Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors met Sept. 21

Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors met Sept. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A meeting of the Harris County Board of Directors was held at 9:30 a.m. at the HCAD offices.

Chairman Sullivan called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m.

Board Member Jonathan Cowen led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the Texas Flag.

Roll Call. The presence of a quorum was established. Chairman Sullivan, Jim Robinson, Kathy Blueford-Daniels, Martina Lemond Dixon, and Jonathan Cowen were present. Ann Harris Bennett, and Al Odom were absent.

Board Member Al Odom joined the meeting at 9:54a.m.

Chief Appraiser Roland Altinger and Todd Stewart of Olson and Olson, legal counsel, also were in attendance.

Chief Appraiser Altinger recognized Chairman Sullivan, who recently celebrated a birthday and Board Member, Martina Lemond Dixon for being honored in this year’s list of 2022 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston.

Recognition of HCAD Security Team. Chief Appraiser Altinger recognized Captain Mario Leija, Lieutenant Steve Rochon, Lieutenant Mark Pena, Julissa Barajas, Christy Williams, Stephen Serrano, Stephen Benavides, and Jonathan Jackson, members of HCAD’s Security Team who provide security and protection for HCAD and all who visit our headquarters.

Recognition of Service Awards and Employees of the Month. Chief Appraiser Altinger and Chairman Sullivan presented a 10-year service award to Norma Vasquez of the Information & Assistance Division.

15-year service awards were presented to Roy Beery of the Residential Property Division, and Stacy Stewart of the Information & Assistance Division.

A 20-year service award was presented to Tona Sims of the Commercial Property Division. A 25-year service award was presented to Lorie Barrios of the Budget & Finance Division.

Employees of the Month. Chief Appraiser Altinger and Chairman Sullivan presented employee of the month plaques to Perla Cardoza- Sanchez of the Information & Assistance Division, Ayanna Jackson of the ARB Operations Division, Kimphuong ”Emily” Nguyen of the Residential Property Division, and Michael Phelps of the Legal Services Division.

Comments from Members of the Public. There were none.

Consent Agenda

“All matters listed under consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion, there will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.”

Mr. Cowen, seconded by Mr. Odom, moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

a. Approval of Minutes. Reviewing and approving the minutes of the regular meeting of August 17, 2022.

b. Financial Reports. Receiving the district’s monthly financial reports. c. Bills and Payroll. Authorizing payment of bills and payroll in amount of $5,131,739.40

Employee Insurance Plans and Programs. Mr. Dick Hillyer, Board Insurance Consultant, provided the board with an overview of the 2023 healthcare plans. Mr. Cowen, seconded by Ms. Lemond Dixon, moved to approve the following Insurance Committee recommendations:

(1) approve renewal of health care and dental with the Texas Association of Counties;

(2) approve regular and retired employee cost share arrangement for the health and dental plan;

(3) approve COBRA rates at 102% of the actuarially determined rates for the health and dental plan;

(4) approve regular and retired employee cost share arrangement for vision care with Superior Vision;

(5) approve renewal with Texas Association of Counties for life, disability, and to include the optional life and accident insurance products paid by the employee; and

(6) approve renewal with Aflac for the optional supplemental insurance products paid by the employee.

(7) approve the Flex Plan monthly per account charge of $4 be paid by HCAD. The motion carried unanimously.

District Depository. Ms. Blueford-Daniels, seconded by Mr. Cowen, made a motion to approve the designation of current authorized signatures for the district’s depository under the new name, Harris Central Appraisal District. The motion carried unanimously.

Set Number of ARB Members. Mr. Cowen, seconded by Ms. Blueford-Daniels, made a motion to adopt Resolution 2022-04, setting the number of regular members to serve on the 2023 appraisal review board for said district to 190 and containing other provisions relating to the subject. The motion carried unanimously.

Penalty Wavier. Mr. Cowen, seconded by Ms. Blueford-Daniels, made a motion to approve request for waiver of penalty and interest on quarterly assessment for the City of Pasadena in the amount of $6,697.35. After voicing questions and concerns by all board members regarding good cause, the motion carried unanimously.

Taxpayer Liaison Officer Report. Teresa Terry, Taxpayer Liaison Officer, provided a verbal report to the board. A written report was also provided in the board packet.

Appraisal Review Board Report. ARB Chairman, Douglas Sapp, reported on the progress of hearings, attendance by members of the appraisal review board at hearings, and activities of the executive staff and the board’s attorney.

Protest and Hearings. Jeff Morrison, Chief of Hearings, reported on protests and hearings, including iFile and iSettle. As of this morning, for the 2022 tax year, 492,495 protests have been received with the vast majority of them being filed electronically. He also reported that over 1/3 of all protests settled, have been resolved with the electronic programs. The focus now is on completing the remaining accounts and working prior year, correction, and exemption accounts.

Appraisal Matters. Chief Appraiser Altinger reminded the board of HCAD’s 10th annual BEAR project and the upcoming CFO summit in October.

Executive Session. Chairman Sullivan called the board into executive session at 10:46 a.m. for the purpose of: (a) private consultation with the board’s attorney regarding (i) pending and potential litigation, (ii) settlement of pending appeals to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, (iii) settlement of pending arbitrations under Texas Tax Code Chapter 41A, and (iv) settlement of pending litigation under Texas Tax Code Chapter 42; (b) considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer, or employee, including the duties and appointment of the chief appraiser; (c) considering the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices; (d) deliberating the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, as permitted by the Open Meetings Act, Chap. 551, Government Code.

Chairman Sullivan opened the meeting at 11:08 a.m.

Roll Call. Jim Robinson, Martina Lemond Dixon, Al Odom, Kathy Blueford-Daniels, and Jonathan Cowen, were present. Ann Harris Bennett was absent.

Pending Litigation. Mr. Robinson, seconded by Ms. Lemond Dixon, moved to approve settlement of pending litigation, arbitrations, and SOAH appeals as submitted by staff. The motion carried with Mr. Sullivan abstaining. A list is attached.

Appeals Under Sec. 42.02 Tax Code. There were none.

Adjournment. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 11:09 a.m.

https://hcad.org/assets/uploads/pdf/resources/2022/Board-book-final-October-19-2022-meeting.pdf