By Curt Peterson, Standard Correspondent
HARTLAND – Does the Town of Hartland “need” to buy the one-family home at 21 Route 12, or does it just “want” to buy it? That’s the question that inspired Hartland resident Sherry Clarke to circulate a petition asking for “a special meeting to have the voters reconsider the following warned article …” Article 6 in the Warning, which was approved by voters 166 to 42 by hand count, authorized purchase of the Rte. 12 property, which is adjacent to the Recreation Center on its West side, “in an amount not to exceed $180,000 to be financed over a period not to exceed five years.” At the suggestion of resident Matt Dunne an amendment was added and approved that “no changes would go forward without approval of Hartland voters.”
The property in question is a 1907 two-story home that appears in decent condition from the road. It has three bedrooms and two baths, and is listed for $244,000 with Shepard Realty with the note: “Owner is motivated to sell.”
Ms. Clarke said the Town Meeting was video-taped by CATV and is available for public review on their website.
She has an ethical objection to the process the Select Board employed, both in deciding to purchase the property, and in getting the warning approved by voters.
“The town needs a new truck,” she said, “and that would benefit everyone. But how is this purchase going to benefit all?
She went on to point out the town already owns the old recreation hall in North Hartland, which is empty and unused, if they need space for something.
“Bob Stacey [Hartland Town Manager] said if the property was split to provide room for additional recreation hall parking and a garage for the two recreation department vans, the town could sell the house and remaining land for what they’re paying for it and get the taxpayers’ money back,” Clarke said. “Are we going into the real estate business now?”
Other issues Clarke brought up include the unknown condition of the septic system, which is probably under the area the town is considering paving for parking, and the cost of maintaining the property for two or three years while the town decides what to do with it.
“We have also already committed to financing a $450,000 intersection redesign,” she said, “and this purchase will add another $180,000 to the taxpayers’ burden.”
She said the vote cast on the purchase represented less than 10 percent of the voters in town, and she feels a new meeting with complete information, held on an evening or a Saturday, would bring out a lot more voters for a revote and have a more meaningful result either way.
“After the amendment was approved, they didn’t allow for any discussion,” she said. “They just called the vote. People were denied the right to speak.”
In the video, Town Moderator Pat Richardson is heard clearly asking if everyone was ready to vote on the amended warning, and no one spoke up. Town Clerk Clyde Jenne organized and recorded a head count, having the ayes and nays stand and be counted, including in the balcony, by Justices of the Peace.
Someone asked if such a purchase shouldn’t require an Australian ballot vote, but Richardson explained under current town rules a hand count was required. If a change in the rules was proposed, she said, it would have to be taken up at the next Town Meeting in 2018.
Stacey made a visual presentation that isn’t visible in the video – the camera was trained on him. He told the audience that the Select Board has no specific plan in mind for the property, but that several options are being discussed.
The parcel is assessed for $219,700 for tax purposes, so Stacey said “We are getting a pretty good deal at $180,000.”
Later selectman Gordon Richardson confirmed that the owners have agreed to the $180,000 figure during negotiations with Stacey, contingent on voter approval of the expenditure. During the meeting he said their first thought was to clear the land, but later thought keeping the house where it is will help maintain the feel of the village.
“We don’t tend to move very fast on anything, unless we have to,” he said.
Another important reason for the purchase, Stacey said, is to allow widening the very narrow egress lane on the West side of the Recreation Center.
He said one idea regarding the septic system is to move it farther behind the house onto town-owned land so the paving or any building wouldn’t cover it up.
As for notice, the Select Board minutes, which are available on the town website, show that the purchase of 21 Rte. 12 as been publicly discussed at public Select Board meetings on January 3, February 6, 21 and 28, and March 6, all prior to the Town Meeting. The only Executive Session – not open to the public – regarding the purchase was at the January meeting, when the reason for privacy was explained: “premature knowledge would clearly place the Town at a substantial disadvantage.” Following adjournment of the Executive Session the Board publicly “agreed to direct Bob [Stacey] to pursue the process.”
There were no members of the public in attendance at half of the meetings at which the purchase was discussed and only a few at the other half. Sherry Clarke was at none of the meetings.
Gordon Richards sat at his kitchen table, and, using a calculator, he estimates that the $180,000 purchase price will cost each of the 1,650 property owners in Hartland an average of $150 spread over five years, or $30 per year in additional taxes. Of course, bigger properties will pay more and smaller properties less, he admits. As owner of a large farm, Richardson stands to pay a much larger share than most.
Clarke also pointed out that the town will be going through a total reassessment process in the next year. Every property will be reviewed relative to taxable value.
Former Hartland Lister Raul Garcia said, about the reassessment, “It doesn’t mean everyone, or even anyone’s tax bill will increase due to the revaluation. By law this has to be done every ten years to readjust in an attempt to seek parity among taxpayers. Its purpose is not to raise taxes on everyone.”
Some properties will go up because they are currently undervalued, and a few will go down because they are overvalued – but theoretically everyone will be paying taxes based on the same fair value measurement.
According to public records, the current owners of 21 Rte. 12 owe a total of $19,388.93 in delinquent real estate taxes, penalties and interest as of March 21. During the Town Meeting Stacey said this obligation would be paid at the passing of title to the property, out of the proceeds of the sale.
This year’s town report says as of January 1 2016 a total of $226,320 was owed in delinquent taxes to the Town of Hartland. It’s pertinent to note that taxpayers who are not delinquent have to make up for the unpaid taxes in the budget. Stacey is the Collector of Delinquent Taxes in Hartland.
Asked why the Rte. 12 property was allowed to get so far behind, Richardson answered, “We give people some time to get caught up.”
Clarke said she is hoping to have 150 to 160 signatures on the petition when she turns it in, which she plans to do on April 4.
Conversations with several people evoked different opinions, but most of them didn’t want to be quoted.
This article first appeared in the March 23, 2017 edition of the Vermont Standard.
By Virginia Dean, Standard Correspondent
The documentary recounts Joe’s personal journey to know Peruggia and his daughter, Celestina, who requested him to find the truth about why her father slipped the artwork under his cloak on August 21, 1911, and walked out of the museum undetected.
Justine, who is a producer, has had a 40-year career of diverse professional experiences including elementary and high school teacher, educational consultant, freelance journalist, grants writer and editor.
