JAY – Selectmen approved a special entertainment license Monday for Ma Duck’s bar. The board also tabled action Monday on a request for a $6,791 tax abatement for A&V Construction until selectmen meet with the town’s assessing agent.

Police Chief Larry White Sr. said his department had received some complaints, including disorderly conduct, suspicious person, noise, parking violations, motor vehicle accidents and disorderly conduct in the last year in regard to the bar.

But many of the complaints were registered by the bar’s owner, Mary Ann Barker, White said.

White said he understood neighbors’ complaints about hooting and hollering at closing time but also noted that Barker was doing everything she could to keep things under control, including patrolling the parking lot.

That’s what comes with living next to a bar, White said.

“No matter how much we do there, there’s going to be noise,” White said.

Norman Morin, a resident of Route 140 where the bar is located, spoke in favor of the bar. Abutter Donna Jerry said she was not trying to stop anyone from making a living, she and her husband just wanted to sleep at night.

Barker said she would put up a fence that runs along the property line between the Jerry’s and the bar to prevent people from going out back.

Selectman Parker Kinney, Jerry’s brother, told Barker if she stopped by his shop, he would donate the lumber.

In other business, selectmen tabled action on Judy Diaz’s request to have her personal property valuation reduced from $554,900 to $125,080 to reflect a $1,976.26 tax assessment instead of $8,767.42.

Diaz had sold the equipment she was taxed on but did not file an updated list of equipment owned by the company last spring.

The town assessed the company taxes on the list that was previously filed.

In a memo to selectmen assessing agent, Paul Binette stated the Diaz had said she was extremely busy running the company with out of town jobs and overlooked completing the list. “She did appear very sincere and apologetic for not submitting the 2003 list on time,” Binette wrote.

He also noted that state law provides that if a taxpayer fails to respond to the request for a list, he/she is barred from his/her right to appeal the decision of the assessors unless the assessors are satisfied that his/her excuse for not providing the list is satisfactory.

Town Manager Ruth Marden told selectman that some companies that can’t meet the deadline ask for extensions to file an updated list.

Kinney moved that selectmen obey the law. He noted that the town would set precedent if they granted the abatement.

But Selectman Rick Simoneau motioned to table action until they heard from Binette, who had given selectmen two options to consider with one recommending the abatement be granted.

Binette said Tuesday he was requesting Diaz send a letter to selectmen in their capacity as assessors, explaining why she didn’t file the list.

dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link