Alexandria Board of Selectmen
April 24, 2008
Approved May 8, 2008
Members Present: Don Gangemi and Tom McGowan
The meeting came to order at 6:00 p.m. and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The public hearing on the Scott & Velma Benton Barn was opened. Mr. & Mrs. Benton have applied for a Discretionary Preservation Easement which, per RSA 79-D provides for a lower assessment on certain structures based on their historical or scenic importance to the surrounding area. The barn has been on the land since the 1840’s and has been maintained during that time. Merry Ruggirello and Pat Moore both pointed out that the barn’s preservation is in keeping with the town’s Master Plan to preserve the rural characteristics of Alexandria. Don Gangemi made a motion to approve the easement; Tom McGowan seconded; the motion was passed by a vote of 2-0. The assessors will be asked to determine the new rate at which the building will be taxed.
The members of the recycling committee are Kate Barrett, Steve Whitman, Todd Smith, Merry Ruggirello, Sue Cheney, Bonnie O’Brien Poire, George Whittaker and Judy Kraemer. Tom McGowan will be the selectmen’s representative. A meeting will be set up as soon as the selectmen determine the criteria for the group’s activities.
The members of the police search committee are Ernie Lamos, Ernie Parmenter, Kate Barrett, Chet Caron, Ed Skroback, Ann Gangemi, Chief Nathaniel Sawyer of New Hampton. Christie Phelps will be the representative from the selectmen’s office. This will be done in order that all three selectmen meet each finalist “cold”, without any pre-conceived notions one way or the other. Criteria for this group will also be determined and a meeting set up soon. There were comments from the audience regarding the need for a contract, that the chief live within the area with good response time and that he use his own car to go back and forth to work. Regarding the car, Ed Skroback stated that NH State Police get to take their vehicles home with them.
Department Heads:
Christie reported that two purchase orders were signed this week; one for $2,500 for Wild Horse Welding to fix some guardrails at the Brook Road Bridge. Another purchase order was issued to McDevitt Trucks for the cab and chassis of the new truck. This should be available in July. The highway floor heat piping has been installed, and the floor has been poured. The crew will be sealing it tomorrow. The weight bans on the roads will be lifted on Monday.
Merry Ruggirello spoke for the planning board. Elections were held and Maggie LaBerge remains the chairman and Merry is the vice chair. On May 19 the planning board will host a meet & greet with area planning board members at the old town hall at 5:30. A public hearing was held on subdivision regulation amendments and gravel pit updates. These will be signed at the next planning board meeting. The Capital Improvement Plan is being worked on by Maggie LaBerge, Merry Ruggirello, Pat Moore, Melanie Markiewicz and Christie Phelps. There will be a public hearing on this document in June. On Monday, April 28 there will be a discussion on rail transportation hosted by the Lake Region Planning Commission. The meeting will take place at the Newfound Reg. High School. On June 28, the Naturally Newfound Fair will be held. The planning board will be working on site plan review regulations, updating the master plan and roadway as-builts. On May 7, the board will hold a work session at 6:00 p.m.; the regular meeting will be on May 21 at 7:00 p.m. Don Gangemi asked to be added to the e-mail list for announcements of meetings and public hearings. He also suggested that the planning board shorten up the Land Use & Zoning Ordinance to make it easier for people to understand.
Items Requiring Signature: None
Old Business: No updates
New Business:
Christie stated that Maggie is upset that the selectmen have not made a decision
regarding the location of the gazebo. Don replied that since Cindy is the person
who has been working on this project, he and Tom feel the decision should wait
until she returns from vacation. The decision will be made on May 1.
Don Gangemi informed the audience members that, no matter who you are, if
prevent public access on the roads or you damage public roads, you will be
billed if the town finds it necessary to make repairs or remove hazards.
Adjournment:
Don Gangemi made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 p.m. Motion seconded by Tom McGowan and passed by a vote of 2-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christie Phelps, TA