SELECTMEN’S MEETING
March 20, 2006
Call to Order
Selectman Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:02pm. In attendance were Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Selectman John P. Ulcickas, Selectman Gary F. Nelson and Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Mary B. Winglass.
Selectman Nelson motioned to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) – Police Department and (c) – tax lien. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Donovan – yes, Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Nelson – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Selectman Nelson motioned to close the non-public meeting at 7:04PM. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. 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.
· Selectmen’s Reorganization Meeting
Selectman Nelson welcomed the newest Board member Robert Donovan, Jr. and then added that since this is the first meeting after the Town Elections the Board will discuss who will be Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and liaison for each town department, committee and commission.
Selectman Nelson motioned to become the Chairman for the Board of Selectmen for the upcoming year. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Planning Board
Chairman Nelson requested that he be the liaison to the Planning Board as he has the longest tenure as a Selectman. Selectman Donovan and Selectman Ulcickas concurred.
Conservation Commission and the Stewardship Committee
Selectman Ulcickas requested to continue his role as the liaison to the Conservation Commission and the Stewardship Committee. Chairman Nelson and Selectman Donovan, Jr. concurred.
Recreation Commission
Chairman Nelson asked Selectman Donovan, Jr. if he would be willing to take the position as liaison to the Recreation Commission for the upcoming year. Selectman Donovan agreed to take the role of liaison to the Recreation Commission.
Safety Complex Building Committee
Selectman Donovan, Jr. requested to be the liaison to the Safety Complex Building Committee. Chairman Nelson and Selectman Ulcickas concurred.
Department of the Transfer Station
Chairman Nelson requested to keep the liaison position between the Board of Selectmen and the Department of the Transfer Station. Selectman Ulcickas and Selectman Donovan, Jr. concurred.
Department of Building Safety
Selectman Ulcickas requested to continue his role as the department liaison. Selectman Donovan, Jr. and Chairman Nelson concurred.
Police & Fire Department
Selectman Donovan, Jr. requested to take the role of liaison between the Board of Selectmen and the Police and Fire Department. Chairman Nelson and Selectman Ulcickas concurred.
Cable Committee
The Selectmen agreed that they would all share the role as liaison to the Cable Committee and split the responsibility.
Introduction of Guests
Old Business
A. Review of year to date 2006 budget expenditures
The Board agreed to table the review of the February month-end budget expenditures.
B. Discussion on the Transfer Station Safety Operations
Chairman Nelson stated that he was told by Transfer Station Manager Roger Clark this past weekend that he would be unable to attend tonight’s meeting, therefore the Board tabled this discussion until the April 3rd Selectmen’s meeting.
New Business
A. Mr. Jason Hubbard of 34 Wilders Grove Road RE: Parking concerns on Wilders Grove Road
Mr. Jason Hubbard of 34 Wilders Grove Road stated that he is here speaking on behalf of a group of more than 20 concerned residents who want to form a lake Association to help reconcile the rights of the residents living on Country Pond. Mr. Hubbard discussed that the residents would like to address the lack of parking along the side of Wilders Grove Road. Boat trailers and trucks park along side the road and the area does not allow for adequate parking, nor is it safe. There is an additional problem with the lack of No Parking signs.
Mr. Hubbard explained that the road is narrow and with the increased use of the boat launch with license plates from out of state, the parking along side the road has caused concerns with unsafe passing. Mr. Hubbard stated that the parking enforcement is lax and needs to be addressed. The other concern is with the water quality issues that Country Pond has been facing over the past couple of years and the possible affects of the increased usage.
Mr. Hubbard requested that the Selectmen address the safety of the residents and help to strike a balance on resolving the problems. This would include posting and enforcing the parking along side the road with strict enforcement. Mr. Hubbard added that there are key times of the day for enforcement on the abuse of parking in the area.
Police Chief Streeter spoke on the number of complaints received at the Police Department from that area from the beginning of 2003 to present and the department had 284 calls and only two (2) were parking complaints.
Mr. Hubbard responded that the area residents feel that they have no support from the town and have thrown up their hands and given up. Mr. Hubbard added that now the area has some new blood and they want to move forward with these issues.
