Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The charter of the town of Wareham, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth as provided in section twelve of chapter forty-three B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out section 3-5 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 3-5 BOARD OF ASSESSORS

(a) COMPOSITION, TERM OF OFFICE - There shall be a board of assessors consisting of five members elected for three year terms, so arranged that as nearly an equal number of terms as possible shall expire each year.

(b) POWERS AND DUTIES - The board of assessors shall act as the policy making board for the assessing department. The board of assessors shall annually make a fair cash valuation of all of the estate, both real and personal, subject to taxation within the town. The assessors shall determine the annual tax rate and shall hear and decide all applications for the abatement of such taxes. The board of assessors shall have all of the other powers and duties which are given to boards of assessors by general laws and such other powers, duties and responsibilities as may be provided by charter, by by-law or by other town meeting vote.

(c) DIRECTOR OF ASSESSMENT - The town administrator shall appoint a director of assessment for a term of three years and fix the director's compensation within the amount annually appropriated for that purpose. An appointment by the town administrator shall become effective on the fifteenth day following the date on which notice of the appointment is filed with the board of assessors, unless the board of assessors shall, within said period, by a majority vote of the full board, vote to reject any such appointment, or unless said board has sooner voted to affirm it. Notwithstanding any other provision of the charter, the town administrator shall appoint all other employees of the assessing department. The director of assessment shall be a person of proven professional ability, especially fitted by education, training, and previous experience in municipal assessment and taxation to perform the duties of the office. The director of assessment shall be responsible to the town administrator for the day to day operations of the assessing department, and shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all functions of that department, and shall perform such other duties as the board of assessors may require from time to time. The director of assessment shall keep the board of assessors fully informed as to the condition of the assessing department and matters relating to assessment, valuation, taxation, and abatement. The director of assessment shall implement votes of the board of assessors which require action.

SECTION 2. At the first annual town election to be held after the effective date of this act, two additional assessors shall be elected, one for a term of two years and one for a term of one year. At each annual town election thereafter the voters shall elect assessors equal in number to those whose terms are expiring for terms of three years. The incumbent members of the board of assessors on the effective date of this act shall complete the terms for which they were elected and shall receive such compensation as fixed by the town meeting subject to appropriation.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.