TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 5, 2005
Selectboard Present: Brenda Ferland, Jon LeClair, Steven Neill
Staff Present: David Edkins, Administrative Assistant
Keith Weed, Highway Superintendent
Edward Smith, Police Chief
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chairperson Brenda Ferland called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M. in the Community Room and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of September 6, 2005, as printed. Steve Neill seconded the motion. With Jon LeClair and Steve Neill in favor, the motion carried. Brenda Ferland abstained as she was not present at this meeting.
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of September 21, 2005, as printed. Steve Neill seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of September 21, 2005, as printed. Steve Neill seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith reported that Aaron Reichart is going to a Driver Training seminar put on by the Stevens Driving School and Todd Lyles is taking a seminar on computer crimes. The department is trying to work on some radar patrols especially where the Highway Department recently did paving as the roads are becoming racetracks usually between 3:00 & 4:00 pm. It has been relatively quiet otherwise. Steve Neill would like to see an increase in enforcement on blocking the sidewalks with vehicles. There are some problem spots. Mr. Edkins noted vandalism at the pool area; the contractor is not sure he wants to leave his equipment there for the filling of the pool. The bathrooms have been vandalized. Steve Neill said they started on the addition at the
Primary School; it is all on the back side so patrolling there would be a good idea.
Highway Department: Keith Weed advised that the grader is back and they have been grading roads this week. Unity Stage Road was paved. M.P. Flynn did an oil injection process on the first 500 feet of the Sam Putnam Road and about 350 feet on the Mountain View Road at no cost to the Town; they will be sand sealed. They have never done a pure gravel road and never just put sand on a black top road so they are tests for both us and them and they are picking up all the costs. If it does not work Flynn will pave these sections free next year. The drainage work on East Street has been completed and they are now working on drainage on Olcott Lane.
Relative to the Transfer Station, the new part-time employee, Arthur Thompson, drove to Berlin with Jim Aldrich last Friday and he has made the trip as scheduled since then. It is working out well. He will be making another trip tomorrow.
Steve Neill stepped off the Board. Three bids for the Concrete Slab at the Transfer Station were received as follows: 1) Charlestown Cornerstone - $6,284.00; 2) Norm Beaudry Construction Co. - $5,800.00 – they included an option to deduct $900.00 off the bid price; and 3) Blanc & Bailey - $6,500.00. There was a consensus to have Keith Weed take the bids, review them and the Selectboard will approve his recommendation. Keith Weed and Pat Royce will put together a purchase order to be put in the Selectboard’s file for signatures. Steve Neill returned to his seat as a Board member.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Silsby Library: Kate Brenton, Library Trustee, reported that the carpeting was installed and the hardwood floors were refinished. It was a great opportunity for them to make improvements. The youth collection was moved to an area that is more accessible to the young people and where there is more light. The reference books and materials are in the old part of the library and the computers and furniture were moved around. They have some new furniture for the children’s room. There will be an open house as soon as they are finished. With the Selectboard’s approval they will be having some plastering done and some painting. Brenda Ferland noted that it looks very nice. Dave Edkins said the window should be back in about two weeks. .
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There was no Selectboard comment at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Lovers Lane Road Signs: Brenda Ferland wrote to the Department of Transportation regarding the placement of signs to designate Lovers Lane Road off Route 12. She is waiting to hear from Mr. Lambert at the DOT but will continue to follow-up on this request.
Household Hazardous Waste: At the last meeting there was discussion about whether or not to participate in the City of Keene’s Household Hazardous Waste collections. Charlestown did not participate in 2005. The last time the town did participate was in 2004 when they recorded 18 vehicles and 44 people that took advantage of the program from Charlestown. If the Town does not participate, residents can still take materials to Keene but they will have to pay for disposal themselves. The Selectboard chose not to participate in this program in 2006 for the amount of $2,476.54. Dave Edkins will write a notice on this decision for the Our Town publication.
Water Shut-Offs: At the last meeting Deb Clark and Dave Duquette presented a proposal for delinquent water shut-offs and estimated the time, paperwork and money involved under the current procedure. After doing some research, Deb Clark came up with a solution that might be a better alternative and that would be to place liens on the properties rather than do the actual shut-offs. Jon LeClair felt the proposal would be a good alternative. There is the possibility that liens rather than shut-offs might cut into the cash flow. Steve Neill feels that the Town should not be sending out water bills at the same time as the tax bills. Times are getting tough for everyone; there are a lot of hardship cases out there. A 60-day differential would be his preference. Dave Edkins
said the Town is obligated to send out the tax bills when they do but the Town has more control over the water/sewer bills so maybe they could be staggered. They would have to check with Dave Duquette to see if doing winter readings presents a problem.
Jon LeClair moved that the Selectboard change their Shut-off Policy that is currently in force and start placing liens on properties as per an agreement between Deb Clark and Dave Duquette. A memo will be sent with the water and sewer bills so that the users understand that this lien is the same as a tax lien and they will be subject to accruing interest and penalties. Steve Neill seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
Fling Road Project: Keith Weed reported that the construction company contacted him to advise that within a week or two Dave Edkins should receive the final flow calculations on the Fling Road Project.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION – Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc.: The Payroll and Check Vouchers were approved and signed.
