TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
MARCH 3, 2004
Selectboard Present: Jon LeClair, Steven Neill, Brenda Ferland
Staff Present: David Edkins, Administrative Assistant
David Duquette, Superintendent of Public Works
Edward Smith, Police Chief
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Jon LeClair called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 18, 2004:
Brenda Ferland moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of February 18, 2004, as printed. Seconded by Steve Neill. All in favor, so voted.
WESTERN REGION DEVELOPMENT CORP. - ROBERT WEAVER:
Robert Weaver, Interim Coordinator of the Western Region Development Corporation (WRDC) introduced himself and distributed a handout entitled “What Is a CEDS and Why Is It Important?” He explained that CEDS is an acronym for a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which the WRDC is undertaking for Sullivan County. Mr. Weaver will be meeting with the Charlestown Planning Board on April 6th to explain this process to them. The intent is to get every town in the county involved and to attend the initial meeting on April 29th, 2004, at the Sugar River Savings Bank in Newport beginning at 6:00 P.M. Notices will be in the mail shortly. It takes about a year to do the CEDS and about two to three months to get approval from the federal government, after
that every town will be able to apply for Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds. Without this document the EDA won’t make such grants available. The CEDS has to be up-dated every five years; the committee will meet two times a year. Brenda Ferland asked who pick the members of the committee. Mr. Weaver responded that the committee would be made up of any one who volunteers. Brenda Ferland asked how they would keep the committee from being lop-sided? Mr. Weaver explained that the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission will write the CEDS document and it is their job to keep it balanced. Steve Neill asked about the EDA funding? Mr. Weaver advised that it is through grants that will require matching funds. CEDA is aware of this planning process. Brenda Ferland noted that some smaller towns know the money is out there but they can’t afford a grant writer on their payroll.
Robert Weaver felt that perhaps the coordinator could assist them.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Highway Department: Dave Duquette reported that the roads have been posted to make people aware of the six-ton limit during mud season. Some stone will have to be put into the mud holes. A crew has been thawing out culverts as a number of them have frozen. Snow banks are being worked on in an attempt to try to keep melting water off the roads.
The FEMA paperwork for the December storm is finished and was submitted. The storm of December 6th, 7th and 8th, 2003, was declared a federal disaster and the Town spent $14,407.53 in over-time, material and other costs dealing with it. Hopefully, the Town will be reimbursed 75% or approximately $10,805.00.
Dave Duquette handed out sample packets of data that the highway barn employees are starting to put together. Each road will have their own spreadsheet / file that will include data on gravel and stone used, the cost, when it was done, etc. They will be keeping track of the sidewalk salt. Each piece of equipment will have a separate sheet of data that will include parts installed, costs and other information. All of the equipment and personnel have been renumbered. This system will provide invaluable information in the future.
Dave Duquette would like to haul in a couple hundred tons of gravel stone to stockpile, as it is in short supply. There have been about fifteen phone calls a day about the muddy roads; they are dealing with the worst ones first.
Steve Neill noted the petition for streetlights received from Hill View Circle residents and wanted it to be on the record that he went into that area on Sunday night at 7:00 P.M. and out of all the houses there were only three houses that had exterior lights on. It was a dark night.
Steve Neill suggested that the drainage issue raised by the Hansons should be addressed. Dave Duquette talked to the Hansons; both he and Brenda Ferland looked at the area and some pictures were taken. There are some compounded problems. Dave Duquette explained that there are a few ways to take care of the problems. Steve Neill recommended that Dave Duquette set up an appointment with the Hanson’s to provide a verbal response to their letter but, if that doesn’t happen, Dave Edkins can assist Dave Duquette with putting together a letter to them.
Water / Wastewater Departments: Dave Duquette advised that the Emergency Response Plan was filed to comply with the new terror alert system. The State made a number of recommendations but they aren’t all mandatory. The Town made some changes in the plan but the next one isn’t due until 2009 so we should be all set. The State would like to see a secondary source of water supply but Charlestown is okay in that we have separate systems on each side of town.
A lot of work is being done toward the summer projects. They want to do some sludge analysis and will be investigating the dredging of the lagoons.
Steve Neill was contacted by members of the church in North Charlestown who said that recently when they boiled water their pots turned black. This had not occurred before. Dave Duquette noted that the magnesium and chlorine content is high but he will check into it.
