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FRAMINGHAM – The City of Framingham began advertising for a new chief assessor, again, today, January 25.

Yesterday, January 24, Mayor Charlie Sisitsky appointed James St. Andre Acting Chief Assessor.

In December 2021, John Neas, a Framingham native, resigned as Chief Assessor after less than 6 months on the job. He had left the Town of Hopkinton to became the Chief Assessor for the City of Framingham, under the Spicer administration. He resigned in December 2021, to return to Hopkinton.

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

The City of Framingham posted the job today. The salary range for the full-time position is $114,500 to $126,00.

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.”

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Other Essential Functions include:

▪ Administers the ad valorem tax system. Discovers, measures, lists and establishes valuations for all property both real and personal within the city.

  • Conducts physical inspections of properties.
  • Implements effective operation of a city-wide property appraisal system; assess value of property; keeps abreast of all new laws pertaining to real estate, personal property, motor vehicle excise and assessing procedures
  • Researches by performing property inspections; market, cost and income analysis; reviews value on real and personal property to determine assessment using complex internal assessment methods; reviews application for abatements and exemptions.
  • Supervises the operation of the Assessing Department.
  • Responsible to analyze real estate market conditions and events to determine trends and changes in the market; collects data from various boards and officials whose actions reflect value.
  • Interacts with the Department of Revenue for final approval to tax billing procedures.
  • Oversees the operation of the conversion of the valuation file to the billing file for tax collection purposes.
  • Supervises the commitment of real estate personal property, exemptions, motor vehicle excise, farm and machinery excise and special assessment tax bills to the Tax Collector.
  • Creates and prepares the required reports for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; prepares recapitulation reports.
  • Implements program for collecting data necessary for all the allocation of the tax burden for each class of property, and the maintenance of complete, accurate and up-to-date property records; maintains records relating to location, valuation, appraisal of all property in the City, maintaining current inventories of all real and personal property within the City. Maintains complete, accurate and up-to-date public records and information on all property, both real estate and personal property, including all tax-exempt property.
  • Responsible for the real estate values for the City of 10,000 parcels.
  • Prepares for and testifies before the Appellate Tax Board when necessary.
  • Analyzes all abatement applications and prepares with suggestions to the Board of Assessors.
  • Attends professional development meetings and conferences in order to stay abreast of changes and trends in the field and remaining familiar with Massachusetts Law and Regulations concerning taxation.
  • Inspects and data enter all building permits throughout the year and enters all changes and building sketches into the appraisal system. Field check, measure and inspects residential and commercial properties on a constant basis for data quality control.
  • Responsible for the supervision, management and administration of the Assessing Department and responsible for the proper and accurate maintenance of the department’s personnel, financial and other administrative records.
  • Coordinates the revisions of Assessors’ maps for subdivision of property and deed changes throughout the year.
  • Develops requests for proposals and bid specifications for personal property and real estate; oversees contractor.
  • Serves as administrative staff to the Board of Assessors, providing technical assistance for meetings and ensuring proper follow-up of Board decisions.

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  • Captures new growth through permit activity. Reports all classes of real and personal property that increased in value in over the year.
  • Responsible for deed transfers with the County Registry of Deeds.
  • Responsible for handling the various exemptions of elderly, blind and veterans.
  • Responsible for processing motor vehicle excise tax commitments, (35,000 bills) creating receivables and maintaining the file using motor vehicle software. Review and processes applications for motor vehicle abatements and exemptions. Generates reports. Verifies incorrect values and researches errors, reporting changes to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  • Performs similar or related work as required or as situation dictates.

Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in economics or business administration plus course work related specifically in business, finance and property appraisal; five (5) years’ experience in real estate and personal property appraisal and municipal procedures experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Possession of a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License, Massachusetts Accredited Assessor designation (MAA).

The Chief Assessor performs responsible duties requiring independent judgment and initiative in the administration of the assessor’s office and in establishing property values; work is performed in strict accordance with the directives and policies of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) and in compliance with the Massachusetts General Laws.

The Chief Assessor works under the direction of Mayor in accordance with state law, assessing principles and directives from DOR. Works independently without daily supervision on responsibilities.

The Chief Assessor provides direct supervision of Assessors, Assistant Assessors, Clerks, and an Administrative Assistant.

Interested applicants should apply via the City of Framingham’s website at www.framinghamma.gov/jobs

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By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.