Minutes 11/07/1972 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 7. 1972 foundations, etc., when the subject sewer line bursts due to root infil- tration. (5) It is a very debatable legal proposition that the City has the authority to expend taxpayers' funds for the removal of trees and repair of sewer .... ~A~s damaged because of tree root infiltration when the responsibility for such infiltration lies with the owner of said sewer. In accordance with the above, I make the following recommendations: (1) That the power to regulate the growth of trees (including their removal) be retained by the City through the Director of Parks. That tree removal or other affirmative actions by City departments be considered only if the property owner can af£irmatively show that tree root infiltration was caused by some City act or failure to act. In other words, tree root infiltration should be assumed to be caused by non-root-proof connections unless otherwise proven by the property owner. (3) That in those instances when the property owner proves negligent action on the part of the City (in other words, root-proof connections are installed in said sewer lines), the City will offer to fund the cost of chemical elimination of root infiltration. As an alternative, the City might offer to remove an undesirable species of tree if such removal will cost less than chemical elimination." Motioi.of Mr. Smith and seconded by Mr. Johnson, to be received as information, was adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Early, Holley, Johnson, King, Smith, ~entz, Barnes Nays: None 72-476 "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend it be placed on first reading. This appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund for contract services from United Appraisal Company. I request that the proper City officials be authorized to sign a contract with United Appraisal Company of East Hartford, Connecticut, to reassess all real estate within the City. This is to include residential and commercial. The proposed contract is for a total of $169,000. The contract is to begin in November, 1972, and run through March 1, 1974. The $100,000 appropriation is to cover payments due on this contract during the fiscal year 1972-73. The balance of $69,000 will be due and payable during the fiscal year 1973-74. This company will convert current existing data contained in the City's assessment reco~ to a computerized appraisal information system. The purpose of this conversion is to utilize the currently existing physical descriptive factors relating to each parcel of property within the City and then to price each parcel based on those physical factors, utilizing an updated pricing schedule which properly reflects current costs and values for the City of Portsmouth. The Appraisal Information System, as developed by the United Appraisal Company will provide a substantial number of benefits to the City such as: (A) Cost gawinls -- The system captures ali existing descriptive data for the dwelling units and commercial units relating to each parcel in the City and will substantially reduce the cost of any future reappraisals. (B) The system provides the City Assessor data which has never before been available, including specific comparisons to other houses which have similar features, so the taxpayer can clearly see that within the same contiguous neighborhood other similar and comparable properties have sold at prices which are comparable to the appraised value. These reports also provide a clear check on the part of the City Assessor to assure in the future prices are remaining constant with appraised values. ~ CC) The system will substantially improve the quality of the general appraisal, since most clerical errors are eliminated, accuracy of calculation is infinitely improved, and a variety of mechanical editing processes are carried out to insure that factors on the appraisal card accurately describe the parcel." On motion of Mr Smith and seconded by Mr. Early, the ordinance to be approved on first reading. " Substitute motion of ~r. Holley and seconded by Mr. Smith that the matter be deferred to a regular scheduled meeting and a Public Hearing be held, was defeated by a 5-2 (voice) vote. The original motion to approve the following ordinance on first reading, was adopted by the following vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $100,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO CREATE A COMPUTERIZED APPRAISAL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE CITYOF PORTSMOUTH." Ayes: Early, ~ing, Smith, Wentz, Barnes Nays: Holley, Johnson ds