Town of Hubbardston assessors on an evening meeting accepted several land-classification applications in part, signed statutory exemption paperwork and a lien release, and postponed a complex Chapter classification decision while staff verifies building and bond valuations.

The board signed paperwork accepting Thomas Bracko’s application in part for 87.4 acres and similarly accepted a portion of Dennis Rogers’s application, the board said during the meeting. Town Administrator Ned Boudreaux praised new assessor staff members Steve and Leanne for quicker responses to residents and said their presence in the office has already improved service.

The most detailed discussion concerned a long-standing filing for Matthew Orlino, whose records show about 53.5 acres classified under ‘chapter’ for roughly 40 years. Assessors’ staff told the board 47.9 acres are contiguous non‑productive land and, under the cited Chapter classification rules, no more than 50 percent of land in the classification may be non‑productive. Staff calculated that, given 5.68 acres of productive hay land, Orlino would only qualify for roughly 11 acres under that limit unless he files a forestry plan.

Assessors described two options for Orlino: deny the contiguous non‑productive acreage or allow it to remain subject to the condition that he submits a forestry plan next year to qualify the land under the Chapter classification. The board postponed signing Orlino’s application pending verification of a barn/bond valuation on one parcel and confirmation of how a removed house was accounted for in parcel acreage. A board member said they would check the Department of Revenue gateway for historical valuation and rate data before final action.

A member of the public, Kurt Lehi of 57 Underwood Road, reported that assessors’ records and the GIS map show the valuation reduced but that the tax collector had not yet reduced his tax charge. Lehi said the valuation difference appears to be about $30,000; at the town’s approximate tax rate of $11 per $1,000, assessors and Lehi estimated that difference would change the tax bill by a few hundred dollars. Lehi said he may review his next tax bill to confirm the adjustment.

Assessors also moved several administrative items: they signed a lien release for the Sehagan property and signed a certificate for forest land classification (61A) that required the chair’s signature. The office reported seven real estate abatements are in process and that several statutory veteran exemptions (including first‑time VA exemptions and 100% disabled‑veteran exemptions) were checked and prepared for signature; one veteran exemption application was denied because the applicant was not living in Hubbardston at the required time. The board indicated it will notify applicants or call them if additional documentation is needed.

Board members and staff discussed several properties with poor owner responsiveness. Staff reported repeated, unsuccessful attempts to contact Royal Sun Farm about building measurements and other questions; assessors said they raised the business to the highest valuation permitted under Massachusetts law after failing to reach the owners. Town Administrator Ned Boudreaux said the town has attempted contact through multiple departments and that the board is monitoring possible breaches of host community agreements for local marijuana businesses. Boudreaux said the town intends to be notified and represented if any hearings are scheduled related to those agreements.

On mapping and measurement tools, resident Mike Stahl discussed available aerial and mapping services, including EagleView and Google satellite imagery, and staff said they will investigate whether the assessor office’s EagleView access can be used at the town office with the appropriate login.

No formal roll‑call votes or motion seconders were recorded in the transcript for the items above; the actions described were documented by staff and the chair for signatures and further follow up.

Ending: The board thanked staff and the town administrator for attendance and information, and the meeting was adjourned.