Jackson Selectmen’s Meeting
February 17, 2011
Present: David Mason, Chairman; Beatrice Davis, Jerry Dougherty, IV, Selectmen
Visitors: Office Administrator Diane Falcey, Police Chief Karl Meyers, Treasurer Warren Schomaker
Chairman Mason called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
1. Amend & approve minutes
a. Selectmen’s Meeting – February 3, 2011
b. Budget Hearing – February 3, 2011
Selectman Dougherty, seconded by Selectman Davis, made a motion to approve both sets of minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Police Chief Report Chief Meyers reviewed Department activities since the last meeting. Some items included a motor vehicle accident on Carter Notch Road that occurred around 10 a.m.; the vehicle flipped over and the driver was arrested for DWI; the driver was still under the influence from an overnight binge. They received a complaint from the State Highway plow folks regarding cars in the road. The elderly female resident that the Department has assisted on numerous occasions was assisted once again and is now no longer in
town. A resident was fingerprinted for SAU #9 purposes; there was a report of suspicious people on the porch at the (S-kimos) Ski Club. There was a trial for a gentleman that was arrested on November 8th on false imprisonment and assault from a domestic disturbance; the folks involved came to a good agreement. The Department also dealt with a speeding ticket at the District Court. A gentleman resident is going to Florida for a few months so the Department is keeping an eye on his place; the Road Agent called regarding a citizen that was having a problem with the Highway Department, especially when they are plowing the snow. Officers assisted with a lost hiker up on Black Mountain who was trying to get to the cabin up on top of the mountain. There was a 911 hang up from a local restaurant; one false burglar alarm; a citizen complaint of annoying phone calls and an assist to the Fire Department with a chimney fire. There was also a
call from a person in Maryland who has a place up here; their neighbor saw a window wide open and notified the owner. The caretaker met Officers there and found the place locked up. It appears an ex-boyfriend who knew where the spare key was kept or may have made copies of the keys, was letting himself in. The owner was advised to change the locks.
a. Two Letters to the Department The Selectmen reviewed two letters to the Department and added them to the record.
The first letter is as follows:
Feb 15, 2011; Dear Chief Meyers, Many Thanks to you and your department for the help you gave me last January 28th. And special thanks to Sgt. Sean Cowland for the commendable perseverance and patience it took him to find me.
The feeling of security that comes with the sound of the door opening and hearing “Jackson Police” is overwhelming.
Yours truly,
Dorothy Jenkins
The second letter is as follows:
January 27, 2011; Chief Meyers, I just wanted to write a quick note to express my appreciation to you and your officers. It was with great embarrassment that we had to meet yesterday down the trail off Carter Notch Rd. The courtesy and professionalism demonstrated by both yourself and, the following day, Officer Jette went a long way in making the situation a little less horrible and should be an example for all folks in public safety! Marianne was singing Officer Jette’s (sic) after he took the time to bring her back up to get her car.
You are welcome to stop by for a cup of coffee anytime I am at the Drifters and should you ever find yourself in Old Orchard Beach and need anything, don’t hesitate to stop by the station.
Thanks again,
Andrew Hart EMT-B, EMD
Selectman Dougherty noted Sheriff Conley stated at a recent meeting that Jackson Police are doing a great job. Chairman Mason noted Sheriff Conley had shared that same compliment when the Sheriff’s Department presented to the Board last year. He noted that the Police in Jackson always respond to their calls unlike many other towns in the county.
3. Warren Schomaker – Shapleigh Building The following documents were presented to the Selectmen:
February 16, 2011
TO: The Board of Selectmen
FROM: Warren Schomaker
RE: The Old Library Building
This is in response to your open invitation for comment on the recommendations submitted by the Committee for the potential uses of the building.
While numerous ideas have been suggested on how, and by which organizations, the building would be used, the one mentioned most often is for small meetings – sewing club, bridge groups, etc. While it may turn out this way, it does seem, however, some of these organizations will find the new library, with its facilities, to be a better venue. The next idea most mentioned is for the display of exhibits of interest to both citizens and visitors with the result being a mix of uses. Two local organizations, the River Arts Gallery and the Historical Society, have exhibits in mind. Good exhibits will be very popular at this high visibility location.
I believe that there should be a cost sharing with the Town being responsible for the maintenance of the building and for private contributions to provide the funds needed to maintain the interior space. Tax exempt donations would be made through the Friends of the Library and/or the Historical Society. Other money would come from reimbursement by users.
