Alexandria Board of Selectmen
August 16, 2007
Members Present: Cindy Williams and Don Gangemi
The meeting came to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Bonnie O’Brien
Appointments:
Scott Hackett: Mr. Hackett stated that he has property missing and wants to know why it is missing and where it is. Cindy asked if he was referring to the vehicles that were removed from the road right of way. He said he was. Cindy said she has never been up there and wanted to know where Mr. Hackett is located. He is approximately 1 ½ miles beyond the Class V portion of the road. Cindy said her understanding of the road situation was that there were cars blocking the road. Scott said there are several people who can verify that a truck and trailer were able to make it up to his house, so the road wasn’t blocked. He has pictures of where all his vehicles were. Scott said the vehicles were outside of the stone wall, but did not block the road. Jeff said the way the situation arose was that it was brought to his attention that there were items in the Class VI road. The biggest concern was that there was a gate and you can’t gate a Class VI road. At the time, Jeff went with Bob Ramsey, who knew the road, and determined there were items in the right of way. Selectman Bacon was on the board at that time and it was determined that it was a health issue due to the condition of some of the vehicles. The selectboard told Jeff to move the vehicles that were in the right of way and take down the gate. Jeff worked with the chief of police and a towing company to remove the vehicles. Cindy told Mr. Hackett that efforts were made to contact him. Scott said he thought it rather funny that the police could not find a person who pays taxes in this town and one whose money helped pay for the loader that destroyed his property. Don asked if it was Mr. Hackett that the department looked for or was it the owners of the vehicles. Frank said he relied on Jeff to determine what the public right of way was. He then identified ten cars up there as being in the public right of way. Two of the vehicles had plates on them and information was received. The rest of the vehicles had no records on file with the state. Frank’s main concern was to determine who owned the vehicles and whether or not they were stolen. Two of the vehicles came out of Nashua and Manchester and Frank was unable to contact the supposed owners. None of the vehicles was registered to Mr. Hackett. Frank said there were at least twenty vehicles on private property that were not taken. The fire truck was owned by Mr. Hackett and he was informed on December 4 as to the location of the fire truck and how he could contact the person who had it. This was done in person. Don Gangemi asked what the disposition of the vehicle was. Frank said the vehicles were towed by Steve Punderson of Hill. He followed the rsa’s and retained the vehicles for thirty days and made a good effort to notify the owners. The owners would be given the opportunity to come down to claim the vehicles and pay for any storage fees, etc. The fire truck was not disposed of by Mr. Punderson until April of 2007. The NHDMV was given a list of the vehicles that were towed along with their VINs.
Don asked how long after the vehicles were removed did someone report them stolen. Frank said that Mr. Hackett attempted to report all the vehicles stolen on December 4. Frank informed Mr. Hackett that he could not report them stolen as he did not own them. Frank asked if he had any proof of ownership and none was produced. Frank said Mr. Hackett did come in to an earlier selectmen’s meeting to discuss the issue, but left before the meeting was over without saying anything. The vehicles were removed on November 28 and Frank talked with Mr. Hackett on the 4th of December. Cindy asked if fire apparatus could have gone up there if necessary to attend a forest fire. Jeff said the gate and the logs would have prevented access. A bulldozer was left in the right of way due to the cost associated with removing it. Don asked how long it took to remove ten vehicles. Steve Punderson said it took two days. Don asked if anyone approached the workers during those two days to ask what they were doing. Jeff and Steve both said no one talked with them. If during the thirty day period Mr. Hackett had gone to Mr. Punderson, without it being registered to him, could Mr. Hackett have gained possession of the vehicles? Frank said he would have vouched for Mr. Hackett’s ownership of the fire truck. The other cards could have been retrieved if Mr. Hackett could produce a bill of sale or registration in his name. Don asked if the vehicles were on the road side of the stone wall; Frank said they were. Mr. Hackett said that the vehicles had been mentioned, but there were also a number of other items removed including two snow plows, trailers, and a logging arch. He also said that the gate would swing open with the touch of a hand; it was not locked. The water bars that Mr. Hackett had constructed were destroyed which leaves a possibility of the road being able to be washed out. There were some trees that were smashed into. Several vehicles parts were dragged out and left in the road. There are several things on the side of the road that were left there. Mr. Hackett asked why only the expensive stuff was removed if they were trying to clean the place up. Mr. Hackett said he has titles and bills of sale for some of the vehicles and had he been asked to produce them, he could have. He believed he asked for a police report and asked where they were and he was never given a direct answer. Frank asked Mr. Hackett if they had met on December 