TOWN OF DERRY
Town Council Meeting September 15, 2009
Derry Municipal Center Tuesday 7:30 p.m.
Non-Public Session – Consultation with Town Council
Salute to Flag, Warning of Fire Exits, Handicap Access, Turn off all Cell Phones and Pager
Roll Call: Chairman Metts, Councilors: Coyle, Chirichiello, Benson, Wetherbee, Fairbanks, and Carney
Consent Agenda
09-117 Acceptance of Non-Public Minutes Session I & II – September 1, 2009
09-118 Acceptance of Minutes – September 1, 2009
09-119 Schedule Public Hearing – October 6, 2009 – Comcast Franchise Agreement
09-120 Schedule Public Hearing – October 6, 2009 – Supplemental Appropriation of
$20,000 – Charter Commission Funding
09-121 Schedule Public Hearing – October 6, 2009 – Fire Alarm Monitoring Fees for
Non – Derry Customers
Consent Agenda: accepted
Chairman’s Report
Chairman Metts
- Tuesday September 22, 2009 Draft EIS meeting 7:00 pm DMC
- Derryfest September 19, 2009 9:00 am. The Derry Village Rotary & Pinkerton Robotics Team will host a Classic Car show in the DMC parking lot
- Applications for the Energy Advisory Committee will be accepted until October 16, 2009. Appointments will be made at the October 27, 2009 Town Council Meeting.
Chairman Metts requested to make the Planning Board appointment at this time:
09-123 Planning Board Appointment
Moved to appoint Maureen Heard, by Chairman Metts, Seconded by Councilor Benson
Move to appoint Darrell Park, by Councilor Coyle, seconded by Councilor Fairbanks
Appointed Maureen Heard as a member of the Planning Board Vote: 6-2-0 (Carney & Coyle)
Planning Board open alternate position to be posted on website apply by October 3, 2009, Appointment will be made on October 27, 2009 Town Council Meeting.
Administrator’s Report
Town Administrator Gary Stenhouse:
****Upper Room Lease
- Negotiations for extended lease of 50 years on the Upper Room are beginning.
Councilor Benson stated that the entranceway to Rider Field which is next to the Upper Room is in rough shape and needs to be attended to.
****Economic Development Loan Fund
- Laurel Bistany, REDC, gave an overview of their program and how they could assist the Town of Derry with loans for new businesses either located in Derry or moving into Derry. She stated that REDC has never had a loan default in all their years in business. She credited a very strong loan review process in making this possible.
Town Administrator Stenhouse stated they would be putting together a draft agreement for the Town Council for them to preview.
****Pre-Audit Review & Risk Evaluation
- Tammy Webb, Vachon & Kluckey Auditors, there are several new audit standards which change the way audits are preformed. One of the new requirements is to meet with the Town Council prior to commencement of the audit to review and discuss the audit approach and obtain any input from the Town Council regarding the scope of the audit. Tammy gave an overview of the steps involved.
Public Forum – Non Agenda Items
Motion to open Public Forum – Councilor Chirichiello, seconded by Councilor Benson
Vote: 7-0-0
Ken Gould, Damren Rd – asked why the sale of the Upper Village Hall was not on the agenda.
Chairman Metts explained that the reversionary clause is still being worked on. Hopefully it will be ready by October.
John Burtis, Lori Rd – sent memo to the Town Council giving them State of NH statistical numbers for revenues after he had heard the Town Council vote to move forward with the TIF district. He reviewed them.
Betsy Burtis, Lorri Rd – spoke regarding the Derry Town Profile project. She has concerns about the process of how economic development is moving forward. The committee will be holding an event on September 29, 2009. She feels this group is forgotten; however, the groups are working on things.
George Sioras stated he would ask the groups to post subcommittee meetings and forward them to his office.
Al Dimmock, High St – he feels the Town Council is not showing interest in the town after voting to move forward with the TIF District as it will cause rising taxes in difficult times for payments.
Joel Olbricht, Colony Brook Lane –he has heard there would be a revisit of the vote on the TIF project. He agrees with Councilor Coyle that now is the time to do this project. Get it done.
Motion to Close the Public Forum – Councilor Coyle, seconded by Councilor Chirichiello Vote: 7-0-0
Councilor Benson asked if there were any notes or minutes on the Derry Profile Project Committees.
