Robert Duplisea proposes a modification to the originally suggested tree growth fine

NEWRY — After several meetings, the Newry selectboard discovered an assessment error that had been made on a piece of property back in 2008. Kurt and Karen Youland had acquired a parcel of land previously owned by Penley Farms, unaware that this land fell under tree growth. The parcel, which was a divided piece of a much larger area, had an extra two-acre section that fell into the tree growth category, and had been missed by assessors back in 2008.

Robert Delsea, the current assessor for the tree growth penalty, said, “To be in tree growth you have to have at least 10 acres of forested land.” Due to the missed section, it was not clear whether or not this section actually counted as tree growth. With a new assessment it was determined that it did, and that a fine needed to paid, with considerable back interest. The final fine came out to $9,988, leading the Youlands to appeal to the selectboard.

Delsea suggested a retroactive calculation of the fine based on what it would have been in 2008 when the property was acquired. “We should have discovered it in ’08, it should have been assessed in ’08,” he said. With those calculations, the fine would come out to $1,142 rather than the originally suggested amount.

This suggestion was met positively by the Newry selectboard. “We’re as much at fault,” said Gary Wight. Virgil Conkright agreed as well, saying, “I think if we went with the 2008 that would kind of rectify everything that came after.” The final decision was to remove the original penalty and charge the amount that would have been charged back in 2008, making up for the mistake moving forwards.

Other business

In terms of the comprehensive plan, the Newry Selectboard has had difficulty finding volunteers for its citizen committee to review the plan. So far, they have only heard from two people. Loretta Powers clarified in a call that this is not a paid position, and that they are still waiting on interest.

“We wanted to see how many volunteers we get,” she said. Her hopes for the committee are “a select board person, a planning board person, and then people at large who feel like stepping up.” Responses have been slow due to the holidays, and they plan to reach out again as things pick back up in the new year.