Selectmen’s Meeting

October 5, 2006

 

Work Session:

Trustees of Trust Funds:  No real change from last year

Cemetery:  The wages for workers and sexton to show $4,000 and $7,000 respectively, which is believed to more accurately indicate the breakdown.  The sexton put in considerably more hours than the workers.  Fall cleanup is yet to be done for this year. Christie was asked to check to see if any town department has a metal detector.  The cemetery department has put in a purchase order for one and it probably is not needed if the town already owns one.  The $5,000 requested in the budget is for a gas powered shovel to be towed behind a vehicle. This will be used to dig graves.  The present method of hand digging is not the preferred one.  If highway department equipment is used by the cemetery, there should be some reimbursement to the town other than to the cemetery sexton. It was discussed whether or not the gas powered shovel should be a warrant article or left in the operating budget.  Majority opinion was to leave it in the operating budget.  Peg asked Christie to provide departmental income figures to date for the departments meeting with the selectmen.

Sue Cheney explained that there may be some money in a special fund for the Crawford Cemetery Hearse House.  At this time they are not asking for any funds from the town for this project. Bob asked how the town is doing for cemetery space. Sue explained that they are keeping in mind that more space is needed and will be looking at town-owned land to be considered.

Forest Fires:  The request for 2007 includes an amount for the warden’s time, which is supposed to be billed out. Art Barron explained that the town has not had any major fire incidents lately and he feels that due diligence is the reason why.  Hopefully, it will continue.  Art was asked to break down the costs of his department by salary, equipment, etc.

Fire Department:  Mike Corliss said the fire department is requesting additional money in part due to an increased cost of insurance. Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid will be submitting their request by the end of October.  There is also an increase in gas expenses.  Mike asked about some money that the town was supposed to receive from Bristol.  Christie will check on it.  Mike explained that at some point in the future, the department may be looking for compensation of the members for their time.  Bob asked him to draw up a proposal as to what the members would like to see happen.

Conservation Commission:  Has not used any money this year.  Any bills incurred by the commission should be submitted to the selectmen’s office for payment.

 

Regular Meeting:

 

Pledge of Allegiance was given.

 

TTCC:  Leslie Dion of the TTCC in Bristol explained that this year they are making a special effort to recognize their volunteers.  Bert & Ruth Hirtle have given a significant number of hours over the years working on Santa’s Village.  In 2004, for the 50th anniversary of the center, the Hirtle’s developed and made 800 ornaments depicting the center.  They are also the unofficial photographers for the center.  A certificate and gift of appreciation were presented to them. 

Christine Rhude:  Mrs. Rhude was in to dispute her assessments and the way in which her property tax payments were posted.  She requested to take back her $15,000 and work with Barbara to repost the information. She was directed to work with Barbara Emery, tax collector, with regard to the posting issue.  Mrs. Rhude asked to speak with Avitar regarding the Land Use Change Tax and some other issues on her property. Christie was directed to see if she could set up a meeting with Avitar to occur during a selectmen’s public session.  Mrs. Rhude said that she would pay for Avitar’s time, if necessary. It was explained that any escrow account set up for taxes would need to include both the Rhudes and the town as owners of the account and no one party can withdraw money without the signature of the second party.  Cindy stated that the preferred way is to pay the taxes and receive a rebate, including 6% interest, if the abatements were approved.  Chris Rhude said there was never a court case for the BTLA case with Roger Bedard. Christie gave Mrs. Rhude a copy of the letter from BTLA regarding the Bedard case. Christie provided Mrs. Rhude with a copy of the letter from Linda Kennedy at NHDRA containing an opinion of whether or not the LUCT was correctly assessed based upon the information that Christie had provided.   

