President’s Message

April 2006 Maine Association of Assessing Officers

Meets & Bounds

Winter is over, April is here and assessors are busypreparing for this year's commitment. Your Execu-tive Board has been busy, too. Since the last issuein January, we met twice at MMA. Joan Kiszelyand her MMA staff have exceeded our expecta-tions. Agendas are mailed, minutes are taken,decisions are followed through, renewal notices aremailed, dues collected, problem solving sugges-tions are made, etc.

The Board is very excited about the new locationfor our Fall seminar at Spruce Point Inn inBoothbay Harbor. We hope you are, too. DanRobinson, Education Chair, reported the educa-tional offerings are nearly complete. More infor-mation will be forthcoming in our July issue.

The Legislature is wrestling with numerous issuesthat will affect our work, primarily the WorkingWaterfront amendment language and the repeal ofthe Personal Property tax. Many of you haveprovided feedback to MMA. Please continue to doso. Our input is necessary and vital. Every Friday(when the Legislature is in session) the LegislativeBulletin link and LD Update list link will be sentto the MAAO listserv. Be sure to get your emailadded to the MAAO listserv by contactingjholt@memun.org (Jeri Holt, Resource CenterManager). And don’t forget to visit our website atwww.maineassessors.org.

Special thanks go to Judy Mathiau for remindingus that it’s MEETS & BOUNDS not METES &BOUNDS.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge

the hard work your Board Members have done sofar this year. Many changes have been imple-mented and more are in the works. Your Board hasaccepted the challenge and our meetings havebeen very productive. We have some fantastic newideas for improving our Association that willhopefully come to fruition. I know I am excited; Ihope you will be as well.

Sincerely,William Healey, MAAO President

2006 Executive BoardMeeting Dates

May 26th at Spruce Point Inn,Boothbay HarborJuly 21st & November 9th at MMA inAugusta

2007 DUESRegular Membership: $20/personAssociate Membership: $20/personSubscribing Membership: $200/business*****Municipal Membership: $40/municipality***************Includes all employees**********Includes Boards of Assessors & Elected Municipal Officials

Please visit our website at www.maineassessors.org formore information and membership application form.

2Meets & Bounds

MAAO EXECUTIVE BOARD

Member Profile By Beth Bowdoin

Steve LeMay’s interest in assessing began inthe 1970’s when his native city of Lewistoncompleted a revaluation. He was unemployeddue to a plant closing and, luckily, the federalTrade Readjustment Act enabled him to enrollin CMVTI’s Property Taxation program. In1982, Steve LeMay, along with DarrylMcKenney and Elizabeth Sawyer, graduatedwith an associate’s degree in Property Taxa-tion. In August of 1985, he was hired byMaine Revenue Services to assist in the Unor-ganized Territories’ revaluation of 22,000

parcels! In those days all data collection, sketching and assessmentcalculation was done in pencil on cards.

Throughout the years, Steve was assigned to Excise Tax, Commer-cial Forestry Excise Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax and mapping forthe UT. He replaced Earl Leeman as Property Appraiser II and iscurrently responsible for State Valuation in Aroostook, Penobscotand Washington counties for 66 towns and property inspections forthe UT in the county.

Fortunately, he loves his work as there’s lots to do in the UT with2500+ deeds and 730 maps to process and maintain annually with astatutory deadline of July 1st for commitment. Steve enjoys solvingproblems in an entertaining way. His sense of humor is appreciatedby those who've had the pleasure of interacting with him throughoutthe years.

Steve and Gail, the love of his life, live in Caribou. They enjoytraveling to Halifax. Steve enjoys working in his vegetable gardenand feeding their “pets,” the moose, deer, bear and red squirrels.

PresidentWilliam Healey, Jr.829-2204 or 846-4971 x448bhealey@cumberlandmaine.comVice PresidentAnne Gregory781-5253agregory@town.falmouth.me.usSecretary/TreasurerMartine Painchaud439-1813mpainchaud@eliotme.orgFirst Past PresidentElizabeth Bowdoin848-3485assessor@hermon.netSecond Past PresidentLillian Smith992-4214lillian.smith@bgrme.orgTwo Year DirectorsLona LaFrancisNorth Districtllafrancis@presqueisleme.usTammy BrownEastern District867-4433tammybrown4139@aol.comAmanda SimpsonWest District655-4742amanda.simpson@raymondmaine.orgDarryl McKenney832-5369assessor@waldoboromaine.orgDaniel RobinsonSouth District985-4852 ext. 310DRobinson@kennebunk.maine.orgOne Year DirectorsJoe Grube784-2951 ext. 236jgrube@ci.lewiston.me.usSteve LeMayslemay@mfx.netRoger HoyCentral District725-6650rhoy@brunswickme.orgLisa Morin626-2320lisa@ci.augusta.me.us

Lil Smith will be soliciting ads for the 2007 newsletters andcalendar. Mailings will go out the first of June. Membersknowing of any business that may want to place and ad

contact Lil at Lillian.smith@bgrme.org or 992-4214 with info.

