Town Manager Paul Bockelman announced the appointment of Elizabeth A. Duffy as the new Principal Assessor for the Town of Amherst. She replaces long-time Principal Assessor David Burgess, who retired on July 12, 2019. David has continued to consult with the Town on a part-time basis during the transition.
Elizabeth A. Duffy, CCMA II brings a distinguished career as an assessor in Connecticut to the Town of Amherst. She has been the Assessor for the Town of Windsor Locks, Connecticut since 2014. Prior to that she has served as the Assessor in the Towns of Monroe, Middlebury, and Ellington – all in Connecticut – and chaired the Board of Assessors in the Town of Branford, Connecticut. She has been a member of the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers since 2011. Ms. Duffy has served as an expert witness in the field of real estate and business appraisal and assessment for the Superior Court and Tax and Administrative Appeals Court in Connecticut. Her first day on the job will be January 21st.
Town Manager Bockelman said, “Liz brings a very strong background in professional assessing practices to the Town of Amherst with broad experience in residential and commercial real estate, personal property, and assessing computer programs and systems. We are thrilled to have been able to attract such an experienced professional for this position.”
Interim Finance Director Sonia Aldrich added, “I look forward to having Liz join the Finance Department team. She will join me, Treasurer Cheri Boucher, and Collector Jennifer LaFountain as the Town’s finance leadership team.” She added, “David Burgess and I worked together for 30 years. I believe I speak for all of the Finance Department when I say, not only will we miss his professional expertise in the assessing world, and our colleague, we will miss our friend and member of our work family.”
Bockelman noted that the Town of Amherst is proud to have an all-female leadership team in its Finance Department.
Bockelman concluded, “David Burgess has led the Town through dozens of revaluations, tax appeals, and the adoption of the first-ever tax incentive for affordable housing. He has served the Town well for 30 years. But, more than that, David has been a leader for all staff in Town Hall where he has mentored many employees as they progressed through their careers. I will miss his Irish pluck and humor…and corn dip…which he is always welcome to bring to Town Hall potlucks!”
The Principal Assessor screening committee was chaired by the Director of Human Resources Evelyn Rivera-Riffenburg and included Ken Hargreaves and Legrand Hines from the Board of Assessors and Town Collector Jennifer LaFountain.
For Immediate Release: January 17, 2020 | Contact: Brianna Sunryd, sunrydb@amherstma.gov