NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF WORK SESSION
JUNE 26, 2012
1. Call to Order: Chairman Barbara White called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. In attendance were: Chairman Barbara White; Vice Chairman Jim Doggett; Planning Board members Frank Gibbs and Michael Blanchette; Alternates Mary Allen, Sandra Estabrook, and Jim Holland; and BOS ex-officio Charles Melvin. Circuit Rider Planner Brian Groth was excused from the meeting. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant Rick Milner.
White appointed Estabrook to stand in for Miller.
2. Town of Newton, NH review of Puzzle Lane commercial subdivision performance guarantees.
White informed the Board of its previous decision that NPREA and performance guarantee accounts would be reviewed by the Board at a meeting prior to correspondence being sent to a developer. Milner informed the Board that the letters of credit for three performance guarantees connected to the Puzzle Lane commercial subdivision project were due to expire on August 1 and August 19. The Planning Board office intended to send a letter to Rt. 125 Development NH Corp. reminding the developer of its obligation to renew these performance guarantees prior to their expiration date.
Estabrook moved that the Planning Board send a certified letter to the developer stating that the letters of credit for the three performance guarantees must be renewed prior to their expiration date. Second by Melvin.
Discussion of motion – Doggett suggested that the Town Engineer review the performance guarantees to ensure that the amount secured in the letters of credit is adequate to cover construction costs.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Other Board business.
a. Regional notifications.
White informed the Board of two regional notifications received by the Planning Board office. The first notice concerned a 3-lot subdivision in South Hampton, NH that had a small portion of property extend over the town line into Newton. At some point, the Planning Board will have to notify South Hampton of Newton’s approval of the plan. The second notice concerned a 17-lot Open Space Residential Development in Merrimac, MA.
b. Review of Planning Board office systems upgrades.
Milner presented the specifications and pricing for a new color printer that will replace the current defective color printer in the Planning Board office.
Melvin moved to authorize the purchase of a new color printer and accessories as presented to the Planning Board. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
Milner reviewed the status of the copier machine in the Planning Board office. The copier machine that was purchased in 2007 has had several service calls in the past two months. Milner presented the specifications and price quotes for several copier machines that will replace the old copier machine in the Planning Board office. Milner further explained that the Planning Board operating budget does contain adequate funding for the purchase of a copier machine.
The Board came to a unanimous consensus on the following:
- not to consider the purchase of a color copier, a reconditioned machine, or a leased machine;
- consider options to purchase a new black and white copier machine;
- donate the old copier, a replacement toner cartridge, and the remainder of the service plan to the Town of Newton for use by other town departments.
Gibbs noted that the proposed cost of the copier purchase exceeded the limit contained in the town’s bid policy. The purchase must go out to bid.
Doggett moved to put the purchase of a new copier for the Planning Board office out to bid. Second by Estabrook. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Acceptance of minutes.
Doggett moved to accept the minutes of the June 12 meeting. Second by Melvin. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Manifests.
White presented a NPREA manifest to the Board. The invoice reflected payment to the Town Engineer for construction observation at the Puzzle Lane project.
Doggett moved to pay the NPREA manifest in the amount of $254.40. second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
White presented an operating budget manifest to the Board. The manifest reflected payment of telephone bill.
Doggett moved to pay the operating budget manifest in the amount of $59.43. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
White presented a second operating budget manifest to the Board. The invoice reflected payment of computer purchase for the Planning Board office approved at the previous meeting.
Doggett moved to pay the operating budget manifest in the amount of $997.00. Second by Melvin. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Milner
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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