City of Framingham Assessor Leaving After 6 Months

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FRAMINGHAM – The City of Framingham is losing its second chief assessor again, this year.

In April 2021 Will Naser resigned for a comparable position in the Town of Westford.

On June 28, John Neas, a Framingham native, and the Chief Assessor for the Town of Hopkinton became the Chief Assessor for the City of Framingham.

Neas confirmed with SOURCE today, December 22, he is leaving the City of Framingham.

Neas was the fiscal year 2021 President of the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO).

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A Boston College graduate, Neas was one of four applicants for the position in the City of Framingham this spring.

Former Framingham Human Relations Director Dolores Hamilton, the former Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen Kelley, and a member of the Board of Assessors were on the screening committee to hire a new assessor earlier this spring.

Neas’ starting salary was $115,000. The job was posted on May 7, with a salary range of $102,400 to $115,000.

“I have twelve years of municipal experience as an assessor and 30 years of experience in the real estate appraisal field appraising all types of commercial, industrial, and residential properties,” wrote Neas in his cover letter to the City of Framingham in applying for the job.

“An assessor has critical administrative responsibilities, but I also enjoy wearing my hard hat for field work when necessary because I believe it is essential for the assessor to know the town,” wrote Neas in his cover letter. “I have experience before the Appellate Tax Board as both an appraiser and as an assessor.”

The chief assessor performs “highly responsible and professional supervisory work along with technical and administrative work relating to managing the assessment and appraisal function for the City, including establishing property valuations, preparing tax rates with accompanying schedules and taxable property inventory lists, defending assessments, maintaining and enhancing the City’s land based records, providing appraisal support to the Board of Assessors, in accordance with state and local statute and regulations and policies of the Board of Assessors; performs all other related work as required.”

The Chief Assessor position did not need City Council approval as it is a department head and not a division head.

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