TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 2, 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
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chairperson Brenda Ferland called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
JOYCE HIGGINS – Presentation of National Register of Historic Places Designation for North Charlestown: Joyce Higgins, Charlestown Historic Society, presented the Selectboard with a certificate, issued by the State of New Hampshire, showing that North Charlestown is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The village was placed on the register on June 9th, 2005. The Historic District extends from the Little Sugar River Bridge on the south, through the Student Conservation Association on the north, down 12A (River Road) and it includes all of the properties along the road, Hope Hill Cemetery, the Mill Area behind the Grange and the Railroad Bridge that is in existence since 1848. She distributed a summary of the District’s resources noting that this project was
a community effort.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of November 5, 2005, as printed. Jon LeClair seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of November 5, 2005, as printed. Jon LeClair seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the special Selectboard meeting of October 17, 2005, as printed. Jon LeClair seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of October 19, 2005, as printed. Jon LeClair seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of October 19, 2005, as printed. Jon LeClair seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Police Department: Police Chief Edward Smith reported that the Town survived another Halloween with just routine issues. There were uniformed and costumed officers on duty. The snow tires are on the cruisers. There is one new part-time dispatcher in training that worked for them before and he is starting some background work for another dispatcher who has some dispatching experience. Aaron Reichert is a member of the Southwestern New Hampshire Special Response Team and he is in training this week and next week. This is county-wide and similar to a SWAT Team. Next week Chief Smith will be going to a Primex training seminar on developing Inner Personal Relations and tomorrow morning he will be going to the High School as it is Career Day.
Water and Sewer Departments: David Duquette reported that the departments have been reading meters and now have 1,172 accounts. They installed a 6” meter and meter pit at the intersection of Morway’s Park and Lovers Lane; there is still some work to do. A 2” meter was installed at Mountain View; today they repaired a leak on Mountain View. They repaired a water line leak on Norman Avenue last weekend. Work was done on the Michael Avenue Pump Station. They flushed hydrants and located five that need to be replaced next year. Tomorrow they will perform a hydrant replacement at the intersection of Railroad and Depot Streets between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm so the entire area will be out of water for about 3-4 hours. Everyone involved has been notified.
There will be a DES inspection next Tuesday on the Treatment Plant. They had dam inspections last week; Halls Pond Dam, Clay Brook and the lagoon at the plant. The Selectboard was asked to review and approve the letter to be included in the water/sewer bills about the new collection process; Dave Duquette and Debra Clark approved the letter. There will be a seminar on Arsenic on Thursday, December 1st in Portsmouth; Dave Duquette and Dave Edkins will plan to attend.
Highway Department: Keith Weed reported that they are still working on storm related work. Pecor Road is paved with a base coat for the winter as well as the South Hemlock, North Hemlock and Acworth Roads. They continue to work with the grader on dirt roads and washouts but are about 75-to-80% caught-up. Some of the bills for the storm work are starting to come in. Last week they did some snow plowing and working on trees and limbs. The chipper is out of service. M.P. Flynn did the work on the Sam Putnam Road and Borough Road; the Town bought the sand. There was a washout on the Springfield Road that needs to be taken care of.
Last Wednesday there was a pre-bid meeting on the Scott’s culvert project with four companies in attendance. Two bids were received and opened at this meeting as follows: 1) Norm Beaudry Construction - $99,500.00; and 2) Daniels Construction - $93,035.00. Keith Weed will review the bids to make sure they cover everything and make his recommendation to the Board.
Dave Edkins reported that a FEMA representative would be here tomorrow night at 7:00 pm to explain the process for filing claims for flood damage to public infrastructure.
Keith Weed had handed-in a list of roads that he would like the Selectboard to consider for discontinuance. Bruce Putnam, Highway Advisory Board, reported that they reviewed the list once but did not make any recommendations. They thought it would be hard to discontinue a lot of them but they can revisit the list again. Final action would have to be taken at the Town Meeting. One road to be considered for discontinuance is the section of CEDA Road that John Olson wants to see discontinued as Whelen Engineering owns all abutting property.
Highway Advisory Board: Bruce Putnam said they have been working with Keith Weed regularly. Some members have been helping Keith Weed through these storms with various things. He receives phone calls from people about various issues. During the last few meetings they have been working on the budget with Keith Weed.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no Public Comment made at this meeting.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
The Selectboard had no comments to make at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Lovers Lane Road Signs: Brenda Ferland advised that the Department of Transportation approved having the Town put up “911” street signs on the lower end of Lovers Lane Road where it is not marked.
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) Town Clerk – Brown River Records Preservation and Restoration $2,565.00; 2) Selectboard Office - Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. for law book up-dates $317.70; 3) Police Department – Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. for law book up-dates $317.70; 4) Police Department – Asetec Tire for tires and rims $641.92; 5) Highway Department – Nortrax for excavator repairs $1,946.77; 6) Highway Department – S.G. Reed for the dump truck repairs $434.99; 7) Highway Department – Morway Auto Salvage for a truck frame $900.00; 8) Transfer Station - Unique Signs $128.00; 9) Town Office – Unique Signs for new sign & post $1,051.00; 10) Transfer Station – Recycling 9860 lbs of demo
$394.40; 11) Transfer Station – Norm Beaudry Construction for a concrete pad $5,950.00; 12) Fire Department – Ossippee Mountain Electronics $419.90; 13) Fire Department – Rick’s Electric $613.43; 14) Water Department – Norman Beaudry Construction for the Michael Ave Booster Station $1,445.00; 15) Water Department – Eastern Analytical for water testing $723.00; 16) Water Department – Harcross Chemicals $2,400.00; and 17) Water Department – E.J. Prescott Company $463.15.
