Hubbardston resident asks board to review 56 Barry Road reassessment after steep jump

Ed Blanchard, a Hubbardston resident, presented an abatement concern to the board about the assessed value of his property at 56 Barry Road and asked staff to re-check the valuation and provide guidance on next steps ahead of potential appeals.

Why it matters: Mr. Blanchard said the assessed value for 56 Barry Road has risen sharply in recent years; he said the town assessor previously granted a $15,400 abatement and that he now needs clearer documentation of how the assessment was calculated before considering an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board.

What the owner told the board Blanchard said the property is a unique parcel with two dwelling units (936 sq ft and 600 sq ft) on an 80,000-square-foot lot with shared water and septic. He told the board he has been in real estate for decades and presented multiple comparable sales prepared by a local broker to question the assessed value placed on 56 Barry Road.

He told the board the property’s assessment had increased substantially, saying, “So I’ve gone up 44% in 2 years.” He also said the assessor had earlier lowered the assessment by $15,400 after an inspection that noted the dwellings’ condition as below average. Blanchard asked whether the board or staff could re-examine valuation data and confirm any calculation or clerical errors.

Board response and next steps Board staff said the assessor’s office (staff member Steve was referenced as having inspected the property) had already reviewed the parcel and granted a prior abatement. Staff and board members told Blanchard they would re-review the assessment data and discuss next steps, potentially in executive session, because some follow-up would involve assessor files. The board reminded Blanchard of the statutory timeframe to file an appeal with the Appellate Tax Board and asked staff to coordinate a follow-up meeting.

Quotes "I need to get some information on how my assessment at 56 Barry Road jumped so high," Blanchard said during his presentation.

Ending Staff told Blanchard they would continue the review, coordinate with the assessor’s office, and schedule a further board discussion (likely in executive session) to determine whether additional abatement action or formal appeal is appropriate within the statutory window.