen is all even like I have some brand like my laundry, my stove there like MAC Jeff.

They don't even make them anymore at the house.

Really?

And the color just like whole kitchen have to be new, the same thing upstairs is one bedroom.

Like I didn't done any major stuff.

So there might be a reasonable.

No, when I bought it, like it wasn't even worse.

But uh most of it was cosmetic, I have to do it.

But the rest of it, I guess who's my kid there.

I have three three young kids, like six, five, one, I have to go there just to get him to school and stuff.

But I could work on it, but right now it's been all less than here.

I did nothing major.

Okay.

I get what he came from because across the street houses sell more than that, but they have everything new.

New kitchen, new driveway, new garage, everything new.

I don't have any more that and they only have one bathroom, that's it, not two bathrooms.

Yeah, no, you made the right move by purchasing and uh, you know, uh these days uh um the the prices are just uh you know what's a starter home price these days.

No, I know 200.

But they're all like been updated.

Yeah, mine is not, yeah.

No, no, but but it's good that you you bought a house, you have a nice safe place for your children.

Yeah, like I said, the only thing you jump like this from one year went down much.

That's my only concern, nothing else.

Right.

And we do have the whatever you guys uh come with.

I'm okay with I just tried.

And it was good that you uh supplied uh uh the appraisal information also.

What do you have there?

Oh, oh okay, okay, I got it.

Okay, yeah, yeah.

I just have one question, Joe.

Yeah, please.

Is there a garage?

Is it shed?

Shed?

Yeah.

Is it attached to the house or not?

Is it the pavement even though it was is 18 by 14 by yeah, 18 by 14?

But it was at one point a garage is just not in shape.

If I have if I want to make a garage, I have to add well it's 70 feet of dryway.

Okay.

And open the door.

To make it accessible.

And the floor is just yeah, I think I have three in the back.

The whole concrete is just out is there grass in between yes of 70 feet, at least 84 feet.

So the driveway goes by the road.

Stop right to the house.

Just stop right at the back of the house.

Okay.

And after that I have to activate it again, 75 feet to get a driveway if I want to add okay.

So your driveway goes to the end of your house, then there's grass, and then you've got the garage slash.

It's not correct.

Uh garage or up in east the generally speaking, we garages don't add much value to what I mean.

They're just so old and most of them are being held up by the trees next to them.

So my post neighbor left on right, they have two nice garage, two do cards, right?

And their driveway go all the way down to the back, which I uh okay.

All right, that's good.

Um good information.

Thank you.

And uh uh the city will send you a notice first week of April.

Okay, have a good day.

Um and then the the I'm sorry to revert back to the other gal as well, but on her garage, would is she she said something about the snowblower or something?

Would it she she said something about the snowblower or something?

That's all she put in there.

Yeah.

So was that was that the same type of situation or uh I think she was implying that it was unsafe for a car.

Safe, but it was a regular driveway up to the garage and what have you.

She'd only put a snowblower not a car for you uh given the condition.

Yeah, well, yeah.

Uh okay.

All right.

Uh okay.

Uh I have Joe's stuff.

And uh I think we're in good shape there.

And that was at the time limit, so uh okay.

Uh then I think next up.

So 9 30 didn't come yet, right, Michelle?

You want to uh sorry, 9 30 is not coming.

They I talked to them yesterday, they were withdrawing their appeal.

I asked them to send a letter.

Uh I don't think they're going to do that, so we'll just hold it until the end of the hearings just to make sure they don't come, decide to change your mind.

Okay.

So we shouldn't say uh withdraw or anything, which it was just a no show.

Well, no, because you talked to her.

I mean I talked to her, uh she did uh uh doesn't doesn't seem to be interested in grieving at this point anymore.

Um I asked, you know, we'll I asked her to send a letter stating that.

I don't know if she will or not.

If she does, I'll submit it to the board.

If not, we'll just hold it until the end of the hearings and then uh just ask that it be dismissed.

All right, that sounds good.

Uh okay, then 940 uh 606 Thurber.

606 Thurber.

Good morning.

How are you?

Good.

Um so you're here for one property, 606 Thurber Street.

Okay.

Uh okay.

So if you could just uh raise your right hand, state your name for the record.

You affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability.

Yes.

Okay, very good.

Uh okay, so we've got uh 606 Thurber Street.

