A town's Board of Selectmen are in the position of making the financial and policy decisions for the town but aren't in the position of speaking for or against the actions of the town's appraiser. It would have been wrong for them to speak unless they were to overturn a decision or to make a new decision/action.
In other words, they were there as spectators first.
They should have been (and I hope they were) taking notes, listening to the concerned citizens, and asking advise from the town manager/administrator, legal counsel, the town tax collector and town assessor.
I can guarantee that once they were convened in a meeting, most likely in a non-public session, they discussed in depth the issues before them that that night and the response of the town's assessor/assessing department.
My trust goes to those who admit they don't have all the answers, especially in a charged situation like the one you've described. I immediately distrust those who have an answer for everything and know-it-all.
Yes, waiting is painful but far better to wait for them to get it right the first time vs. re-try after re-try to get it right like a bunch of fools.
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