Police Department: Chief Smith advised that the Police Department is running into some concerns with overnight parking issues. They drafted a letter that echoes the Town Ordinance and will enforce the ordinance accordingly. He also reported that Officer Reichert has successfully completed Phase I of the Detective program at the Police Academy; there are two more phases to go.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There were no public comments made at this meeting.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There were no Selectboard comments made at this meeting.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION - Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc.: The Payroll for the week ending February 28th, 2004, was signed by the Selectboard.
Purchase Orders: The following purchase order was approved by the Selectboard: 1) Highway - Claremont Ford $503.12 for repairs.
Abatement: There was one abatement in the amount of $256.72 that the Selectboard did not approve. A logger did not pay the entire Yield Tax due for work on the North Hemlock Road that is a part of the Town Forest. Steve Neill did not feel it appropriate to abate monies when the voters voted to give that property to the Conservation Commission who does have money in their budget. Jon LeClair noted that the Conservation Commission meets in another two weeks and he will bring this matter up at that meeting.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES AND RESOLUTIONS:
License: Jon LeClair signed the Junk Yard license for Robert Morway, Jr.
Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber: The Selectboard approved and signed a Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber for Michael Beaudry on the Whelen Engineering Co. property.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Thank You Letter: Jon LeClair read the Thank You letter to Mark Ledvina for his generous gift to the Town of rebuilding the bowed windows in the turret of the Library. The Selectboard signed the letter.
Letter to the Editor: Jon LeClair read the letter to the Editor stating that the Selectboard supports the continuation of the School Budget Committee.
State Homeland Security Grant Program: Dave Edkins explained that each town is eligible for funding through the State Homeland Security Grant Program. The first year Charlestown is eligible to receive $11,088.30. The county put together a proposal to have all the towns in the county pool their money together to purchase equipment that would be available for the entire county to use and, through a Memorandum of Understanding; they are asking that the towns turn this money over to the county. The Fire Department feels that they would like to use a portion of this money to purchase equipment that can be used in town for emergencies. After the Fire Department purchases their equipment there should be $3,790.00 left for the county. The Memorandum of Understanding was changed to
reflect this amount and was signed by Jon LeClair. The county would like to establish an Emergency Operation Center, maybe in Unity with the second phase grant. There are currently centers in Newport and Claremont. It appears that the Town should be entitled to a little more money than the first phase. Other emergency services in Town are thinking about how some of this can be spent locally. Phase Three might go to communities in the areas of the nuclear plants.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission - Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair reported that the Conservation Commission meeting was off last month but they will meet in two weeks.
CEDA - Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland advised that CEDA met a week ago and they have a potential company interested in the Gristmill project.
Planning Board - Steve Neill: Steve Neill advised that the Planning Board meeting for March 2nd, 2004, was cancelled, as there was no business before the Board.
Solid Waste Committee - Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair reported that there have not been any Solid Waste Committee meetings for a while.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Heritage Commission: As a result of the last Selectboard meeting, Dave Edkins put a copy of the statute outlining the powers and duties of the Heritage Commission in the file. It is basically an advisory type committee. The Selectboard had agreed to wait until after Town Meeting to post the vacancies to see if anyone, other than the five people mentioned at the last meeting, expressed an interest in serving.
Eagle Times: Damien Fisher, reporter for the Eagle Times, had submitted a letter requesting that he receive materials prior to the meetings. This would make it easier for him to write up his stories accurately as his deadline is 10:00 PM and some meetings go beyond 9:00 PM. Mr. Edkins explained that he is reluctant to provide information to the press that has not yet been provided to the Selectboard. Jon LeClair said there are some things in the folder that he just saw tonight; he doesn’t believe that information should be released before the Selectboard sees it. Mr. Fisher said a packet of information as he walks into the meeting would be okay. He referred to page 21, number 5 of a memorandum from the Attorney General, which he distributed to the Selectboard. He
pointed out that the law is clear and he wasn’t asking for something that didn’t exist. The Eagle Times will pay for any copies made. Dave Edkins will find a way to make this work.
Solid Waste Facility: Dave Edkins noted that the Solid Waste Facility used to have a Junk Yard Permit but due to a change in federal law, the State no longer requires one.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION (if necessary) RSA 91-A:3 II:
Steve Neill moved to enter into a non-public session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) and (b). Jon LeClair seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 8:08 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Regina Borden Approved,
Jon B. LeClair
Steven A. Neill
Brenda L. Ferland
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the Minutes of the March 17, 2004, Selectboard meeting.)
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