RUMFORD – The owner of Maine Winter Sports Center, the chairman of the Board of Assessors, a couple of selectmen and the town manager are planning to sit down and talk about a possible solution to the Black Mountain tax problem on Tuesday.
The meeting follows a special session Thursday night before selectmen when Andy Shepard, leader of the sports center, which owns Black Mountain of Maine, presented his case for why he believes the operation shouldn’t be taxed.
Town Manager Steve Eldridge said Friday night that the group will try to come to some sort of an understanding.
At issue is whether Black Mountain should be taxed. The mountain’s tax bill for this year is about $65,000, a figure Shepard has said could force the closure of the mountain.
The Board of Assessors ruled on May 19 that the mountain, under the center’s ownership, did not qualify as a charitable and benevolent organization, a designation that allows a tax exemption. Maine Winter Sports Center is a nonprofit organization.
Tax assessor Connie Cassidy said last week that the decision could have been appealed to the Maine Revenue Board within 60 days of the notification of the decision. That action wasn’t taken.
The mountain had not been taxed during the many years it was owned by the Greater Rumford Community Center. Shepard said that although other skiing facilities owned by Maine Winter Sports Center pay property taxes, they are in the process of petitioning for tax-exempt status.
Shepard said Friday night that there are various ways to appeal a tax decision. He hopes that by sitting down with town officials on Tuesday, an understanding will be reached.
He said he hopes to appeal to the Board of Selectmen for an abatement on grounds that the Board of Appeals’ decision was made in error. He declined to identify what that error may be.
“I believe everyone wants the best thing,” he said.
Maine Winter Sports Center bought the mountain and existing buildings on Aug. 5, 2003. It used about $5 million from the Libra Foundation of Portland to install chairlifts, build a larger lodge, pave the parking lots, and make many other improvements.
Shepard said Thursday night that although Maine Winter Sports Center owns the mountain, the local Black Mountain Board operates it.
“Maine Winter Sports Center has no money. Our facilities are built, then turned over to the communities to operate,” he said at Thursday’s session.
Board of Appeals Chairman Brian Gagnon said Friday morning that although he has never known the board to revisit an issue, that could be done.
He said he wants to make sure the board is taking the correct action.
In a voice mail from Gagnon on Friday afternoon, he said the board’s decision wasn’t necessarily final and that the board may be able to discuss or change it. He could not be reached late Friday night.
Many residents speaking at Thursday’s selectmen’s meeting cited the importance of the mountain to the quality of life and revitalization of the community.
Selectmen’s Chairman Jim Thibodeau said the town has supported Black Mountain through the laying of water and sewer lines and through funding.
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