Charlie Browning, left, was named named chairman of the Dade Board of
Assessors. Pictured with him are, from left, Chief Appraiser Paula Duvall, Field Appraiser Patty Murphy and board members Dora Crisp, Hazel Doyle and Laura Holder, foreground. Click to enlarge.
Hazel Doyle and Charlie Browning solemnly switched chairs at the meeting of the Dade County Board of Assessors. Ms. Doyle, who had presided over the board for four years, was giving way to Mr. Browning, who had just been elected chairman at the BOA’s annual election of officers.
It was a move that may end the arguments between the two that have so often perked up accounts of BOA doings in these pages. Then again, the old and new chairpersons may just continue the disagreement from opposite ends of the table.
Ms. Doyle, whose colorful leadership style engendered many Dade County Sentinel headlines, appeared ready to stand down last January, but then-board-member John Bradbury declined the nomination for the top spot. He has since left the board altogether.
Assessor’s office employee Patty Murphy, who has long served as the board’s secretary, was reelected to that post, and board member Donny Williams was chosen vice-chair, a position which Mr. Browning had previously held. Mr. Williams left the meeting shortly thereafter.
And in fact, after the election there was little to stay for that was not routine. Board members discussed budget and training schedules. They voted to OK potential expenditures of $500 day for consultant Stan King despite a mild protest from Ms. Doyle. “I’ve got a lot of guff for that,” she said about King’s day rate. “Do you think it’s really necessary?”
Chief Appraiser Paula Duvall of the Tax Assessor’s office explained it would be if Mr. King were needed to testify as an expert witness in an upcoming court case. “I think we should be prepared,” she said.
Indeed, the BOA had prepared itself tonight for an appearance by the filer of the aforementioned litigation, as evidenced by the presence not just of a sheriff’s deputy but of Robin Rogers, the county attorney, at the beginning of the meeting. Greg Smith, board members said, had filed an appeal of his commercial property’s evaluation scheduled to be heard in superior court in April. “He’s an upset taxpayer,” explained Mr. Browning.
Whether Mr. Smith is upset enough to warrant protectors packing heat and a law degree, respectively, remains to be seen as he did not in fact attend the meeting. Mr. Rogers was dismissed and the deputy was also not in evidence by the end of the meeting.
The next BOA meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1.
Robin Ford Wallace
robinfordwallace@tvn.net