PARIS – County commissioners heard continuing arguments on the Bear Mountain Inn’s tax abatement appeal Tuesday. No decision was reached, and the hearing will continue at next month’s meeting.

Commissioners will decide if the Waterford inn’s owners, Deborah Hall and Lorraine Blais, were assessed unfairly. Their attorney, Dana Hanley, has made a series of claims stemming from a mistake made in the 2003 assessment process.

Waterford Selectman Whizzer Wheeler contends the inn has been taxed fairly on its lakefront property. Lake properties are taxed based on desirability, Wheeler said.

With one commissioner absent and the another one needing to leave early, Tuesday’s portion of the hearing was rushed. Wheeler spent about half of his 20 minutes arguing that, according to the comprehensive plan, the town’s taxation policies were just. The policies were made to maintain the “consistent rural character of Waterford.”

The town has a 25 percent surcharge on property taxes for businesses. Wheeler said that this is in place because businesses put additional strain on town resources.

He also spent several minutes arguing that he had been treated unfairly during the hearing and asking for a continuation, which commissioners were hesitant to grant.

Hanley, in his rebuttal, said that his clients were taxed unfairly adding that the town’s taxation practices may be unconstitutional.

The hearing will continue at the county commissioners’ Oct. 17 meeting.