We've got some music for you.

Um did you plan that?

Is that uh to put us in?

I ran into it.

To put us all in a good mood, I think.

Uh you want me to permit service.

Just leave it on.

Permanent agreements.

Um I'll read in uh 606 Thurber Street.

Um this is a uh is this a single family house?

Uh two family.

Two family.

Okay.

Just read in some information here.

The current assessed value uh is a hundred and twenty thousand the land value of twenty two thousand six hundred petitioner believes the fair market value is seventy thousand, which would be an assessed value of thirty-six thousand four hundred.

And uh the full market value for the city's assessed value tentative is two hundred and thirty thousand seven sixty-nine and it was purchased for eighty-two thousand in uh May 13th of 2024 for cash.

Uh says the property's in poor condition at this time.

And uh that is about it as far as the petition.

Okay.

Um so it looks like you uh brought some information.

Do you have anything you're gonna submit?

Yeah, um I'm sorry, I apologize in advance.

Um I wasn't able to get the pictures for you guys.

Um, but you have them today.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Yep, no, that's that's good.

Um so let me turn it over to you and we'll see what uh we'll see what you have to say.

Okay, my property is um now in a rehabilitation phase.

So I do have a contractor and he's working on permits currently for this um property.

Um you have a contractor and he has pulled permits or he's in the process.

He's in the process.

He's in the process.

Okay.

But um uh interior doing the um walls, um new floors.

I was gonna say tell us what uh uh what's uh uh not in good shape now, and then we'll assume that that's what you're gonna be doing.

Okay, I got it all here for you.

Okay, is is it rented currently?

No.

Is it what's is it uh in just poor condition?

Yeah.

This one, Joe, I would like to walk through and then I'll make a recommendation based on condition.

And you're in the process of having contractors fix it?

Yes.

Then we'll can lower it and then do a 45 next year uh with the increase once it's rented.

Is it's gonna be your primary residence or rental?

So you're gonna be living there?

Uh-huh.

That that's my if you want to do that.

I recognize that it's in poor condition.

It's part of my spiel.

Is I that was one of my questions that I wanted to know what the current condition and what the plan is.

Uh so if that's if you want to do that, then I'll I'll make a recommendation to the board uh based on my in your my uh my inspection.

That's fine.

Uh let me just uh so hold your thought just for a second, because I don't know that we have to go through everything unless you want to.

That's okay too.

That's okay.

Um my only question though is um you purchased it in uh uh almost two years ago.

Right.

So it's just basically been sitting up to this point.

Okay, and that that's fine.

Uh the point is that when you say your contractor is in the process of um getting, I mean where is he at in the process?

Is this gonna take another year of process or would what's your plan to get started, I guess.

Um well it may take up to a year or a little less than that to be completed.

That's fine.

Yeah.

When do you think he's gonna start?

Well, he started we signed a contract already, and he got paid already, so he's working on it already.

Okay.

That's fine.

Yeah, so he was the first one.

I just wanted to kind of see where it was.

And uh um I just wanted to see where that was at.

Yeah, um so it's so something that's happening and yes, rolling now.

Good.

Okay.

Uh and uh are utilities on or shut off or um the gas is not on at this time.

Okay.

Um National Grid said they have to fix a pipe in the in its side.

It's uh no cost to me.

They they're gonna do it.

So no gas, and I don't have gas meters, so he got he can't put the gas meters on yet until they fix that.

Okay, yeah, this is definitely a walk through.

Yeah, no, If there's a plan to fix it, I have no problem.

Yeah.

Well, it sounds like she's already signed contract and and put it down payment.

So just so it just so it's uh you're aware, what we would do is we would reduce it for the year.

I'm gonna put it on my list to review for next year.

Okay.

I assume from the street, unless I can really tell that the property isn't typical to average condition for the area, and I would increase the assessment.

So it's best if you're still working on it to keep me in a loop and let me know what's going on.

That way I can work with you instead of you know having to go through this process.

But uh I would like to set that up and then I will make a recommendation to them what I think is appropriate based on the current condition.

Okay.

And then they'll take that, you know, Joe will repetitive they would consider that and make their decision.

Yeah, no, I think that's a good good plan.

So I think that uh um I think that let me just think for a second.

Um if you don't need those pictures, I'd like to submit them for the file.

Um this way uh um we uh we'll have something to uh back up on.