Jeff Cantara:  Bailey Road is done except for the bridge.  Jeff is working with CWS Fence to change the rails.  The paving price received on the new town hall will hold until Thanksgiving, depending on weather.  The crew is continuing to grade roads.  New road signs are being put up and stolen as quickly as they are installed.  There is a backhoe in the right of way on Berry Road and a woodpile in the right of way on King Road. Jeff asked the selectmen to send a letter.  Jeff asked that Mr. Cahill be required to reapply for a driveway permit.  His original one was for a campsite; however there is a new septic design on file, indicating that construction is planned.  Jeff explained that the estimate he got on the replacement of the furnace does not include the recommended BTU’s for the building, but should help significantly.  Truck 2-transmission being done; rear main seal needs repair, some linkage needs repair, cracked manifold. Truck 1 will be going out of service is one tons are voted in March.  Truck 2, because of the $ going in it this year, will be used.  Truck 3 is fixed. Truck 7-“O” ring on injector-cured; Truck 5-brake lines brittle, falling apart, no brakes, needs repair.  On Fletcher Farm Road, the Kahler issue, there still needs to be some work done to come to an agreement.  Christie asked if any work is being done on Akerman Bridge.  Jeff said he has seen the contractor there.  Cindy said she will be the ex-officio to the Highway Advisory Committee.  Christie will provide Jeff with a copy of the actual highway ordinance in place now and the one that Dale proposed. 

 

Approval of Minutes:

            The minutes of September 14 and 21 were approved by a vote of 3-0.

Purchase Orders, Signature Items:

            A purchase order was signed for Caswell to replace one of the furnaces at the highway garage.  The
            vote was 3-0.

            An appointment for Frank Hinkle to be Police Chief was voted, 3-0, and signed

Old Business:

            All items being worked on

New Business:

            Christie was directed to get some pricing from a moving company to move items from the present
            town hall to the new town office.

            It was decided to have an open house for the new police chief at 7:00 p.m. on October 19.  Christie     

            to run an ad in the newspaper and post at the transfer station.

            There will be a public hearing on October 19 to receive comment on the expenditure of FEMA funds.

Cindy said there is no zoning meeting this month; the proposed zoning ordinance has been submitted to the planning board.

            George asked if the time incurred by Ed and himself during the flood had been reimbursed.

Public Input:

Bonnie asked for the Conservation Commission to be placed on the agenda on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.

Bonnie said that last night the planning board met and did not have access to the laptop computer.  Christie will check with George to see where it is.

Katrina Harris:  Mrs. Harris asked why the dump hours were changed and who authorized the change?  Bob said the reason the hours were changed is because too many people from other towns were trying to use the Alexandria facility on Sundays.  A public hearing was held last year before the hours were changed.  Cindy explained that the compactor does not have the capacity to hold both Saturday and Sunday trash.  Katrina mentioned that when she had trouble with her taxes, she was never told about BTLA.  Bob explained that BTLA does not deal with tax liens; it deals with disputes regarding assessments.

Merry Ruggirello asked why the budget committee scheduled their meeting with the planning board on the same night as the planning board’s regular meeting.  She explained that many important subject matters are scheduled for that evening and all members of the planning board are needed to be present.  Christie replied that the budget committee did not create the schedule; she did.  The chairman asked Christie to make up a schedule, and it was an oversight that the planning board was listed to meet on their regular night.  The budget committee chairman has a meeting with the planning board that same night and will let his vice chair handle the budget meeting while he is absent.  It is suggested that the planning board do the same.  Merry explained that they have a hard time getting enough members present for a quorum and need everyone they can get.  Christie stated that it was not a deliberate action against the planning board, regardless of what the perception may be. Various alternatives were discussed, but Budget Committee Chairman, Skip Reilly, said he would have to check with the other members of the committee next week in order to get a vote on any change. 

Chris Rhude:  Mrs. Rhude asked if a driveway permit fee needed to be paid if you were requesting a driveway on a private road.  Bob Bacon said yes.

Adjournment:  Peg Reilly made a motion to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.; Cindy seconded the motion and it was passed by a vote 3-0.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Christie Phelps,

Admin. Assistant