WILTON – Wilton Assessor James Jurdack told Selectmen on Tuesday that the property revaluation is an ongoing, interactive process. Residents who think their real estate is overvalued should let the assessor know, he added.

Jurdack told the board that 257 accounts have been reconsidered with four completed field inspections and four more remaining.

Residents raised concerns at the board meeting Aug. 7.

“We’ve had no reports that they (residents) can’t find anyone to talk to about their issues,” he said, as he explained how he and the firm of Cole, Layer, Trumble of Connecticut was still meeting with residents and working through their issues.

Selectman Russell Black questioned why some residents reported calling for appointments and not having their calls returned. Kevin Rake of Cole, Layer, Trumble said they are calling residents back as soon as they can, sometimes three or four times, and leaving messages but will continue to try.

Concerns were raised that some people have not realized that they can discuss their assessments, Selectman Terry Brann said, because the firm stated in the first letter that they should wait until they received their tax bills.

Jurdack encouraged those residents to contact the town office as it’s easier to fix it now than to abate the bill later.

Residents who have spoken with him or representatives of Cole, Layer, Trumble will receive an updated letter around the first week of September that will indicate if adjustments are made. Those who don’t receive a letter but think they should, he said, should call the town office.

A few residents attended the meeting to hear the revaluation update and ask questions. Concerns were raised over the firm doing the revaluation and putting more value on open space and forest than the local residents do and why local assessors were not used.

Jurdack explained that the data used is from Wilton sales of property.

“In a small study I’ve done since April,” he said, “the amount we’ve assessed as fair market value is about what they are selling for.”

Selectman Norman Gould said he felt “we’re victims of outside money coming in and inflating the value.”

Following the town’s decision to have the revaluation done, the board sent it out to bid but in-state firms were busy and the town would have had to wait four to five years, Russell Black said. The bid process resulted in hiring the Connecticut firm that has been involved for just over two years.

Concern was raised over the elderly not being able to afford the new revaluations by Brann who questioned whether elderly with fixed incomes would be driven from their homes.

Jurdack said there are options including household and veteran exemptions, and circuit breaker programs that apply when taxes exceed 4 percent of income. Selectmen also have the right to a poverty abatements that is negotiated between taxpayers and the board.

“The assessor does not make that decision. The town fathers do,” he said.

Brann responded that there are still issues that need to be fixed.

Chairman Paul Gooch then called for a motion to pay the $20,326 payment due to the company on Aug. 1 as he reminded the board that the town had entered into a contract and just because the results were not what they would like, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t honor their part of the contract.

A second payment of $6,023 is due Aug. 31 and the remaining $16,030 of the $167,300 revaluation cost will be held back until the town is satisfied, he said.