TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 18, 2006
Selectboard Present: Jon LeClair, Brenda Ferland, Steven Neill
Staff Present: David Edkins, Administrative Assistant
Keith Weed, Highway Superintendent
Edward Smith, Police Chief
Debra Clark, Town Clerk
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Jon LeClair called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of October 4, 2006 as printed. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Steve Neill moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of October 4, 2006 as printed. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Highway Department: Keith Weed reported that their work on Calavant Hill is complete except to pave two driveways next week; the contractor will be back there tomorrow. Pike was scheduled to be here Friday but there was some rain so they might be here Monday. Scott’s Drive will be prepped tomorrow for paving; there will be a good-sized hole there for a few days. The crusher is in town and will start tomorrow. He has a purchase order in for some culvert pipe for the Acworth Road; the permit is almost done and they will notify abutters. Keith Weed met with Vic St. Pierre of Five Eagle Design regarding the culvert above Rocky Road and he is working on a design for the headwall. They have the design for the work on Hackett Swamp and are ready to start after they receive
the permit. The hammerhead has not yet been completed on the Bob Davis property. Mr. Beaudry had Brackett Circle repaved and core samples were taken indicating that the road paving is more than sufficient for the Town to take it over when he comes before the Selectboard.
Transfer Station: Keith Weed would like to have a Solid Waste Committee meeting scheduled soon in order to move ahead on some issues.
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith thanked those who expedited putting the flags at half-staff in memory of Officer Michael Briggs. They intend to send a contingency over to Manchester when arrangements for the service are complete. The department will be giving Keith Weed some assistance at the Transfer Station on the next three Saturdays plus do some spot checks on other days. They will stop vehicles and check stickers at the gate for the entire time it is open. Chief Smith participated at the Special Olympics in Hudson.
Chief Smith introduced Brian Vielguth, the new full time dispatcher, who is replacing Robin Reichert. He is also going for his Criminal Justice degree. The Selectboard wished him well.
Water and Sewer Departments: Dave Duquette was not present, however, Dave Edkins mentioned that Dave Duquette has been working on the arsenic situation in North Charlestown and has come up with some feasible options. There is a letter in the file that is ready to go to the state on this issue.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment made at this meeting.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There was no Selectboard comment made at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Lights: Brenda Ferland thanked Whelen Engineering and the Highway Department for the new lights around the Town buildings complex. They look very good; it really brightens up the area. She would like to have a letter sent to all of the people that worked on the project. Deb Clark said it is nice when she leaves after dark as it gives a feeling of being safer.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION – Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc.: The Accounts Payable check voucher was approved and signed. There was no payroll this week.
Purchase Orders: The following purchase orders were approved and signed by the Selectboard: 1) Police Department - Asetex Tire & Auto $517.95; 2) Water Department – Nickerson Electric $1,136.46; 3) Water Department - Nickerson Electric $460.17; 4) Highway Department – Contact Construction Parts $6,600.00; and 5) Recreation Department – Pool Man $1,500.00.
Recreation Department: Steve Neill feels that a member of the Selectboard should attend the Recreation Department meetings to offer some guidance. The water is still on by the pool building and housekeeping needs to be improved. Dave Edkins will find out when their next meeting is and both Steve Neill and Jon LeClair will plan to attend.
Warrant: The Selectboard signed the Warrant that must be posted at all polling places by October 24th for the November 7th general elections.
Department of Revenue Administration: The Selectboard approved and signed the MS-1 – Summary of Inventory – that will be sent to the state as part of the tax rate setting process.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES & RESOLUTIONS:
There were no Appointments, Permits, Licenses or Resolutions to come before this meeting.
2007 Holiday Schedule: The Selectboard approved and signed the 2007 Holiday Schedule as follows: Monday, January 1st – New Years Day; Monday, May 28th – Memorial Day; Wednesday, July 4th – Independence Day; Monday, September 3rd – Labor Day; Thursday, November 22nd – Thanksgiving Day; Friday, November 23rd – Day after Thanksgiving Day; Monday, December 24th – Christmas Eve; and Tuesday, December 25th – Christmas Day.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Department of Environmental Services: The Selectboard sent a letter to the DES responding to the Letter of Deficiency and advising what they are proposing to do to address the arsenic issue in North Charlestown.
