Apr 14, 2002 By Paul Sunyak 3 min read

Bracing for July’s anticipated influx of tax assessment appeal hearings, the Fayette County commissioners have appointed 12 new hearing officers to staff four auxiliary boards. Those members will undergo crash-course training inside and outside the county’s Tax Assessment Office to prepare for the work ahead, according to James A. Hercik, CPE, the county’s chief assessor.

The four auxiliary boards, which have an 18-month life span, will join the regular appeal board composed of Jim Killinger, Joe Dorazio and Lloyd Moser, who each have a four-year term that coincides with that of the county commissioners.

“We will be using them all,” Hercik said of the boards, “but we can’t have five sitting boards on day one.”

Hercik said at Thursday’s commission meeting that the new appointees will attend a training course May 1 in Somerset County, sponsored by the Assessors Association Laurel Mountain Chapter.

“We’re also planning some in-house training for people who can’t attend that,” Hercik said of an educational effort that will also include sessions with assistant county solicitor John Cupp.

Each of the commissioners nominated four of the 12 new members, with the other two commissioners voting in favor of his peers’ selections. Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls’ appointees were John Rogish, John Fiesta, Barry Cook and David Stewart; Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites chose Peter Brosky, Mike Cabot, Mary Terry and Jim Terry; and Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh’s appointees were Denise Simon, Chuck Zebley, Riccardo Cicconi and Scott Cavinee.

The Terrys, who are husband and wife as well as attorneys, will be placed on separate boards.

County solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Jr. said that Mary Terry may end up recusing herself “quite a bit,” as she works as a domestic relations hearing officer and thus may have a potential conflict with some appellants.

Cavanagh said he wanted to ensure a real estate presence on the boards, as people in that field already have exposure to the intricacies of real estate appraisal and market value, two critical components of the job.

When Cavanagh said that he had asked two real estate professionals to serve but hadn’t gotten firm replies from them both, county solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Jr. said it was permissible to name them to the board and then replace anybody who resigns.

Hercik said that all members will be expected to recuse themselves from any hearing that constitute a potential conflict of interest, even those members who have a real estate background.

He also said that each of the three-member auxiliary boards must have at least one minority political party member, such as a Republican or an independent.

“They cannot all be from the same political party. That’s part of the statute,” said Hercik.

The new members will be paid $100 for a full day and $50 for a half day, the same rate as regular board members.

Hercik said the auxiliary boards would be scheduled on an as-needed basis, with the overall goal of using their time and expertise effectively and efficiently. “That’s our intention: to use them to the best of their abilities,” he said.

Nehls said he thinks the county should reimburse board members for their travel expenses as well. Ferens said that while he’s not sure if the county can legally pay such expenses, he would research the matter.

If the law permits such payments, Ferens said, the commissioners could authorize reimbursement of those expenses.