NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF WORK SESSION
JANUARY 25, 2011
1. Call to Order: Chairman Jim Doggett called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
In attendance were: Chairman Jim Doggett; Vice Chair Barbara White; Planning Board member Ann Miles; BOS ex-officio Trisha McCarthy; and Circuit Rider Planner Brian Groth. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant Rick Milner.
Doggett appointed Milner to stand in for Pettit for the evening. Frank Gibbs arrived at 6:47 pm.
2. Town of Newton, NH interviews with firms applying as consultants for road design study.
Doggett explained that the board was interviewing and reviewing the proposals of five candidates applying as consultants for a road design study that examines the reconfiguration of the Rowe's Corner intersection. Doggett stated that all of the finalists were qualified and capable of submitting a proposal to be added to the State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) 10 year plan for roadway improvements. This project would be under the purview of the NHDOT and not require town funds.
The board reviewed the qualifications, relevant experience, and proposal specifics presented by the candidates. The board's review focused on the following areas of interest:
- feasibility of a roundabout at the Rowe's Corner intersection,
- community involvement in the design process,
- experience communicating with the NHDOT,
- tie in with proposed village district zone, and
- nurturing future development and small business in the area looking ahead 5, 10, and 20 years.
The firms interviewed were as follows:
- Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. – Christer Ericsson and Jason Plourde
- McFarland Johnson, Inc. – Michael Long and Gene McCarthy
- Fay, Spofford, and Thorndike, LLC – Dean Groves, Kevin Gagne, and Walt Woo
- CLD Consulting Engineers, LLC – Paul Konieczka and Daniel Hudson
- KV Partners, LLC – Michael Vignale and Arek Galle.
3. Other board business.
a. Alternate appointment
White moved to re-appoint Mary Allen to a 3 year term as an alternate member of the Planning Board. Second by McCarthy. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Doggett abstaining.
b. Acceptance of minutes
McCarthy moved to accept the minutes of the December 28 and January 11 meetings. Second by White.
Discussion of motion – Milner explained that the notice of decision regarding Puzzle Lane Lot 27-4 Phase I project had been revised by deleting the reference to a specific lot line. Milner suggested that the motion pertaining to this decision in the minutes of January 11 meeting reflect the deleted language. White stated that the previous meeting minutes cannot be changed, but could be amended at this meeting. Doggett asked if any members had any questions about the change in the minutes. No questions were raised. The board came to a consensus to amend January 11 minutes to reflect deleted language in the decision.
Motion carried 4-0-1 with Miles abstaining.
c. Manifests
Doggett presented the operating budget manifest to the board. The invoices reflected payment of office supplies.
White moved to pay the operating budget manifest amount of $63.45. Second by McCarthy. Motion carried unanimously.
Doggett presented the NPREA manifest to the board. The manifest indicated the payment of a town engineer invoice.
McCarthy moved to pay the NPREA manifest amount of $95.00. Second by White. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Miles abstaining.
d. Outgoing Correspondence
Doggett presented the notice of decision interpreting zoning language regarding undisturbed buffers within the project at Puzzle Lane Lot 27-4 Phase I. Milner explained that the decision had been revised by deleting the reference to a specific lot line. The deletion was necessary because, upon review of the plans, another lot line needed to be included in the decision. Doggett explained that, in order to allow the board to resolve the buffer issue without setting a precedent, the decision pertained to this project only.
Groth suggested that the board review the buffer zone requirement language in order to provide even application of this section of the zoning ordinances in the future.
Doggett asked if any members had problems with the notice of decision as written. No concerns were raised. The board came to a consensus for the chairman to sign the notice of decision.
Miles expressed her concern for the close proximity of the proposed driveway for Phases I & II of the project to a gas line easement. She stated that the board has the ability to require more coverage of the area to withstand the pressure of heavy duty emergency vehicles that may need to respond to an emergency at a large industrial building. In a large scale emergency, the vehicles may need to pass each other off of the driveway along the gas line easement. This area may need to be strengthened.
e. Consultant selection
McCarthy moved to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3-II(c) at 9:35 pm. Second by White. Board polled. All voted yes with Miles abstaining.
Doggett moved to close the nonpublic meeting at 10:10 pm. Second by Milner. Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the meeting will remain confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members, the circumstances no longer apply.
Gibbs moved to recommend that the Rockingham Planning Commission hire KV Partners, LLC as the engineering consultant for the village district road design study. Second by McCarthy. Motion carried unanimously.
White moved to appoint Jim Doggett as the board's representative during contract negotiations between KV Partners, LLC and the Rockingham Planning Commission. Second by Miles. Motion carried unanimously.
Groth explained the process for hiring the project consultant.
4. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Milner
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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