SOMERSET: Town Board defeats plan to go with one appointed assessor

By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Bill</a>

SOMERSET — While some town residents applauded the efforts of the Somerset Efficiency in Government Committee, the majority said “no thank you” Tuesday night to the plan to replace three elected assessors with one appointed assessor.

The public hearing lasted 90 minutes, and perhaps 15 different people spoke. It was followed by the regular meeting. It was there that some residents called for seizing the advantage regarding a state court canceling $43 million in tax breaks awarded to AES Somerset by the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.

Nothing was unanimous Tuesday night, but the board’s proposal for an appointed assessor suffered a 2-2 defeat. April Gow and Bradley Chaffee changed their minds, while Deputy Supervisor Dan Engert and Randall Wayner voted in favor of the proposed local law to have a sole assessor. Supervisor Richard Meyers, who backed the proposal, was out of town because of a death in the family.

That was followed by an executive session where the board planned to discuss its strategy in dealing with AES’ assessment and a possible appeal by AES.

“The decision is a big deal,” said resident John McDonald. “I can see cost efficiency, but we don’t have to play that game anymore.”

According to Engert, who conducted the meeting, the cost savings for having one assessor was estimated at $25,000 a year. “There were many more reasons that were much more significant than just the cost saving,” Engert said.

Wayner explained the deliberation process of the efficiency committee. He said members went into it with an open mind and felt there were more points in favor of an appointed assessor and listed them. The committee, which meets at 8 a.m. every other Saturday, reached out to other towns and eight responded.

The board had approved the efficiency committee’s recommendation by a 6-0 vote, but Gow decided to change her vote prior to the meeting and made a motion to rescind the proposed law. She read from a prepared statement.

“I expected this because I heard rumors in the neighborhood,” Gow said. “People approached us and told us they were not in favor of losing their right to vote.”

Engert followed with a motion to delay the vote. Both motions went 2-2, and were thereby defeated.

Gow noted that, while 85 percent of the towns in Niagara County have switched to sole assessors, Somerset is unique. “AES represents approximately 80 percent of our total assessment. No other town in Niagara County has that ... If we moved to a sole appointed assessor, as residents and taxpayers, we would sacrifice our right to choose assessors to a board majority choice of one appointee ... Assessment is too valuable an issue in the Town of Somerset, Barker Central School District, to hand over to three people in a room (the town board).”

Residents retain a bad taste in their mouths regarding the IDA grant of a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, one resident said. He demanded AES reveal what is the value of the plant.

Resident James C. Hoffman noted that the voters turned down a similar assessor proposal in 2000. “I believe any action to take an elected position and make it an appointed one should be left to the voters by way of a referendum, despite what Albany allows,” he said in a prepared statement.”

Hoffman’s statement was applauded.

Steve Yousey asked: “Why are you denying us the right to vote ... This action is a direct assault to our liberty.”

Former Supervisor John Sweeney applauded the persistence of some board members to continue the legal battle against the IDA PILOT that favored AES.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.