These funds would be placed in a sub-account of the Town’s Money Market Account, and accounted for in the same manner as the Library Construction, Escrow, Conservation, and Highway Reconstruction sub-accounts are now handled. This provides a smooth procedure with proper checks and balances without burdening the General Fund accounting process.
Attached is a more detailed outline for the Plan being proposed.
OLD JACKSON PUBLIC LIBRARY
A Plan of Action to implement the Committee’s recommendations
Code Provisions
Andy Chalmers, the Building Inspector, has advised that the building may be occupied as “as is” except for minor corrections such as easier access to the electric panel and proper positioning of the heating unit. In addition, that while he can live with the present second egress situation, he would require that there be an undertaking for a conventional egress to be installed within a reasonable time frame.
Step One
The Selectmen would appoint a Management Committee comprised of four residents as follows:
One designated by either the Church or the Chapel Association
One designated by the Friends of the Library
One designated by the Jackson Historical Society
One selected from the public at large
Step Two
The Management Committee’s responsibilities would be as follows:
Set policy guidelines for the use to be restricted to Jackson citizens and Jackson non-profit organizations with only non-commercial activity permitted. Users would be required to provide evidence of insurance as needed.
Establish an operating budget to include utility costs, grounds maintenance, and routine building repairs.
Conduct regular inspections, interior and exterior, to insure that the building is in first class condition at all times.
Recommend to the Selectmen that a permanent trust fund be established to insure that funds would be available for major repairs and renovations into the future.
The Selectmen feel the Committee needs to have three or five members, not four. Selectman Dougherty thanked Warren for the work done on this; this is a wonderful idea. It would be easy to forget about the building. Warren wants to give the Board an idea about the type of exhibit they’d like to put on display. The Historical Society has a number of guest registers; one from the Glen Ellis House has some fine examples of the way people signed in – a gentleman signed in with his valet, his mother-in-law and the whole troupe. Another Register is from the Wentworth. There was a Professor at Skidmore who was doing a biography of the first President of Skidmore and has found this lady and her mother used to come over to Jackson and stay at the Wentworth. There has also been
a rumor over a hundred years that a certain woman had an affair going on with this chap; and in the register there’s the mother in one room and Miss Scribner and this fellow in the same room; we blew their cover a hundred years later; there are all sorts of interesting things like that. Oscar Wilde and General Grant stayed at the Glen Ellis House, which used to stand opposite the Thompson House. The Historical Society would like to set these up on disks and will have a docent there whenever the building is open. This building has high visibility. There are also copies of the White Mountain Echo which is a newspaper that was written in 1909 and published for visitors; it’s all tourist information about each town. The River Arts ladies want to be able to show their works, they are thirteen local Jackson artists; so there’s an opportunity for a Jackson group to have that kind of exposure. Their work would be mostly on the walls, so
there would be plenty of space for small meetings. Four or five other organizations could have exhibits there. Warren noted all that’s needed is for him to sit with Office Administrator Falcey for the accounting portion. He’d like the Selectmen to give him the go ahead to establish the Management Committee; there would be no issue expanding that Committee to five members. Linda Little is recommended as a member of the Committee, as is Paul Palubniak and possibly Betsy Kent; we want someone who’s had a long term interest in this building. This is a working Committee. Selectman Dougherty, seconded by Selectman Davis, made a motion to accept Warren’s recommendations for the basis for management and use of the Shapleigh building. The motion passed unanimously. It was noted it’s not so important for there to be an odd number on the Committee if it works okay.
4. Form MS-6: 2011 Budget of the Town Selectman Dougherty, seconded by Selectman Davis, made a motion to approve Form MS-6: 2011 Budget of the Town. The motion passed unanimously.
5. Bartlett Jackson Transfer Station – Scrap Metal Purchase Agreement This is an Agreement with Roger Labee for the purchase of scrap metal. He is offering $1250 and Bartlett has already signed the Agreement. This is the same amount as last year. According to Transfer Station Manager Edgerly this is a fair offer. Selectman Davis, seconded by Selectman Dougherty, made a motion to approve the Scrap Metal Purchase Agreement. The motion passed unanimously.
