Motorcycle club wins Montville property tax fight

Written by Off the Wire
MCs in the News

Montville, Conn. —
The New London Motorcycle Club is ready to move forward after winning a prolonged battle with town officials over its tax-exempt status.

“One of the things we learned is that our best intentions are not always taken the same way by people,” group treasurer Peter Neves said.

The Board of Assessment Appeals last month overturned a January ruling by Town Assessor Lucy Beit that would have required the club to pay property taxes on its 330 Moxley Road headquarters starting July 1.

Appeals Board member Richard Wilson backed the 70-year-old club’s long-standing tax-exempt status.

“They had always been considered a nonprofit organization,” he said.

“The problem is in the interpretation of the statutes by each individual town assessor.”

Board member Ann Mattson also voted in favor of the club, with Rosetta Jones against it.

Neves said the dispute forced the club to re-evaluate the nature of the building that has been its headquarters since 1947.

“We never really thought about it as being a source of income to the town,” he said. “But rather, something that has been the New London Motorcycle Club’s little piece of Montville.”

While members are preparing for the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year — the 15th annual “Blessing of the Bikes” April 18 at Ocean Beach Park in New London — Neves said the club’s leadership has taken stock of its standing with town leaders in the wake of its tax eligibility.

“I think we need to keep our records a little clearer, but also show that we need money to run this clubhouse,” Neves said. “It’s a lot more bookkeeping than you would expect for just a bunch of guys riding motorcycles.”

Catherine Foley, executive director of the New London-based Covenant Shelter, the organization that will be the recipient of the money raised at the April 18 event, said the New London Motorcycle Club’s contributions have allowed the agency to help a greater number of people. It provides emergency housing to people across New London County

“We really appreciate their support,” Foley said. “It’s the softer side of people’s perception of bikers.”

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