Town of Owasco

OWASCO ENDS LEGAL ACTION BY APPOINTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

Owasco Supervisor Merrill Badman felt “blessed relief” after the town board unanimously agreed to settle the assessment debate that has been a dark cloud in the town for two years.

On Tuesday afternoon, Badman and his councilors voted in favor of establishing an advisory committee to work with the assessor, board of assessment review and citizens who have questions or concerns about their assessments.

Badman believes that the new committee, which will consist of town board-appointed representatives from the lakeshore, agricultural and residential districts, will help Owasco move forward with other issues that need to be addressed.

“If it works, it's a non-pressure-laden method of getting satisfaction all the way around,” said Badman, who noted that the advisory committee is likely the first group of its kind in the state.

Badman conceded that he can't take credit for the idea. That distinction belongs to the OwascoNews group, an organization of more than 50 Owasco property owners that had filed a lawsuit against the town after reviewing the 2004 assessments.