TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
JANUARY 17, 2007
Selectboard Present: Jon LeClair, Brenda Ferland, Steven Neill
Staff Present: David Edkins – Administrative Assistant
Keith Weed – Highway Superintendent
David Duquette – Water & Sewer Superintendent
Edward Smith - Police Chief
Gary Stoddard – Fire Chief
Regina Borden – Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Jon LeClair called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Brenda Ferland moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 3, 2007, as printed. Steve Neill seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Brenda Ferland moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of January 3, 2007, as printed: Steve Neill seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Highway Department: Keith Weed reported that they hauled 22 loads of gravel last week to repair the roads. There was a sinkhole on Oxbrook Road that they are still cleaning up. The Freightliner truck went to Whelen Engineering for a new set of lights. The new employee, Christopher Companion, started last Monday. There were no problems with the equipment during the last storm.
Transfer Station: Keith Weed advised that they are still waiting for the work to be done on the compacter. There will be a meeting next Tuesday with Antioch College on the Sullivan County Coalition who want the towns to put an Article on their Warrants relative to reaching a 50% recycling goal. Keith Weed will attend this meeting weather permitting.
Water and Sewer Departments: Dave Duquette reported that there was a major 6” water main break on Main Street; since they didn’t get it repaired until about 2:30 am some clean-up was finished the next day. He thanked the Highway, Police and Fire Departments for their assistance; it all came together very well. The weather has been getting colder so they started their blow-offs. He has been working on the arsenic issue in North Charlestown and signed up for another meeting with the State on January 30th to go over some things. He will try to pull some numbers together for that project.
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith thanked Pat Royce for helping him do the billing for the three towns they dispatch for. Steps were taken to do this in a more-timely manner in the future. The town still has not received the money from the Homeland Security grant for the generator. They have been busy with the weather but he noted that the Highway Department has been doing a great job. There was one major accident on Route 12. The SUV from Whelen should be in on Friday or Monday so he has the paperwork to switch over the vehicles. There will be a POD meeting tomorrow.
Emergency Management: Dave Edkins noted that Gary Wallace, the Emergency Management Director, has resigned. Fire Chief Stoddard has a few names of people who approached him about the position. It is expected that the position will be filled soon.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment made at this meeting.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There were no Selectboard comments made at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Cannon: Dave Edkins has not yet received the complete agreement from the Fort No. 4 on the cannon. They did confirm that it is insured for $150,000.00 with a $2,500.00 deductible and if anything happens to it the money will come back to the Town.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION – Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc.: The Accounts Payable Vouchers and Payroll were signed by the Selectboard.
Purchase Orders: The following Purchase Orders were approved and signed by the Selectboard: 1) LHS Associates $926.85 for voting booths; and 2) Water & Sewer – Roscoe Chemicals in the amount of $4,578.77.
Abatements: The Selectboard approved several Abatements for properties that were taken by the Town for taxes totaling $871.75. In addition, the following Abatements were approved: W. Powers in the amount of $1,435.14 as the taxes were included in their mortgage; Mitchell Family Trust in the amount of $528.00 for land billed in error; T. Osgood in the amount of $45.00 for sewer fees billed in error; and a list of various property owners who over-paid property taxes in the spring, totaling $16,315.85
Current Use Applications: Three applications for Current Use applications were received and approved for Thomas Adams, Robert Cuniff and Patrick and Karen Bailey.
Notice of Intent to Cut Timber: A Notice of Intent to Cut Timber was received and approved for Dean Bascom on the South Hemlock Road.
Veterans Exemption: A Veterans Exemption was denied due to a qualification issue.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letters: Jon LeClair advised that a letter will be sent to Dawn Hill on South West Street in response to her complaint about the highway crew noise during the night.
A letter will be sent to Thomas Fuller on Hackett Swamp Road about a septage holding facility. He applied to the State but also needs Planning Board approval.
Charlestown Conservation Commission: The Charlestown Conservation Commission will be hosting an open meeting on Monday, February 12th at 7:00 PM in the Community Room. The guest speaker will be James Thaxton of the Upper Valley Land Trust who will be discussing a Preservation Feasibility Study.
Town Fees: Dave Edkins received a memo from Bud Von Ahnen who feels that the Building Permit fees should be adjusted for manufactured housing. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to schedule this for a meeting in April when other fees are considered.
Whelen Engineering: A letter is being sent to John Olson, President of Whelen Engineering, to notify him that Article 11 on the Town Warrant is to see if the Town will vote to permanently discontinue that portion of CEDA Road lying northerly of its intersection with Industrial Drive and to accept new utility easements where they will be relocated, as shown on plans approved by the Planning Board. This Article will be discussed at the Deliberative Session on Wednesday, February 7th in the Town Hall on Summer Street and will be voted on by official ballot on Tuesday, March 13th, 2007. Dave Edkins advised that notices were also sent to the abutting land owners.
Boston Post Cane: Brenda Ferland said the Heritage Commission will be meeting next Tuesday and she felt they would be discussing the Boston Post Cane. Jon LeClair and Steve Neill felt she could relay their thoughts on it.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Abatements: Dave Edkins advised that MRI will be in Town working on the Abatements that need to be done.
Vacation: Dave Edkins will be on vacation beginning Friday, January 19th and all of the following week, he will return to work on Monday, January 29th, 2007.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Steve Neill: Steve Neill reported that the Conservation Commission met last Monday night. He brought them up-to-speed regarding the dams and Halls Pond. The Conservation Commission was talking about cutting down some pine trees in that area. Dave Duquette will keep them informed on work that will be done.
CEDA – Jon LeClair: Dave Edkins advised that they did not meet Monday night but they will try to reschedule later this month.
Planning Board – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that the Planning Board met last night and took the following action. Madesa Real Estate was given approval with conditions. Whelen Engineering was granted final approval for a project to erect a building next to the Design Standards building. Design Standards has three years to relocate into the Grobet File building. A Voluntary Merger of two lots was approved on the Bradley Road for Steven and Dianne Zaleski.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair advised that they met last Thursday night and went over the proposed budget that was presented to the Finance Committee. They discussed the purchase of the new truck and specs that Keith Weed is writing up and about upcoming projects. They talked about making glass recycling mandatory which will reduce the tonnage. Keith Weed presented proposals for disposal costs for washers and dryers but no decision was made. They will try to meet again in a few months. Keith Weed advised that the recycling of electronics, a federal mandate, will begin on July 1st. They are talking to vendors to verify prices.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland advised that they have not yet met this month.
Ambulance Department – Steve Neill: Steve Neill said he has not been notified of any meetings since his last report.
ADJOURNMENT:
Brenda Ferland moved to adjourn this meeting. Steve Neill seconded the motion. The Selectboard will be attending the Budget Hearing following this meeting. The motion was approved. The time was 7:24 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary Approved,
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 February 21st, 2007, Selectboard meeting.)
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