THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 15, 2019 Page 15 TAXD | FROM PAGE 1 old residential exemption ends and a new one begins. But that’s only if new occupying owners apply for it, and sometimes they don’t. The city doesn’t automatically grant the exemption. “One of the reasons we’ve never done a major audit is because the information is so in fl ux,” said Farma, adding that the city does stumble across undeserved exemptions through reports from neighbors, applications for building permits and inspections. But last month Farma did start wading through city records that showed 12,570 residential properties in Malden of which 8,451, or 67 percent, were owner-occupied. “With respect to concerns about folks receiving the exemption who shouldn’t be, Steve produced a report and came up with 209 properties he thought should be looked at,” said O’Brien. “I’ve gone through about 95 of them so far and of that, there are probably about 25 that warrant me looking even a little closer.” “It almost needs to be done on a case-by-case basis,” added O’Brien, who mentioned one tax bill that’s mailed to North Carolina to caregivers of elderly parents who are still property owners who live in their home in Malden. Councillor-at-Large Craig Award-Winning Landscaping Servicing the North Shore for over 38 Years Spadafora suggested that the city should send a letter every year to every property owner that asks whether he or she lives at that address. Spadafora suggested that owners who confirm their properties are owner-occupied should get the exemption, and those who fail to respond should be cut from the exemption list. But that brought O’Brien back to 2008, the fi rst year of the exemptions when a description of the program and form to sign up for the tax break was mailed to every residential property in the city. It wasn’t pretty. “Do you know how many people do not respond because of apathy and skepticism?” he asked. O’Brien said the greatest response the Assessor’s Offi ce received that year was from angry residents calling on the phone to ask what the city was doing to them. O’Brien pointed to statistics from the last eight years that show that the percent of owner-occupied properties in Malden has consistently ranged from 67 to 69 percent of all residential properties. Both he and Farma acknowledged that some property owners do receive undeserved residential exemptions, but they suggested those numbers are relatively small, and the city eventually catches up with them. FOR LEASE - LIKE NEW OFFICE SPACE 4,500 sq. ft. Rte. 1 Southbound Roller World Plaza Saugus Call Michelle 781-258-7833 ~ Help Wanted ~ Insurance Customer Service Representative (Everett) Established and growing Insurance Agency just north of Boston is seeking a full time Personal Lines Account Specialist. Applicants should have at least in all areas of personal lines including Auto, Home, Umbrella, and Flood. Knowledge of coverage is essential. A Massachusetts Property and Casualty Insurance License is preferred or a willingness to obtain one within three months of employment. In independently are key. Please forward resumes to Danielle@mastrocolainsurance.com EOE SNOW HELP WANTED Established company in Everett seeking experienced plow drivers & snow shovelers for commercial & state work 24-hour Availability. Great Pay. 617-389-1490 NOW BOOKING NEW CUSTOMERS! DON’T WAIT! Call 781-321-2074 Pavers * Walkways * Patios * Driveways * Pool Decks Planting * Perennials * Shrubs * Trees New Lawns * Sod * Hydroseed Flowers/Annuals/Mums * Conventional Seeding * Synthetic Complete Maintenance * Cleanups (Spring & Fall) * Lawn Cutting, Edging & Weeding * Lawn Fertilizer Programs * Trim & Prune Shrubs * Mulching, Thatching Interlock Block * Fire Pits * Sitting Walls * Pillers Landscape Lighting * Design * Install * Repair * Night Illumination
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