By Sarah Opdahl

At their meeting on Thursday, October 23, New Fairfield’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted 2-1 to adopt a modified depreciation schedule for assessment of motor vehicles, which will now increase from 85% to 90% for newer cars. There was a discussion among BOS members about how this might impact taxpayers, with agreement that new car owners will pay more in taxes. The correction adjusts the new 85% rate, which was lowered from 100% earlier this year. The move, described by Assistant Assessor Ms. Suzanne Browning, is one taken by many towns once “their grand lists were pretty much obliterated” with the switch to 85%.

Browning further explained, “We lost so much of our grand list from motor vehicles. The impact that has is it means that the other grand list [items], personal property and real estate, are going to have to carry the burden of the taxes.” Though the change will be meaningful to the full town, Browning said the potential impact to taxpayers is anticipated to be “fairly minor.” She shared that there are approximately 1,400 newer cars in Town, many of which will likely be impacted by the schedule change, while the 10,500 older cars will not be affected.

BOS members discussed and then unanimously approved an updated version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for shared financial services in Town. The shared services for Town and education needs have saved a large amount of money over the years, but the practice was questioned last year when financial problems occurred following the critical missteps of former Finance Director Mr. Vladimir Kan. The new Finance Director Mr. Adam Lawrence and the school district’s Director of Business and Operations Ms. Carrie DePuy have now created a new place from which to go forward. With the new MOU, “I think we came to an agreement that really does describe what we are doing now,” First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey said.

Lindsey addressed an item on the agenda that would not be discussed, the bus lot, as the Permanent Building Committee did not respond to requests for a status update. She explained that she heard from Chair Mr. Don Kellogg on the morning of this meeting, who explained that he is having email issues. The BOS hopes to include this agenda item for a meeting in the near future.

Public comment was lively, with residents remarking on a variety of concerns, from the bus lot to issues with Freedom of Information Act requests. Selectman Mr. Tom Perkins responded to a comment about a rumor regarding bulletproof glass being replaced by lesser products following delays at the new high school, saying “There’s absolutely no truth to it whatsoever.” He said that the PBC was “assured by Colliers that all security measures included in the design were implemented, that bulletproof, bullet-resistant glass was installed at the points of vulnerability, as determined by the School Security Committee.”

The next regular New Fairfield Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.