Permit Backlog Slows Norwell Property Assessments

A significant backlog in building permit processing is slowing property assessments in Norwell, potentially delaying the town's ability to capture tax revenue from new construction and renovations, officials said during a March 24 meeting of the Norwell Board of Assessors.

Principal Assessor Lane Partridge told board members that the office has not replaced a full-time employee while awaiting the outcome of an upcoming override vote that could further affect staffing.

"We chose not to replace [her] until we hear about the override because if we hire a new position and then the override doesn't pass, we are going to have to make that position part-time," Partridge told the board.

The resulting staff shortage has created a backlog of building permits waiting to be entered into the town's assessment system, with hundreds potentially awaiting processing.

"Our big problem right now is building permits and getting them into the system because there's not a direct upload from the building permit program," Partridge said. "We're putting them in manually, which is very slow and we're behind."

He estimated that January alone saw 22 permits requiring manual entry, and projected roughly 300 for the year.

"They could be anything. They could be remodeling, they can be, I get everything from a shed to a roof to a whole new building and we have to go look at everything," Partridge said.

The backlog has real financial implications for the town. In one instance, a resident who pulled a building permit three years ago recently asked about an inspection, only to find that the property had never been evaluated.

"We do have a house out there that was not taxed in 25 that probably should be," he said. "Maybe not at a hundred percent, but it should have been taxed."

The department has temporarily brought in former employee Rick Nalin to help with inspections using unspent salary funds from the vacant staff position. Valerie Marinucci, the Administrative Assistant, has also taken on additional hours, though she would prefer to return to her previous schedule.

"Valerie took on more hours, which is great, although she wants to go back to her old schedule. She is, but we are getting by," Partridge said. "We're still putting things through and getting stuff done."

Board members, including Chair Mary Granville, Vice Chair Maureen Clarke, and Clerk James Koehler, asked for a breakdown of the types of permits to better understand what portion relate to large-scale projects like new homes, which contribute more significantly to the town's tax base.

"There's a lot of remodels, kitchens, baths, additions, people putting on an addition to their house, stuff like that," Partridge explained. "New construction... it's certainly the most valuable number, but there's a pretty good number of new builds too."

If the upcoming town override vote doesn't pass, the assessor's office would face a 9.87% budget cut, forcing the vacant position to become part-time and further limiting the office's ability to process property records.

"Because of that, to get all the work done, we're going to have to start cutting what we can do," Partridge said. "I'm anticipating closing the office for part of the week so that we can get work done."

The department is hoping a scheduled meeting with the building permit software provider will lead to a more efficient data upload process, and they have a work-off program participant coming in who might help with data entry.

The Board of Assessors also agreed to change their meeting schedule from Mondays at 3 p.m. to Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. to accommodate staff availability. Their next meeting is scheduled for April 23.

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