Alexandria Selectmen’s Meeting

August 28, 2008

 4:30 meeting with Tax Collector and selectmen regarding tax deeding

1. We do not want to take over properties.  We want to work with owners.  If the owners will give a written pay plan and stick to it, we will work with them.

            a Meet with Pam Duquette/Robie and Merry Ruggirello to set up payment plan.

            b. Selectmen will need regular monthly updates on payments.

2. Check with attorney re: some property has been waiting to be deeded for 20 years-do we still have to wait 3 years to sell?

b. One property with mobile home has serious issues can we sell as is ? Neighbor wants to buy it

c. Must we bid out any or all properties.

3. The lot for which the $2000 offer was made will be put out to bid after deeding.

4.  Post meeting August 29 for selectmen to view properties to be deeded- I did so, but they did not view as they must give 30 day notice to owner first. Deeding may take place after then/next year?

5:00p.m. meeting with Bob Durfee and Aaron Guyetti of Dubois and King

1. We are in study phase. They were held up in this as the state for first time ever on a project of this size, insisted on an archeological study at a cost of $8000 to $10,000

            a. Find copy of Dubois and King contract.

            b. D&K thought they are only in for study phase ad that is what their fee is for.

c. Selectboard thought we agreed for plan, review, approval by DOT, then we would have additional cost for developing final plans.( This was confusing- review on tape carefully)

2. D& K looked at site, did field survey, and developed base plans.

            a. We need to review road alignments and bridge type.  (ppgs 8-11?)

            b. Can we consider it a 3 rod right of way?

            c. There are 3 alternative types and alignments of the bridge.

                        i. Some alternatives involve taking of land, and there are price differentials.

                        ii. D&K and selectmen prefer a voided slab with the current alignment

3. Discussion of costs involved

            a. Study phase- appropriate complete phase-state reimburses 80%

b. Will need $80,000 this town meeting

3. Discuss reimbursement vis- a- vis amounts raised by town-when reimbursed?

4. Cindy requested they bring landowners to a meeting with D&K and selectmen rather than merely write letters.  D&K said they are nearly at the stage where they normally do that.

Discussion of Mr. Fredericks Culvert

1. It is under a prescriptive easement

2. It is functioning as originally intended as it was when Mr. Fredericks bought the property

a. Since the road crew recently cleaned the culvert Mr. Fredericks may be of the opinion that there has been a change when there has not.

3 The town cannot divert water from its customary flow to put it on another person’s property.

4.  The culvert will stay as it is.

Discussion of highway budget

1. Jeff stated he can only cut costs by cutting services.

2. If he uses at current figures-and he must use last year’s figures and cost increases cost increase from $532,000to $673,000.

a. Highway Dept. had Dan Milligan on the payroll as full time until February with a budget for 5 full- time men.

            b. Highway Dept has been using Rick as seasonal, part time so that is only 41/2 men

c. For some reason although overtime goes into another category, with Rick only as part time the full time budget is going over. 

d. TA and Jeff will ascertain where budget is going over.

3. Jeff will explain the overages and the increases to the budget committee before taking it to the town meeting.

4. Discuss the costs of bridge repair-effect of closing some bridges-can highway crew repair some bridges?

a. Yes, some repairs are within their capability.

b. BUT they cannot do bridge repairs in addition to their current schedule of road maintenance with a five- man crew or even five- man and a part- time man.

Meeting with fire chief

1. Dennis did not come in, but Jeff explained that in other towns high risk companies such as the Green Mountain explosives have made large contributions to the towns and/or donations of goods or money to the fire department of those towns.

2. Cindy said those others were very large companies.  Green Mountain is not.

New Business

Discuss repairs to Wadhams Road

1. Jeff will look into designating Wadhams road as a scenic road.  If we built it to FEMA standards it would look like downtown Nashua.  He will also check as to who would pay for any future needed repairs if it were designated a scenic road .

Discussion of waste oil collection at the transfer station

1.  Per Jeff there were 44 gallon containers of waste oil sitting around the collection point comprising a fairly serious hazardous waste liability for the town.

2. Highway department collected the oil but it makes no sense to try and burn it as it is mostly contaminated and cannot be burned by their one remaining waste oil furnace. There are no advantages and only liabilities to collecting waste oil.

3. Don moved that we no longer collect waste oil . Tom seconded the motion and the town will tell Doug not to collect waste oil any longer.

Cindy moved that the board adjourn. Don seconded and we adjourned at 8:45