Tewksbury Selectmen Set Tax Rates For FY14

Despite heavy snow and poor road conditions, the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen met Tuesday night at the Hardy-Pike House and voted to set the tax rates for fiscal year 2014. 

Selectmen voted unanimously to set the tax rates at $16.11 for residential and $26.64 for commercial and industrial. 

The average single family tax bill for FY14 is $5,066, the average condo $3,597 and the average commercial $20,452. 

This represents increases of $178 for the average single family tax bill, $85 for the average condo bill and $647 for the average commercial bill.

Several members of the board questioned how Tewksbury's tax rate compared to those of surrounding communities.

Chief Assessor Chris Wilcock said Tewksbury's commercial tax rate is one of the lowest among surrounding towns. 

"As far as looking at surrounding communities, we are one of the lowest commercial tax rates," Wilcock said. "It would be less of an expense to have a business in Tewksbury than in one of the communities around us."

Selectman Todd Johnson said hopefully a lower commercial tax rate is something town leaders can use to attract businesses interested in setting up shop in the area. 

"When we start discussing opportunities with potential businesses we should be quick to remind prospects that our rate is substantially lower than those in surrounding communities," Johnson said.

Town Manager Richard Montuori proposed a 1.47 shift of the tax burden, the same that was approved for the previous fiscal year. 

Without factoring in the shift in 2013, approximately 80 percent of the tax burden would have fallen on residents, but with the shift that number is reduced to 71.4 percent, according to Montuori. 

Selectman David Gay said he felt the tax shift represented a fair split between residential and commercial. 

"It seems like the most balanced fair approach for residential and commercial at the same time," Gay said. 

Following the tax classification hearing, Selectmen voted 3-1 to approve a liqueurs and cordials license for Cafe Sicilia, with Johnson voting in opposition and Selectman Doug Sears recusing himself. 

Johnson said he was opposed to granting the license due to restrictions the current licensing process places on the board.

"It concerns me greatly we have limited licenses available," Johnson said. "It causes me concern we're forced to make decisions in the moment that next week, or next month or next year that could have adverse effects on the town of Tewksbury."

Police Chief Timothy Sheehan also spoke against granting the license, arguing that it could set precedent for similar eateries in town looking for a cordial license. 

"In good conscience, I think this is precedent setting," Sheehan said. "It's more of a sub shop than a restaurant. I don't think it's a suitable location to be moving forward with this type of license."

Attorney Ellen Wright, of Wright and Associates, was representing Cafe Sicilia at Tuesday's meeting, and argued the restaurant was more than a sub shop, and "a little piece of Europe right here in the Merrimack Valley."

Several abutters to Cafe Sicilia also showed up despite the weather to voice their support for granting the license, noting there has never been an issue with Cafe Sicilia serving beer or wine and that an offering of cordials could only help the business continue to grow.

Selectmen also voted unanimously to approve an extension of hours of alcohol service for Trull Brook Golf Course, allowing the course to begin serving alcohol at 8 a.m. instead of 11 a.m.

At their previous meeting, Selectmen asked Trull Brook Superintendent Roy Trull if he would consider limiting the the extension of hours from March to November, to coincide with golf season. 

Trull agreed to the proposal, and the extension agreed upon runs from March 15 through November 15 and is limited to the golf course, patio and clubhouse from Monday through Saturday. 

The change was sought in order to accommodate more golf tournaments, which generally look to courses that offer alcohol service starting earlier than 11 a.m, according to Trull.