Archive

Our Office will be closed from Thursday, September 5, 2024 through Monday, September 9, 2024 as Matt will be attending a family Wedding.

Matt would like to thank the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO) for the opportunity to present during the Specialty Series at the recent weeklong MAAO Annual School at the Southbridge Conference Center in Southbridge MA. Matt presented over the course of three days on topics such as best practices in the negotiation and implementation of Solar PILOT Agreements, reading and understanding deeds and other conveyancing documents, and best practices in the negotiation and implementation of Tax Increment Finance Agreements, Tax Increment Exemption Agreements, and Special Tax Agreements. The Specialty Series affords Assessors who have already received their certification to satisfy their Continuing Education obligations.

Matt would like to thank MAAO President Ashlie Brown, MAAO Education Committee Chairs Jessica Guerra and Missy Couture Rimbold, and MAAO Executive Director Kathleen Costello for their collaboration and kindnesses. Matt would also like to thank the participants who attended all three days of presentations, and those who attended individual days.

For copies of the presentations please follow the links    TIFs, TIEs & STAs – Best Practices 240815 , It’s Just a Bundle of Sticks 240814,  Keeping Solar Burning Bright 240813  or visit the “Resources” section of our website.

On Thursday, August 1, 2024, Matt participated in the MMLA’s Annual Half Day Seminar at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA. The topic of this year’s program was “Navigating State Mandates, Municipal Opportunities, and Local Impacts Related to Housing Production” and Matt presented on Local Tax Incentives for Affordable Housing.

Matt would like to thank the MMLA, and especially Program Coordinator Angela Atchue, Associate General Counsel at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, for the opportunity to present. Matt would also like to thank the over 60 participants for their participation and interesting questions.

For a copy of the presentation please follow the link Local Tax Incentives for Affordable Housing – MMLA 240801  or visit the “Resources” section of our website.

We’d like to congratulate the South Shore Rugby Football Club for hosting the very successful Daniel Breen Memorial Golf Tournament at the Southers Marsh Golf Club in Plymouth, MA. The South Shore Rugby Football Club welcomes players of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels, with sides for women and men age 19+, and youth programs for girls and boys aged 6-18. We are proud to have sponsored a hole at the tournament.

As we normally do on the 4th of July, we’d like to quote the words of John Adams written in a letter to Abigail Adams, just after the Continental Congress had voted for independence (which it did on July 2nd):

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

We wish you and yours a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Our Office will be closed from July 3, 2024 through July 12, 2024.

Matt recently provided the municipal perspective in a May 31, 2024 Lawyers Weekly Article entitled “In Mass., response to “Tyler” on tax takings has been slow in coming”. The link to read the article is In Mass., response to ‘Tyler’ on tax takings has been slow in coming | Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (masslawyersweekly.com)

On May 15, 2024, Matt presented a Webinar to over 120 members of the MAAO on the real estate tax implications of leasing Municipal Property. During the Webinar Matt discussed the application of the provisions of General Laws Chapter 59, Section 2B to municipal property leases and licenses for solar facilities, cell towers, and outdoor advertising.

Matt would like to thank all of the attendees for their participation during the presentation, and for their excellent questions. Special thanks as well to MAAO President R. Lane Partridge and MAAO Executive Director, Kathleen Costello.

For a copy of the presentation please follow the link – Real Estate Tax Implications of Leasing Municipal Property 240515-1 or visit the “Resources” section of our website.

Matt would like to thank Asst. Attorney General Kendra Kinscherf and John D. Finnegan, Esq. for joining him on Monday, March 11, 2024 to present the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Webinar “Tax Foreclosure in Massachusetts Following Tyler v. Hennepin County“. The Webinar drew over 70 registrants.

Matt recently successfully represented the City of Fall River, and the Towns of Carver, Dover, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Marion, and Mattapoisett before the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board regarding the denial of Applications for Abatements of Personal Property Tax filed by Eversource and its associated entities. Eversource had attacked the assessed values of personal property such as electric substations, transformers, and new gas lines, along with the methodology used by the municipalities to determine the assessed values. Eversource’s claims potentially impacted a total of approximately $210 Million of assessed value and approximately $3.5 Million in personal property taxes in these municipalities.

Matt would like to thank the MAAO 504 Committee and MAAO Leadership for the substantial efforts in attempting to negotiate a resolution of the matters statewide. When the negotiations subsequently broke down, Matt appeared at the ATB on behalf of the various municipalities and through Matt’s representation he was able to facilitate withdrawal of the claims by Eversource.

We’d like to thank all of our clients for giving us the opportunity to provide legal services to them during the past year, and for their cooperation and collaboration.

We’d also like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Our office will be closed on Thursday, November 23, 2023 and Friday, November 24, 2023.