10/12/2023 2023 Organizational Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE
MONROE COUNTY
VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD
Organizational Meeting
Marathon Government Center
October 12th,2023, 10:00 A.M.
The 2023 Organizational Meeting of the Monroe County Value Adjustment Board was
convened at 10:00 a.m. at the Marathon Government Center. Present and answering to roll call
were County Commissioner David Rice, County Commissioner Jim Scholl, School Board
Member John Dick, and County Commission Citizen Member John Repetto. Also present were
Clerk of Court Kevin Madok, VAB Counsel Jennifer Sanchez, Sally Abrams, Deputy Clerk,
Property Appraiser Scott Russell, Property Appraiser Supervisor Dee Dee Harnish and Property
Appraiser Counsel John Dent. Members not present were County Commissioner Craig Cates,
School Board Member Mindy Conn(alternate), and School Board Citizen Member Jason Koler.
County Commissioner David Rice called the meeting to order and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 1. "1'hc members of die 2023 Value Adjustment Board were introduced as follows: County
Commissioner David Rice, County Commissioner Alternate Member Jim Scholl, School Board
Member John Dick, and County Commission Citizen Member John Repetto. The VAB 2023
Member contact list is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Motion was made by School Board Member John Dick and seconded by County
Commissioner David Rice to appoint County Commissioner Jim Scholl as Chair. Motion carried
unanimously.
Motion was made by County Commission Citizen Member John Repetto and seconded by
School Board Member John Dick to appoint County Commissioner David Rice as Vice-Chair.
Motion carried unanimously.
Item 3. Motion was made by County Commissioner David Rice and seconded by School Board
Member John Dick to adopt the following Resolution implementing the authorization provided
for in Section 194.013, Florida Statutes, to require a filing fee for certain petitions filed with the
Board. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 001-2023
Said Resolution is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4. VAB Counsel, Jennifer G. Sanchez addressed the Board. After discussion, motion was
made by School Board Member John Dick and seconded by County Commissioner David Rice
to appoint the 2023 Special Magistrates as listed. Motion carried unanimously.
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• Special Magistrates for Exemption and Classifications - David Van Loon and
Rinky Parwani.
• Special Magistrates for Valuation — Real Property and Commercial — Kevin
Talbott, Steven Nystrom& Ena Jane.
• Special Magistrates for Tangible Personal Property—Steven Nystrom
Item 5. Motion was made by County Commissioner David Rice and seconded by School Board
Member John Dick to adopt in bulk the Local Administrative Procedures of the Board, Items a-g.
Motion carried unanimously.
a. Authorize Board Counsel to review and make good cause determinations of late-
filed petitions for tax appeal year 2023, pursuant to Rule 12D.9-015; ratifying such
good cause determinations, if any, made to date.
b. Direct the Board Clerk to interpret "filed" as when the petition is received by the
Clerk, and not to base a timely filing on the postmark. County Commission Citizen
Member John Repetto motioned to interpret "filed" as the date of postmark. The
motion died due to lack of second.
c. Authorize the Board Clerk, or his designee, legal counsel, to re-schedule hearings
requested by petitioners or Property Appraiser for a single time good cause. F.S
194.032 (2)(a).
d. Authorize the Board Chair to sign all documents upon VAB Attorney review.
e. Grant Board Clerk flexibility in scheduling hearings and meetings pursuant to
Monroe County Guidelines and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) social
distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus by
conducting hearings and meetings via Communication Media Technology ("CMT")
using a Zoom Webinar platform and/or telephone only when conducting "In-
person" hearings or meetings cannot conform to the COVID-19 Protocols set
therein.
f. Adopt no telephone hearings during the 2023 tax appeal year unless necessitated by
the COVID-19 Protocols listed above.
g. No de novo hearings or appeals heard during the Final Meeting of the Value
Adjustment Board.
h. Approve confirmation of denial of all petitions without further hearing when
petitioner has not made partial payment of property taxes by deadline, pursuant to
F.S. 194.014.
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Item 6. Motion was made by School Board Member John Dick and seconded by County
Commission Citizen Member John Repetto to adopt the 2023 VAB Final Meeting Minutes of
July 26, 2023, as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7. Motion was made by School Board Member John Dick and seconded by County
Commission Citizen Member John Repetto to approve the 2023 Initial Certification of the Value
Adjustment Board pursuant to Fla. Statutes Secs 197.323 and 193.122(1). Motion carried
unanimously.
Item 8. VAB Counsel, Jennifer G. Sanchez reviewed the 2023 Legislative Changes with the
Board.
Item 9. Sally Abrams, Deputy Clerk, reported the number of petitions filed to date as follows:
• Exemption&Classifications: 30
• Valuation Petitions(Commercial 284& Real Property 249)
• Tangible Personal Property Petitions: 11
• Late-Filed Petitions(to date): 11
Item 10. Ms. Abrams announced the 2023 VAB Reference List is available to the Public, Special
Magistrates and Board Members. Said reference list is attached hereto.
Item 11. Ms. Abrams announced the tentative hearing schedule for the 2023 tax appeal year has
yet to be determined. The Board will remain in session until all petitions have been heard.
Item 12. Scott Russell, Monroe County Property Appraiser, addressed the Board.
Item 13. There was no public comment.
There being no further business, the meeting of the Value Adjustment Board adjourned.
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk
and ex-officio Clerk to the
Board of County Commissioners
Monroe County, Florida
Sally M. Abrams, D.C.
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