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New assessor promises re-evaluations

Date: 7/18/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The city's new principal assessor, Hans Doup, said he would carry on the work started by former Principal Assessor Lauren Elliot, who recently left to take a similar position in Greenwich, Conn.

Doup was introduced during Mayor Gregory Neffinger's weekly press conference on July 10. He was sworn into the position on July 9.

Neffinger said that Doup was a member of the Board of Assessors, and instead of conducting a search for a replacement, Neffinger said he took the approach of another community by looking at its Board of Assessors for possible replacement.

Doup has owned HD Appraisals/Reality West for 25 years in West Springfield. Born in Holland, he came to this county at an early age and lived in Springfield. After a career as a teacher, he entered the real estate and appraisal business.

Elliot had told Neffinger that her replacement needed strong appraisal skills, something Doup has, Neffinger said.

Doup is planning to undertake the first re-evaluation of the city's commercial and residential property in 25 years. He said he and the members of the Board of Assessors would be visiting each property and double-checking its condition as noted on the current city records.

Property owners will be receiving a mailing, Doup said, about the re-evaluation. Neffinger added that so far a number of the town's records — known as "field cards" — are not accurate.

Neffinger said the work would need to be completed by next August. The city has more than 1,000 commercial properties and 6,800 residential properties.

To complete the job by the deadline the city will use a budget of $40,000 to hire additional help and Doup said so far three people have been hired.

Speaking on the controversy over the taxing of the city's social clubs, Doup said that two clubs at this time, The Elks Lodge and the Dante Club, have received abatements, due to documentation of the donated use of those facilities to other groups.

Neffinger said that being a non-profit "doesn't prevent them from being taxed."

Doup said the abatements, which reduce but do not eliminate the property taxes, will be decided on an annual basis.

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Neffinger also spoke about the status of the search for a new police chief. He said the candidates have been going through a evaluation process that involved three people asking questions and two people observing.

He said the Public Safety Commission would interview the candidates once the results are in from this evaluation in about two weeks.

He added that there has been an agreement made with former Chief Thomas Burke to pay him for the disputed vacation time for 2011. Burke received $45,029.

Neffinger said former Mayor Edward Gibson wrote a letter in December 2011 allowing the carryover of vacation time for Burke — an action Neffinger called "unethical, if questionably legal."

Neffinger said state law prohibits a lame duck mayor from setting a policy that will affect the next mayor's administration. He was advised, though, not to take the matter to court.

To settle Burke's 2012 vacation time issue will depend upon the negotiations the mayor will undertake with the police supervisors to determine the way vacations are earned and calculated.