NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MAY 7, 2007 MEETING
Selectmen: Jim Powell, Richard, Wright, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Donna Long, Admin. Assistant; Cal Prussman, Highway Admin.
Public: James McDonough, Steve Remen, Attorney Dennis Lick, Clay Rucker
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Powell made note that the latest edition of the Newbury Update was available at the town offices, transfer station, library and online. Wright offered to have his wife hand deliver to residents in south Newbury. A weatherproof box for outside the town offices will be put up for additional copies of the newsletter.
Powell also mentioned that he, Dennis and other members of the Beautification Committee were present at the State House for the 2006 Community Beautification Award ceremony. Governor Lynch and the NH Arborists Association presented the award to Newbury and eleven other communities to acknowledge their efforts at public landscape management and beautification. This is the second time Newbury has been presented with this award. Powell commended the Beautification Committee for it’s ongoing commitment to the town.
PUBLIC INPUT:
James McDonough came before the board to discuss the current issues facing the completion of a production well being installed at Chalk Pond. McDonough explained that there are currently 80 homes being served by the well, with the potential of an additional 20 to be built. The Chalk Pond Water Company has installed a new well which has been approved by NHDES. They now need to get the water from the well to the pump station. To do this, he proposes to do directional drilling under the road and trees and pop up into the lower pumpstation. This will all be conditional on purchasing a lot of vacant land, which is currently in process. Pavlicek said to have his attorney draw up the documents and bring them back to the Board.
Steve Remen and his attorney addressed the board regarding the extension of his garage. Ramen built an addition to his garage without a building permit and when the Code Enforcement Officer looked into it, found that it was in violation of being within the setback requirements from a permanent brook. Remen said that the brook was a seasonal one when the original garage was built in 2001 and since has been deemed a permanent one. Paul LaCasse (Code Enforcement Officer) ordered a cease & desist on the project and said to approach the zoning board regarding this issue.
Wright said that he does not believe this is a zoning board issue. The Board members decided that they must uphold their decision for a cease and desist and to remove the new addition, since no building permit was
originally sought. Pavlicek suggested submitting an Administrative Appeal which will appeal
the selectmen’s decision for the aforementioned cease and desist. At the same time, they should plan to approach the planning board to dispute the fact that the brook is indeed permanent, if they have information that the stream is not permanent. The Board agreed that they will extend the time, if need be, as long as the process is evolving.
Clay Rucker approached the Board asking for an update on the road conditions on Rollins Road. Powell mentioned that the Board has agreed there is a real problem and will be looking at options to address it. They will take initial steps to start the process.
APPOINTMENTS:
Mary Bachelder discussed the issue of a property owner’s leach field in a section of the lake front cemetery, that is currently not being used. The subject has been brought up because the Cemetery Trustees would like to put up a fence around the cemetery. The trustees would like to address the owner of the leach field to see if it is still being used. Powell suggested sending a letter to the property owner and report back to the Board at a future meeting.
Cal Prussman submitted a report on all the work that has been done on the roads since the April Nor’easter. The report also lists all the things that need to be done, but are not quite finished yet. Cal said the report lists all the highest priced roads to be fixed. In the next couple of months the highway department will be putting crushed ledge on Province Road. The sweeping company will be coming to town next week. All four highway trucks will be hauling material for the sweeper. A tractor has been reserved in August for roadside mowing. Wright asked Prussman to move the chip piles at Fishersfield. He believes the two high priority roads are Rollins Road and Province Road. He would also like to do a small amount of work on Chalk Pond
road, Barlett Road and Old Post Road. The board decided to delay the repairs to Baker Hill this year. Instead the monies will be used to fix these above mentioned roads. A public hearing will be held in June to notify the public. A property owner on Newell Road will be taking down 9 dead trees on her property. All trees must be tipped toward road. Prussman will notify the other residents on Newell road, the police department, Bradford police department and the school bus company. They will block off portions of Brown Road and Mountain Road.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending May 5, 2007 approved.
MINUTES: Minutes of April 23, 2007 approved to file.
ABATEMENTS/REFUNDS/EXEMPTIONS: The Board signed 4 current use penalties.
The Board approved 2 applications for current use. The Board signed 24 abatements. The
Board denied 2 elderly exemptions and eight veteran exemptions. The Board approved 2
elderly exemptions and 18 veteran exemptions.
INTENT TO CUT: The Board signed 2 intents to cut and one intent to cut in a buffer zone.
OLD BUSINESS:
Pavlicek reported the town will try to get as much mitigation as it can get for our
damaged roads from FEMA.
Pavlicek said the renters at the Camacho Property would like to continue to rent. After
the Code Enforcement Officer inspects the property, the town will enter into up to a one year
agreement and charge the existing rent.
Pavlicek reported that he and Patricia Sherman went through all the RFQ sidewalk
project proposals. They chose five companies and have invited back to interview on
Monday, May 14th. These companies are: CHA, CLD Consulting Engineers, KV Partners,
CMA Engineers and Stantec.
Wright gave an update on the Fishersfield project. He said that the engineering and site
layout is done. The roughing in of the field has to be done and roughing in of the volleyball,
basketball and tennis courts. The road and parking area need to be constructed. Pavlicek
will look into an irrigation system for the fields. A storage area will also be constructed.
Wright would like this job to go out to bid as soon as possible. He will have these advertised in
the Kearsarge Shopper, Intertown record and Argus Champion by the beginning of next week.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board signed a contract for the 2007 Household Hazardous Waste Collection to take place on August 18th from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Pavlicek notified the board that vacation coverage has been scheduled for an employee at the transfer station.
The Board was informed of an upcoming book sale at the Library on May 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The sale will take place in the parking lot of the library and in the case of inclement weather, will be held in the conference room of the town offices.
Pavlicek distributed a letter sent by a property owner that is in dispute with an abutter. The selectmen agreed this was a civil matter and no action will be taken.
Pavlicek informed the Board of an invitation to the opening ceremonies for the Relay for Life held at the Kearsarge Regional High School Track in Sutton on Friday, June 1st at 6:00 p.m.
The Board looked at a driveway permit submitted by Maureen Clement. She would like to put a driveway in on a paper road. The Board would like Clement to bring in maps and information on abutters and attend an upcoming meeting.
Pavlicek submitted the information gathered on the Mosquito Control Program. He will keep information on file for now.
NON PUBLIC SESSION:
The Board voted to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II, a-e at 9:15 p.m. to discuss the interviewing process for the Transfer Station Supervisor. Discussion also took place regarding a request to delay a lien and interest for a property owner. Agreement was reached. The Board came out of non-public session at 9:30 p.m. with a request that the minutes of this session be sealed for a year. The request for the waiver of interest and to delay the lien were denied.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, May 21, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
_______________________ _____________________ _______________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
dl/May7/07 NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
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