SELECTMEN’S PUBLIC MEETING
May 7, 2007
Call to Order
Chairman Ulcickas opened the meeting at 6pm. In attendance were Chairman John P. Ulcickas, Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Selectman Trisha J. McCarthy, Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Mary B. Winglass.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) – Interview for Code Enforcement Officer; (e) – Impending claim; (a) – Transfer Station and Facilities Manager. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Donovan – yes, Selectman McCarthy – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to recess the non-public session at 7:28pm until after the public meeting. Second by Selectman Donovan. Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of this non-public session is to remain confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply.
Chairman Ulcickas called the public meeting back to order at 7:29pm.
Introduction of Guests
Old Business
A. Continued discussion of Sargent Woods Land Use Change Tax
Present for this discussion was Mr. Ned Nichols and Town Assessor Andrea Lewy.
Chairman Ulcickas informed Mr. Nichols that the Board received a recommendation from Town Assessor Andrea Lewy regarding his request to determine the land use change tax for the first phase (22 units) of the Sargent Woods development. Chairman Ulcickas announced that Andrea’s recommendation is $4,562.50 per unit for the land use change tax for phase I only; the land use change tax would be issued according to RSA 79-A:7 and Cub 308.03; No abatement would be filed on the land use change tax for the 22 units in the Phase I agreement; Phase II and any other phase value would be based on the market at the start of construction.
Mr. Nichols responded that the figure is in the ballpark of what he thought it would be for phase I. Selectman McCarthy gave Mr. Nichols a copy of Andrea’s recommendation. Mr. Nichols then left the meeting.
The Board then moved onto reviewing applications for appointments (see below) and Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley asked the Board to go back to this discussion and for the Board to make a motion to clarify the decision of the Board regarding the land use change tax for Sargent Woods Phase I project.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to accept the recommendation from Town Assessor Andrea Lewy for the land use change tax of $4,562.50 per unit for the Sargent Woods project Phase I (22 units). Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
B. Review Applications for Appointments
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to appoint Christina C. Hoffman as a member of the Stewardship Committee with a term to expire on April 15, 2010. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to appoint Laura Bertogli as a member of the Family Mediation Board of Directors with a term to expire on April 15, 2008. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to approve and confirm the appointment of Bradley Cardoso to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term to expire on March 31, 2010 or until a successor is appointed. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to approve and confirm the appointment of Jack M. Kozec to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term to expire on March 31, 2010 or until a successor is appointed. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
C. Open bids to Re-shingle the Town Hall
The Board opened four bids received to re-shingle the Town Hall roof. The bids were from the following companies;
1. Dempsey Construction & Roofing Specialists from Billerica, MA with a bid price to re-shingle the Town Hall roof for $28,000 and a separate proposal to repair the Steeple/Cupola for $5,000.00.
2. Autumn Leaf from Rochester, NH with a bid price to re-shingle the Town Hall and to repair the Steeple/Cupola for a total of $39,545.00.
3. Letoile Roofing Company, Inc. from Hampstead, NH with a bid price to re-shingle the Town Hall and to repair the Steeple/Cupola for a total of $33,940.00
4. A.J, Wood Construction from Salem, NH with a bid price to re-shingle the Town Hall and to repair the Steeple/Cupola for a total of $35,800.00
5. McCarthy Contracting, Inc. from East Hampstead, NH with a bid price to re-shingle the Town Hall and to repair the Steeple/Cupola for a total of $54,995.00.
Mr. Timothy Williams from Autumn Leaf informed the Board that he would like to upgrade his bid to include a 50-year warranty versus a 30-year warranty on the shingles for the same price. The Board requested for Mr. Williams to put this in writing to the Board. The Board decided to have the Building Inspector check the proposals; the Board tabled this issue until June.
D. Boat ramp access onto Country Pond
Present were many residents from the Country Pond area.
Chairman Ulcickas read a memo from Office Manager Mary Winglass regarding research in regards to the ownership and/or the maintenance of the boat access onto Country Pond. Per Rich Tichko from the NH Fish & Game, the State held a Public Hearing and it was approved by the Governor and Council on July 18, 1960 as a “Highway to Public Waters” per RSA 231:6 and was classified as a Class VI Highway which are basically “user maintenance” yet the town has some level of responsibility to maintain the area and cannot make it subject to gates and bars.
