Section 5. The owner of any real estate upon which betterments have been assessed may, within six months after notice of such assessment has been sent out by the collector, file with the board a petition for an abatement thereof, and the board shall grant such abatement as may be necessary to make such assessment conform to section one. Such petition may be filed with the clerk or secretary of the board, or delivered by mail or otherwise at their office. The board shall within ten days after their decision upon the petition give written notice thereof to the petitioner. If an assessment is abated by the board the assessment so determined shall stand as the assessment upon the land, and if it has not been paid shall be collected in the same manner as the original assessment. If the assessment has been paid, the person by whom it was paid shall be reimbursed by the body politic on behalf of which it was assessed to the amount of the abatement allowed, with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the time of payment.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments
Section 1 - Assessment of Cost of Public Improvements
Section 2 - Assessment Order; Plan and Estimate; Recordation
Section 3 - Surrender of Land Assessed
Section 5 - Petition for Abatement; Filing, Etc.
Section 6 - Filing Petition; Time Limitation; Extension
Section 7 - Appeal to Superior Court
Section 8 - Death of Person Entitled to Petition for Abatement
Section 10 - Appeal to County Commissioners
Section 10a - Petition for Abatement; Procedure on Failure of Board to Act
Section 11 - Contribution by Lessee; Rights and Remedies of Lessee
Section 12 - Lien Status of Assessment; Duration of Lien
Section 13 - Apportionment and Reapportionment
Section 13a - Land Devoid of Structures; Extension of Time for Payment of Assessments
Section 13b - Deferral and Recovery Agreements; Application; Recordation; Lien