Good Evening, 

I would like to recognize my family members that are in attendance . . .

I would like to thank Larry Quinn, who served our association admirably this past year and Bill Quick who has served this Board and our association for several years . . . welcome to all my colleagues and guest. 

I stand here proud and honored to serve the New York State Assessor’s Association in its 68^th year as an association and Tom Frey as our Executive Director. 

In the 50^th year of its educational subsidiary the Institute of Assessing Officer’s (IAO), Chaired by Cathy Conklin . . . and as it’s 64^th President. 

I would like to thank the membership for allowing me to represent them on issues that are crucial to our everyday task and that allow us to function in a professional manner. 

Some may ask why me (Timothy Sheares)? He’s in the minority; he’s Article 18, county assessing, annual assessing, and a non-RPS user to boot. 

The answer is easy . . . because I am an Assessor. When I became a member of the Executive Board in 2002, our then President, Nicholas Longo’s motto was “One Voice . . . One Heartbeat . . . will keep us Viable and Strong.” The motto is as important today as it was six years ago and I have kept it with me during my tenure on the Executive Board and as I have chaired to name a few . . . the Ethics, Current Issues and Legislative Committees. There were issues that may not have directly affected my day to day role as an assessor (because I’m in the minority) but important to us, the New York State Assessors’ Association as a whole. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said 

 “The ultimate measure of a man/woman) is not where he/ (she) stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he/ (she) stand at times of challenge and controversy.” 

We all know that there will be challenges and controversy… some now seen… for example (a cycle bill, homes masquerading as condominiums, tax caps-circuit breakers and assessment freezes) . . . and challenges and controversy unseen.

I am here tonight to let you know that I will represent . . . and we will represent. 

The definition of represent from Dictionary.com 

Represent - to speak and act for by delegated authority; to set forth clearly or earnestly with a view to influencing opinion or action. (Dictionary.com) 

These are some of the things we will represent:

Membership - In this forthcoming year we will continue to make efforts to reach out to those who act or perform the duties of assessor but are not members of our association. To devise ways to remove the thought of some members that the Executive Board is an exclusive club… and in the same breath combat members apathy . . . As I was told by a member “it is hard to stay in this profession and perform a job well-done without having the passion to do the job 

Legislative - This year, we will expand our Legislative Action Day by asking for your participation locally. All legislation whether the NYSAA is in-support or opposed, or whether it directly affects you or not, it is important to become familiarized with all Real Property related legislation. 

Education - The Institute of Assessing Officers- offers some of the best assessor/appraiser education programs. The one-day seminars, half-week and full week courses get better every year. Please Attend.  

Local Assessing

As long as the electorate prefers local assessing, then local assessing it should be: 

Some think the bigger the headache, the bigger the pill and some know, in some cases the bigger the assessment municipality the bigger the bill! 

We have all heard about the inefficiency of small assessment jurisdictions . . . Has anyone given thought to the prospect that an assessment jurisdiction in New York State can be large and inefficient? 

Now as I conclude and go through the roll call its’ intent is simply to illustrate a little about us and not to exclude by omission.

We will represent from the Town of East Hampton, Suffolk County known for its nine fabulous beaches and Jill Massa & Jeanne Nielsen (IAO’s) are assessors;

West to: 

. . . NYC, known for its’ skyscrapers and varied ethnic population and where Maged Meleka and Louisa Tang (IAO’s) are assessors.  

North to: 

. . . Yonkers, the fourth largest city in New York State . . . Mark Russell, IAO, is the Assessor. 

Northwest to: 

. . .Town of Wawarsing- right here in Ulster County . . . where they will "Welcome you to 'this little town'” 

. . . Michael Sommer, IAO, Sole Assessor. 

West to: 

. . . City of Buffalo-Erie County…Home of the Buffalo Bills the only National Football League team that actually plays in New York State.  

. . . Mary Jackson & Ann Marie Lofaso (IAO’s) are Assessors

Northeast to: 

. . . Town of Webster-Monroe County . . . ”Where Life is worth Living”  

. . . Donna Komor, IAO, Assessor 

Southeast to: Finger Lakes 

. . . Town of Seneca Falls-Seneca County . . ."Birth of the Women’s Rights Movement.”  . . . Cynthia Loncosky - Sole Assessor

Further east to: 

. . . Town of Galway - Saratoga County . . . and its wonderful campsites of Weiss, Maywood & Ruback’s Groves along Galway Lake.

. . . Tracy Killeen, IAO, Assessor

And north to: 

. . . City of Plattsburgh - Clinton County . . . "The Lake City” . . .  where you can enjoy the Riverwalk along Saranac Lake . . . Brian Dowling - City Assessor

Who are we? The answer is easy . . . we’re assessors and we represent the New York State Assessors’ Association!

Will you represent?

May God bless us All!