George Sioras stated the office has a couple of committees that meet and it started out very strong. The office has been trying to get the minutes from these committees so that they could be put on the website. Two or three of the groups have lost their enthusiasm. There is a meeting on September 29th in the 3rd floor meeting room with Michelle Gagne of UNH Cooperative.
Old Business
09-103 Amend the Code of the Town of Derry – Article VI, Section
165-45.D.2 Medium High Density Residential District (MHDR), Section 165-45.1.C.2, Medium High Residential District (MHDRII), and Section 165-46.B.2, Medium Density Residential District (MDR), to delete subparagraph “j” in its entirety removing
the criteria relevant to private covenants
Motion by: Councilor Coyle to table indefinitely, seconded by Councilor Chirichiello.
Vote: 4-3-0 (Carney, Benson and Metts)
09-115 Collette’s Grove Road – Council Discussion
Town Clerk Neale explained the process regarding the Petition brought forth on these roads in accordance with the Town Charter section 3.1B.
Schedule a public hearing- Collette’s Grove Road/Sanborn Rd – October 6, 2009. Motion by Councilor Coyle, Seconded by Councilor Fairbanks Vote 7-0-0
09-116 Farmers Market – Council Discussion
Councilor Carney spoke on the proposal for farmers market. Councilor Fairbanks suggested that a late afternoon until early evening time would be a good time to hold such an event.
Councilor Carney suggested a highly visible location and would like to incorporate the downtown businesses to participate weekly.
The Town Council moves to direct the Town Administrator to present the Town Council with a choice of actionable proposals for a regularly occurring Farmers Market or Farmers Market and Artisan Fair combination, starting during the spring or summer of 2010. The proposals must coincide with other regularly occurring town events, such as the many family events which take place in MacGregor Park. The Farmers Market must be inclusive of existing downtown businesses, and may include regional, artisans and vendors. These events should be designed to draw crowds to the downtown area, including residents and visitors, and should take place at locations directly adjacent to Broadway including, but not limited to the street’s sidewalks. In addition, the proposals must include marketing plans for the event.
Motion by: Councilor Carney, seconded by Councilor Coyle. Vote: 7-0-0
New Business
09-122 Approval New Hampshire the Beautiful – Municipal Recycling
Grant
Move that the Derry Town Council approve the application and further authorize the Town Administrator to accept the Municipal Recycling Grant for the purpose of providing recycling bins to residents. Motion by: Councilor Coyle, seconded by Councilor Carney. Vote: 7-0-0
Council Requests / Open Discussion
Carney – Downtown Study that council hasn’t discussed yet. Meet with consultant 2nd meeting in October.
Concern raised in Public Forum session regarding the Human Services staffing level. He feels a discussion is worth having. He would like to take this up at an upcoming meeting.
In response to a question Town Administrator Stenhouse a public hearing is not necessary for issuance of Bond Anticipation Note(s) for Exit 4A EIS funding since Council had authorized the issue of up to $ 5 million in bonds and notes for the project some years ago. Place under New Business at the October 6th meeting. Council needs to vote to decide if they want Town Administrator Stenhouse to issue a Bond Anticipate note.
Councilor Benson – Asked about the process for soliciting a firm for Economic Development
Mr. Stenhouse replied the RFP has gone out.
Councilor Benson - has questioned the many real estate signs around Downtown and asked if there were rules and regulations on these.
George Sioras stated the Planning Board has a subcommittee looking into the sign ordinance because it hasn’t be reviewed in a few years.
Councilor Benson read a statement: He takes exception to the statements made. I believe that the council worked very hard to stabilize or reduce everyone’s tax burden without substantially effecting services. And, I believe that we did exactly that. I also believe that we will continue to work hard in the future at stabilizing and reducing the tax burden of the residents of Derry.
Carney: RFP for Economic Development. He is concerned how large the scope is.
Councilor Fairbanks – stated that she did not do the homework that was required of her personally when she voted to support funding the Route 28 T.I.F. She is not comfortable with her vote. She doesn’t feel the economy can bear it at this time. She hopes her fellow councilors are right.
Motion by Councilor Fairbanks to reconsider the bond appropriation vote concerning the Route 28 T.I.F. district made at the September 1, 2009 meeting, seconded by Councilor Coyle. Vote: 2-5 (Fairbanks, Carney). Thus the motion to reconsider failed.
Motion to Adjourn 8:45 p.m.
___________________________________ ____________________ Town Clerk Date
Transcribed by: Denise Neale, Town Clerk
Reviewed by: Gary Stenhouse Town Administrator
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