TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2005
Selectboard Present: Brenda Ferland, Jon LeClair, Steven Neill
Staff Present: David Edkins, Administrative Assistant
Keith Weed, Highway Superintendent
David Duquette, Water and Sewer Superintendent
Edward Smith, Police Chief
Debra Clark, Town Clerk / Tax Collector
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chairperson Brenda Ferland called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Jon LeClair moved to defer taking action on the Minutes of the October 5th, 2005, meeting until the Selectboard has had the opportunity to review them. Steve Neill seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith reported that with reference to a suggestion to do more monitoring of parking on the sidewalks, a note was made in their book and the officers will keep an eye on that. He spoke with Vicky Boundy of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Region Planning Commission about accidents in the area for the Master Plan. They did a printout for four hot-spots on Acworth Road, Main Street, Bellows Falls Road and Claremont Road. The Sheriff’s Department asked for Mutual Aid assistance in covering Unity while work is being done on Neomine (?) Road. There are about 20 residences that are isolated. This will be during the hours that the Sheriff’s Department is patrolling; five days a week, eight hours a day, for about two weeks; otherwise the State
Police will respond. It is about three miles to that corner from Route 12. Steve Neill would like to have Keith Weed look at the first little bridge before we commit to traveling out there because the bridge is one-way and there is a hole in it. If Keith Weed feels the bridge will hold-up then it is okay. Chief Smith will keep track of their response time for possibly some reimbursement. Aaron Reichert completed a Defensive Safety Driving course. Todd Lyles just completed a weeklong course on interrogation and he is cross training with Aaron. The Selectboard approved purchasing some tires for the Police Department vehicles.
Highway Department: Keith Weed said Pecor Road would be ready for paving tomorrow; this was the result of the storm. North Hemlock will be started so it will be ready to go. He spent some time with Victor St. Pierre on Scott’s Drive; they will have a design and plan for the culvert tomorrow. Some easements will be needed. Dave Edkins noted that the emergency permit should be extended to include the entire culvert and header. There is enough room for vehicles to get through the barricades. Keith Weed is having the area monitored everyday.
Jon LeClair asked if there is any FEMA money for the Fling Road Bridge. Steve Neill noted that it was on the red line bridges list. It was functional and passable before the storm but it is not any more. A decision was made to see if it qualifies.
Water and Sewer Departments: Dave Duquette reported that they have been running the treatment plant for two weeks with the high water. The river is extremely high; a lot of water, limbs, trees and other debris is going down. They started reading meters this week and hope to be done by the end of next week. They have been doing extensive monitoring and testing on the water systems these past two weeks; everything seems to be okay and clean. Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they will be flushing water hydrants as there is plenty of water. There have been some complaints about taste and odor of the water in North Charlestown. It was checked and manganese was found; there is not much that can be done except to move the water around. Today they worked on Elm Street to
replace a sewer service; they ran into a lot of roots. He is working on budgets, capital and employee evaluations and trying to get caught up. Work is being done on the Michael Avenue Pump Station but he might not start it up until next year.
Silsby Library: Robin Forsaith was present representing the Library Trustees. There will be an Open House when renovations are completed and they are anticipating it will be in February. The window should be finished in a couple more weeks. Brenda Ferland likes the way the bookshelves were put in.
Town Clerk: Debra Clark advised that the phone lines and FAX machine are not working right since the move and she would like to have things fixed. The computer server was left in her office so she is doing the back-ups. If this continues, she needs a password. Dave Edkins noted that there are still some gremlins following the move and Pat Royce is working on them.
One issue with placing water and sewer liens on the properties is the cash flow. Debra Clark only places liens once a year. Dave Edkins will prepare the letter of explanation on the policy change to go out with the next bills.
Debra Clark is concerned with a lack of communication as the result of the move. People call her office before they call anybody else to question events and she is not aware of them. She would like to be kept in the “loop” so her office staff can respond to the questions.
Debra Clark will try to get into the safe that was left in the old Town Hall to check on what is inside it. The current contents were placed there before her time as Town Clerk. She would like it to remain there as it could be used for overflow documents.
