Planning Board
Preliminary Meeting Minutes –
Recorded by Sharon Rossi
March 12, 2011
Members present: RMarshall, JFletcher, PRenaud, KO’Connell, MSteere, MBorden, RWimpory
7:05 p.m. MSteere started reading the February 27, 2012 meeting minutes with JFletcher concluding the reading at 7:15. Several spelling, punctuation and replacement of words were done. A substantive change was made on line 151. It reads as, “RShea commented is one lot to be subdivided into two lots.”
7:25 p.m. Dilapidated Buildings - presentation by PHopkins.
PHopkins handed the Planning Board several photos of dilapidated buildings in town as well as several examples of ordinances from nearby towns addressing dilapidated buildings. He commented that they are hard to deal with. We have a property maintenance code but it is a hard area to enforce. The pictures I’ve given you are some examples where this code could be used to correct this issue. I suggest that an ordinance be created by the Board that will help give backing to the Code Enforcement Officer. There are two locations in Town that are close to being junkyards.
MSteere asked if the Select Board could put in a regulation that would provide a means to enforce the removal of these structures. PHopkins commented he is not sure.
His present means of notification is to first, send out a form letter, a reminder type, to the landowner. He commented that eighty-five percent of the time that letter works and people respond that they will clean up the dilapidated building. It’s the other 15 percent that do not comply. His second step is to send another letter advising that if the building is not removed, then town counsel will be notified and proceedings will begin. PHopkins said there is a need for a sequence of action, a schedule of fines, followed by legal action.
RWimpory asked about dilapidated trailers? PHopkins said “I may have to enforce the ordinance with this year’s new amendment “Storage of Trailers inside of setback” if it passes.
MSteere said that in last week’s meeting, RCilley and DBuxton made comments about the Ferry building near their respective properties as a public hazard that needs to be removed.
PHopkins asked that …”we (as a Town) get an ordinance or regulation similar to ones I given out about dilapidated building with a procedure for me, with the Select Board as my backup, and then town counsel as the last step for removal. I would like steps to follow.”
BMarshall asked the Board if JGryval, member of the public in attendance, could speak about this item. JGryval said “As a regulation, is not appealable to ZBA, whereas an ordinance would be. As a regulation, the code enforcement officer is the primary enforcer with town Selectboard as the secondary enforcer. It should be a regulation with the recommendation coming from the Planning Board that this should be done.
BMarshall commented, “If we decide to recommend a regulation, it goes into place now. If we are going to recommend that, why put it in an ordinance?”
PHopkins felt that regulations are not as well known as the ordinances are. He suggested it as a regulation for 1 year and then the Planning Board should move to include it in the zoning ordinance.
MSteere said, “If the Planning Board recommends the regulation, by time we get to Town Meeting next year, PHopkins would have had time to act on a dilapidated building and see if there is still a need for an ordinance. He could then request the Planning Board put it in as an amendment to the zoning ordinance. PHopkins also would like an official position of town, steps to be taken and fines involved.
BMarshall asked the Board, “Are you prepared to request of the Select Board that they put forth a regulation?” MBorden commented, “We need to be careful here. If someone is not occupying a place and it is just falling apart, that is a whole different animal from someone living in a building.”
PHopkins will write a recommendation for the Planning Board, including timeframe and fine schedule. He will preview the regulation with the Planning Board before presenting to the Select Board. PHopkins commented, “As long as we have the steps, the timeframes, the fees listed, and then if we go to court, we have a procedure in place, then court will decide on removal.”
BMarshall asked if PHopkins could present the draft of the regulations by 3/26/12. PHopkins said he could.
8:26 pm Driveways and Frontage – Spirit and intent of Regulations
BMarshall read from page 6 of the Driveway Regulation: Section IX. Administration and Enforcement. The Planning Board, through the authority granted to it under RSA 236 13 (V) hereby delegates administrative duties and enforcement regarding this regulation to the Greenfield Code Enforcement Officer, who may, in the administration of his/her duties, consult with the Road Agent as to where the cut comes into the driveway.
PHopkins commented that in all 5 towns he is working with, driveway regulations are on all agendas. Cuts are the important piece of the driveway regulations.
MSteere said, “Basically if Code Enforcement Officer is unsure of driveway construction, he should consult the engineer on the project. PHopkins said his authority comes either from the Planning Board’s direction or the state code book.
KO’Connell asked PHopkins, “Are you involved with curb cut?” PHopkins responded, “No. I don’t issue a building permit until the driveway is done.”
KO’Connell will put together a draft of five items for DPW about driveway checklist for the next meeting.
8:31 p.m. Mail Received:
1. SRossi timesheet to be signed
2. SWRPC Commission Highlights February 2012 brochure
3. LGC Brochure 2012 Workshops Listings
4. Cash Receipt from Country Comfort Homes LLC
5. SWRPC Invitation to Winter Meeting on March 20, 2012
6. State of NH DES: Invitation to Annual Drinking Water Source Protection Workshop
7. LGC Town & City Magazine
8. Town of Greenfield 2011 Annual Report
9. Invoice of Monadnock Transcript & Ledge, public notice 2/16/12
8:32 p.m. Master Plan Update
BMarshall handed out Master Plan survey drafts to the Planning Board. BMarshall said he looked at the cost of using survey companies on-line and it appears some cost is involved. JFletcher said he has found that Mail Chimp, which ties into Survey Monkey, is free. He said multiple choice questions are no problem, ranking answers on some questions are all right, but that open ended questions should be listed at the end of the survey. JFletcher will format the questionnaire for both written and online form and then BMarshall will copy and have ready for Town Meeting. Some editing and rearranging the draft of the survey was done by the Planning Board.
March 31 is the deadline for the return of written survey. Survey return boxes will be placed at Harvest Market, the Stephenson Library, the Town Offices and Post Office. KO’Connell will make 3 collection boxes for the completed surveys.
BMarshall said on March 24 at 9:00 a.m., he will be giving out the cameras and hand-out sheets for the photo shoots. He has 13 people signed up and asked for some more names as possible participants.
On April 7 the cameras will be collected along with any CD’s that the participants burn. BMarshall and PRenaud, will burn CD’s for those who were unable to do so for SWRPC. BMarshall will then deliver these results to LMurphy at SWRPC.
On April 21 the results of the photo shoot will be presented at the Annual Road Side Clean-up Potluck Dinner at the Meeting House.
On April 28 a Roundtable discussion with facilitators will happen at the Library. More to come later on this item.
9:13 p.m. MBorden motioned to adjourn. KO’Connell seconded. Motion carried.
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