Section 8. A hearing shall be granted if any party to an appeal so requests, and upon motion of any party to an appeal, or by direction of the board, any appeal may be set down for a hearing. Hearings may be held before less than a majority of the members of the board and the chairman may assign members to hold hearings. Hearings before the board, or any member thereof, shall be open to the public and such hearings and all proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with such rules of practice and procedure as the board may make and promulgate; provided, however, that such rules and amendments thereto shall comply with the filing provisions of section 5 of chapter 30A and such rules and amendments shall not take effect until so filed. The chairman may direct that two or more petitions for abatement of the taxes assessed upon real estate situated in the same general locality of the same town be heard together, irrespective of the identity of the appellants.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 58a - Appellate Tax Board
Section 1a - Quorum; Decisions by a Single Member of Board
Section 2 - Principal Office; Meetings; Hearings
Section 3 - Reports and Opinions; Publication; Sale
Section 5 - Traveling Expenses
Section 5a - Appointment of Employees; Expenditures
Section 7 - Appeals; Petition; Answers; Fees; Abatement
Section 7a - Informal Procedure
Section 7b - Small Claims Procedure
Section 8a - Discovery Procedure
Section 9 - Service of Process
Section 10 - Recording of Proceedings; Electronic Transcription; Costs; Waiver of Appeal
Section 11 - Oaths; Witnesses; Depositions
Section 12 - Costs; Witness Fees; Service of Process
Section 12b - Evidence of Fair Cash Valuation or Classification of Property; Admissibility
Section 12c - Appeals; Reports of Assessment Ratios; Admissibility in Evidence; Abatement
Section 12d - Electric or Gas Company Property; Abatement or Reclassification; Appeals
Section 13 - Findings; Decisions; Opinions; Reports; Appeals; Costs
Section 14 - Disproportionate Assessments; Measure of Damages