I know Joe's gonna take a walk through.

No.

Um I don't know.

She said she's planning out of the way.

Okay.

I wondered with no this is definitely live in my attic.

uh back up on I know Joe's gonna take a walk through um did you living there no um I don't know she said she's planning out of planning to when we're okay I wondered with no okay yeah oh yeah yeah no this is definitely live in my attic yeah uh Joe how how did was this like an increase in assessment how did you two years ago two uh two years ago okay like I said if you know unless we can't see inside from the streets so yeah well there's a lot going on on the outside also you got a lot of friends over there I see uh racking over there yeah make sure you give them an eviction notice uh but no this will be good to keep if you don't need them okay and uh I don't think if just email me or give me a call and we'll set that up and I'll take the the the commentary uh I'll take that as well if you don't need it okay yeah yeah I was gonna give you a whole speech yeah no no but that's good yep yep absolutely and I think that's good and uh uh this way uh uh we can refer back also um you know as you're moving forward with repairs and stuff yeah I don't mind paying my fair share when it's appropriate yeah yep not yet yes uh the the only thing is it's uh um you know there's something called an unfinished assessment but you know that can't drag on for a year or so it's something that you know you gotta uh move forward with uh and um all right so she you know to contact him yes okay all right question Joe yeah yeah Joe do you have the ability to check to see the status of the permits and make that part of the report thank you yeah when people a poll permits makes it easy yeah left over have you heard from uh show talk to uh thank you very much show talk to Boston thank you very much yes good luck that's well I heard I'm gonna say I I don't know anything about that okay awesome uh you haven't heard from Shaw as of yet okay okay if you want to come on up no show not necessarily not yet to for you uh told to bring my taxes okay that sounds good 24 I think twenty three was put in there as well I was told okay we'll have a seat and uh we will uh take a look here so you're here for three properties uh yes sir and and I'm gonna swear you in in a second but uh is there any particular order that you want to do them in um well no I mean I the house is there and the the other two are next to the house okay so we'll do uh in the order that they are on the sheet um they're in uh numerical order so to speak yes so that's fine uh I just want to point out Joe correct me if I'm wrong sir but on the house which is 2527 Bellevue you're not grieving the assessment you're grieving the denial of an exemption correct uh that yes yes that I mean I I don't have my houses there and it's been there but you mean you're afforded the ability to do both I just want to clarify for my records and theirs that you're for the your house you're grieving the denial of an exemption yes okay well but that's because of my I'm aware you know you can yeah I just want to clarify for them so they're aware of what we're talking about.

Thank you.

Yeah I will that's the first one 25 yeah let me uh let me swear you in and then uh yeah you are correct there so if you could raise your right hand state your name for the record Charles Herman do you affirm to tell the truth and give accurate information to the best of your ability I do okay sounds good um yeah we wanted to uh swear you in of course um so uh let's take uh 2527 Belle view and uh okay I see that on here all right so 2527 Belle view is where you live yes okay sir and it says that uh uh according to your petition um you're grieving the loss of your senior discount due to tax return okay yes all right um so let me just flip through here real quick looks like we're on the same page here uh senior exemption yeah okay and then okay uh then we've got an application

And it says that uh uh according to your petition, um you're grieving the loss of your senior discount due to tax return.

Okay, yes.

All right.

Um so let me just flip through here real quick.

Looks like we're on the same page here.

Uh senior exemption, yeah.

Okay.

And then we've got an application for senior exemption.

And okay.

All right, so uh looks like he's got a bunch of taxes, uh tax returns.

Um why was he denied?

His income was over the limit.

Okay.

All right, yes, because what happened was my taxes got mixed in with my asset.

A couple of assets that I have.

And what are the assets?

Uh money that's been, you know put away for a long time.

Uh since way back in the 90s.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh and and I've never took a penny or anything out of it.

And just what what is it?

Would how much we talking about?

Uh well one is like last time until you know, it was about 41,000.

But you know, I don't touch it.

Well, that's all well and good, but uh it's an asset that uh uh I think has to be taken into consideration, though.

The law is very clear for the purposes of the uh RP 467 senior uh disabil uh low income senior dis uh exemption.

It's for the for the things that we the city that we have or have not uh local option adopted, it's just social security, the difference between your taxable or total social security being the taxable, you add that to the adjusted gross income and any tax exempt interest, that figure is below 58,400, you are eligible.

