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Selectmen’s Board Meeting
February 19, 2015
Present: Bob Thompson, Chairman; John Allen and Bill Lockard, Selectmen
Visitors: Town Office Administrative Assistant Julie Hoyt, Police Chief Doug Jette, Building Inspector Kevin Bennett, Videographer Hank Benesh, Bea Davis, Stan Weiss, Frank Benesh
Chairman Bob Thompson called the meeting to order at 4:34 p.m.
- Selectmen’s Meeting – February 5, 2015 The name of Jackson’s newest Police Officer’s last name is Coplin, not Coughlin. The minutes were approved as amended.
- Budget Hearing #2 – February 5, 2015 The minutes were approved as written.
- Non-Public – February 5, 2015 – sign minutes envelope RSA 91-A:3, II(c) The envelope was signed.
- Update on 2.5.15 Action Items
- Stump Dump This is on hold until the spring when Selectman Lockard can make an inspection.
- Doublehead Parking Lot Selectman Allen has gotten ahold of Joe Gill regarding Doublehead; this has to go to Brian Johnstone at the Saco Ranger Station; the plan is to meet with these folks as well as any abutters on March 5th.
- Neighbors watching neighbors The notice was put on enews.
- Upcoming Meeting Dates Chairman Thompson noted upcoming Selectmen’s meetings are March 5th and 19th at 4:30 at the Town Office. The Town Election is on March 10th with polls open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Whitney Center and Town Meeting on March 12th beginning at 7 p.m. also at the Whitney Center.
- Public Comment There were no comments.
- Police Report Chief Douglas Jette reviewed Department activities since the last meeting; there have been a couple of snow storms; the Department had to undertake a reeducation program regarding parking. Officers were pretty aggressive this week; they wrote over twenty parking tickets and towed three vehicles from Main Street. The process was that when Police either see or were notified of a vehicle parked in the No Parking zone or impeding traffic Officers would take pictures as well as writing the ticket. So far there have been sixteen phone calls about the tickets. Once Chief Jette explained that the car was in a No Parking zone and texted them the photograph, he’s had no calls back after that. Vendors expressed concern with the ticketing; the town has had a Parking Ban and the No
Parking signs but they’ve not been enforced. Chief Jette noted the Police have been getting out and talking about this issue and being respectful. Most folks are not happy through the reeducation process however, Chief Jette feels they will come back. He noted this was just done in town as it’s a different case on Doublehead as that area doesn’t have the availability for a lot of parking; folks could park at Black Mountain Ski area and walk up; there just are not many alternatives. He applied more leeway up there; if vehicles were impeding traffic or a plow then they were towed. Police talked to several people up there and they were compliant and moved their cars. The signage is very clear. Chief Jette put some signage up by Stephen Weeder’s that is black and blaze orange; it’s very visible. These folks could drop their stuff off and then one person take the car to park down at Black and walk up. That’s an option or
parking at the school. During the snow storm there was a van in the Doublehead parking area and he almost fell over the tent set up next to it. There is no sign that says No Camping. The van had a surf board on top. Officers assisted the Fire Department with support for the chimney fire on Switchback as well as executing three arrests this week; one for drugs and two bench warrants out of District Court.
Chief Jette would like the Board to know he’s talked with the Governor’s Office about getting a state flag for Jackson. Folks may or may not know Police Officers take an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States and also that of New Hampshire. The flag is a visual representation of the town’s adhering to the state constitution. There is no place on the current pole to put this as the state flag would be on the ground should flags be ordered to half-staff. He wants to know if the Selectmen would be willing to add a second pole out front; and since there would be a cost incurred; he wondered if the town would accept a donation of a flagpole should one be made since the Police Department can’t take a donation. It’s about seventeen hundred dollars for a
thirty-foot flagpole. The Selectmen are open to a donation if someone wants to do that.
- Weekly Report Submitted by Kevin Bennett Building Inspector Bennett reviewed activities since the last meeting; it’s been a busy two weeks. There has been a lot of catching up with outstanding permits. There was an issue with an oil burner without a current permit; which will be remedied. Inspector Bennett met with a contactor regarding a two bedroom septic for a three bedroom house and half the house is in the setback; they are going back to the drawing board and will come in with a new permit application. He reviewed the concerns and issues with a couple of new permits. The fire on Switchback was due to a fire insert. Inspector Bennett has had discussions with prospective buyers and realtors to make sure folks know what they can and can’t do on properties. JXC was notified they need a sign
for their handicapped parking space; the emblem is painted on the black top so it’s not visible now. Inspector Bennett has taken a call from the new president of the Dana Place Association asking about what is going on at the Dana Place Inn; Rich is thinking about burning it or tearing it down to put in more units. He also took a call about putting a yurt on a lot in town. He looked at all the specs; it’s a wood yurt; it has structural wood walls; it meets all the building codes so he said the owner could do that. Selectman Allen asked about the canvas ones; those would result in bear issues.
- Intent to cut – Signatures Required Selectman Lockard, seconded by Selectman Allen, made a motion to approve the Intent to Cut. The motion passed unanimously.
- MS 636 Form – Signatures Required (added) This is the document that goes to the DRA setting the budget appropriation. Selectman Allen, seconded by Selectman Lockard, made a motion to sign the MS 636 Form. The motion passed unanimously.
- Proposed purchase of Fire Truck At last week’s meeting there was discussion about purchasing the fire truck this year; Selectman Lockard noted the town is trying to not incur the inflation costs by doing it this year. Inspector Bennett thinks if the town is going to buy it; then it should save the money. This doesn’t need to be decided; the warrant article doesn’t direct the town to buy the truck. Once the one-hundred-ninety-nine thousand dollars is raised the Selectmen will do the spending at a regular meeting. Selectman Allen noted theoretically the town will make more money on the ’95 truck this year over next.
- Public Comment There were none.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Martha D. Tobin
Recording Secretary
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