NOTTINGHAM PLANNING BOARD
September 16, 2009
PUBLIC SESSION
Approved & Amended
Type of Meeting: Scheduled
Method of Notification: Posted at the Nottingham Municipal Building & Nottingham Post Office
Meeting Location: Nottingham Municipal Building
PB Members Present: Scott Canney; Chair, Arthur Stockus; Secretary, Bill Dean; Vice Chair, Susan Mooney, Mary Bonser; Selectmen’s Rep, Cheryl Smith; Alt. Member, Traci Chauvey; Alt. Member, Robert “Buzz” Davies; Alternate Member
PB Members Absent: Peter Gylfphe,
Others Present: Lisa Sears; Land Use Clerk, Cheryl Smith; Alternate Member (not seated) Butch Smith (applicant), Alan La Pointe, Burt Simmons
Mr. Canney called the meeting to order at approximately 7:08 pm. Ms. Chauvey was seated for Mr. Gylfphe. Mr. Davies was seated for the open seat. The Board tabled the review of previous minutes. Ms. Chauvey noted she was the Planning Board aide when Mr. Smith came before the ZBA. She explained that she believes she can be objective about the case but felt she needed to mention this to the Board and Mr. Smith. Members of the Board and Mr. Smith did not express any objections to Ms. Chauvey being seated for the case.
Point of Order: Ms. Bonser recused herself during the Nelson Smith case.
Mr. Canney opened the public hearing for:
Case # P09-03- SUB (continued): Nelson E. Smith, Sr. – 91 McCrillis Road – Map 25 Lot 16-2 – Application for a 2- lot Subdivision (acceptance, compliance review, and final approval)
Mrs. Sears noted that the last time Mr. Smith was before the Board it was recessed for the site walk. The site walk was held in July but was not well attended.
Point of Order: there are no minutes from the site walk because there was not a quorum of the board present.
Mr. Smith noted that the corner of his existing deck was three feet into the new setback, as is the house on the opposite corner. He told the Board he would like to go before the ZBA to handle that and then come back before this Board. The Board agreed. Mr. Smith had copies of his state approvals and previous DES applications that he gave Mrs. Sears to copy for the property file. Mr. Smith gave a brief overview of wetlands permits to Ms. Smith. He noted he has no outstanding issues.
MOTION by Ms. Mooney to recess the public hearing for case #P09-03-SUB until November 18, 2009 at 7:15pm so that he may go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
SECOND by Mr. Davies
VOTE 5-Aye. 0- Opposed 1- Abstained MOTION PASSED
Point of Order: Ms. Bonser rejoined to the Board.
Other Business
Mrs. Sears asked about the Board’s meeting schedule. The Board agreed to hold a meeting with two new cases on October 7th despite her absence. The public hearing for the proposed subdivision regulations will be on November 20th, that is a Tuesday night instead of a Wednesday due to the Board attending LGC conferences. Mrs. Sears will post the meeting schedule change and her office closings.
Mrs. Chauvey asked Mr. Canney to share his OEP conference information with herself and the Board then she could save some money and not attend as well.
Workforce Housing assistance
The Board had previously discussed having Mr. Mettee, the planner come to assist with getting Nottingham ready for this new State law which is going into effect January 1, 2010. Mr. Mettee costs $75. per hour. The Board would like a worksheet before he attends the September 30th meeting.
MOTION by Ms. Chauvey to allocate up to $225 for up to 3 hours of Mr. Mettee’s time for prep work and meeting on September 30th, to come out of the planner line item.
SECOND by Ms. Mooney
VOTE 7-Aye. 0- Opposed 0- Abstained MOTION PASSED
2010 Budget Review
Mrs. Sears noted that the cost of the new file cabinets is not reflected in this budget. The Board discussed each line item. Mrs. Sears noted that in previous discussions it was noted that she can assist the Board in their goals but she is not a professional planner. At previous meetings it was noted that in order to get all that needs to get done completed it would be faster and more efficient to have a planner to send them down the right track so that they can meet their goals.
There was discussion on previous planners and that how it may not have been successful but the members noted that they could go with a different planner, one more familiar with Nottingham. The Board noted that they would like to increase the planner line to $25,000. It was noted that when there is no professional planner involved it takes the Board much longer to achieve their goals.
Mrs. Sears also noted that a large property owner is asking what this Board has done on workforce housing and open space ordinance because he wants to come in soon. It was noted that the Board has a large list of things to get accomplished in the next few years, and a professional planner will assist them in getting it done and done in a way that is best for Nottingham.
Ms. Smith noted it is very important to get things on our to-do list (Planning, Master Plan, Zoning, etc) and it’s important to Nottingham’s future including being able to maintain the rural character of Nottingham. She noted that she hopes that the Board of Selectman would agree.
Ms. Bonser stated she believes that they are keeping Nottingham nice and rural with a low tax rate. Ms. Smith agreed but noted that in light of the changing laws and other issues that this Board needs to be proactive and plan for the future in order to keep it that way.
The Board discussed Mrs. Sears’ salary line. It was noted that it is getting busy and there are projects that could be done. The Board increased that line item (010) to $14,300 for approximately 20 hours per week. The Board discussed the Planner issue again and decided to increase it to $25,000. They continued to adjust the following:
Postage same at $1,000
Dues/conferences increased form $400-$600
Publications same at $100
Advertising from $850 to $1,200
Office Supplies same at $500
Equipment same at $500
Mileage same at $135
The Board had questions for Mrs. Carlson on what some of the line items are and they would like to have the revenue report as well. The Planning Services line item was also not clear what this was for; the Board noted that they may be able to delete this line item.
The Board also discussed having a legal services line of their own. Currently all legal is out of the Executive budget. They will add a legal service line of $1,000-1,300. Mrs. Sears wanted the Board to budget for one or two more cabinets.
During the dues/conferences line item the Board briefly discussed having some members who may have more experience not attend as many conferences as those who are newer members. Ms. Bonser noted that some conferences involve changing laws and should be open to all.
The deadline for the budget is Oct 1st to Charlie Brown; Town Administrator.
There was also a brief discussion about using Rockingham County Conservation District services. The Board agreed to discuss this at a later date.
The draft estimate for this 2010 budget so far is $47,775 (up from $36,165). The Board will meet next week for a workshop. The Board agreed to finalize their to-do list so that the residents, BOS and Budget Committee know why this Board needs these changes. Mrs. Chauvey stated she believes the town would like to see this Board be proactive and plan for Nottingham’s future. They briefly discussed having a presentation at Town Meeting. Mr. Canney noted that the frustrations of last year trying to complete the Open Space/Conservation goal with very little professional help and how it did not get done. Mrs. Chauvey noted the recent HCPP report stating that Nottingham has the potential for 7,000 new houses.
The Board will meet next week at a later time to allow the CIP committee to meet before and they will work on this budget and wrap up minor changes to Subdivision Regulations.
MOTION by Ms. Mooney to adjourn.
SECOND by Ms. Bonser
VOTE 7-Aye. 0- Opposed 0- Abstained MOTION PASSED
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa L. Sears
Land Use Clerk
These minutes are subject to approval at a regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting at which time the above minutes are corrected or accepted.
| 