If it's over, you're not and in this case he is not.

Well, they push me over.

Hold on one second.

Yeah, it is that the income is how that is how income is calculated per New York State law for this exemption.

Okay, so so uh regardless of this uh the score.

We're not accountants down there.

We just take the guidance from New York State how to calculate income.

We look at the tax return, it's black and white.

You're eligible, you're not.

Yep.

There are there are some instances where you can take losses, but any single loss can't exceed three thousand dollars and all losses combined can't exceed 15,000.

Uh I I'd be honest with you, I haven't seen his tax return.

He just I don't know if he has it with him.

Yes, I have but what happened was he came in prior to taxable status date, which is January 1st.

One of my colleagues looked at it, told him he wasn't eligible, and then he came back in after and tried to dispute it, so we had him fill out the forms and submit it, and that's that's where we are.

Okay, so would uh we looking for uh 2020.

2024 1040 1040.

Okay, do you have the 2024 1040?

It's probably in this should be.

Let's take a look at that.

Yeah.

All this paper shifted and slid out.

So I don't know.

So you're gonna give it to me.

Well, somebody has to see it, unfortunately.

I mean okay.

Yeah.

I've got all this.

All right.

So uh just hold that thought for a minute.

Sure.

Um Joe's gonna try to take your take a uh look at your 2024 1040.

Because that's what's gonna show your income.

That's gonna show um also that that's um Jackson Hewlett that I went to, and the lady was the first day doing it, and all I did was bring it over because there was something that was marked that came from out of the country.

And I'm like, okay, I might have to do something about it.

So and she ended up mixing everything in, and when I went back to here to get my exemption and everything.

Did you show this to my colleagues?

Who Jennifer?

Down below.

I don't know.

It sounds like uh she didn't get an opportunity to see any of that.

Yeah.

Sounds like that's uh I just got that so has anyone seen this before me looking at it today?

Probably not.

No.

So how'd you know you weren't eligible?

Because the lady when they did the taxes in 24, the lady that did it at Jackson Hewlett, she made it so I looked at $80,000.

What is the 1040 say today?

2024 he's eligible.

So he can go down and apply for it.

He's eligible at 50%, so I'm not sure what why this hasn't been given to us.

I couldn't figure out how the heck to do it.

You bring us you bring this to our office and then well I know, but I didn't realize that, sir.

That's what we talked about when you came in.

Yeah.

And you just kept saying your income is gonna be over.

Yes.

That's why I told you to bring it in so we can look at it.

I didn't know you were the same person.

No, I I couldn't bring it down at that point because I didn't have it.

He's gotta go down.

Is uh the application in there?

Just bring well after we're done here today, bring us downstairs.

And do what they said.

Just take a look at that and see if I know you were trying to help me.

I know, but that's why I told you you had to bring that in because I was just taking your word for it that you sounded like you someone had looked at it and told me you that told you that you were over.

Jackson Hewlett.

They they put it to 80,000.

On 2023.

Yes.

Okay.

This is 2024.

Yes.

2024.

So he may have had 2023 with him at the time.

And uh yeah, I'm not sure.

I just all I know is that return is eligible.

That's 2024, and that's good.

All right.

So take the safe.

So yeah, so that we can just move on to the lots.

Okay.

Okay.

So um uh let's see here.

So tw uh 2527.

Um you're thinking the exemption's gonna be approved.

Really appreciate, you know, I I just didn't know which way to go.

And I know, but that when I talked to you last week, I told you you need to bring that in so we can look at it, and you didn't seem to want to bring it in.

You wanted us to look at the other information.

Well, I I kinda had that that's all I wanted you to do as well.

You know, because at this point it doesn't matter, you're gonna you'll receive the exemption.

That's that's nice to know.

Me, I work for the city public works for 28 and a half years.

I put my time in before I retired.

Okay.

So it's a retirement from the city.

And uh, we'll hold that thought here.

I just make in one note and then we're gonna go on to the other two lots.

Okay.

Uh but uh so I have the so when he when he leaves here, you should go downstairs.

Yeah, all right.

Submit that and they'll take care of it.

Yes.

All right.

I'll I'll uh reiterate that.

Um now let me just read these uh two lots in and then we'll we'll uh discuss these.

So then we have uh 2533 Bellevue Ave.

