Town of Lyme
Board of Selectmen
Minutes for December 6 2007
1. The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 8:00 AM in the Fire Station training room. The following attended the entire meeting: Simon Carr, Dick Jones, Charles Ragan, Bookkeeper/Secretary Dina Cutting, and Administrative Assistant Carole Bont. The following attended parts of the meeting: Police Chief Pauline Field.
2. The following administrative matters were discussed and actions taken:
a. The minutes for November 28 were approved. The minutes for December 3 were approved with minor amendments.
b. The non-public session minutes for December 3 were approved with minor amendments.
c. The manifest was reviewed and signed.
d. Karl Furstenberg’s request to borrow chairs from the Academy Building was refused. The Board considered that the only possible circumstance for them to be removed, other than for town functions, would be for non-profit events.
e. The LGC Unemployment Insurance form was signed.
3. Planning and Zoning:
a. Dick will cover as Administrator for Friday December 7.
b. There was a discussion about car washing on River Road. The person concerned has already confirmed his legality with the State. Dick will draft a response to the complainant.
c. A building permit was signed:
07-104 Bret Ryan – renovations to existing house.
4. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation ‘New England States Performance Measurement Pilot Project’ was discussed. The Board agreed they did not want to participate in this.
5. Dick reported on the Conservation Commission’s meeting of December 3. They were reviewing their policy on the Chaffee Wildlife Sanctuary but had not reached any decision.
6. Dick reported on the Budget Committee meeting of December 5. There was a concern that revenues looked very low and Dina was asked to produce the current revenue analysis.
7. The Town Offices funding was discussed. Estes and Gallup were producing a cost estimate based on Don Metz and Frank Bowles’ drawings and specifications. This cost estimate will then be reviewed by an independent architect, before submission to the Budget Committee.
8. Current Town Offices: The relocation was continuing, but was taking time, with everyone having to continue their regular work. Harvey is due today, to complete the computer wiring and complete the network.
9. The Highway Department had asked to carry over unused vacation time:
W. LaBombard 84 hours
S. Bailey 51.5 hours
M. Hewes 66.5 hours
F. Stearns 103 hours
R. Stearns 38 hours
The Board agreed that this could be carried over until July 31. The Board also determined to draw the staff attention to the carry-over policy and to strongly urge them to take their vacation time within each current year.
10. A Property Tax appeal from Ben Henszey (Map 414, Lot 13) was reviewed. Dick Jones is an abutter and recused himself. Diana had submitted an analysis of the issues. Charles moved and Simon seconded that the Board concurred with the Assessor in refusing the appeals.
11. Simon presented the Transfer Station’s revised fee scale. Dick proposed and Charles seconded that the fees scale as proposed by the Transfer Station committee be approved. This was agreed unanimously. It was confirmed that the bag stickers would not be sold after the end of the year, although those already sold would continue to be accepted.
12. There was a discussion of Tom Morrissey’s attorney’s freedom of information request for documents on the beavers, Chaffey Nature Reserve and Post Pond water level. The likely number of documents greatly exceeds the guaranteed copying payment. It was agreed that we would wait until our counsel had clarified the specific requirements with Mr. Morrissey’s attorney before proceeding with copying the documents.
13. Bill Waste’s request to hold a non-binding referendum was discussed. The Board objected to holding this during the January presidential primary election and did not consider that they had the authority to permit it. The Board considered that the better procedure would be to have a warned public hearing, at which all who wished could put their view.
14. At 9:15 AM Dick moved and Simon seconded a motion to go into non-public session under the authority of RSA 91-A:3 II(c) – “matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person” and also under the authority of RSA 91-A:3 II(b) – “the hiring of any person as a public employee”. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote. Simon Carr, Dick Jones, Charles Ragan, Carole Bont and Dina Cutting attended the non-public session. A hardship abatement was approved and signed. The Board considered the applications for the position of Zoning Administrator. The Board returned to public session at 9:40 AM.
15. At 9:43 AM the Board recessed until Monday, December 10 at 2:00 PM for a non-public session under the authority of RSA 91-A:3 II(b) – “the hiring of any person as a public employee”.
Simon Carr
Recorder
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