Monday, December 8, 2008

CTM adopts gaslight resolution, resident calls assessment 'unfair'

On December 1, the board of Clifton Town Meeting adopted a resolution opposing a gaslight street assessment proposed in the draft 2009-2010 City budget.

The assessment, proposed by city manager Milton Dohoney Jr., would charge property owners on gaslight streets $4 per linear foot of street frontage every three years, bringing the City an additional $400,000 in annual revenue.

Mayor Mark Mallory's budget recommendations did not include the assessment, but it could still be included when the budget comes up for a City council vote.

Recently, a resident of Old Ludlow Avenue alerted councilmember Laketa Cole by e-mail of the inequities of such an assessment.

His lot has 169 feet of street frontage, which would result in an assessment of $676.00.

"However, my six neighbors who have an access easement through my lot will have no assessment since they have no frontage," he says. "This simple frontage-based formula is unfair recognizing that my six neighbors will have no assessment, even though some have larger lots and much greater property values."

A report from Dohoney on the concerns raised in the e-mail is due before council by the end of the month.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for today at 1 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Previous reading on BC:
Mallory nixes gaslight assessment, but idea still alive (12/1/08)
Clifton Town Meeting opposing proposed gaslight street tax (11/24/08)