Um it's a wooded lot, it's vacant.

Um let's get some information here.

Uh the land value is uh ten thousand dollars.

Uh assessed value ten thousand total uh and then the uh we have a full market value of uh nineteen thousand two thirty-one.

Uh is that for the house property or no, this is for the the one of the lots.

You should just do them together, Joe, because they're contiguous and they're about the same size.

Yes.

Okay.

Um so uh you didn't put what you think the lots are worth.

Um I originally bought this the one closest to my house.

Um because 1900.

Yes.

Okay.

And they were trying to sell it.

Everybody was trying to sell it, and it they couldn't get it sold, so they came back to me, and then I said, Well, yeah, I'm willing to take it, but I'm not gonna you know take it for an extreme amount.

At that point, my wife had passed, and I had three kids to raise, and I uh when I did everything, um I didn't really have the time or anything to figure out if we're gonna build out again, like my wife wanted late wife wanted to do when we wanted to build out, but because I had the three kids and uh well let me just uh hold your thought there for a minute because I want to read the other one in, but my question to you is what do you think uh this lot is worth?

You paid seventeen hundred, what do you think it's worth?

Um you know, I don't really know.

You know, I I'm not someone to really actually say I don't really know.

I mean I know what I paid for it, and I'm not gonna when I my kids will probably end up uh selling it.

All right, well let's do this then, you know.

Um if you paid 17, I've got to get a figure in here.

So if you paid 1700, then obviously you think it's worth at least that.

Oh yes.

Okay.

Well, I I would say it might be, you know, like eighteen, tw I don't know, nineteen, twenty, I don't know.

But that's fine.

The taxes is built up.

Yeah.

I'm not telling you what to write, but if you paid seventeen hundred, um then you know uh just put a figure down as to what do you what you think it's worth today.

Okay.

Um I would say at least probably the nineteen nineteen hundred, yeah.

At least I mean I don't know.

Okay.

Well, go ahead and put nineteen hundred there.

It doesn't it's we just gotta have a figure.

It doesn't mean that's what it's gonna be.

Okay.

So on the on the bottom of the sheet, just put uh uh here's a pen.

Okay, so you're when Joe.

This one out here.

Yeah, that one right on the bottom.

If you look at the picture, you it is on a you know, a 30 degree slope.

Um but there's house his house is on the slope, two lots over, there's a house on the slope.

So they're buildable.

And you know, they're not a buildable lot in the city right now is 40, 50 grand.

And these are assessed at 19,000.

So in my opinion, they're appropriately assessed.

Uh okay, so for the record, the petitioner put 1900 as far as the uh uh I mean maybe two thousand.

I don't know.

Okay.

That's fine.

The the that'll give us something to uh go on, so no problem.

Uh let's see here.

I don't really know the value.

Okay.

That's what they're here for to take up the city's opinion and your opinion and decide what's fair.

You know, they're they're wooded lots, and there's no water or any gas hookups or anything.

It's just nature.

And I love it.

Even though the everyone wants to kill all the deer, I'm glad to see them.

You know, I mean, they have a right too.

Okay.

And regardless, skunks.

Whatever.

You know.

That's fine.

My my when my son was home and he had his dogs.

We suffered off a few times for the stink.

Let me uh just read in the next property, which is the uh lot uh further from your house.

So his house, Joe is here.

And then those two.

And then there's another house right at the edge of my lot.

Yes.

The lots are 70 by 160.

70 by 160.

Oh, yeah, good size lots.

Both of them maybe.

One to further right might be a little deeper.

But the essentially pretty similar.

Okay.

I mean I'm planning to stay up there as long as I can.

My kids don't want me up there.

You're gonna come down rolling down those stairs one time and that's gonna be it.

Let me just read uh this next one in uh 2539 Bellevue, uh wooded lot again uh 10,000 land value uh 10,000 assessed value total uh and then here again um uh this one's a little bit larger.

If it is, it's I didn't pull the dimensions.

They look the one to the the west looked a little bit deeper, but not by you know, five feet maybe.

Same thing here if you can just put what you think the value is of that lot.

Um it can be certainly the same as the other one.

That's completely up to you.

I mean I'm gonna say I'll probably go with twenty two thousand.

Yeah.

Well, yeah, I didn't do a thousand.

Okay.

Yeah, that's fine.