4. Mr. Hackett said they did, but Frank did not tell him where the vehicles were. Frank replied that he did tell him where to find the vehicles. Jeff said the issue was brought to the selectmen’s attention in early November. A member of the fire department spoke to Jeff about the gate and the logs. Frank said that his concern with the vehicles was whether or not they were stolen. Cindy said that she was told the main concern was whether or not fire vehicles could access that area. Mr. Hackett said he was told he wasn’t going to get fire, police or any other protection up there. Cindy said that Mr. Hackett was required to sign a Class VI Road Waiver. She explained that if there was ever a fire up beyond his place, there is still a need to get fire equipment up there. Mr. Hackett said he can prove that the road beyond his place is a private logging road, not a town road. Cindy said she would like to see his proof. Cindy asked Mr. Hackett why he let so much time lapse before coming in to talk with the selectmen. Mr. Hackett said that he called 50 or 60 times and left a message with the selectmen’s secretary to get in touch with the chief. Christie said she recalled speaking to Mr. Hackett several times and each time a message was given to the police department. Mr. Punderson was asked how many vehicles he removed from the site. He said he took ten cars and one fire truck, but nothing else. Jeff said he only moved cars. Frank said the newest plate on any vehicle was 2004. Don Gangemi asked how the attempt was made to contact Mr. Hackett prior to the vehicles being moved. Frank said that he visited Mr. Hackett’s home several times at various hours to try to talk with him because he had no phone number to call. Cindy said the selectmen should go up and make a determination of where the road right of way is. Frank said that when they left the property after cleaning up the vehicles on their list, there were still a number of vehicles on private property plus the bulldozer. Mr. Hackett said he would like to take care of the issue at hand. Cindy stated that the town will stand behind the word of the police chief and road agent that the vehicles were in the right of way and needed to be removed. She asked Mr. Hackett why he did not wait and speak with the selectmen the night he came in to one of the meetings. He said he was told that he needed to come in and fill out a paper the Friday before and he would not be able to speak at the first meeting. Christie said that information would not have come from the office. Mr. Hackett still maintains that his property has been stolen and he wants it back. Frank said he agrees that the fire truck was owned by Mr. Hackett and he was told where he could go to get it back.
Mr. Punderson verified that he has never been approached by Mr. Hackett and did not know who he was until he started talking this evening. Mr. Punderson said that Frank called him this spring and said there may be an issue with the fire truck so he held onto it for an additional thirty days before selling it for scrap. Cindy said Jeff will work with Mr. Hackett on the issue of snowplowing so his driveway is not plowed in.
Voices Against Violence: Jaye Olsmtead, Director of Voices Against Violence, came in to thank the town for their support. She explained that Alexandria residents are receiving services through VAV for domestic violence, stalking and other issues. She left brochures and cards and asked that they be placed where people can discreetly pick them up and get in touch with VAV. Jaye said that there is always a need for people to work on the crisis hotline. Training is provided to the operators. Jaye also explained that 10% of their clientele is composed of men who are victims of domestic violence; it does not only happen to women. VAV offers a shelter for those who need to vacate their home due to domestic violence, sexual assault, etc. They accompany individuals to police departments, court, hospitals and other place in order to receive the services they require.
Erma Lord: Erma came in to talk with the selectmen about a flagpole that is to be donated to the town in memory of Sherm Wadhams. She was sent some paperwork from the selectmen’s office and picked out a pole that has an inside lanyard so the lines will not become fouled. She also asked the town to look into having a rock moved from Sherm’s land to act as a base for the plaque for the flagpole. Christie will check on this with Ken Braley. Ms. Lord left a down payment on the project with Christie and was given a receipt.
Distribution of Minutes: The minutes of August 9 were distributed
Approval of Minutes:
Department Heads:
Items Requiring Signature:
A building permit was signed for Casey Kuplin
after he brought in a copy of the septic design.
Don Gangemi suggested that the selectmen delay building permits for
a week so they can visit
the site if they wish. Cindy felt that was a good idea and also
suggested that if the town does
not have a copy of the septic system design, the owner should be
required to submit one with
the building permit application. Mr. Kuplin’s shows on line, but
the town did not have a hard
copy of the design. Christie also located the driveway access
approval.
Follow Ups:
Flagpole: Previously discussed
Prestige Development: Christie is working with the attorney on various questions.
New Business:
The town car is dead and needs to be disposed
of. It ran out of oil. For the remainder of the year
mileage will need to be paid out of the various departmental
budgets. Don asked what condition
the car was in other than the engine. Vinnie’s Truck Repair said
that the undercarriage is in need
of repair.
