Alexandria Selectmen’s Meeting

August 9, 2007

Members Present:     Peg Reilly, Cindy Williams and Don Gangemi

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of July 19 were approved, the minutes of July 26 will
            be voted on next week.

Department Heads:

            Barbara Emery:            Absent

Frank Hinkle: Frank called up PD Admin. Assistant, Cat White, in order to
present her with a commendation for her working in obtaining grants and gifts with a value of more than $19,000.  They include a gift certificate from Wal-Mart, Car 54 equipment from the University of New Hampshire, matching funds for the purchase of new bullet-proof vests, an ATV unit is on loan to the department from Ken’s Yamaha and a grant was obtained to pay for patrols using the ATV.  Various items handed out during the Alexandra Community Day celebration were donated from NH Highway Safety.  Frank said Cat is now working on a grant for the development of a pistol range.  Her efforts on behalf of the department are unending.  Cat received a round of applause from the audience.

Peg had George Whittaker come up front at the meeting and expressed her congratulations on his becoming a Certified NH Health Officer.  He is the only one in the area who has attained this level.  A round of applause was given to George.  Don Gangemi asked George how many certified health officers there are in the state; George said there are sixteen. 

Items Requiring Signature:

            An intent to cut was signed for William Robie on Verrill Road.

A letter was signed to the Grafton Board of Selectmen to share in the cost of having a survey done on the common lines between the two towns.  This project is subject to a
vote at town meeting. 

A letter to NHDES was signed requesting an extension on the submission of paperwork for the five year culvert project. 

A letter was signed to the Alexandria Ledge Climbers allowing them to use the old town hall for their meetings this winter.

A letter was signed to Mr. & Mrs. Rhude enclosing a signed abatement regarding their Land Use Change Tax.  The tax was reduced from $2560 to $1500 in order to reflect the purchase price of their lot.   They were reminded in the letter that interest and penalties will accrue on the unpaid balance of the LUCT. 

A letter of congratulations was signed to George Whittaker.

Follow Ups:     Emma Lord has been given paperwork; it is up to her to decide how to proceed.

Old Business:    Peg asked about Prestige Development.  There are no updates available.  Peg had a question on a purchase order that was signed last week for Circle 3.  Does that price include delivery to the site?  It does and they are also providing a roller for the town to use.  Three prices were obtained. 

New Business:

            Paint on Steps of Old Town Hall:  Cindy asked George if he put the paint on the steps.
George said he did because of safety issues; last year Joanna Perkins fell there and on community day someone fell.  The concrete doesn’t clearly show the variation in height. 
Cindy said she has received several comments that it doesn’t look nice.  Ed Skroback said it was done in a hurry and was a temporary thing.  Cindy asked that if it is done again, it be done in a different color from the orange. 

George said that there is a rubbish container and cigarette container at the new building.
He asked why there can’t be one at the old building.  Cindy asked if there is money in the budget for that item.  George said it was there for the new building.  Peg explained that it came out of the funds for the new building.  Cindy suggested putting in money for next year for that purpose.  George will check to see if there is money in one of his budgets to purchase the items. 

News Release on Flood Insurance Program:  It was approved for release.

A memo was received from the road agent letting the selectmen know that he would be
needing traffic control from the police department and he would like it charged to the Fowler River Road project.

Don Gangemi:  Don asked that persons wishing to meet with the selectmen give the subject matter they would like to talk about so the selectmen can do some research if necessary prior to the meeting.  Peg and Cindy both said that during public input people are allowed to speak on various subjects and the selectmen do not know about that before the meeting. 

Pubic Input:

Bonnie O’Brien:  Bonnie said there is some more rock or gravel needed at the corner of the porch in order to take care of the water runoff from the roof.