I mean, I just because it doesn't have any other than wooded property.

And I maintain the front of it, you know.

I I mow the lawn constant and you know, and do whatever on outside and um I try to make everything look good.

This one here we think uh is around two thousand.

Uh I don't think I got a gold line, that's for sure.

Well, they're nice lots, and uh I understand that the improvements uh they are and I love to you know uh I try to keep the trees they they take tumbles and I try to you know get them out and where nobody's gonna get hurt anyways.

So Joe, uh any thoughts on the lots?

Uh you know, I think the one issue with them is they are on a you know 30, 40 degree slope, but his house managed, you know, his house is built up there, the couple other houses down the way are built, you know, so they're buildable, they're you know, we don't have a ton of land sales, uh but they're larger.

You know, I'm based on the sales we do have, I'm comfortable with our value.

I always thought that maybe I would run a road right up to the side and use those lots and go.

What's the house to the east or west?

Yes.

Um start there and then come up.

That's what I would do.

I wouldn't want to walk up those stairs, you walk up.

I love you know what?

It gets me exercise.

I keep moving that way.

Yeah, I'm sure you do.

I know a lot of people, they all think I'm nuts, but well, maybe I am.

But I'm a proud note, that's for sure.

Well, all right.

I love being up there.

I just it's my solitude, you know.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh okay.

Uh so anything else you want to add.

I think we're in pretty good shape.

Uh no, I was real concerned mostly by me not being able to, you know, get my exemption.

And it's that's killing me.

That was 1,138 dollars for this one.

And for all the property as well.

And I'm like, yeah, so I don't believe.

Yeah, I mean I guess you're saying how much you know growth um proper would be for all those lots.

Maybe it is.

I mean, I I but I try not to overextend myself, and you know, I mean the best thing that ever happened to me was to get my exemption back, that's for sure.

And so let's do this.

Uh uh when when you know where the assessment office is, he's been there.

Yes.

So when you leave here, go downstairs.

Yes, and tell them what uh uh show them the 2024 1040 tax return.

Okay.

Uh you got the application there, and say that you were up here, you spoke with Joe.

Yes.

And um uh you're you you are approved, so let them take the application basically.

Okay.

So get that taken care of now while you're here, and then that will be all set, and then we'll take a look at the lot situation, and then the city will send them three notices, I assume, or just two in the exemption.

John, do we gotta because he submitted a grievance?

Do we gotta send them an action on that?

Or no, it would just be how the other grievances that come in with the exemptions that you sign.

Okay, that's it.

So just we'll just move it to the and then you'll just I think we do send out letters on those, so there'll be three.

So you're gonna get three notices in early April, one that the exemption is approved, and then one, uh then two others on the lots as to what we think the value is.

Okay.

All right.

Uh but yeah, go downstairs to the you know, I don't I'm not one to know everything, that's for sure.

So I think you hey you got you got your main thing taken care of.

That was good.

Yes.

And uh I mean I just because you know there's nothing servicing on the lots.

That's why didn't understand.

We have to take that into consideration because that's something that if somebody's gonna build there, they have to do the uh uh the water and sewer and uh nobody's gonna get there until they get me out.

That's okay.

That's okay.

Uh all right.

Well uh go downstairs, take care of the uh exemption application, and then you should be in good shape.

Okay, thank you so much.

And um now my taxes when I do them this time.

Um I'm gonna try to make sure that I'm not doing uh anything that's gonna jack it up.

I I can just leave the assets over.

We're not accountants, we just look at the tax return that's filed and do our calculation and figure out the income.

Okay, bring this downstairs.

Okay, that as well.

Yeah, whatever your accountant says, I would do.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, don't go back to Jackson Jewett, I guess.

No, she was a first day lady, and they said, go ahead.

And either you or you and you you're you you gotta get going, and uh then all of a sudden didn't look and I saw 80,000.

I got home.

I called Social Security up and it says, put me in for the whole 20%, because they're saying I made 80,000.

I I got money, but I alright.

You could you better you better pack up and go, or I'm gonna change my mind.

Thanks for watching.

Just kidding, but thank you for coming in, yes.

I know, yeah.

I really appreciate everything.

Yeah, you know, I I get I got a state thing that comes through, but I don't have to deal with with the state, you know.

You know, um, so I don't count that as anything.