Chief Streeter stated that he takes offense to Mr. Hubbard’s statement as there has been a number of patrol activity and parking enforcement in this area.
Chairman Nelson questioned Fire Chief Ingalls if he has had any problems getting his trucks in and out of the area. Chief Ingalls responded that the only problem he has is turning the trucks around at the end of Wilders Grove Road.
Mr. Jim Baker of Ridge Road addressed the Selectmen on the winter activity in the area with snowmobiles, this is not just a problem in the summer as there is much activity in the winter as well. Mr. Baker added that the Police Department cannot be there all the time patrolling the area and everyone in the area has become accustomed to the activity but we need to protect the resource.
Mr. David Poulson of 32 Wilders Grove Road stated that the key subject is the public access and after researching it, it was found that the ramp is not regulated by the town. The town has some control over how the public is going to access the pond with the parking safety and congestion issues. Another concern is who is responsible for the maintenance of the ramp.
Chairman Nelson stated that he would like to work with the residents to come up with a solution to resolve these issues. Country Pond is an important town resource that needs to be protected. He added that he uses this ramp in the summer and has had problems with parking in the area. Chairman Nelson added that he knows of a few residents who are interested in starting a committee to deal with the water resources of Country Pond and they may want to get together with them to help form a committee.
Chairman Nelson suggested that the Board conduct a site walk of the area in order to have a better understanding of the parking concerns.
The Board agreed to hold a site walk on Sunday, March 26th at 9am and requested that Police Chief Streeter, Fire Chief Ingalls and Road Agent Frank Gibbs accompany them to help open up the dialogue between the departments as to what can be done in this area.
B. Request for reimbursement from the Safety Complex Committee
Chairman Nelson motioned to approve the payment of $82.50 from the Safety Complex Building Fund as a reimbursement for the printing of brochures. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
C. Letter from the Vic Geary Board of Directors RE: Looking for a community member to participate on the Board of Directors
Chairman Nelson read a letter from Dawn Weston, Secretary for the Vic Geary Board of Directors looking for a resident from Newton to join the Vic Geary Board of Directors. They meet on the second Thursday of each month at 8:30 am at the Vic Geary Center.
Chairman Nelson added that anyone interested in joining the Vic Geary Board of Directors, please contact the Selectmen’s Office for the contact information.
Announcements
· Area Selectmen’s Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 23rd at 7pm at the Hampstead Town Hall
Chairman Nelson stated that he may be able to attend but will need to check his schedule. Selectman Ulcickas is unable to attend and Selectman Donovan, Jr. will not be able to attend for he will be attending the Safety Complex Building Committee meeting.
Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
· Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes of March 6, 2006
Chairman Nelson motioned to accept the public meeting minutes of March 6, 2006 as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Chairman Nelson – yes, Selectman Donovan, Jr. - abstained. Motion passed.
· Selectmen’s Non-Public Meeting minutes and Emergency minutes of March 6, 2006 and March 7, 2006
Chairman Nelson motioned to accept the non-public meeting minutes and emergency meeting minutes of March 6, 2006 and March 7, 2006 as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Selectman Donovan, Jr. – abstained, Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Chairman Nelson - yes. Motion passed.
Reports from Department Heads
Review of Action Items
Adjourn
Chairman Nelson motioned to go back into non-public session at 8:05pm under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Planning Board issue. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Donovan – yes, Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Chairman Nelson – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
The Board of Selectmen went downstairs to discuss the status of the NPREA (Newton Professional Review Engineering Account) reconciliation with members of the Planning Board, Laura Stirling, CPA, Town Treasurer Cheryl A. Nelson and Planning Board Administrative Assistant Sally Cockerline. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the challenges the CPA has encountered with receiving information from the Planning Board.
When the Board went downstairs for this non-public meeting, they encountered a discussion in place with the aforementioned group which started at 7pm. The Selectmen learned that progress had been made due to this discussion and that another meeting will be held next week in order to continue the dialogue between all those involved with this account.
Therefore,
Chairman Nelson motioned to rescind his motion to go into non-public session. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Donovan – yes, Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Chairman Nelson – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Nelson motioned to adjourn at 8:30pm. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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