To the Editor:

This letter is on behalf of Ed Randall, who is running for the Board of Assessment Appeals.

I have known Ed for the past four years and in that time I have come to appreciate the hard work and commitment he puts into anything that he sets his mind to doing. Last spring, during a COVID-hampered session, where we were forced to hold our meetings remotely, and we also found ourselves one member short, Ed, regardless of the less than ideal circumstances, stepped up and offered to fill a vacancy on the BAA.

The primary purpose of the BAA is to offer relief to our community whenever a member feels that they have been erroneously assessed by the town. It is our job to determine where the errors lie, if any, correct them. More often then not, the error is not easily discernible; it takes a serious commitment to at times painstakingly sift through the information given in order to flush out the discrepancies.

True to form, Ed rolled up his sleeves and took on this unfamiliar and often confusing role. He asked questions, familiarized himself with the town property field cards, the formulas and procedures used by the assessor, and in a short time learned to hone in on the relevant information to become a valuable participant when it came time for deliberations. The active and earnest effort displayed by Mr Randall to equitably serve our community has earned my respect and is my reason for endorsing him. I think he has done an outstanding job on the Board of Assessment Appeals and he will continue to excel if elected on November 2.

Alex Villamil

Chair, Newtown Board of Assessment Appeals