NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF WORK SESSION
MARCH 27, 2012
1. Call to Order: Administrative Assistant Rick Milner called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. In attendance were: Chairman Jim Doggett; Vice Chair Barbara White; Planning Board members Frank Gibbs, Ann Miles, and Robert Miller; Alternate Sandra Estabrook; and BOS ex-officio Charles Melvin. Circuit Rider Planner Brian Groth was excused from the meeting due to the lack of agenda items. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant Rick Milner.
Doggett appointed Estabrook to stand in for Blanchette.
2. Town of Newton, NH Planning Board officer elections.
Melvin moved to appoint Barbara White as Chairman of the Planning Board for a one year term. Second by Doggett.
No other nominations for Chairman were presented.
Motion carried unanimously.
Melvin moved to appoint Jim Doggett as Vice Chairman of the Planning Board for a one year term. Second by Gibbs.
Miles moved to appoint Frank Gibbs as Vice Chairman of the Planning Board for a one year term. Second by Miller.
No other nominations for Vice Chairman were presented.
Written ballot vote taken. Doggett selected on six ballots. Gibbs selected on one ballot.
Motion to appoint Jim Doggett as Vice Chairman of the Planning Board for a one year term carried 6-1 with Miles opposed.
Estabrook suggested that the Planning Board officially thank Doggett for his two years of service as the Planning Board Chairman.
Miller moved that the Planning Board write a letter to Jim Doggett thanking him for his service as the Planning Board Chairman. Second by Melvin. Motion carried 5-0 with Doggett and Miles abstaining.
3. Town of Newton, NH review of performance guarantees.
a. Sargent Woods condominium community. Milner presented memos from the Town Engineer detailing his recent site visit to the Sargent Woods project and his recommendation to change the language of the erosion control portion of the performance guarantee to include the entire site, not just Phase I and II.
The Board came to a consensus without objection to change the language of the erosion control portion of the performance guarantee to include the entire site by referencing the Town Engineer's revised memo dated March 2, 2012.
Gibbs noted that the Board must make sure that previously constructed phases or acreage are completed satisfactorily to prevent erosion before new work is started on future phases or acreage. In order to adhere to the requirement within the erosion control portion of the performance guarantee language that no more than five acres be disturbed at any one time, the Board must determine what standards should be considered to deem previous acreage completed before beginning construction disturbance within new acreage.
White suggested that the erosion control performance guarantee may need to be separated into two parts. One part should cover the roadway until each portion of the roadway is completed satisfactorily to prevent erosion control. A second part should cover site work within the five acres of approved disturbance.
Miles suggested that the Board receive a plan from the Town Engineer (after consultation with the developer) that gives the Board a better understanding of the developer's construction sequence.
Doggett moved that the Planning Board send a letter to the Town Engineer requesting feedback regarding the erosion control bond for the entire roadway and each segment as it is being built. Second by Miller. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Katherine Drive. Milner informed the Board that the process for accepting Katherine Drive as a town road is currently underway. Also, the performance guarantee for Katherine Drive is due to expire on April 7, 2012. The developer has been notified of the pending expiration and has committed to renew the guarantee.
4. Other Board business.
a. NPREA funds release.
Milner presented the NPREA accounts for the following projects:
- Sandra Bearce, Lot line adjustment at Merrimac Road
- Richard Thomas, Home based business at Kenwood Drive
- Paul and Dawn Doyle, Site plan at Sarah's Way
- Lewis Builders, Amended site plan at Sargent Woods
Milner indicated that all anticipated invoices have been received and Planning Board involvement with the initial applications is completed. He requested that the NPREA accounts for these projects be closed and remaining balances be refunded to the applicants.
Gibbs moved that the NPREA accounts for the four projects presented to the Planning Board be closed. The remaining balances shall be refunded to the applicants. Second by Melvin. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Acceptance of minutes.
Doggett moved to accept the minutes of the February 28 meeting. Second by Melvin. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Manifests.
Milner presented a NPREA manifest to the Board. The invoice reflected payment to the Town Engineer for review of three projects.
Doggett moved to pay the NPREA manifest in the amount of $1,038.21. Second by Miller. Motion carried unanimously.
Milner presented a second NPREA manifest to the Board. The invoice reflected payment of legal ad for public hearing.
Gibbs moved to pay the NPREA manifest in the amount of $52.88. Second by Miller. Motion carried unanimously.
Milner presented an operating budget manifest to the Board. The invoice reflected payment of 2012 Rockingham Planning Commission membership dues.
Gibbs moved to pay the operating budget manifest in the amount of $4,281.00. Second by Doggett.
Discussion of motion – Miles stated the importance of Newton's membership with the RPC. The RPC is a good resource with a wealth of information to help provide increased services to the Town of Newton.
Motion carried unanimously.
d. Correspondence.
Milner informed the public that the Board had one opening for an alternate member.
The Board came to a consensus to advertise the opening for an alternate member.
5. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Milner
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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