Old Business:
Skip Reilly asked about the Fowler River Road
project and road closings. Don said the rsa’s go
into great detail and allow for road closures as required. Cindy
said in the last week she has gone
by several roads closed due to construction; one in Meredith. Don
did not find any information
requiring a flagman. Cindy asked Dennis Ford about the issue and
there are guidelines for
flagging and there are classes that can be attended. Dennis said
there can be a $100 fine assessed
to anyone who drives on a closed road. There are also guidelines
for posting the area to be
closed. Frank said there will be a patrolman on detail at Fowler
River Road on Monday.
Public Input:
Ed Skroback suggested putting some emergency lights in the town hall. Cindy said that there are already lights in the hallways.
Cindy said that she would like to work with
somebody on the update of the Emergency Manage-
ment plan. She asked Christie for the name of the proper person at
the state; Christie said it is
Paul Hatch and gave Cindy his phone number and e-mail address.
Jeff Cantara: Construx
insulated the highway building sill area a while ago and discussed the moisture
problem. It was suggested that a commercial dehumidifier be purchased and
included in the budget. The #5 truck should be brought to the auction in
October, but Jeff said he didn’t think the selectmen had voted to dispose of the
vehicle. Bristol is having Old Home Day soon and Alexandria has been invited to
bring over equipment that the kids can look at that day. Jeff
will be taking over something from the highway department. Jeff and two of his
workers are
going to be taking the Firefighter 1 training from September to March. The
classes are held on
Tuesday and Thursday and some Saturdays. It is noted that if the weather turns
bad, the crew
will be out on the roads rather than in class. Cindy asked if the town is all
set with Dean Benton.
Christie said there has been no response to the town’s latest letter to him.
Cindy asked Jeff if
the highway crew had to go outside of the right of way on any of the Fowler
River Road project;
Jeff said no. The culvert on Karl Gordon Road will be replaced in the fall with
the agreement of
the landowner, Boake Morrison. There has been no response from the owners of
the Smith River
Road property and the assessors have not yet visited the site. Don asked Jeff
if the ledge-pak he
uses is available locally; Jeff said it is not.
Building Issues: A
question was asked about the toilet in the holding cell. Several other items
about the building, particularly the police department, were brought up as
well. Cindy said she
is not comfortable making the decision of whether or not the holding cell should
be continued to
be used and money expended on it. She would like to see a warrant article
brought to the 2008
town meeting. Ed Skroback said that 30 people within the town can petition the
selectmen to have a cell. Cindy said she talked with the attorney and the town
can consider Grafton County’s
cell as the one available for use. The discussion got quite heated and
resulted in no decisions.
Anyone wishing to hear the entire text is invited to listen to the tape.
Skip Reilly said that the
building is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Cindy
asked him to
provide the specifications that show the town in not in compliance.
Christie received a visit
from a Mrs. Shapiro who would like to do something in the park in
memory of her parents who owned Cole Hill Farm. A suggestion was some sort of
cobble
stones that could be engraved with names. Christie will work on this idea and
get back to the
selectmen with some pricing, availability, etc. The office is in need of an
additional legal sized
file cabinet for property files. Christie will be visiting state surplus next
week to see if one can
be purchased there second hand rather than buying new. Cat White has been
accepted into the
Master Gardener’s Program and will be attending on Thursdays between 9/26 and
12/6. It was
arranged with Christie that Cat will work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,
rather than
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for now, beginning with the week of 9/26. A
driveway
permit was issued on Kirk Pasture Road requiring a culvert. The driveway is
being used, but
the culvert is not yet in. Christie received a complaint on it today and passed
the message along
to Jeff. A letter was received from NHDOT accepting the town’s choice of Dubois
& King on
the Washburn Bridge Project. Christie will contact Bob Durfee at Dubois &
King. Christie sent
Avitar a memo regarding inconsistencies on the new property cards. She received
a reply that
explained the newer methods of showing views, private roads, etc. Once Avitar
has finalized the
values, representatives will train Christie on the updated manual in order for
her to be able to
answer questions.
Cindy stated that Jo Jo
Bellville, the town’s property assessment monitor from NHDRA, said that Avitar
is moving along quickly and she will be reviewing the sales and neighborhoods
within the next two weeks. Christie has been taking an informal exit survey and
while people
still don’t like their assessments, they are satisfied with the way they have
been treated by the
assessing firm. Cindy asked if there was an increase in the number of people
who have now
had interior inspections. Don Gangemi said that all of this information was
helpful, but he
would still like to hold Avitar’s check for now. Christie was asked to explain
the three sales that
happened in July. There were two of the sales that outweighed the new
assessments by some
17-22,000. The third sale sold for $40,000 over the new assessment. It was
pointed out that this
may have been due to the fact that the lot was logged before the sale, allowing
for a view.
Skip stated that more support is needed at the school board and school budget committee meetings.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. by a vote of 2-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christie Phelps, AA