At its Oct. 10 meeting the Town of Needham Board of Assessors scheduled a preparatory meeting for Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m., set a follow‑up meeting for Nov. 20 at 10 a.m., and said it will participate in the Select Board’s annual classification hearing on Nov. 25 in the evening.

Assessor’s staff told the board their goal was to upload the town’s sales data to the state Department of Revenue (DOR) “today,” subject to DOR approval. Board members and staff discussed that DOR review often takes several days; one member estimated a possible turnaround of about a week if the town submits early in the DOR cycle.

The schedule decisions are part of the timeline that precedes the town’s classification hearing, which determines how the property tax levy is distributed across classes such as residential and commercial. The board emphasized it needs to meet before the Select Board hearing to review the documents it will present.

Toward the end of the meeting, the chair read a motion to enter executive session “to discuss real estate and personal property exemption and/or abatement applications, which are not open to public inspection,” and “to discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the town’s litigating position.” A motion to enter executive session was moved and seconded; the transcript records a roll‑call vote with members answering “Aye.” The board said it would not return to open session.

Ending — The board’s next public meeting for classification preparation is Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m.; the Select Board classification hearing is Nov. 25 in the evening. Abatement and settlement matters referenced in open session will be taken up in executive session and are not public record.