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February 13, 2007
Selectmen Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2007
Present: M. Genest, R. Haggett, and B. Pratt
Also in attendance: W. Prokop, J. Kipp, C. Webber, R. Varnum, T. Feyrer, C. Craig, D. Hanson, M. Beauchamp, D. Chauncey, J. Parsons
The selectmen opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
The selectmen approved the minutes of the February 2nd meeting.
Primex representatives; J. Kipp and C. Weber thanked the selectmen for the job that has been done in Antrim regarding “Loss Management Practices”. Antrim is the second town in the state that has achieved a level of performance that earned this recognition and most importantly, a reduction in its premium cost as well. They then presented the Board of Selectmen with a plaque that is to be proudly displayed in the Town Hall for all to see. They thanked all the Department Heads for their cooperation. The selectmen thanked Primex for this special recognition and accepted the award with pride.
The selectmen then reviewed the information that was covered at the budget hearings which included growth statistics that showed Antrim grew only 1.3% from 1990 through 1999 for a total of 34 new residents. From 1999 through 2003 the growth was an additional 106 new residents, three times the growth of the previous ten years and that from 2004 through 2010 the growth is expected to be approximately 250 to 300 additional residents, which will be a 13-15% growth for the ten year period. This growth is verified by the approved sub-division lots exceeding fifty (50) already approved, by the Planning Board, and current plans now under review. This is why our budget for 2007 began the infrastructure improvements, highway improvement plans, showed the importance of the mineral rights leasing plan for sand, our water and sewer expansion plans, and
the needs of all our safety services to be manned and equipped with growth in mind. The needs of Town for the next several years were also briefly explained to all that attended the hearings.
The selectmen set the Bond Hearings date to be Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 and they will be held in the Meeting Room at Town Hall at 7:00 P.M. and at 7:30 P.M. Public notices have been published and posted.
The selectmen signed the 2007 Warrant and the MS-6 2007 Budget Forms and asked the Acting Town Clerk, Donna Hanson and Town Administrator, Bill Prokop to post them on Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 and send them to the Department of Revenue as is required.
The selectmen again reviewed and discussed an amendment to the letter of agreement with Steele Pond Development, LLC for the leasing of mineral rights on their property. This was explained at the Budget Hearing and its future impact on the Town was discussed. Originally the Town was going to enter into a 15 years lease agreement and then purchase the property of one dollar at the end of the lease. It is now being proposed that the lease be for a six year period and then the land would be purchased as part of the lease. Using the most conservative estimate of volume of sand at 139,000 yards, per certified surveyor’s opinion, and an engineering study done as a Phase I environmental requirement, the cost of the sand would average out at $3.96 per yard. This would put 0 value on the property. Furthermore, this adjustment in the length of
the lease would save the Town over $200,000 in interest cost. This adjustment will have no effect on the 2007 budget, the only change will come in the budget for sand in the years 2008 through 2013.
The selectmen reviewed general correspondence and approved payroll and A/P for the week.
The next regular selectmen’s meeting will be Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. at which the bond hearing will begin for both the bonding for Article 3, North Main Street, and for Article 4, Open Space needs will be discussed and plans explained.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
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