6. North Country Council, Inc. – Northern Pass Project Survey The folks at the North Country Council (Inc) are serious about getting this back in the State’s plan. They are asking the Selectmen to go through these items that they have listed and give their opinion as to whether it’s important, not important, has an impact or no impact. Selectman Dougherty asked if the Selectmen are informed about these high capacity transmission lines (HCTs); the United States is way behind with this technology. Most
countries are moving their grids to these and the United States will have to do it at some point; it may be difficult to accept where these lines go through. He doesn’t know the specifics of this project. Chairman Mason noted one of the reasons the people in New Hampshire are not particularly accepting is that there’s no New Hampshire power company involved; New Hampshire isn’t getting any power out of this project. This is going through Coos County and they don’t get anything out of it. Any power we generate via wood/solar etc. would be used locally, that won’t change. These HCTs are for moving large quantities of energy from large sources going to large users. The Board members noted this is a great idea but will have a lot of NIMBY reactions. People are going to have to bite the bullet and accept it.
There are many questions on the survey; some of those discussed are as follows: The Council wants to know what the potential ten-year impact on job creation would be and Selectman Davis noted there are no jobs up there, Chairman Mason doesn’t see how this is going to create jobs if the line is going through the area. Selectman Dougherty noted the folks who will be building it are highly paid and they spend their money in the area where they are working. Selectman Davis doesn’t see those as being jobs that will impact the North Country for long; Chairman Mason noted if one looks at the federal prison project in Berlin the concrete contractor up there has kept his crew of thirty-five busy for two years; he feels this is mostly positive; Selectman Dougherty thinks this will create some jobs and
the ripple effect will create jobs. While two of the Selectmen feel this will have a mostly positive impact Selectman Davis disagrees. All of the Selectmen agree this will create no long term jobs. Selectman Davis didn’t know this line was coming down through the state but the folks she’s heard from aren’t happy with where it’s going. The Board doesn’t see how it’s going to be able to come to a consensus. Selectman Davis noted it’s hard for this Board to do this survey; is this the Board’s opinion of the impact on Jackson? It was noted the Council is looking for a general opinion about this. The Board comes to no consensus on this item. The project should have a positive impact on Revenue but no overall impact on the Town Budget because the money isn’t coming to the state. Selectman Dougherty noted the power company pays a franchise fee. The fact that this is a
renewable energy supply will have no impact on the area since the state isn’t getting that power, the line is going right through the state. The Board isn’t sure there would be an impact on energy projects. As far as impacting energy affordability the Board feels there would be no impact since the energy isn’t coming to New Hampshire. The impact on landscape attractiveness would be mostly negative as would the impact on tourism; the impact on forestry could be good but the Board feels it’s mostly negative; impact on state forests, the Board is unsure since it doesn’t know if the line is going through a forest; impact on the White Mountain National Forest is also unsure for the same reason. The impact on the rural and country character is negative; the impact on the health of North Country residents would be negative. A lot of people are concerned about the electromagnetic fields; Sweden moved their kids out of any
electromagnetic fields; regarding the impact on the livelihood of North Country residents Chairman Mason thinks no impact; the Board isn’t sure what the North Country Council means by land use patterns so the Board is answering that as unsure. There is no impact on a sustainable economic base but there is either no impact or there could be a negative impact on development opportunities since no one wants to develop around these HCTs. The Board doesn’t believe this is consistent with local plans so is a negative impact; the Board doesn’t know if it is consistent with Regional Plans but feels there’s no way this would improve the environment so it would have a negative impact on environmental quality. As far as the effect on wildlife and vegetation goes, a cut like that can be positive for wildlife, Selectman Davis noted that’s only when it grows back and Office Assistant Falcey noted it really depends on how they clear it. They
can’t use the sheep to clear under the lines anymore. Chairman Mason feels it would probably be positive to wildlife since the power companies have to keep the vegetation down. The other members felt unsure of the impact. The plan would have no impact on the flood plains since they wouldn’t build them in flood plains. The Board feels endangered species would be mostly negatively impacted as would water resources. Selectman Dougherty noted these lines are noisy so there would be noise pollution. The Board feels this survey is not very meaningful. The Council is looking for anything they can to build their case, whichever way they want it to go. Chairman Mason lists Office Administrator Falcey as the contact person should there be follow up necessary regarding this survey.
7. Red Fox Bar & Grille – Permission to serve alcohol outside licensed area The Red Fox is requesting permission to serve alcohol for the Golf Tournament on July 21, 2011. Selectman Dougherty, seconded by Selectman Davis, made motion to grant permission to serve alcohol outside the licensed area for the Golf Tournament on July 21, 2011. The motion passed unanimously.
8. Parade Permit for Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon Al Risch will move this permit on to the proper state authorities once he receives permission from the Selectmen. Selectman Dougherty, seconded by Selectman Davis, made a motion to approve the parade permit for the Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Rockingham Electrical Supply Credit Application Office Administrator Falcey has suggested the town open an account with Rockingham Electric because that is the only place to get the special batteries for the town buildings’ EXIT signs. The Board agrees this is a good idea; with an account, anyone who is in that area can pick up the batteries when they are needed.
