Francestown Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
October 31, 2011
Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by Betsy Hardwick. Arnold present, Carbee absent Others in attendance included. Charlie Pyle, Tom Anderson, BJ Carbee, Polly Freese.
Transfer Station Training: All 3 regular transfer station employees will be attending a training class to meet recertification requirements on Wednesday, November 30th. Selectmen ok Becky Moul and Sara Cox to work in their stead.
Town Hall Repairs: Maureen VonRosenvinge provided an update on town hall activities and repairs. It was noted that in the future Selectmen must authorize, in advance, any work to be done in the building.
Proposal from Glen Dodge received. Heritage will pay for engineering fees. The $30,000 the Selectmen had planned to apply to the project will have to be diverted to cost overruns on the Russell Station Bridge. It will be another week or so before it is known if, and how much, money will be available this year for town hall repairs. Most critical repair estimated to cost in the range of $13,000.
Tax Rate: Information to be discussed is preliminary, may change and should not be published. All present are asked to keep that in mind. State estimates net school tax at $10.51, state education tax at $2.49 and county tax at $1.05. Selectmen vote to apply $8,000 of undesignated fund surplus to reduce the town portion of the tax rate to $6.70. Estimated total tax rate of $20.75, down $1.24 from last year.
Announcements:
- Selectmen will post notice for public hearing on November 14, 2011 to spend $30,125 of unanticipated grant funds on Russell Station bridge expenses
- Towns may apply for FEMA grants for debris management from weekend storm
- Dee French, Bennington Town Administrator, has asked State to waive requirement for new tri-town landfill test for 1,4 Dioxane until next year since it was not included in budget.
- Xfinity is increasing rates of collecting on delinquent accounts.
- LGC has reported an 8% increase in the cost of the current health program effective July 2012
- State took note that no timber bond had been posted for the cut on Shattuck Pond town land. BOS can waive timber tax on town-owned land if they choose. In this case~a bond is not considered necessary as the tax will probably not be much due in part to cost of road work and difficult access. In addition~a performance bond is being held for $2,000.
- Ad for administrative position was placed in the Ledger Transcript on October 20th.
Woodclaim Service is recommending to Primex a $3,738.15 settlement for damage to the Town Annex as a result of broken pipe.
- The NH Superior Court upheld the ZBA decision in regard to the cell tower on DennisonPond Road
Audit Contract: Selectmen resigned the contract with Roberts & Greene as requested by the firm which has changed its name.
Signed: manifests, Holdredge appointment
Minutes. Approved minutes of 9//28, 10/17, 10/24 and 10/25 as written.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Arnold, Selectperson
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