2015.11.09 Council Agenda Item 09
Summary
Discussion about assessing services being provided by Cumberland County.
A public comment period will not be included.
ACTION: Council action is not anticipated.
Description
The former Regional Assessing Director, Gary James, resigned from his position in September to take a new assessing position in another state. Since then, the Town has appointed Renee LaChapelle as the appointed assessor in Falmouth. Ms. LaChapelle has also been subsequently appointed the new Regional Assessing Director by the Cumberland County Manager. Although Mr. James was the appointed assessor for Falmouth during the past year, Ms. LaChapelle has performed most of the actual assessing functions for Falmouth. To date, the services she has provided have been excellent.
The town managers from the regional assessing program have met two times with the Cumberland County manager and other county staff regarding the current transition. The transition plan includes strategies to maintain service levels and a hiring process to fill a vacant position, Deputy Assessing Director.
At the conclusion of the transition period, Falmouth staff will work with Ms. LaChapelle to implement recently suggested improvements and adjustments that were developed in a meeting with her. Although the program was successful for Falmouth during the past year, we recognize that it is a new program and there are areas where we could improve service, particularly internal coordination and communication.
There are other assessing related changes in the greater Portland region. The Town of Cumberland is currently reviewing whether it will continue to receive assessing services from Cumberland County or through another partnership. Cumberland has indicated that it may consider a micro regional program with another community not currently part of the County program. The assessors for South Portland (which includes Westbrook in a regional program) and Windham will be retiring soon. Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth have recently developed a partnership to deliver assessing services, hosted by Cape Elizabeth. The managers from all of these communities and the communities in the County program are planning to meet within the next couple of weeks to share experiences, identify future opportunities and discuss the future of assessing, including what appears to be a shrinking pool of assessors who would be qualified to serve communities within the greater Portland region.
A copy of the assessing services contract with the County is attached.