3April 2006

Request for Feedback By Anne Gregory

Beth Bowdoin wants your opinion on the taxationof Snowmobile Clubs. Are buildings, land andpersonal property owned by Snowmobile Clubs andoperated for the benefit of their membershipexempt from property tax? If the land is deeded tothe town and leased back to the club, would it beexempt?

Please email or call Beth at assessor@hermon.netor 848-3485 (fax #848-3316). Your responses willbe printed in the next newsletter. Would you likea regular column covering assessing questions andanswers?

Happenings in Our World By District Directors

Lou DurginLou DurginLou DurginLou DurginLou Durgin was hired by MRS as an Appraiser.He'll be working with Steve LeMay in the Northregion.

Harold GrantHarold GrantHarold GrantHarold GrantHarold Grant retired from Corinth in Septemberafter 27 years of service. He will continue as theAssessor for Hudson.

TTTTTravis Gouldravis Gouldravis Gouldravis Gouldravis Gould of Ripley was hired as the Assessorfor Corinth in November.

Roseanne MauriceRoseanne MauriceRoseanne MauriceRoseanne MauriceRoseanne Maurice, the Assessor in South Berwicksince August, will also be the Assessor for NorthBerwick, in which she started in January 2006.

Jerry DaigleJerry DaigleJerry DaigleJerry DaigleJerry Daigle retired from North Berwick in De-cember 2005.

Beth NewcombBeth NewcombBeth NewcombBeth NewcombBeth Newcomb was hired as the Assessor forArundel in September.

Justin HennesseyJustin HennesseyJustin HennesseyJustin HennesseyJustin Hennessey is the new Assistant Assessor inTopsham. He previously worked for the SewellCompany.

Bert TBert TBert TBert TBert Taylorayloraylorayloraylor is the new Assessor for SouthThomaston.

Bill VBill VBill VBill VBill Van Tan Tan Tan Tan Tuinenuinenuinenuinenuinen was hired by Dover as the Asses-sor and will be in the office every Tuesday.

Dave SawyerDave SawyerDave SawyerDave SawyerDave Sawyer and his staff will complete an in-house revaluation for 2006 in Windham. Theconversion of records from NDS to VISION iscompleted along with most of the property inspec-tions. Notices will be mailed in June, followed bythe beloved “informal hearings.” Commitment dateis scheduled for August 18th.

Mark Mark Mark Mark Mark YYYYYour Calendars!our Calendars!our Calendars!our Calendars!our Calendars!FFFFFALLALLALLALLALL SEMINAR SEMINAR SEMINAR SEMINAR SEMINAR

New time! September 13-15, 2006New time! September 13-15, 2006New time! September 13-15, 2006New time! September 13-15, 2006New time! September 13-15, 2006

New place! Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay HarborNew place! Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay HarborNew place! Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay HarborNew place! Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay HarborNew place! Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay Harbor

Check it out at: Check it out at: Check it out at: Check it out at: Check it out at: wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.sprucepointinn.com.sprucepointinn.com.sprucepointinn.com.sprucepointinn.com.sprucepointinn.com

Membership Questions?Membership Questions?Membership Questions?Membership Questions?Membership Questions?Please contact thePlease contact thePlease contact thePlease contact thePlease contact the

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4Meets & Bounds

2006 Committee Members

EDUCATIONDan Robinson, Chr

Lona LaFrancisTammy Brown

Amanda SimpsonRoger Hoy

Anne GregoryBill Healey

Lillian Smith

LEGISLATIVESteve LeMay, Chr

Bill Healey

MEMBERSHIPMartine Painchaud, Chr

AUDIT/FINANCEElizabeth Bowdoin, Chr

Martine PainchaudBill Healey

ETHICSJoe Grube, Chr

Darryl McKenney

CALENDAR/ADVERTISERSLillian Smith, Chr

NEWSLETTERAnne Gregory, Chr

Lona LaFrancesTammy Brown

Amanda SimpsonDaniel Robinson

Roger Hoy

SCHOLARSHIPMartine Painchaud, Chr

Joe GrubeRoger HoyBill Healey

LIBRARYLillian Smith, Chr

Tammy BrownElizabeth Bowdoin

Maine Revenue Services (MRS) Property TaxDivision Contact Information

Mon thru Fri 8am to 5pmMon thru Fri 8am to 5pmMon thru Fri 8am to 5pmMon thru Fri 8am to 5pmMon thru Fri 8am to 5pmTTTTTo meet your needs, we welcome suggestions and commentso meet your needs, we welcome suggestions and commentso meet your needs, we welcome suggestions and commentso meet your needs, we welcome suggestions and commentso meet your needs, we welcome suggestions and comments

