Alexandria Board of Selectmen

June 15, 2006

 

The meeting came to order at 6:00 p.m. with all members present.

 

Others Present:  Lorraine Jones, Nancy Whitman, Larry Stickney, Skip Reilly, Ann Hall, Bill Hall,
                        Ed Skroback, Christie Phelps

 

Work Session Appointments:

Meeting with Chief Ernie Parmenter:  A meeting regarding personnel issues was held with the police chief.  Chief Parmenter was asked if there were any personnel issues that he wished to discuss with the selectmen regarding former employees of the department.  Ernie said he did not because anything
that is out there is based on rumor, innuendo and finger pointing; there are no facts.  He feels that the department should move forward. 

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

            Led by Larry Stickney

 

Distribution of Minutes:

            The minutes of June 8 and June 13 were distributed for review.

 

Approval of Minutes:

Cindy made a motion to approve the minutes of June 1; Peg seconded the motion,         and it was passed by a vote of 3-0.

 

Department Heads:

            Ernie Parmenter, Chief of Police:  Ernie will not be here this evening as it is Motorcycle Week and he
            is very busy.

George Whittaker:  Christie let the selectmen know that George is back from his assignment with FEMA.  However, he had to go to Manchester today to drop off paperwork and did not know if he would make it back for the selectmen’s meeting. 

Mike Corliss:  not present

Lorraine Jones, TTCC Representative:  Lorraine reported back to the selectmen on a meeting she had
with Leslie Dion.  Leslie explained that each town was given the opportunity to appoint two representatives.  TTCC is a non profit organization registered under the Bristol Recreation Advisory Council.  As a recreation department, they do not have to be licensed to perform child care activities.
Leslie said that budget information was included in a report sent to all towns.  The selectmen and budget committee members did receive copies of that report. The new budget report will show individual lines within the budget rather than summaries. There is a liquidity account of $35,000 that allows the center to operate between January 1 and the March town meetings. New Hampton was allowed to not pay the full amount requested because the town voted a default budget.  Also, New Hampton offered to start a Capital Campaign Fund.  Leslie told Lorraine that she considers the TTCC to operate much like a school district.  If you are a contributing town and you decide not to contribute what is asked of you, then your children are not allowed to attend. Leslie said that TTCC does not accept any federal or state grants.  50% of the budget is from the participating towns; the rest is from fees and fund raising. Later she said that the TTCC partners with the 21^st Century Grant that the school district has.  Cindy pointed out that grant income is listed in the center’s report.  Leslie explained that if the Capital Campaign Fund is successful, the requests to the towns will not have to increase this year. The center is trying to hire a program director for the after school program.  Leslie feels that better communication and more trust between the center and the towns is needed.  She lets Lorraine know when the meetings are and is sending her minutes.  Cindy asked Lorraine if she will be trying to make the monthly meetings.  Lorraine said she will make as many as possible.  Cindy also asked why the center has not gone after grants; Lorraine had not asked that question of Leslie. Peg said it would be good to have minutes of the fund raising meetings for the budget committee.  Lorraine said there are no board meetings in July and August, but there probably will be fund raising meetings. Cindy questioned the hiring of another person when supposedly there was a person hired last year before the center requested any funds for the position.  Lorraine did not know the answer to the question. Bob asked if Lorraine has met with the board yet; she has not. Bob would like to hear what the board says regarding Leslie’s position about the kids not being able to go.  Bob asked what would happen if the town didn’t give the center any money. Lorraine said that according to what she can infer from what Leslie said, the children from Alexandria would not be able to participate in programs.  Whether or not that’s a legal thing is yet to be determined. Skip Reilly asked if anything had come up regarding the $10,000 for the land that was sold. Lorraine said she did not ask that specific question.
She did say that the income is all supposed to be visible. Cindy said her concern wasn’t the money, it was the fact that it wasn’t showing in the report.

 

Lorraine Jones, Historical Preservation:  Lorraine and Nancy Whitman are interested in working to
preserve the present town hall.  There is money out there; it just takes time and research to get it.  Nancy
explained that the first thing that needs to be done is to determine what work is necessary; maybe electrical.  They would like to approval from the selectmen to start making an assessment of the building. Cindy thought that the electrical may have already been updated.  Lorraine and Nancy will also coordinate with the historical society.  Cindy said there is somewhat of a plan for the replacement of the front porch roof.  Bob would like to see Lorraine, Nancy and the historical society compile a list of things they feel need to be done to the building.  The selectmen will then sit down with them to prioritize the items. The building will be painted this year by the correctional inmates.  Bob said the fire inspector or the state could come in and make an assessment of the building to assist the effort. Peg mentioned that Nestor Deshaies is a home inspection person.  Bill Hall suggested that the group contact Richard Mundy as he worked on the Bicentennial Project with Bill’s mother.  He should be a good resource.

 

Christie Phelps, Admin. Assistant:  Keith McBey called and asked for permission to move a construction trailer onto the town’s property.  The selectmen said that is acceptable. 
Statistical Update:  Christie asked the selectmen if they remembered deciding not to do a statistical
update this year.  They did.  Christie said that she received a letter from Avitar indicating who would
be on the update team.  She will contact them for a correction. 

Forest Fire Incidents:  Christie said there are three of the recent incidents that should be billed and asked for approval to send out the invoices.  Approval was given.

Holiday Pay:  There is a part-time worker on the highway department who has requested holiday pay.  Peg Reilly said that person is a temporary worker and not entitled to holiday pay.

