The city’s assessing department and Chamber of Commerce’s decision to hold information sessions on the triennial revaluation process and how property owners can appeal and apply for abatements comes after some commercial property owners saw increases ranging, in some cases, from 50 to over 100 percent.

Perhaps these sessions could have come before the bills were sent out, but the effort to reach out to property owners at all at least demonstrates an acknowledgement that the assessments deserve an explanation, and hopefully those who attend will take the time to listen before reacting. And, more importantly, hopefully those presenting will be equally receptive to input. While there isn’t much that can be done to change the statutes and procedures governing assessments, these meetings could serve as a starting point for bringing property owners into the process so they are not left to wait with their checkbooks open and a shaky hand wondering how many more zeroes they will be forced to write.

The first meeting was postponed due to snow to Thursday, Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m., at the West Somerville Neighborhood School cafeteria, 177 Powderhouse Blvd), and the next meeting (both are presenting the same information) will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, in the cafeteria of the East Somerville Community School at 50 Cross St. Tuesday’s meeting will be posted to You Tube (search “Somerville City TV”) and will also air on the government access channel (channel 22 on Comcast and channel 13 on RCN).