David Ledew Director of the Property Tax Division 287-4790

Mike Rogers Supervisor of Municipal Services 287-4787

Judy Mathiau Chief of Training & Certification 287-4786

Jeff Kendall Property Appraiser I/ Municipal 287-6939Reimbursement

Lorraine Tukey Elderly Deferred Tax Accounts 287-2014

Jeff Glazier Main Receptionist/Mailings 287-2013

Linda Lucas Transfer Tax Forms/Excise 287-2012Tax Assistance

MRS Field RepresentativesMRS Field RepresentativesMRS Field RepresentativesMRS Field RepresentativesMRS Field RepresentativesJeff Kendall Waldo County

Judy Mathiau Knox County

Mike Rogers 95 Corridor of Cumberland County& Northern Oxford County

Nancy Weeks Lincoln, Kennebec County & Mid CoastArea

Jon Carrell Central Maine, portions of OxfordCounty & Hancock Counties

Steve Lemay Aroostook County

Lou Durgin Northern Penobscot & NorthernWashington Counties

Jim Robinson Piscataquis County

Donny Tibbetts Penobscot & Southeastern SomersetCounties

Bill Skinner Downeast area

Roland Moreau Southern & Central Maine

Tom Walker Northern Franklin & Somerset Counties

5April 2006

Scholarships By Martine Painchaud

Each year, MAAO awards two scholarships; one toattend the Property Tax School and one for theFall Seminar. If you would like to be consideredfor a scholarship, please complete the enclosedapplication and mail it to Martine Painchaud,MAAO Secretary/Treasurer, 1010 Burnt Mill Road,Wells, ME 04090, before May 1, 2006.

What’s Up at MaineRevenue Services

By Dave Ledew, Judy Mathiau, Bob Doiron andSteve LeMay

After 29 years of service, Richard “Dick”Faucher retired from MRS in February but notfrom the assessing field. On March 1st, he washired by Pittston for one day a week. His emailaddress is rfauchercma197@aol.com. JudyMathiau is now the Chief of Training andCertification. Her email address isJudy.G.Mathiau@maine.gov. After many, manyyears in the field, Mike Rogers is the newSupervisor of Municipal Services. His emailaddress is Michael.Rogers@maine.gov. JeffLunsford was hired as a Property Appraiser Ifor the UT section. Jeff will assist with officeand field work.

Director Dave Ledew is swamped with legisla-tive issues this time of year. His draft lan-guage for the working waterfront (LD1972)constitutional amendment has been submittedto the Taxation Committee. As of March 27th,no action has been taken. Many Assessorsresponded to MMA’s request for input, numer-ous workshop meetings were held, many hourswere spent drafting language, etc. Dave wasgiven his marching orders. Many more hourswill be spent before April 1, 2007, trying toprovide guidance to assessors on how to deter-mine the current use value of working water-front. The draft includes eight definitions,places the burden upon the Assessor to deter-mine the current use value, has a penaltyprovision and gives the Assessor the authorityto ask for supporting documentation.

The UT is completing an update for 2006 usingits new CAMA system provided by MicroSolve.The software replicates the State’s AssessmentManual. Field data collected by handheldPDAs will be downloaded so field reviewchanges can be made while onsite. The PDAwill have GPS and sketching capabilities alongwith a digital camera. Way to go, UT!

POSITION AVAILABLEMAI or advanced associate is wanted for leading, regionalfirm providing real estate valuation and advisory services.Excellent client base and assignments. Need strong analyti-cal, written and verbal skills. Exceptional career opportunityfor effective, ambitious and committed professional desiredgrowth. Attractive compensation incentives. Reply toRandolph Glennon, MAI, CRE, Eastern Appraisal & Con-sulting, Inc., Two Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101.Visit www.easternac.com for info regarding firm.

