SUMNER – Mike O’Donnell told selectmen Tuesday night that tax values have been assigned to properties as part of the townwide assessment.

“Sumner is a complex town for how little a town it is,” he said.

He asked for “approval of the fact that we’ll use multiple tiered schedules.”

Selectman Clifford McNeil said he was worried that the use of tiered schedules would penalize people for improving their properties.

He was reminded by Selectman Mark Silber that “taxes are a reflection of value” and not a punishment.

O’Donnell said “some properties are slightly more desirable than others and we need to assign them different assessments to acknowledge that.”

He has assigned tax values to the properties in town, he said, and has found some problems. A number of properties have sold for significantly less than would be expected for their condition and grade, he said.

Selectmen speculated that these may be properties that were sold within a family.

“If we took [these properties] one at a time, we could find a reason for each.” O’Donnell said, and he said he assumes he will eventually have to do that.

O’Donnell and selectmen agreed that properties on a pond would have additional value based on the amount of water frontage. With a few exceptions, though, properties on the river will not have any added value. Properties on public easement roads will be valued less than those on town roads, again with the exception of a few properties.

O’Donnell stressed that “tax assessments aren’t permanent.” Once a value is assigned “it can be worked. It can be adjusted.” He said he expects selectmen will have to work with individual taxpayers to adjust values.

“The goal is to have fair and equitable market valuations,” he said.

In other business, selectmen noted:

• Fire Chief Robert Stewart has announced that the volunteer fire department will burn a house at Route 219 and Starbird Road for training from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4 and 5.

• There will be a household hazardous waste collection at the Buckfield Municipal Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 27. Residents of Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford may phone Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments at 783-9186 for information about acceptable materials.

• Residents should to renew dog and kennel licenses on time because late fees have increased significantly.

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