By CRAIG FREILCH

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Town Council listened as angry taxpayers filling the new town hall board room Tuesday night protested the new higher property assessments they had been notified of over the last few days.

The first property revaluation in five years resulted in an assessment of the overall value of property in the township that is 13 percent higher, but those present were complaining of hikes of one-third, two-thirds and more.

A contentious tone for the meeting was set when those who wished to speak were told they would have two minutes each, but the crowd demanded more and the board gave them four minutes each.

"They should be listening to us, not dictating to us," said William Page, whose loud voice and pugnacious attitude received the vocal approval of many there.

Fred "Hank" Robar, who owns several parcels in the town, said he believed his total assessment hike of more than $300,000 would result in a $14,000 or $15,000 increase in his taxes.

Milner Grimsled said that his assessment increase from $96,000 to $120,000 bore "no relation to the reality of the market" for property in the township.

Assessor James Snyder said the increases were calculated in part through the actual sale prices of similar parcels, but one person complained of a substantial increase in the assessed value of his property while houses on either side of his were for sale but had attracted no buyers.

Many of those at the meeting expected the town board to act on their complaints, but Supervisor Marie Regan explained that there was little they could do according to state law.

The grievance process is where people can make a case for a lower assessment, it was explained, and many in the crowd demanded that Snyder extend his hours for the first round of informal grievances, considering the number of grievances those in the room expected the revaluation to generate, and in consideration of those people who would not be able to make appointments during regular business hours.

Snyder and the board agreed to extend those hours.

Belinda Martin complained that she would have to sell her house. "I can't afford it because they raised my taxes to $63,000," apparently referring to an increase in the value of her property.

Businessman and landlord Kevin Blanchard said that because of higher assessments on his business and apartment buildings he was "just going to have to raise rents and cut maintenance."

St. Lawrence County Director of Real Property Tax Services Darren Colton, who attended the meeting, said there were standard procedures people could take to make an effort to get an assessment reduced, and advised people to make appointments with the assessor to air their complaints.

Board member Rose Rivezzi said she understood "the feeling of inequity" many of those present felt, and assured them that there would be ample opportunity for people to try to make a case for a lower assessment.

Board member Mike Zagrobelny said that the Town of Potsdam Taxpayers Association, many of whose members were present, had an excellent program of educating those who wished to challenge their assessments, "but we are bound by state laws," and any unhappiness with the system and procedures should be taken up with state government.

"You might not like the process of assessment and assessment review, but that's the law and that's what we have to deal with," he said.