Welcome to Leicester, VT

TOWN OF LEICESTER BOARD OF ABATEMENT HEARINGS

 

The Board of Abatement for the Town of Leicester will be meeting on the following dates and times in the Leicester Town Office.

APPLICANTS SHOULD APPEAR AND BE READY TO PRESENT THEIR EVIDENCE AT THE DATE AND TIME SET FORTH BELOW. IF AN APPLICANT (OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT) FAILS TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING, THE ABATEMENT REQUEST WILL BE DECIDED ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN THE ABATEMENT REQUEST FORM.

 

Date - Time	Agenda
Monday, January 27, 2025 – 6:30PM	Call to Order, Review Agenda, Review Abatement Process
Hearing Date - Time	Hearing Requested By:
Monday, January 27, 2025 – 6:40PM	Arthur & Ellen Cummings Revocable Trust 14207 Watercrest Court, Midlothian, VA 23112 Property: Residential, 93 & 95 South Cove Trail
Monday, January 27, 2025 – 6:50PM	Lisa & Timothy Maloney 1192 US Route 7, Leicester, VT 05733 Property: Residential, 1270 US Route 7

 

                 

Minutes: Board of Abatement 01/27/2025

Present: Diane Benware, Tom Barker, Hilary Hatch, Cheryl Morrison, Julie Delphia, Diane Randall, Beth Ripley, Arthur Cummings (via phone), Lisa Maloney

Meeting Called to order at 6:30pm. 

Review of Board of Abatement Rules of Procedure.

 

 

Hearing (6:40pm): Arthur & Ellen Cummings Revocable Trust, 14207 Watercrest Court, Midlothian, VA 23112

Property: Residential, 93 & 95 South Cove Trail; Parcel: 212128

Mr. Cummings was sworn in.

Julie indicated that she had communicated with Mr. Cummings regarding the abatement process and offered to recuse is desired.  Mr. Cummings did not require any recusal.

Mr. Cummings’s Testimony:

•          Criteria: Taxes of persons who have removed from the state. 24 V.S.A. § 1535(a)(2).
•          Registered to vote in Leicester
•          Was in VT in the fall.  Had to go back to VA for work. 
•          Sent payment USPS Priority Mail
•          Has been coming to the lake since 1999.
•          Purchased property in 2013.
•          Has paid taxes on time every time.
•          Sent payment on 11/11/25.  USPS attempted to deliver on Saturday morning 11/16/25.
•          Payment delivered on Monday morning at 10:44am.
•          Questioned injury to the Town.
•          Stated Town does not offer a grace period and charges the full amount which seems harsh.
•          He knows the taxes were due and that they were late. 
•          He does not understand the injury to the town.  It sounds harsh and unreasonable.

Hearing Closed at 6:49pm

 

 

Hearing (6:50pm): Lisa & Timothy Maloney,  1192 US Route 7, Leicester, VT 05733

Property: Residential, 1270 US Route 7, SPAN 345-107-10304

Ms. Maloney was sworn in.

Julie indicated that she had communicated with Ms. Maloney regarding the abatement process and offered to recuse is desired.  Ms. Maloney did not require recusal.

Ms. Maloney’s Testimony:

•          Criteria: Taxes of persons who are unable to pay their taxes, interest, and / or collection fees. 24 V.S.A. § 1535(a)(3).
•          Did not receive original tax bill.
•          Received an email bill when she requested while getting tax information together.
•          Received delinquent tax letter and paid it.
•          Lives at 1192 US Route 7
•          Purchased 1270 US Route 7 at tax sale.
•          Fixing it up for residential use.
•          Paid taxes last year.
•          1192 paid through mortgage.  Taxes escrowed.  1270 does not have a mortgage.
•          Paid both interest and penalty when paying the delinquent taxes.
•          Did not receive either tax bill.  Only received delinquent tax notice on 1270.
•          Has not had issues before with not receiving mail.

The Board had questions regarding tax bill procedure asked Julie to testify.  Julie recused herself from the board and testified as Town Clerk & Treasurer.

Town Clerk & Treasurer Testimony:

•          Tax bills are mailed out mid-August
•          Banks request tax bills either directly or through a servicing agency
•          Banks pay directly or through a servicing agency
•          All property owners, regardless of escrow status, are mailed a tax bill for their property/properties.
•          Tax bills are available on the website.

Hearing Closed at 7:00pm

The board entered deliberative session at 7:00pm.  The board exited deliberative session at 7:21pm.

Motion by Julie to adjourn at 7:21pm.