Assessors adopt inspection policy, extend rules to contractors

The Board of Assessors voted unanimously to adopt inspection procedures written by the town manager and to extend that policy to include subcontractors and any contracted evaluators.

A board member moved "Mister chairman, I would move that we adopt the procedure written by the town manager as our policy as well as written," and after discussion a seconded amendment added language making the policy apply to contractors. Chair Richard Dorney summarized the effect: "So we'll, basically, be an umbrella for all contractors and employees." The board then called for a vote and approved the policy unanimously.

The policy change was made amid clarifying discussion about who performs various inspection tasks: the board noted that the contractor (referred to in the meeting as PKA/PKA) performs cyclic inspections while the director of assessing handles new construction and a field technician handles smaller features. Members agreed that if an inspector is denied access they should note "refused" and use visible evidence from the sidewalk rather than forcing entry.

The board did not attach an immediate fee change to the motion; members discussed potential cost impacts at renewal with the contractor but did not adopt any fee adjustments during the meeting.