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From YouTube: Committee on Ways & Means on October 21, 2019
Description
Docket #1275 - Message and order authorizing the City to adopt a property tax exemption for members of the National Guard and reservists who are serving in foreign countries
A
October
21st,
we
are
here
with
Nicholas
R&L
Oh
from
the
assessing
Department,
the
Commissioner,
as
of
June,
want
to
welcome
you
and
wish
you
the
best
in
your
new
role.
I
am
joined
by
several
colleagues.
In
order
of
their
arrival
like
to
my
immediate
left
is
counselor
ed
Flynn
to
my
far
left
is
counselor
matt
o'malley
and
counselor
josh
Zakim
I'd
like
to
remind
folks
this
is
a
public
hearing
being
broadcast
and
recorded
on
Comcast
channel
eight
RCN,
82,
Verizon,
1964
and
streamed
at
Boston,
gov,
backslash
city,
Council
TV.
Please
silence
any
electronic
devices.
A
We
always
accept
public
testimony.
There
is
a
sign-in
sheets,
a
my
left
by
the
front
door.
We
ask
that
you
state
your
name
residents
any
affiliation
and
check
the
bar
box.
Yes,
if
you
wish
to
testify,
you
can
also
submit
written
testimony
by
email
or
snail
mail.
Email
addresses,
CCC,
dot,
W
M
at
Boston
gov.
B
In
that
time,
we've
had
19
applicants
that
have
been
able
to
take
advantage
of
the
program
receiving
almost
$40,000
in
abatement
of
their
property
taxes.
The
program
allows
members
of
the
National
Guard
that
are
serving
overseas
and
reservists
to
receive
an
exemption
of
up
to
100
percent
of
their
property
taxes
and
that
the
city
has
chosen
to
to
create
that
100%
and
as
it
needs
to
be
reenacted
every
two
years.
That's
what
I'm
I'm
here
to
support
pretty.
B
This
past
fiscal
year
we
had
one
I
think
that
that
is
probably
due
to
the
fact
that,
probably
probably
thankfully,
we've
had
less
money
of
members
of
our
Massachusetts
National
Guard
to
serve
overseas.
But
I
think
it's
an
important
program
to
keep
in
place
and
in
case
that
that
need
increases.
Gotcha.
C
A
C
Think
of
that
where
volunteers
go
out
and
knock
on
doors
of
veterans
and
let
them
know
about
services
that
they're
eligible
for
and
just
an
overall
at
to
that,
the
city
of
Boston
veterans
Department
that
they're
important
in
they're
treated
fairly
and
treated
with
respects,
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
Commissioner
Santiago
and
to
mayor
Walsh
as
well.
I
think
that's
very
important.
You
know
I'm
glad
we
have
great
outreach
on
Veterans
issues.
I
know
we
spoke
before
the
hearing,
Nick
and
but
I
just
wanted
to
ask
publicly.
C
This
program
is
for
National
Guard
and
National.
Guard
reservists
and
I
know
they're
you're
not
able
to
make
a
change
to
include
all
reservists
from
other
branches
of
the
armed
forces.
But
that's
something
I
would
support
is
including
more
veterans
in
in
this
program
that
serve
overseas,
but
how
would
we
try
to
make
that
happen?
That
reservists
and
reservist
is
from
other
branches
are
eligible
for
this
program?
What
would
we
need
to
do.
B
C
B
We
also
have
a
lot
of
information
available
on
our
website,
which
is
particularly
helpful
to
members
that
are
serving
overseas,
since
they
might
not
be
getting
the
mail
that's
getting
sent
to
their
and
that
has
contact
information,
email,
contact,
information
and
also
phone
contact
information
for
the
tax
payer,
referral
an
assistance
center
so
that
they
can
get
in
touch
with
us.
They
have
questions
and
also
pursuant
to
federal
law
exemption
deadlines
for
members
of
the
military
that
are
serving
overseas
have
extensions.
C
My
final
question
I
know:
I
spoke
to
Commissioner
Santiago
a
while
back
several
times
actually
about
as
part
of
operation.
Thank
a
veteran.
You
know.
As
I
mentioned,
we
go
out
once
a
month
in
to
various
neighborhoods
and
communicate
with
veterans
that
are
living
in
a
particular
neighborhood.
We
we
also
provide
them
a
list
of
benefits
that
they've
earned.
C
C
A
D
You,
mr.
chairman,
obviously
you
and
I
were
here
in
2011
I
think
when
this
was
first
introduced
or
2012,
and
it's
been
an
honor
to
support
it
by
annually.
Since
then,
this
is
a
great
thing
which
more
cities
did
this
and
I
apologize.
I'd
stepped
out
for
a
minute.
If
you'd
said
this,
how
many
National,
Guardsmen
and
reservists
have
taken
advantage
of
this
in
the
last
several
you
know,
Nick
yep.
D
Great,
have
we
ever
not,
as
anyone
been
to
denied
not
to
my
knowledge,
okay,
great
and
to
my
good
colleague
from
district
2
point
we're
doing
a
good
job,
making
sure
that
these
families
and
and
service
men
and
women
know
that
this
exists,
particularly
those
four
we're
getting
bored
out
there
too,
so
that
more
can
take
advantage.
That's.
B
D
A
E
You
mr.
chair
Thank,
You
Nick,
it's
gonna
echo
my
colleagues,
comments.
I
think
this
is
great.
Obviously
it
sounds
like
you
are
in
your
department
is
doing
all
the
outreach
you
know
I
think
can
reasonably
be
done.
We
always
want
to
make
sure
you
know
to
both
councilor
Flynn's
point
counselor
Mally's
point
something
that
I
often
find
in
this
job.
Is
that
folks,
who
are
having
problems,
don't
realize
the
array
of
benefits
and
services,
the
city
or
the
state
can
providing
it's
one
of
our
biggest
roles
that
you
know.
E
We
can't
solve
every
problem,
but
in
many
cases
there
is
a
subsidy
there's
assistance,
there's
something
like
this.
That's
available,
so
making
sure
people
have
that
information.
It's
critical
in
our
taxpayer,
Assistance
Center
and
the
work
you're
doing
is
important,
so
I
just
encourage
that
I
look
forward
to
voting
in
support
of
extending
this
program.
Once
again.
Thank
you.