A copy of her Request for Proposals for renovations to the former Selectboard’s Office that will now become an extension of the Town Clerk’s office was reviewed.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no comment for the public at this meeting.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There was no Selectboard Comment at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no Old Business to be discussed at this meeting.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION – Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc. The Payroll was signed during the Monday night meeting. Check Vouchers were approved and signed.
Purchase Orders: The Selectboard approved and signed the following Purchase Orders: 1) Highway – Old Castle Arthur Whitcomb $490.92; 2) Highway – Cold River Materials $1,269.97 for asphalt; 3) Highway – Hill-Martin Corp. $3,228.08 for repairs to the Grader; and 4) Water – E.J. Prescott, Inc. $507.40. Two purchase orders for the Ambulance Service were put on-hold as the budget line numbers were missing.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES, & RESOLUTIONS:
Appointments: The Board of Selectmen approved the following two appointments: 1) Edward Blanc, Jr. as the Forest Fire Warden and 2) James Berquist as the Deputy Forest Fire Warden.
Permits: The Selectboard and Police Chief approved a Permit for alcohol to be served at a 50th Birthday Party in the Old Town Hall.
Old Town Hall: Dave Duquette asked if anybody is checking on the old Town Hall; Ron LeClair used to do it but he is no longer an employee. Dave Edkins will check on this with the new Cemetery Sexton and Pat Royce.
Certificate of Appreciation: The Selectboard signed a Certificate of Appreciation for Robert Rivard who is retiring after seven years as the Health Officer/Building Inspector. It will be given to him on Monday, which is his last day of work. Bud Von Ahnen, who is now the Deputy Health Officer/Building Inspector, will be taking over Mr. Rivard’s position and Jon LeClair has agreed to be the back-up person.
CORRESPONDENCE:
There was no correspondence to be discussed at this meeting.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
2005 FLOODING: Dave Edkins noted that there are other meetings with municipal officials on the 2005 Flood situation. There is a Municipal Association meeting on Monday, October 24th in the morning in Keene and a second session in the afternoon in Claremont. Dave Edkins and Jon LeClair will plan on attending the session in Claremont.
2006 Holiday Schedule: Copies of the proposed holiday list for 2006 were distributed to the Department Heads. There are fixed seven holidays and two floating holidays which the Selectboard determine each year with employee input.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Steve Neill: Steve Neill advised that the Conservation Commission met last Monday night. He was only able to attend the meeting for about one-half hour due to the special meeting of the Selectboard.
CEDA – Steve Neill: Steve Neill reported that CEDA had their Open House at Whelen Engineering last Thursday to promote the CEDA Gristmill property. It was fairly sparsely attended but it was productive and informative. They will try to move forward.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair attended a lengthy meeting of the Sullivan County Solid Waste Grant Advisory Group last evening at the VoTech in Claremont. There was an over-view of the grant in the amount of $100,000 that they received from the US Department of Agriculture to develop an integrated solid waste management program for Sullivan County. Almost everybody is in favor of shutting down the incinerator but they have no ideas on how to do it. The groups discussed different topics. A plan will need to be submitted to Antioch College who are the administrators of the grant. It will be a long, slow process.
Ambulance Department – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair was unable to attend the last Ambulance Department meeting because he went to the CEDA meeting.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that the Heritage Commission has not met since her last report.
Planning Board – Brenda Ferland: The Planning Board met last night and approved a Sign Permit for the Charlestown Bible Church. They tabled a Site Plan Review application on East Street for a change of use for Caren Lee and Thomas Bowman as more information was requested. The big issue is parking for the business; the owners are the only tenants.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II:
Jon LeClair moved to enter into a Non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) Personnel. Steve Neill seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 8:00 P.M.
The regular meeting resumed at 9:30 P.M.
Town Hall Roof: The Selectboard asked Dave Edkins to obtain estimates for repairs to the Town Hall roof as it is in dire need of repairs.
Brenda Ferland moved to adjourn this meeting at 9:35 P.M. Jon LeClair seconded the motion and, with all in favor, the motion carried.
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 November 2nd, 2005, Selectboard meeting.)
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