To the Editor:

I wanted to take a moment and recognize a few people who recently devoted their time and efforts to help me resolve a tax overpayment issue. I would like to thank John Amport, Mike Board, Marty Klein, and Ruth Patrick, without their understanding and efforts I would not have been able to solve the issue and ultimately get a refund. All mentioned above were professional, timely, and responsive.

I felt compelled to write to you regarding an exhausting and painful experience I went through with the Killingworth Tax Accessor Donna Shanoff. I am a Killingworth resident and In May of 2006 I discovered I was being overcharged on my property tax bill, I contacted the tax accessor's office by mail requesting they look into my claim. When I received no response I sent a second letter one week later, again I received no response. I decided to send an email communication with return receipt request attaching my original document sent via the mail to ensure they were being received by Donna.

I received no reply and sent 5 follow up email requests over a period of time, all with return receipt and all were opened shortly after they were sent and I received no response to any of them.  In frustration I called the Acessor's office and left a message for the Acessor to please return my call. When Donna returned my call I was unavailable and she left me a voice mail to the effect that there was nothing she could do that this was a matter for the selectmen's office. I returned her call immediately to discuss the matter and find out why she could not help me. The conversation got rather heated by both of us, during this conversation Donna admitted that she was aware that I was overpaying and the reason she could not help me was because I failed to reply to a request sent out by the selectmen's office in 2002. I advised her that I did respond and I produced a copy of the original document  request I sent in 2002 along with my claim yet again. After sending this document someone found a copy of the original in a file in the ex selectman's files.

Later in the conversation Donna went on to say that I was harassing her and that it took me four years to figure out i was overpaying and to stop sending in requests for updates. First of all I am not the tax expert and only found out by coincidence, secondly if she was aware i was being overcharged why did she not contact me or take corrective measures.  As I stated earlier I sent two letters, 5 emails, and finally two phone calls over a 30 day period hardly harassment,  I never received any response or update leaving me to wonder if the matter was being looked into or simply if she had received my communications. It was not until I involved the selectmen's office and the housing authority that I started receiving communications updating me on the status of the issue and ultimately got resolve.

In my opinion my situation was handled unprofessionally, immorally, and down right wrong it is scary that this can happen to a tax payer and someone should look into this matter and take appropriate action.

Regretfully,
Frank Vumback