TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
MARCH 1, 2006
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
CALL TO ORDER AND 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):
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of February 15, 2006, as printed. Jon LeClair seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Water and Sewer Departments: Dave Duquette reported that the departments have been very busy working on different projects. He looked at the low meter readings that Steve Neill brought to his attention. He narrowed it down to a computer error; they corrected the glitch in the software and now will draft a letter of explanation to the users with a revised billing. There were about 25 customers affected; some were Town buildings and some were larger water users. In February they had four frozen service lines and two frozen meters. He is working on the Fling Road sewer line across Clay Brook with Daniels Construction. The owner of the property was approached and is willing to give the Town the easement; Dave Edkins is working on an easement document. Next he will work on
the Wetlands Permit. The Department of Transportation Permit went in today for the Springfield Road job. The electric company looked at the poles; only one property will be affected. Four poles will need to be held in place as construction progresses. There was a fire on the Springfield Road and there was a complaint that several hydrants were not properly greased resulting in a delay in their use. They had in fact been greased but he did not realize that the grease they were using was not effective in extremely cold temperatures. They switched to a more expensive grease; every hydrant was done again so they should not freeze. Steve Neill noted that the hydrant in front of his house was okay but there was one up the street that they had problems with. Dave Duquette has been working on the Back Flow Prevention Program for the State. He has been working with the larger companies and they now understand the rules. The
department employees have been taking a number of continuing education classes.
Another issue came up on Almar Street. There is a property owner that wants to subdivide and put another house on the lot but they do not have the flow or pressure to hook another house on that line. It is a project that needs to be done but the Town will have to put a sleeve under the railroad tracks. In 1998 they put in a one-inch line but it is still under-sized.
Dave Edkins will try to get the letter out to Rural Development before the end of the week on the west side sewer line. The Selectboard said they are about halfway through the draft of the Water System Ordinance and will finish soon; the State has said it looks OK and will confirm after the Selectboard has approved. The Sewer Ordinance will need to be re-written after this is approved.
Highway Department: Keith Weed sent out bid proposals to four vendors for a new backhoe; they should be back before Town Meeting. The truck is back from L & B. The Freightliner six-wheel dump truck is down there now because of electrical problems; they hope to have it back tomorrow. The loader is out of service for the second week. There are some shifting problems with the roll-off truck so that will have to be repaired shortly.
Keith Weed spoke to Tom Masterson from the New England Central Railroad on the dry bridge and they have no problems with the Town working on it. He is willing to work with the Town himself to get that job done. It is estimated to be a 7-to-10 day job.
Keith Weed provided an up-date on the Acworth Road. Executive Counselor Burton was in Town and Keith Weed took him to the Acworth Road so they could inspect it. He explained the problems in attempting to get a commitment for funding to repair this road. It will eventually end up in the Swanzey Office of the DOT so we should be hearing from them shortly. We are on the list. FEMA expects to be all done with this disaster by the end of this month.
Transfer Station: Keith Weed reported that there is not much news. Jon LeClair questioned the roll-off truck and asked if it is under Warranty. Keith Weed said the only thing still covered is the frame.
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith advised that Pat Connors is a part-time dispatcher who went through the Police Academy part-time and has just graduated. Chief Smith would like to bring him into the next Selectboard meeting. Chief Smith needs to purchase snow tires for one of the cruisers. A group attended a Domestic Violence seminar last Monday and another group will be going tomorrow. Chief Smith has finished his Supervisory training.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
David Roberts was in attendance at the meeting and advised that he was just observing.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There was no Selectboard Comment at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no Old Business to come before this meeting.
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) Water and Sewer Departments – Applied Dynamics $1,500 for service for the generators; 2) Ambulance – Valley Regional Hospital $329.22 to replace out-dated medications; 3) Ambulance – R & B Transport $423.78 for snow tires; 4) Ambulance – Zoll Medical Corp - $2,973.50 for the defibrillator service contract; 5) Highway – L & B Freightliner $8,833.82 for truck repairs. The Town received reimbursement from the insurance company less the deductible.
The Selectboard put a purchase order from the Water and Sewer Department on-hold. They gave a verbal approval to Dave Duquette to purchase the torch set after the budget is passed at Town Meeting.
Abatements: Three Abatements were approved by the Selectboard as follows: 1) An acreage decrease in accordance with the tax maps - $39.03; 2) Corrected data on a manufactured home - $129.88; and 3) Property taxes as per a recommendation from Beth - $479.48.
The Selectboard took the following action: 1) Denied an Abatement; 2) Granted one assessment change; and 3) Denied an assessment change.
The Selectboard granted five Veterans Exemptions; a Notice of Intent to Cut for Victor St. Pierre; and a Timber Tax Levy.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES, & RESOLUTIONS:
There were no Appointments, Permits, Licenses, or Resolutions at this meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Frank Delorier: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Frank Delorier in January regarding a zoning enforcement issue. Jon LeClair wanted it to be on record that despite Mr. Delorier’s assertions to the contrary, he never spoke with Mr. Delorier about this matter and did not know why his name was included. The Selectboard and Dave Edkins have been working on this issue but apparently it doesn’t meet Mr. Delorier’s time frame. Brenda Ferland distributed copies of her response letter to Mr. Delorier. Steve Neill has discussed this matter with Mr. Delorier on two different occasions and explained how the process works.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Dave Edkins reported that everything on his list was discussed previously in this meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Steve Neill: The Commission has not yet met this month.
CEDA – Steve Neill: CEDA has not yet met this month.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: There has not been a meeting since his last report.
Ambulance Department – Jon LeClair: They have not yet met this month.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that at the last meeting the Heritage Commission talked about the Boston Post cane. The members want to get pictures and dimensions and want to see about a getting a replica to distribute. She advised that the Selectboard feels they should continue to distribute the original cane as in the past If the Commission wants to do something she suggested a plaque with the names of the recipients on it. There will be Historic District signs put up in North Charlestown eventually. They are talking about doing a fund-raiser but do not want the project money to go into the Town funds. Dave Edkins suggested conducting the fundraising effort under the auspices of the Historic Society, as it is an outside agency. The Commission has also been working with the Rotary on the door replacement at the old Town Hall and looking at window restoration in the Bakery building. They will meet again at the end of the month.
Planning Board – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland advised that the Planning Board met on February 21st. 1) They approved a Site Plan for Philip Methot and Wayne Smith. Wayne Smith will lease a portion of the Methot building where the former Cochise Sports Cards store was and plans to sell outdoor wood stoves and furnaces. 2) Peter Lumbra and Roselyn Caplan want to set up a Century 21 real estate office in the Rick’s Electric building. It was granted final Site Plan approval as presented. They also want two signs in the existing metal frame, which will be boxed in. No action was taken as they need to obtain a Variance from the ZBA. The ZBA granted that Variance last Monday night so they will be on the Planning Board agenda for the next meeting. Keith Weed will take a look at the existing frame in terms of boxing it in and possible snow plowing problems. Jon LeClair agrees with existing business signs but would rather not see signs on the outside of the sidewalk. He would
like to have Keith Weed make sure that boxing in the frame will not impede the Town’s plowing. Steve Neill said that until the whole Sign Ordinance is revisited he would not vote to take anyone’s existing signs down or revoke the right to replace existing signs 3) There was a preliminary consultation on a proposed subdivision for Donald Jackson on Northwest Street.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Steve Neill moved to enter into a Non-public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) Personnel. Jon LeClair seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 8:10 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 March 15th, 2006, Selectboard meeting.)
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