George Whittaker:     The town car died the other day on Bristol Hill.  He said it worked
fine the previous days he had it.  Cindy asked where the car is now.  George said there should be a card in the car with the number of a towing company on it.  George called Jeff that day and he had Busky’s pick it up and deliver it to Vinnie’s Truck Repair.  Cat said she could get a card laminated to be put in the car. 

Skip Reilly:  Skip asked if there were any problems with Avitar.  He asked if there is any control the selectmen have over this company.  He was referring to Barbara Emery’s situation mentioned last week.  Don said that Christie is checking on complaints that are given about Avitar.  Peg said that changing the room count in order to get someone to let you into their house is not acceptable.  Cindy said that some changes had been made a couple of years ago without the assessor going into the house.  She feels that they should not have made any changes without being allowed into the house as some property owners are not allowing interior inspections.  George said his house had only been inspected some five years ago. 

Ann Hall asked why the letters were being sent out.  Cindy said it was because the inside of houses had not been seen in probably 5-6 years.  Ann said she got a letter and her house had already been seen on May 9, 2007.  Don thought she received the letter because of issues that the Halls had with their assessment.  Bill Hall asked if there are three selectmen in town.  Peg said there were.  Bill said that when there are some pretty serious issues being talked over, he would like to hear from all three, not just one.  One in particular seems to want to take the show over on a few things.  Issues need to be talked about by all three. 

Peg Reilly said that there had been some question as to whether or not the meeting night could be changed to Tuesday and she had asked that a change wait until September so she could review her schedule.  She stated that she cannot change her Tuesday commitment until at least November. 

Peg asked about Cole Hill Road and the work session that is needed in September.  Peg asked why the planning board would be in on that meeting.  Cindy believed it was due to the fact that part of the problem appears to be coming from a subdivision further up the road.  Don said that Jeff wanted the planning board there so they can see some of the issues that come up with regards to roads in and around developments.  Christie will set up the date and time. 

Skip Reilly asked about the Fowler River Road Project.  He said that he had heard that the road was going to be shut down, but he pointed out that the town has no right to shut down the road for other than a few minutes.  Fire and emergency apparatus need to be able to get through.  He would suggest that one side of the road be paved at a time in order to leave the other side of the road open to traffic.  He also asked whether or not there would be any police present during the paving process.  Peg explained that a memo was received from the road agent stating that there will be police there on paving days. 

Cindy suggested that someone check with Dennis Ford from NHDOT to discuss road closure rules.  Don Gangemi said that he would research the issue.

Ann asked how many times a property is supposed to be visited.  Cindy asked if the other board members minded if she answered the question.  They did not.  Towns are required to be within 5% either way of 100% valuation.  Sales ratios are done each year in the town and give the state an idea of where the town is with regard to assessments versus sales.  If the town does not fall with the percentage required, the state says you have to have a reval.  A reval includes the whole listing and measuring process.  Because Avitar was comfortable enough that, with the exception of the people who got letters, that they have entered every property to measure and list, they felt the town only needed an update using the information that has been gathered since the last revaluation.  A certain number of sales are needed as a basis for changing values.  Ann said that is a problem she has with them; how many gravel pits have sold around here.  How can they just jump this thing up $114,000?  Cindy said the pits are assessed as commercial properties, but Ann will have to ask the assessors how they determined the value of pits.  Don said anyone can call and made an appointment to talk with the assessors.  He also said that one of the selectmen could be requested to be present at that meeting.  Don said he wants to watch Avitar closely because he did not agree to the contract, he signed it under protest. Don stated that because properties are not moving the assessors need to go back to prior years in order to find sales.  Peg said appraisers typically use the last three month’s sales in order to find comparables.  Bill Hall stated that something still needs to be done about all the land in current use; they need to pay their share.  He also questioned whether or not the people working for Avitar were certified.  Cindy said measurers do not have to be certified.  Bill asked why the town can’t use an appraiser.  Peg said some towns hire assessors to work for them. 

Adjournment:

            By motion, second and majority vote, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Christie Phelps, AA