Yeah, this doesn't change anything, but certainly the city appreciates your service.

Joe, I got a question for you.

Uh the city uh certainly appreciates your service.

So yeah, I mean, you know, I worked hard.

Yes, yes.

And everybody will tell you they said I used to go off, pick up all the metal and everything and fires, and they were like this guy just doesn't stop.

I put a chat not uh uh a car shell with no motor in it.

I mean I've got that up into the back of the truck, and they were looking at me like he do that.

Yes.

All right, good luck to you.

There you go.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I really appreciate your time.

Got it.

Thank you.

You know where you're going?

Uh so Joe.

Michelle just handed me the two files of the people that didn't show.

Uh one was 240 Boston Street.

Um was 141 Shotwell Park.

Um, I'm assuming I should probably at this point just read both of them in.

Yeah, I I mean it's the first day of hearing, so if they contact us and want to come in for a different day, we'll you know, they would have that opportunity.

So you want to read them in, or if you want to just hold them and wait and hear, and then we can just you know we can hold them.

I I have no problem either way, whatever you think the prize what whatever you think the procedure should be.

Just read them in and then if they don't allow that.

Okay, we can do that.

Um I would say, Joe, if you have any information, you know, I'll take it as well.

But um, so let's just go uh give me a second here.

So this would be number seven, actually, right?

This would be number seven be a number eight.

Okay, uh these two property uh petitioners did not uh show um got some information on this first one here, two forty Boston Street.

Um this is a single family residence.

Uh current tentative assessed value is seventy-two thousand dollars with a land value of fourteen thousand seven hundred uh that would be a full market value of a hundred and thirty-eight thousand four hundred and sixty-two dollars uh full market value.

Uh petitioner believes the uh uh property value is sixty thousand dollars.

Uh claim fair market value, and that would be an assessed value of thirty-one thousand two hundred dollars.

Uh and I don't have any other information on the application, and the only thing uh on the application is uh uh the only thing in the file is the application.

Um Joe did talk to this uh petitioner, and um uh it sounds like uh um uh sounds like uh the application is being withdrawn.

Um and he asked her to send in uh an email to that effect, and uh he's not sure if that's gonna take place or not.

Um so we read it in, and uh if we hear from the petitioner uh while we're still in hearing uh mode, uh we'll take it from there.

Uh and then Joe, do you have anything you want to submit?

Uh I can give you the comp sheet.

It's a 700 square foot ranch.

Uh you know, there are plenty of comps that support the assessment.

Okay.

Comps have been submitted.

Then moving on to a no show, and we haven't heard from Shotwell uh person.

Uh 141 Shotwell Park.

Uh this is a old style residence.

Um current tentative assessed value of 114,000 with a land value of 16,200.

Um that would be a fair market value equating to 219,231.

219 231.

Uh petitioner believes the fair market value is 193,700, and that would be an assessed value of 100,724.

Um, and there is a bunch of stuff.

Uh there's the application.

And then there is uh there is a fair amount of information in here.

Uh again, the petitioner didn't show, and we don't uh uh have a status.

Now the is the process that you'll send an email or just uh uh okay.

I think that would probably be good just based on the information that's in here.

Um and see if they want to reschedule.

I think that that that's probably a good fail-safe period on everything uh just to make sure there was an attempt.

Uh probably wasn't a weather issue, but anyway.

Uh and uh nothing else.

Uh well it was purchased.

Was purchased for 185,000 on June 16th of 2025, so it was last year.

It was a non-arms length sale, it wasn't listed.

Okay, it wasn't listed, non-arms length.

Uh, and then we have uh uh some assessment information, and then uh looks like a bunch of various uh comps and what have you?

What type of sale was it?

Do you do you have information you want to submit?

I just wrote down it was a non-arms length sale, wasn't not listed.

It was not listed on the MLS.

Okay.

You want to submit that information?

Okay, and Michelle's gonna follow up with a call or an email.

Um just to see if they do want to reschedule or what the situation was as far as today is concerned.

Uh okay.

I think that'll does anybody uh have any questions or anything they want to add?

No, no.

Good first day.

Okay, yeah, I think so.

Joe, all good, all good, Meg?

Good, John?

Good.

Okay.

All right.

Uh thank you very much, and uh we'll be back in session on uh uh Monday morning at uh 9 a.m.

Thank you.

Do you mind just in yeah?