Dave Poulson, President of the Wilders Grove Cottage Owners Association was given a copy of the information regarding “Highway to Public Waters” and Class VI Highways. Mr. Poulson discussed his opinion is that the Town and the Association have a duel purpose without the state intervention. Mr. Poulson added that the Fish & Game has a list of public access points in the State and Newton does not have a defined public access area per the list. Mr. Poulson stated that the town can keep the area public but limit the use of the pond for water quality purposes. He added that the Pond is in Newton and residents can use it but the problem is how do we get to a working relationship between the town and the residents on the pond. Mr. Poulson stated that the Association learned of the same
answers regarding the area and he proposed to sit down with the Town Administrator to see if we can come up with a solution that works for both entities.
The Board decided that the next step is to have a representative visit the NH Dept of Fish & Game Lands Bureau to peruse the file and request copies of the pertinent documents. Selectman McCarthy stated that she would be willing to go to Concord to review the file. A discussion ensued from the homeowner association stating that this is an internal issue that they hoped to resolve as a joint effort between the town and the homeowners. Chairman Ulcickas asked that the Association allow the Board time to get a copy of this file before we move forward with any decision.
Mr. Dan Ferrara spoke on how he is ready to build a house across from the boat ramp and hopes that the trash and noise has decreased with the parking signs. Mr. Ferrara added that the area has been congested for years in the summer and in the winter with the road blocked off by the snowmobile traffic.
Culvert Issue
Mr. Poulson asked if the Board has had a chance to work on the culverts in question at a prior Selectmen’s meeting. The Board discussed the need to conduct a site walk with the Road Agent in order to determine an assessment of what the work may entail.
New Business
A. Letter from the President of the Historical Society William Landry
Re: Possible/Potential problem at the Marshall House Museum
Chairman Ulcickas read a letter from Bill Landry, President of the Historical Society advising the Board of a potential problem at the Marshall House for recently a member noticed what appeared to be sawdust on the floor such as is common with a carpenter ant or termite problem.
Bill Landry added that he went over to the Marshall House this past weekend and the pile of “sawdust” looked the same as it did three weeks ago and he feels that there is a 75% chance that this is not an issue but better to have someone take a look to make sure. Selectman McCarthy responded that she has a contact that she could call to have them take a look at the property. The Board agreed that we need to have someone take a look to make sure there are no termite problems.
Announcements
· Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief forms are available at the Town Hall. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2007.
Chairman Ulcickas announced that the applications for the Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief forms are available at the Town Hall and the deadline to apply is June 30, 2007. Chairman Ulcickas asked to have the application linked on the town’s official website.
Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
· Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes of April 16, 2007
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes of April 16, 2007 with the revision that the minutes reflect that Chairman Ulcickas referred to the letter (page 2 – under Letter from Transfer Station Manager Andrew Morse) “Chairman Ulcickas read a letter from” to be changed to “Chairman Ulcickas referred to a letter from”. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
· Selectmen’s Non-Public Meeting minutes of April 16, 2007
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Non-Public Meeting minutes of April 16, 2007 as written. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
· Selectmen’s Public Hearing minutes of April 16, 2007
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Public Hearing minutes of April 16, 2007 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Reports from Department Heads
· Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley asked to discuss the safe in the backroom of the Town Hall (conference room) for Building Inspector Mike DiBartolomeo is interested in it and as the Board knows, Nancy has spoken to the Historical Society and they do not have a place to put it for it weighs somewhere in the vicinity of 1.5 tons. The safe is large and bulky and is taking up valuable space at the Town Hall that could be used more effectively. Similar safes have been seen on eBay for roughly $799.00. TA, Wrigley questioned the Board if they are interested in making the public aware of the safe by holding a Public Hearing and subsequently a public auction. The Board
agreed to start a public awareness program by using the newspaper and website.
· Chairman Ulcickas announced that the Board has revised its meeting schedule. The Board will not be meeting on Monday May 21st but will be meeting instead on May 14th in a non-public session and a brief public session.
Review of Action Items
Adjourn
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to resume the non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Internal Control Assessment and (a) – Transfer Station and Facilities Manager at 8:26pm. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Donovan – yes, Selectman McCarthy – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Ulcickas motioned to close the non-public session at 9:50pm. Second by Selectman McCarthy. 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.
Chairman Ulcickas closed the non-public session at 9:51pm. Second by Selectman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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