Town of New Boston
Selectmen's Meeting
April 2, 2007
PRESENT: Gordon Carlstrom Selectman
David Woodbury Selectman
Christine Quirk Selectman-Absent
Burton Reynolds Town Administrator
A. CALL TO ORDER: A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by David Woodbury at 7:00PM beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
B. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments were made at this time.
C. APPOINTMENTS:
1. 7:00 PM John Riendeau Road Agent
Road Agent John Riendeau was present to meet with the Selectmen to discuss projects the Highway Department is working on.
· The Thorton Road situation and solutions were discussed. John showed the Selectmen some pictures he took today showing some pipes coming out of a stonewall for the purpose of directing water from the Baudreau’s yard into the town right of way. The photos showed no water at this time. A letter with recommendations was received from the Road Committee and reviewed. Burton will prepare a letter for the Selectmen’s signature asking the Baudreaus to discontinue the pipes. The water has been moved from yard to yard, starting when Willard Dodge cleaned a ditch to direct water behind Brandy Mitroff’s property. Skip Gomes moved the water
from there, then the town tried to fix it so water would go to a culvert. Roch Larochelle from the Road Committee now recommends installing a pipe approximately 350 feet long to put the water behind the house on lot 49-2. John has concerns about sand getting into the pipe and clogging it. The Selectmen felt it was not the towns place to decide for the property owners where the water should go. The property owners can work this out. The Selectmen asked John to talk to Elizabeth Aksten who owns the property on the other side of the road to discuss solutions due to her clearcutting. Her property is carrying water from her field and dumping it in the town right-of-way. Roch recommends hiring an independent third party to do the work being suggested and John agrees. John would like to install a couple basins and some underdrain on the upper section of the hill. This would require cutting some trees on a scenic road. He suggested he could do test
pits where he wants to put in the basins to make sure he can dig in the area. John disagrees with Roch’s idea of a level spreader, he would rather do underdrain and drainage first. Development in the area prevents using old historical water solutions. A sitewalk will be scheduled soon to include John, the Selectmen and Elizabeth Aksten.
· Bedford Road corridor planning-An all boards meeting is scheduled for Friday. John said some leftover 2006 Highway Block Grant money could be used but he would prefer not to because he usually uses that for unplanned emergency expenses. John met with Ray Shea who drew up a sketch of an area where the Bussiere’s are willing to give some property to the town to straighten Bedford Road out just before Klondike Corner. He gave the sketch to the Planning Board with a cost estimate plus an estimate for this year’s planned upgrades for Bedford Road. John expects Bedford Road will be closed for 1-2 days to install a box culvert as part of this year’s road
improvement project.
· Bog Brook Road is in process. The permits are now cut. John plans to work on the project in July or August when the water is low. He expects it will be completed this year.
· John is getting an asphalt price quote tomorrow.
· The Highway Department has had problems with its payloader. They loaded the first round of trucks Thursday morning when suddenly it wouldn’t pick up. John Deere came out to look at it and found a small piece of metal stopping the spool from sliding to put in the hydraulic oil and lift the loader. There is a 1-year warranty on this equipment. John will call to see if an extended warranty is still available.
· The Highway Department has also had trouble with the grader. It blew a fuel injector in the head. John Deere will cover it because the head was worked on last year by a mechanic who only hooked 1 plate and it snapped off causing the problem. John said this is the third or fourth time the town has had problems with this particular mechanic.
· The culvert on Saunders Hill Road was worked on last week and replaced.
· The Highway Department started grading roads last week.
· Butch did the yearly equipment inspections.
· The Highway Department is preparing to sweep the roads.
· John plans to improve a ditchline on Clark Hill Road just up from the intersection of Thorton Road. Water has been flooding the road and it should not follow the ditchline to the nearest culvert
· John spoke to Rich at NHDOT about the downtown crosswalk by the library. Rich will send someone out to look at it and approve it so the town can get it put in. The other crosswalks will be repainted at the same time.
D. Move to enter Non-Public Session: David made a motion to go into Non-Public session per RSA 91-A:3II(a) at 8:23 PM. Gordon seconded the motion. All were in favor.
E. Move to exit Non-Public Session: Gordon made a motion to exit Non-Public Session at 8:43 PM. David seconded the motion. All were in favor.
F. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
1. Minutes of March 19, 2007 - The Selectmen reviewed the minutes. Corrections were noted. David moved that they be accepted as amended. Gordon seconded the motion. All were in favor.
G. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Planning:
· Christine was not present to discuss the recent planning meeting.
· An all boards meeting is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 to discuss plans for an engineering review of Bedford Road. Jack Munn from Southern New Hampshire Planning will also attend and will explain how to figure out the cost to each department of development projects.
· Elliot Konner prepared some information for the Planning Board regarding the .21-acre property that Doris Leedham thinks she owns. Planning Coordinator Nic Strong reviewed the information and recommended Town Attorney Bill Drescher should also review it. The Selectmen would prefer the matter went to the ZBA before getting the town attorney involved.
· A draft letter to Planning Board Chairman Peter Hogan was prepared for the Selectmen’s review and approval.
H. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Planning Board and Alternate Appointments-Barry Charest was present to meet with the Selectmen to discuss his interest in becoming a Planning Board alternate. He is currently in the military reserves and works at the Friendly Beaver Campground. He is interested in the Planning Board because of his experiences with plans for the campground that went before the Board and he wants to become involved in the community. David moved to appoint Barry Charest as a Planning Board Alternate. Gordon seconded the motion. All were in favor. Gordon moved to appoint Doug Hill and Don Duhaime as Planning Board members. David seconded the motion. All were in favor.
2. Preliminary Review: Appointments-The Selectmen reviewed a list of potential committee appointments.
I. OLD BUSINESS:
2. Gravel Permits-The Selectmen reviewed a spreadsheet summary of the status of gravel pit permits. The pit owners who have not yet responded will be called tomorrow for an update on their status. The hearings will probably be scheduled for 4 Thursday nights. A sample plan from Sandford Engineering was reviewed. The Selectmen will not grant a permit if applications are not complete. They will schedule hearings on deficient applications for the end of the month and will write to these pits telling them how they are deficient.
3. Cell Tower-The Selectmen have reviewed Town Attorney Leslie Nixon’s opinion on the cell tower contract and decided to ask her to work it out with Verizon’s attorney.
J. NEW BUSINESS:
3.Part Time Benefits-Recreation Director Mike Sindoni wrote to the Selectmen asking for part time benefits for the After School Program Director and Assistant. Under the town policy regular part time employees must work an average of at least 18 hours per week over 52 weeks to receive benefits. These employees get July and August off because school is out during those months. The Board found they met the definition of regular part time and also found they work an average of 18.6 hours per week over 52 weeks, thus qualifying them for part time benefits.
4. McCurdy Road Subdivision Names-The Selectmen requested Lorden Drive be changed to Lorden Road. Sawmill Lane is ok.
5. Fire Warden Appointments-The Selectmen signed the Fire Warden appointments to be sent to the state for approval.
K. OTHER:
1. The Selectmen expect to listen to Capitol Trash’s complaints at the April 30 meeting. An outline was suggested to help keep the meeting focused.
2. Police Chief Chris Krajenka sent a letter asking about the policy of going through trash once it is dropped off at the Transfer Station. Once trash is dropped off at the Transfer Station it is no longer resident’s property but becomes property of the town. Burton sent a reply to him today.
L. PUBLIC COMMENT: No comments at this time.
M. ADJOURNMENT: David made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 PM. Gordon seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Prepared by Maralyn Segien
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