6Meets & Bounds

HAMLIN ASSOCIATES, INC.PROPERTY TAX ASSESSORS, CONSULTANTS & APPRAISERS

625 STATE HWY 150 PARKMAN, ME 04443PHONE 207-876-3300 FAX 207-876-3330

E lizabeth Morin, Pres Joshua Morin, C.M.A Travis Gould, C.M.A. Carroll Weeks Jr., Associate

Pat Johnson, Associate

COMPLETE & COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSING/APPRAISAL SERVICE

NEWS FROM OTHER ASSESSINGASSOCIATIONSCMAAO – The Central Maine Association ofAssessors held a planning meeting in January toschedule their 2006 yearly workshops. The datesand topics listed below were decided; however,please keep in mind due to finalizing speaker(s)and location sites, they may change. You maycontact Garrett Robinson, Pres. at 876-3300 orMary Hauger, Secretary at 468-3186murh@juno.com for information. Notices will besent as the date approaches on each workshop toCMAAO members electronically for those withemail and snail mail to all others. The workshopsare a luncheon meeting and held at a restaurantstarting at noon and last for about two hours. Youwill receive credit hours towards your re-certifica-tion for attending any workshop. Your only ex-pense to attend a luncheon workshop would beyour lunch and dues fee if not already a member.The April Spring Seminar is an all day workshopwith several topic/speakers. Your lunch and breakrefreshments are included with the registrationfee.

April 8, 2006April 8, 2006April 8, 2006April 8, 2006April 8, 2006: Spring SeminarSpring SeminarSpring SeminarSpring SeminarSpring Seminar, Jeff's Catering,, Jeff's Catering,, Jeff's Catering,, Jeff's Catering,, Jeff's Catering,BrewerBrewerBrewerBrewerBrewerTopics: Review LD-1 and LD-1660, Creating &

following the paper trail, Appraisals vs. Assess-ments, Municipal Services Coordination, Abate-ments & Supplementals

June 9, 2006: Digital Cameras, FairfieldJune 9, 2006: Digital Cameras, FairfieldJune 9, 2006: Digital Cameras, FairfieldJune 9, 2006: Digital Cameras, FairfieldJune 9, 2006: Digital Cameras, Fairfield(What type to buy & how to use it effectively)Presented by Clyde Dyar

September 22, 2006: Solar Power Units, HampdenSeptember 22, 2006: Solar Power Units, HampdenSeptember 22, 2006: Solar Power Units, HampdenSeptember 22, 2006: Solar Power Units, HampdenSeptember 22, 2006: Solar Power Units, Hampden

October 2006: October 2006: October 2006: October 2006: October 2006: Annual Meeting, MMAAnnual Meeting, MMAAnnual Meeting, MMAAnnual Meeting, MMAAnnual Meeting, MMA Convention Convention Convention Convention Convention

7April 2006

GOSLINESpecialists in appraisal services

Support Your Local Assessorwith Professional Assistance

Gosline + Company(207) 582-1100 • FAX 582-2755 • 118 Lewiston Road • Gardiner, Maine 04345-0247

P.O. Box 247 Gardiner, ME Serving Northern New England 04345-0247

5th AnnualNorthern Maine Spring WorkshopMay 12th at Northern Maine Community College’sChristie Complex Edgemont Dr, Presque Isle, ME.TTTTTopics:opics:opics:opics:opics: Overview Marshall & Swift Calculated CostSection, Real Estate Transfer Tax forms, In-HouseRevaluations, How to Navigate the Paper Maze.Registration forms, agendas, and directions will bemailed mid April. If you do not receive a form,please contact Lil Smith of Bangor at 992-4214 oremail at: lillian.smith@bgrme.org ▲

Library By Beth Bowdoin

Well, folks, we’re at a crossroads. Should we orshouldn’t we maintain the library? The goal ofMAAO's library is to share books, publications,cost schedules, etc. amongst the membership as aresource and save costs. This service is providedfor FREE! But we need your help. Do you have abook gathering dust that would help anotherAssessor? Are you faced with assessing a uniqueproperty? Please contact Beth Herman at:assessor@hermon.net; tel #848-3486 or LillianSmith at: lillian.smith@bgrme.org; tel #992-4214,regarding any resources you want to donate. ▲

Meets & Bounds publication months:Meets & Bounds publication months:Meets & Bounds publication months:Meets & Bounds publication months:Meets & Bounds publication months:JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary, , , , , April, July & NovemberApril, July & NovemberApril, July & NovemberApril, July & NovemberApril, July & November

Please contact Please contact Please contact Please contact Please contact Anne Gregory or a Director ifAnne Gregory or a Director ifAnne Gregory or a Director ifAnne Gregory or a Director ifAnne Gregory or a Director ifyou have any news for the newsletteryou have any news for the newsletteryou have any news for the newsletteryou have any news for the newsletteryou have any news for the newsletter.....

MEETS & BOUNDS-MAAOLOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTER60 COMMUNITY DRAUGUSTA ME 04330

Meets & Bounds

MAAO APRIL 2006 NEWSLETTER

wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.maineassessors.org.maineassessors.org.maineassessors.org.maineassessors.org.maineassessors.org