Cartographic Associates: The Selectboard signed the contract with Cartographic Associates for the annual updating and maintenance of the tax mapping.
Order to Repair a Hazardous Building: The Selectboard approved and signed the Order to Repair a Hazardous Building owned by Harry L. Streeter at 33 Morway Street.
Antioch New England Institute: The Selectboard received a memo from the Antioch New England Institute including a draft press release about the results of the analysis of the cost of out-of-county waste disposal options for Sullivan County towns. Jon LeClair and Keith Weed attended a meeting in Claremont about transporting waste out of the district and one of the best options is the one that the Town of Charlestown currently uses.
Norm St. Laurence: The Selectboard acknowledged receipt of a letter from Norm St. Laurence who resides on Michael Avenue. He is concerned that he spoke to both Dave Edkins and Dave Duquette about putting some shrubs around the newly constructed Michael Avenue pump station but nothing has been done. There is also a problem with a culvert plugging near his property but he got no response. These issues will be brought to Dave Duquette’s attention.
Recreation Department: Steve Neill and Dave Edkins looked at the proposed repair work following receipt of a purchase order from the Recreation Department. The Selectboard approved the purchase order but noted that an updated Certificate of Insurance needs to be received before the purchase order is released. No Workers Compensation coverage is noted.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Finance Committee: Dave Edkins noted that budgets and employee evaluations are starting to come in. The Selectboard should meet to talk about what they are going to do with employee salaries next year. Steve Neill suggested meeting on Wednesday, November 8th. The Finance Committee will start meeting on Monday, October 30th; it will be an organizational meeting.
Dave Edkins is getting inquiries from the Finance Committee and Highway Advisory Board about the FEMA funds. Some people feel that at least a part of it should be put toward highway projects next year. That money is now sitting in the Fund Balance account that is used to reduce the tax rate; it is higher this year than usual partially because of this money. It will be necessary to set some extra money aside as “overlay” to cover the abatement requests following the revaluation. Keith Weed said the following projects are on his list for next year: Michael Avenue (priority), Beaudry Development, Calavant Hill, Old Claremont Road, and School Bus Hill. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to retain some of the FEMA money for future appropriation for needed road work.
Mr. Edkins will provide some figures prior to the setting of the tax rate.
Town Hall: Dave Edkins has been talking with the person that bought the house next to the Town Hall. He asked if the town could close off the roadway between the water barn and Town Hall as there is a lot of traffic through there. He also asked if the town could move the granite steps as the kids congregate there; they are on his property so they should be moved. The Selectboard agreed that the steps should be moved but not destroyed as they can be used in other places. Dave Edkins, Keith Weed and Dave Duquette are working on a closure plan.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Steve Neill: Steve Neill reported that the Commission met last Monday night. They looked at the expedited permit for Hackett Swamp and had no problems with it. They thought it was very thorough and were impressed with the paper work. There was some discussion about fill being put in on Oxbrook Road and they will write a letter to inform the property owner of the rules and regulations.
CEDA – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair advised that the regular monthly meeting was cancelled but was rescheduled for October 24th.
Planning Board – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that the Planning Board met last night. They accepted as complete and granted final approval for a boundary adjustment or annexation for Putnam Farms, Inc. The smaller parcel will now have river frontage. A boundary adjustment for Stanley and Linda Waryas on Calavant Hill Road was accepted as complete and granted final approval. They accepted as complete and granted final approval due to a hardship a two-lot subdivision for Carl and Leona Bennett on Jones Road. Dave Edkins distributed revised chapters of the Master Plan for review; the discussion will continue at the next meeting.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair will schedule a meeting soon.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: The Commission has not yet met this month.
Ambulance Department – Steve Neill: Steve Neill said they met last Wednesday night. They are over 300 runs so far this year. There was no new news.
Steve Neill noted that vehicles are starting to drive across the Ambulance Service lawn on Douglas Street. It might be in the best interest of the town to place some boulders.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II:
Steve Neill moved to enter into a Non-public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II to discuss (a) Personnel, (b) Hiring, and ( c) Reputation which if discussed in public, might adversely affect the reputation of any person other than a member of the Board itself. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 7:52 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Approved,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary
Jon B. LeClair, Chair Steven A. Neill Brenda L. Ferland
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the November 1st, 2006, Selectboard meeting.)
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