10. MediComp without Prescription Coverage – Medical Coverage Rate Transmittal The Board voted at a previous meeting to add this coverage. Chairman Mason signed the document.
11. Thank You Letters
a. Fred Henry
b. Ken Crowther
c. Jackson Highway Crew
Thank you letters are to go to Fred Henry, Ken Crowther and the Town crew for the good job they did pulling together while Road Agent Henry was with his daughter in Portland. The Board members approve sending out the letters. Selectman Davis noted Road Agent Henry’s daughter is home and has returned to school.
12. Other Business (added)
a. State School Tax Chairman Mason asked if there was any more information about this and Selectman Dougherty noted there are three different bills before the state and all of them would eliminate donor towns; his thought is that Jackson will probably not owe any money. Chairman Mason brought this up in case the Board felt they should talk about this at Town Meeting; they could let folks know about these bills; what could occur and what the Selectmen can do about it. The other Selectmen agree that
would be a good approach. Folks should also be encouraged to go to their State Representatives with their input. Jackson was told to send $543,000 to the State for March 12th. The effect of that on the tax rate would all come in the second bill, as nothing was in the first bill. The tax rate will be set in October so we’ll know by then. Selectman Dougherty believes the town should know by June and the Selectmen could use some funds from the Reserve to smooth this out; to mitigate the tax increase. He thinks the Board could eliminate this amount from the budget but both Selectman Davis and Chairman Mason disagree with that. The townsfolk have paid this before and no one lost their homes over it; Jackson has a low overall tax rate. Chairman Mason noted if the increase is going to be a buck and a half and the Selectmen take a half a buck out of it then that would be okay but if they mitigate the whole increase then there
is nothing left in reserve; it would be a mistake. Selectman Dougherty noted that until this is resolved it’s going to effect the tax rate so the Selectmen need to give the townsfolk the full effect, yes, it’s another buck and a half and they will have to pay all of that in their second billing (we already know that $185,000 adds forty-eight cents to the tax rate). Selectman Dougherty noted the Selectmen might be throwing in a lot if they knocked it down by the full amount; we have a lot in reserve; it’s over a million. He was informed it’s about $700,000. Chairman Mason agreed if the Selectmen could take seventy-five cents or a buck off the tax rate that would be okay but the Selectmen also have to make sure the town keeps enough in reserve. He noted that Selectman Dougherty and Selectman Davis are going to be on the Board in October; Chairman Mason isn’t. The amount that would be added to the tax rate would be a
dollar and forty-one cents. Selectman Dougherty noted at the Town Meeting the Selectmen need to say this is out there until we know and we’ll know in June. Chairman Mason noted the Board doesn’t have to say anything about mitigating the tax rate.
b. Land available for $185,000 Chairman Mason would like to make it clear that he didn’t vote this down because he thinks that it wasn’t a good idea to buy the land. He voted it down because it came to the Board so late that the Selectmen couldn’t find out the information about it. Chairman Mason thinks it would be a good idea for the town to have that piece of land but the price is an issue. Selectman Dougherty feels the same way about the price but the Board also doesn’t
know about the cost to put in the parking lot. Selectman Davis noted the purchase price is the tip of the iceberg. The land hasn’t been subdivided yet and the State hasn’t said if it will allow a driveway; Chairman Mason noted the State will allow access to the land. Selectman Davis noted the price is too high and there is the old Hawthorne Inn underneath it. Chairman Mason noted even if the town didn’t put a parking lot on it he thinks it would be better for the town to have that property; a person in Real Estate thought a reasonable price would be $175,000. Selectman Davis noted the town would be taking income off the tax records by purchasing that land. Jackson has parking here at the Town Offices and the times that are most busy are during the weekend. Chairman Mason noted parking or no parking the town should buy this land and hold on to it as it’s contiguous to the town fields and we’d be better off to
own it than not; the Town needs to own more land. There isn’t a lot of land owned by the town and the town missed the opportunity with the Snowflake property.
c. Jackson Sidewalks As Conway is experiencing issues regarding maintenance of its sidewalks following snow storms discussion was had about this at a recent Conway Planning Board and Vice-Chair Tobin wanted to let the Selectmen know that the Planning Board gave kudos to Jackson as an example of a town to emulate in care of sidewalks.
There being no further business the meeting was dissolved at 4:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Martha D. Tobin
Recording Secretary
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