South Portland Board of Assessment Review

Updated about 1 month ago

South Portland Board of Assessment Review - November 3 2025

Chapters

Meeting Commencement and Introductions (00:00:02)
The South Portland Board of Assessment Review meeting begins with introductions from the members and attendees, setting the stage for the proceedings.

The meeting officially starts with the chair calling it to order and introducing the purpose of the gathering. Each member of the board introduces themselves, providing their names and titles, which include licensed real estate appraisers, brokers, and legal counsel. This segment establishes the presence of key individuals involved in the assessment review process.
Request for Hearing Continuance (00:01:18)
Mr. Flynn requests a continuance of the hearing due to issues with fabricated legal citations in the assessor's submissions.

Mr. Will Flynn addresses the board, requesting a continuance for the hearing. He explains that the assessor's submissions contained fabricated legal cases and citations generated by an AI, which affects the fairness of his appeal. Flynn emphasizes the need for a fair process and the challenges faced in engaging with the tax abatement proceedings.
Assessor's Response to Continuance Request (00:05:59)
The assessor, Mr. Martin, responds to Mr. Flynn's request, explaining the situation with the AI-generated citations.

The assessor, Mr. Brent Martin, acknowledges the issue with the AI-generated citations in his submissions. He clarifies that this was not a pervasive problem and defends the integrity of his office's work with Mr. Flynn. Martin is open to discussing the merits of the case during a future continuance.
Board Discussion and Decision on Continuance (00:08:01)
The board discusses the continuance request and sets a new date for the hearing, allowing time for corrections and responses.

The board considers the request for a continuance, discussing the errors in the assessor's memo and agreeing on a process for correction. They decide on a new hearing date and a timeline for the assessor to submit a corrected memo, giving Mr. Flynn time to respond before the meeting.
Election of Board Officers (00:12:04)
The board conducts elections for the positions of chair and secretary, reaffirming current roles for continuity.

The board moves on to the election of officers. Paul Klu is nominated and re-elected as the chair, while Elizabeth Bandwell continues her role as secretary. The elections are conducted smoothly with unanimous support.
Adjournment and Closing Remarks (00:14:14)
The meeting concludes with a motion to adjourn, and the chair thanks attendees as the session formally ends.

The board wraps up the meeting with a motion to adjourn, which passes unanimously. The chair thanks everyone for their participation and indicates that the board will reconvene on the agreed-upon future date to address the continuance and related matters.