Town Hall Painting:  Christie called the county and found out that they have no more time in their schedule for new projects this year.  The town hall painting already scheduled should take place in August.  She asked if someone is going to contact Parkhurst regarding paint or should she. Peg said she would do that. Christie has a list of quantities upstairs and will provide that to Peg.  Bob asked if the gentleman who wanted to work off his fire invoice had been contacted regarding replacing boards on the building.  Christie said the town’s insurance provider said he would need to prove he has his own insurance before he can work on the building.  Bob said to check on that.  Christie explained that what the man owes is going to cover about three hours.  Christie should get an estimate from a couple of different people as to what it is going to cost to replace clapboards.

FEMA Overtime-Road Agent:  Cindy brought up the subject of allowing the road agent to be compensated for the administrative time he has spent working on the flood damage if indeed the town is going to be reimbursed.  Bob said he does not have a problem with that if we are going to get the money from FEMA.  Peg agreed. 
Trash:  Christie said she will be purchasing a couple of garbage cans to be put out back to hold trash waiting to go to the transfer station. 

 

Barbara Emery:  Barbara received a call from the Department of Motor Vehicles saying that she is scheduled for training in August for the Municipal Agent Program. Frankie will go for training after that. 

 

Announcements:

June 13:  The selectmen had a meeting with the architect and construction manager.  It looks like the
project is coming in just where it was anticipated at $764,000.  Christie reminded Bob that there was also a list of exceptions that will have to be added to the $764,000.  The exclusions are listed in the minutes provided for review. No contracts have been signed yet. Keith McBey, the construction manager, will be coming back to the selectmen with the prices to be reviewed for contractor selection. 

Selectmen’s Meeting:  June 22 at 6:00 preceded by a work session at 5:00

Planning Board:  June 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Work Session:  The work session to be held on June 29 will include a meeting with AMC to discuss
the renewal of the PILT contract.

            Office will be open all day Thursdays beginning 6/22/2006.

            Capital Improvement Committee:  July 7 at 8:30 a.m.

 

Land Use, Building Permits, Purchase Orders, Other Items Requiring Signature:

            A timber warrant was signed for Robert Fellows for an operation on Sye Ali Road

            A memo will be sent to the planning board regarding changes to be made to the subdivision
            regulations in order to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program.

            Purchase Order for Guardrail on Bailey Road Project-$6300 to CWS Fence; Peg motioned;
            Cindy seconded, passed by 3-0; no one opposed.

            Purchase Order for Block for Transfer Station:  Jeff needs to get another quote before selectmen
            will sign.

Abatement Denial for William and Ann Hall:  The selectmen asked Christie to explain the assessor’s
decision.  The Hall’s had questioned their neighborhood code, which the assessors said was correct. 
The assessors also increased the valuation per acre due to the release of a cease and desist order.  Ann
Hall explained that they had already done that last year.  Christie was requested by the selectmen to
send that letter to the assessors and ask why they were doing it again.  The denial will be tabled until
further research can be done.  Bob asked who the town is sending to confirm that what the information
on the Intent to Excavate says is correct.  The planning board should be doing this when they get an application for a gravel pit. Cindy asked if Mary Pinkham Langer comes in on an annual basis to determine the active area of the pits.  Christie said she does not.  Bill Hall said he could provide further information to the selectmen if they wanted to look at it.  Cindy said the planning board determines the active area of the pits. Bob asked Cindy to confirm that this is being done at the next planning board meeting.  Cindy will ask the planning board the process and then call Mary Pinkham Langer if she is needed.

 

Old Business:

            Bog & Sye Ali Roads: Cindy is talking with Clem Roy regarding Sye Ali Road

Stump Dump:  Christie printed a sheet from the NHDES website regarding stump dumps and will send
a copy to Boake Morrison.

Rights of Way & Other Road Issues:  There will be a meeting with town counsel on 6/22 at 5:00 p.m.

 

New Business:

            The selectmen appointed Ed Skroback as Deputy Emergency Management Director.

 

Public Input:

Larry Stickney asked who said that the crack at the Berry Road Bridge was acceptable.  Bob Bacon
explained that the engineer on the project said it was normal when two different types of surfaces meet.
Larry said he had never seen that happen.  Bob indicated that perhaps the state engineer should come in
and inspect that area. With regard to Town Pound Road, Cindy said that the state approved the plan for the catch basin and it was supposedly installed per plan. The outlet pipe apparently points up river rather
than down, which could be forcing water back up rather than out into the river from the catch basin.

Letter of Deficiency on Septic System:  A letter of deficiency was received on a septic system in town.
It does not indicate that a copy was mailed to the health officer. Christie was directed to make sure he
gets a copy.

David Nicholson:  Came in to talk with the selectmen about Bog Road.  He wanted to know what the
town has in mind for the road.  He received a letter stating that he has to move the boulders.  Bob said
he should talk with Jeff.  Mr. Nicholson said he did and that Jeff didn’t have any problem with the boulders.  Bob said the town would prefer the boulders to be out of the right of way of the road.  Cindy said that she and Jeff measured Mr. Nicholson’s line.  The measurements match what the town map has.
Mr. Nicholson said that the town is killing his trees by hitting them with the plow and taking off bark.

            Cindy said the trees are in the right of way.  She also said there is no plan to widen the road, the
            highway department needs the width of the right of way in order to wing back snow and maintain the
            road.  Mr. Nicholson pointed out that Norm Lamothe across the street has granite markers next to the
            road on his property. Bob suggested that Mr. Nicholson attend the meeting next Thursday night at
            5:00 p.m. regarding road questions.  Cindy said the town will be laying out Bog Road soon; they are
            working on Sye Ali Road at the moment. 

 

Adjournment:

            Peg Reilly made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:17 p.m. The motion was seconded by Cindy
            Williams and approved by a vote of 3-0.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Christie Phelps