Purchase Orders: The Selectboard approved and signed the following Purchase Orders: 1) Recreation – Rick’s Electric to close the pool $501.00 -- the Recreation Committee will be encouraged to better coordinate this task in the future; 2) Highway – Nortrax for the loader $1,466.35; 3) Transfer Station – City of Keene for demo disposal $548.10; 4) Selectboard Office and Town Clerk’s Office – work during the move - Competitive Computers $627.25; 5) Highway – Lane Construction for asphalt $952.24; and 6) Transfer Station – Eastern Analytical for well monitoring $1,068.20.
Recreation Department – Pool Contract: Brenda Ferland signed the revised Pool Contract in the amount of $62,762.50.
Transfer Station: A Maintenance Contract was received for the lift. There were two options: 1) Annual maintenance $192.50 plus parts; and 2) Preventative Maintenance $295.00 that includes inspections every two months. An annual maintenance would need to be done before the preventative maintenance contract would begin. Jon LeClair felt that the annual maintenance seems sufficient because the lift gets very little use. The Selectboard agreed to approve the Annual Maintenance Contract in the amount of $192.50 for service only.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES, & RESOLUTIONS:
The following licenses were approved: 1) Halloween Party – Permission for alcoholic beverages at the Town Hall on October 29th, 2005, from 7:30 pm to 12:00 midnight; 2) Permission for alcoholic beverages at the Town Hall on October 15th, 2005, for an anniversary party.
Legal Matter: The Selectboard signed a letter relative to a court case in which Dave Edkins will be acting on their behalf.
Cemetery Deeds: The Selectboard approved and signed Cemetery Deeds for Hope Hill Cemetery and Pine Crest Cemetery.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Dave Edkins talked to Dan McPherson in North Charlestown regarding the electrical work at the well area and the possibility of taking down the over-head power lines down and putting in an underground installation but it seems to have been relegated to the “back burner”. Dave Edkins wrote a memo to Dave Duquette providing an up-date.
School Department: Diane Hicks sent a copy of a letter to the Town that she sent to the parents of children she believes moved out-of-town reminding people that when they move out-of-town they have to register their children in the new town. Otherwise, they will have to pay tuition.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Signs: The Selectboard reviewed a sketch for a sign in front of the Bakery Building. Dave Edkins suggested some wording changes. They would like to move the sign to the monument side of the walkway to make it more visible. The Selectboard preferred maroon with gold letters rather than gray. The price includes a new decorative post as the existing post is deteriorating.
Budgets: Dave Edkins has evaluations and proposed budgets from three departments. The Selectboard will tentatively begin their budget work on Monday, October 17th either late afternoon or early evening.
Mowing Contract: The Selectboard approved having Dave Edkins put out the requests for mowing bids soon so the figure will be available for the proposed budget.
CEDA: Jeff Lessels, George Grabe, and several other CEDA members would like to meet with the Selectboard and Dave Edkins to talk about an increase in their budget appropriation. They requested meeting next Tuesday, October 18th at 4:00 pm. Brenda Ferland suggested that Dave Edkins contact Jeff Lessels to see if they can make arrangements to meet with the Selectboard on a Monday as the Selectboard will be meeting Monday nights.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Steve Neill: There has not yet been a Conservation Commission meeting this month.
CEDA – Steve Neill: There was a special CEDA meeting tonight that started at 5:30 pm. They are getting ready for the Gristmill Open House on October 12th. The event will be hosted by Whelen Engineering Company. A bus tour of the Fort at No. 4 and Grist Mill Park will be conducted from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. From 4:00 to 5:00 pm there will be networking opportunities and refreshments; at 5:00 there will be welcome remarks and speaker introductions by George Grabe. Speakers will be NH Senator Bob Odell, Chairman of the Energy & Economic Development Committee and Stuart Arnette, NH Director of Economic Development. At 5:30 there will be a Grist Mill Park Presentation and Question Period and at 6:00 pm everyone is invited to tour Whelen Engineering. The
Selectboard and Dave Edkins are invited.
Planning Board – Brenda Ferland: Steve Neill attended the Planning Board meeting last night as Brenda Ferland was out of town. He reported that the Board approved a sign on the building for Fastenal and approved, in concept, the freestanding directory sign for the Salt Shed Holdings complex off Route 12 in North Charlestown. The owners of each individual panel will have to come in with what they want to put on their sign. Salt Shed Holdings was given approval for the exterior alterations, parking, landscaping, etc. after the fact. A sign application for the Charlestown Bible Church was tabled to give people a chance to look at it and will be put on the next Planning Board agenda.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair will be scheduling a meeting of the Solid Waste Committee next Tuesday, if possible.
Ambulance Department – Jon LeClair: The Ambulance Department will meet next week.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: The Heritage Commission has not yet met this month.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION (IF NECESSARY) – RSA 91-A:3 II:
Jon LeClair moved to enter into a Non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) Personnel and (c) Reputations. Steve Neill seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 8:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary Approved,
Brenda L. Ferland, Chair
Jon B. LeClair
Steven A. Neill
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the Minutes of the October 19th, 2005, Selectboard meeting.)
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