The most recent version of the Assessment Review Board ("ARB") Rules of Practice and Procedure ("Rules") came into force as of April 1, 2017. The ARB has established an Appeals Management Advisory Committee ("AMAC") for the stated purpose of assisting the ARB in monitoring timely completion of appeals,
A June 20, 2017 webinar presented AMAC's new rules, which require municipal action on or before July 1, 2017. These include:
- Identifying a primary person as the Municipality's "Appeal Representative" who the ARB will identify as having carriage of all of the municipality's appeals.
- Identifying a "Complaints Representative" who should be different from, and at a higher level than, the Appeal Representative.
- Emailing arb.registrar@ontario.ca to provide the ARB with contact information (i.e. email address, phone number, fax, and mail address) for the Appeal Representative and Complaints Representative.
Absent receipt of the above noted email(s), the ARB will assume the Appeals Representative or Complaints Representative is the Clerk of the municipality.
There are a number or other notable changes in the assessment review process that municipalities should be aware of including changes to the use of "waivers", which no longer exist, and the requirement for municipalities to provide disclosure regardless of whether they fully participate in appeals.
The foregoing is a summary of the "New World" of ARB changes that municipalities need to understand.
A full discussion of these changes has been provided to Wishart Municipal Group ("WMG") members. For further information, including information about joining WMG, please visit www.wishartlaw.com/municipal.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.