Warrants: The Selectboard approved and signed two Tax Collector Property Warrants in the amounts of $1,504.55 and $3,404,277.07.
Veterans Tax Exemptions: Several Veterans Tax Exemptions were approved and signed.
Land Use Change: The Selectboard approved and signed a Land Use Change Tax document.
Cemetery Deed: A Cemetery Deed was approved and signed for the Pine Crest Cemetery.
Notice of Intent to Cut: The Selectboard approved and signed a Notice of Intent to Cut on the Old Springfield Road.
Town Hall Building: A request to use the Town Hall on December 24th, 2005, was approved by the Selectboard and the Police Chief.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES, & RESOLUTIONS:
There were no Appointments, Permits, Licenses or Resolutions at this meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Transfer Station Permit: A request was received from a resident for a refund on a second Transfer Station Permit. This is a single household so they feel they should get the second permit for $3.00 rather than $25.00. The assessor states that it is set-up as a single residence. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to give them back the $22.00 but when the second party moves out they will have to purchase another sticker for $25.00.
Miss Bellows Falls Diner: A letter is being sent to Mr. Larry McEleavey, Jan DeSantis and Brina Parker of the Miss Bellows Falls Diner extending a Thank You from the Town for their generosity in providing food to the Highway crew during the recent floods. The letter wishes them the best of luck in their new venture.
Virginia Poisson: A letter is being sent to Virginia Poisson regarding the property at 117-119 Main Street clarifying that the previous Order was not intended to preclude entrance into the property for the purpose of making an asbestos survey. However entrance for any purpose is at the sole risk of the owner and persons authorized by the owner to enter the structure.
Fall Mountain Region School District: A letter was received from Robert Beaudry, Chairman of the Fall Mountain Region School District Budget Committee, requesting input on the next proposed budget. The Selectboard felt they are not ready to respond yet as the Charlestown Selectboard and Budget Committee will not meet until early November. Brenda Ferland requested that each Selectboard member receive a copy of the letter.
Mowing Bids: Dave Edkins distributed copies of the proposed Request for Mowing Bids to all Department Heads and the Recreation Committee. Steve Neill felt there should be a separate number for extras for Patch Park and that should be in the schedule.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Inspection Fees: Dave Edkins noted that the Town recently increased the fees for electrical and plumbing inspection fees. Bud Von Ahnen pointed out that he is doing a number of other inspections at no charge. They are being paid out of the Fire Department budget but he is suggesting that there be a minimum amount of about $25.00 for those services such as Day Care inspections that might require follow-ups; $25.00 for the initial visit and $10.00 for follow-ups. The Selectboard agreed to schedule a Public Hearing for the first meeting in December with the fees to start the first of the year 2006.
Household Hazardous Waste: Dave Edkins said the Selectboard made a decision not to participate in the Household Hazardous Waste program in Keene. He asked the Selectboard if they would consider reimbursing Charlestown residents the cost of disposal if they would bring in their receipt. Steve Neill noted that the Town used to get reimbursed a large portion of the participation fee from the State but now they would not. The Selectboard agreed not to pursue this option.
The Selectboard took a recess from 8:30 to 8:35 pm.
CEDA: CEDA wants to meet with the Selectboard about a budget request for next year. Dave Edkins suggested that he and Steve Neill discuss this with CEDA at their next meeting and then bring back their request to the Selectboard.
Floating Holidays: There was discussion relative to Floating Holidays for 2006. Keith Weed said his department’s preference is July 3rd and Columbus Day in October. Keith Weed asked if consideration was ever given to giving employees their birthdays off to replace one of the floating holidays; it would rotate the employees. Chief Smith and Dave Duquette said it would improve their scheduling as well. The birthday could be taken off within two weeks of the actual day. Dave Edkins said the Personnel Policy would have to be changed but it can be an agenda item for the next meeting.
Revised Federal Mileage Rates: There was a consensus of the Selectboard to deal with the revised federal mileage rates at the next meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Steve Neill: The Conservation Commission has not yet met this month.
CEDA – Steve Neill: CEDA has not yet met this month.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: The Solid Waste Committee has not met.
Ambulance Department – Jon LeClair: The Ambulance Department has not yet met this month.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: The next meeting of the Heritage Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, November 22nd in the Community Room at 7:00 P.M. At their previous meeting they were concerned about the Rotary Club’s proposed new doors at the Town Hall and are working with them to find doors that are more appropriate to the building’s architectural style. The Heritage Commission would like to be sure that each house on Main Street is lit up with white lights on Christmas Eve. They discussed the budget and would like to see what monies are left in the present budget go toward a project. Some of the members would like to not see the original Boston Cane go out again but rather give out a replica and have the original remain in the Town Hall.
They would also like to put up a plaque of the recipients; Pat Royce has a folder that is pretty complete.
Planning Board – Brenda Ferland: The Planning Board met last night and accepted as complete an application from Caren Lee and Robert Bowman for a tanning salon on East Street; they will be back in a few weeks. The Sign Permit for the Town was approved.
Other Business:
Bids – Scott’s Drive Headwall: Jesse St. Pierre and another representative from St. Pierre’s, Inc. came into the meeting to submit a proposed bid for the Scott’s Drive headwall. They were advised that bids were due before this meeting and that two bids had previously been opened. The St. Pierre’s bid was opened and given to Keith Weed.
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. Steve Neill seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 8:54 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 November 16th, 2005, Selectboard meeting.)
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