1987 Ashlar Village agreement

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AGREEMENT AND STIPULATION ~ iiF AGREEMENT made this

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tj f>¡ day

of February, 1987, by and between

THE MASONIC CHARITY FOUNDATION OF CONNECTICUT (Foundation),

of

r/allingford, Connecticut, acting herein by Carleton V. Erickson, its President, CO:tsi'NECTICUT

duly authorized,

(Town),

acting

and the TOWN OF WALLINGFORD,

herein

by

its

Mayor,

William W.

Dickinson, Jr., duly authorized by the Wallingford Town Council.

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WHEREAS, the Foundation is in litigation with the Town arising

from the assessment of property taxes and the denial of exemption from property taxes for Foundation property known as Ashlar Village (this term is intended to include all present and future phases of the development); and WHEREAS, the Town has denied the validity of the terms of an Agreement between the parties dated April 24, 1947 which purported to grant perpetual exemption for the Masonic Home and Hospital, owned by the Foundation, from "tax assessment or other charges" for receiving and disposing of sewage; and WHEREAS,

the part:i:es

are

in dispute

as

to whether the

Foundation has the right to proceed with site plan approval and construction of additional phases of Ashlar Village as the result of a Building Moratorium approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission, effective November 16, 1986 for twenty-two ( 22) months; and

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WHEREAS,

the

parties

are

desirous

of

resolving

their

differences and the pending litigation in a manner which is fair and equitable; NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows: 1.

The Foundation will, upon satisfaction of all the terms

and conditions contained herein, withdraw its tax appeal known as The Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut~ Town of Wallingford Board of Jax Review, Docket No. CV 85-O237429-S, Superior Court, Judicial District of New Haven at New Haven without costs.

2.

The Town's Assessor has determined that, as to the Grand

List of October 1, 1986, the real property and buildings known as "Ashlar Village," which is the subject of the above-mentioned tax appeal, is exempt from taxation in that it was used for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 12-81(7) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

The Foundation agrees that, in lieu of paying

taxes which would otherwise be due on such property for the Grand List of October 1, 1986, it will make a payment of monies to the Town equal to the amount which is the product of the assessed value of the property multiplied by the Town's mill rate less the number of mills attributable to the Board of Education portion of the Town's entire budget.

Such payment shall be made in two (2) equal semi-annual

payments in July of 1987 and January of 1988.

It is understood,

acknowledged and agreed by the parties that all such payments are to be made without prejudice to the Foundation and shall not be deemed

2.

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to be an admission of property tax liability by the Foundation for Ashlar Village or any of its property, real or personal property, now or hereafter owned or held in trust and used for its charitable, hospital or.other exempt purposes as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes. The Assessor shall as of each October 1 determine the assessed value of the subject property as though it were taxable. Similar payments in lieu of taxes in two equal semi-annual installments shall be made by the Foundation for each tax year so long as the subject property continues to be exempt from taxation under the Connecticut General Statutes.

The property shall not be

subject to taxation so long as the use thereof remains as it was on October 1, 1986 and the Connecticut law regarding exemption from taxation

of

property

used

for

charitable

purposes

remains

essentially as it was on October 1, 1986.

3.

Should

the

Foundation

wish

to

contest

any

future

assessment of Ashlar Village by the Town's Assessor while making any such payments under Paragraph 2, the parties stipulate and agree to submit the issue of the actual value of such property to American Arbitration Association in accordance with the rules prevailing in New Haven, Connecticut.

4.

The Agreement between the parties under date of April 24,

1947 is terminated and henceforth of no force and effect.

From and

after September 1, 1986, all property owned or held in trust for the Foundation shall be subject to the same sewer use rates or charges as

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is all property within the Town and such rates or charges shall be levied on a basis which is consistent with the assessment of similar rates or charges against other property in the Town. liens,

All existing

assessments, penalties and charges whatsoever, which are

owing as the result of any prior assessments or charges whatsoever, which are owing as the result of any prior assessments or charges by the Town against the Masonic Home and Hospi'tal property are forgiven and cancelled as of August 31, 1986.

Assessments or charges billed

to the Foundation by the Town after August 31, 1986, even though applicable to a period prior to September 1, 1986 shall be due and payable in the ordinary course.

5.

The Foundation shall make a payment of Sixty-Six Thousand

Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($66,750.00) as full and final payment of the installation and/or hookup or like charges for the remaining three hundred and twenty-seven (327) units of Ashlar Village.

This payment shall be made upon the signing of this

Agreement and the satisfaction of all the terms and conditions herein by both parties.

6.

The terms of this Agreement and the obligations of the

parties thereto as set forth above shall be valid and binding if, and only if, the following conditions have been met: A.

The Town Planning & Zoning Commission agrees to take such action as may be necessary, including amendment of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations,

4.

Section 6.22,

in

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order that the Foundation can proceed forthwith with the submission of an application to the Commission for site plan approval for the next phase or phases of Ashlar Village during the existing moratorium. such site plan,

Upon approval of

which shall be based upon the

same

standards applied by the Commission to the first phase of .Ashlar Village, the Town shall c_ause a building permit to be issued in order that construction may be commenced.

It

is understood, however, that a Certificate of Occupancy for completed units of the next phase of Ashlar Village will not be issued until the expiration of such moratorium which presently expires on September 16, 1988, and B.

The Town Public Utilities Commission consents and agrees to be bound by the terms of paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof.

7.

In

the

event

accomplished forthwith,

that

all

of

the

foregoing

are

not

it is understood and agreed that this

Agreement shall be null and void and all of the foregoing agreements and the proposed withdrawal shall be without prejudice against the parties and shall not be admissible in the trial of the foregoing suit assigned for February 17, 1987, or any further suits by the Foundation or Town.

All payments required to be made under this Agreement will be postponed beyond their due dates while this Agreement is being finalized and reduced to judgment, and the Town agrees that such

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payments shall not bear interest, penalty or other charges during such delays.

This Agreement is to be signed in the State of Connecticut and shall be construed by the laws of such state and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their successors and assigns.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals as of the day first above written ..

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD

By~

William W. Dickinson, Jr.

Mayor

THE MASONIC CHARITY FOUNDATION. OF CONNECTICUT

By~~~ Carleton V. Erickson President

Attest:

:1¢{{fiff. 4-,~ CStanleyarri son Secretary

6.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT) ) ss. : COUNTY OF NEW HAVEN)

MA'/

Wallingford, Fe~ruaz;

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, 1987

Personally appeared William W. Dickinson, Jr., Mayor of the Town of Wallingford, signer and sealer of the foregoing, who acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed as such Mayor, before me.

otary Public __ STATE OF CONNECTICUT) ) ss. : COUNTY OF NEW HAVEN)

).p,e1c..

Wallingford, i'1ol.ii;:1i;u::y

r1

~-0,

1987

Personally appeared Carleton V. Erickson, President of The Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut, signer and sealer of the foregoing, who acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed as such President, before me.

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