Minutes
Selectmen’s Meeting
February 5, 2007
6:30 PM Chair Bonser opened the meeting and asked all those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Mary Bonser, Peter Bock, Bill Netishen, and Town Administrator Charles Brown.
Also present: Heidi Seaverns.
Guests: Jaye Vilchock, Heidi Carlson and Elizabeth Kotowski.
Ms. Bonser recognized Fire Chief Jaye Vilchock and asked him to step up to the microphone. Chief Vilchock handed out copies of an estimate for a station tank fill capability. The department feels that this item should be considered. They believe an internal fill station would be safer for the members, less labor intensive and there would be less wear and tear on the equipment. Both Chief Vilchock and Deputy Chief Carlson stated that to complete this project while the station is being constructed is the most cost effective approach. Chief Vilchock informed the Board that he had done a quick review of the calls in 2006 and he estimated there were about 70 calls in 2006 that could have used this capability. He went on to explain that a 15,000-gallon tank (as proposed) is approximately 3 times the tank capacity of the
existing department vehicles and he felt this would take into account any anticipated expansion of the department in the future. The estimate was compiled from information from various sources. Mr. Bock asked if there were any other departments in the area with similar set ups and stated that this information would be helpful if the project was presented to the voters. Everyone felt that the Building Committee should be made aware of the request before any decision is made on whether to include it on the warrant this year. Discussion followed about putting the request on as a separate article or combining it into the bond amount. Deputy Chief Carlson expressed to the Board that the department is well aware that this request is coming forward very late in the process and that they appreciate all the work that has been done to get the project to this point. She went on to say that the change in leadership in the department has brought this issue to the front and the department felt
that they should present it for consideration. Mr. Bock will contact Mr. Sweeney, the Building Committee Chairman, to advise him of the request. Mr. Bock will then be in contact with the other Selectmen as well as the Chief & Deputy Chief. The Board of Selectmen will make their decision after the Building Committee has weighed in on the request. The Board decided to meet at 6:30PM on February 8th prior to the Budget Committee meeting to finalize the warrant.
The Board then started to discuss the warrant. First was the article for the new fire station. Much discussion followed about the wording of the article. It was decided that the wording of the Fire Department Building Capital Reserve Fund (CRF) portion be changed to “authorize the withdrawal of up to $50,000” and the fund balance withdrawal portion be taken out of the article. The Board feels that the article can be amended on the floor at Town Meeting to reflect an accurate amount to be used from the fund balance and to reflect the actual amount remaining in the CRF.
Motion: Netishen, second Bock to approve Article # 4 as corrected.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Brown informed the Board that the Bond Hearing for the fire station was scheduled for 7:00PM on February 20th. He also informed the Board that a public hearing must be held for the SB2 petition that has been received and he has scheduled that for 7:30PM the same night. He asked the Board if they wanted the Building Committee to do a presentation at the Bond Hearing. The members thought that would be a good idea. Ms. Seaverns will contact Mr. Sweeney and let him know the Board would like a presentation that night.
Next to be discussed was the operating budget. Mr. Brown gave the Board a final figure of
$ 3,008,261, which reflects a $ 400 increase due to the type of bills the Tax Collector wants to use.
The mosquito control article was next to be discussed. The Board will attempt to meet with one of the vendors before Town Meeting to get a better idea of programs available so they can present the options to the voters at Town Meeting.
A brief discussion about the polling hours article followed. Ms. Seaverns will make another attempt to get a date specific for the article from the Secretary of State’s Office before the warrant is signed. Since there is no state election in 2007, the Board feels confident that the 2008 date is appropriate.
Mr. Brown informed the Board that there was no new business from any other departments. Mr. Bock would like clarification from the Building Inspector when he returns about what aspects of the fire station project he will be overseeing and what will be the responsibility of the individual hired by the Town as overseer of the project.
Ms. Bonser recognized Elizabeth Kotowski from Indian Run. Ms. Kotowski stated she was in attendance since the request for an Emergency Lane hearing was on the agenda. Mr. Bock was first to speak to the issue. He stated while he was sympathetic to the residents plight, he does not feel the road meets the benchmarks set by the statute. The statute says that there must be a public need that surpasses or differs from the abutting landowners. He told the Board that he has spoken with Fire/Rescue, Police and the Highway departments, and no one can remember a situation in which they could not get to an emergency call. He went on to say that Public Service and NH Co-op would get anywhere they had to go to repair lines. Ms. Bonser asked for a vote on whether to hold a public hearing. Discussion followed. Mr. Netishen asked if the
Planning Board had been contacted. Mr. Brown stated they had not been contacted. Mr. Brown stated he was on the Board of Selectmen at the time the original roads were accepted as emergency lanes. He went on to say that he feels the Board made an error back then. The Town was being generous and accepted the roads they had always plowed as emergency lanes in order to be able to continue plowing them. More discussion followed about when to hold the public hearing. Since an additional petition had been received that requires a public hearing, the February 20th date is out. Members thought it would be best to hold the hearing after Town Meeting, since the staff must notify interested parties 10 days in advance and they will be extremely busy right before Town Meeting. Selectmen Bock will be out of Town on April 2nd, so April 16th seemed to be the date to hold the hearing.
Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to hold a public hearing for an emergency lane request for Indian Run Road on April 16, 2007.
Vote: 2 in favor (Netishen, Bonser)-1 against (Bock), motion carries.
Mr. Netishen asked if there was any new information that the residents wanted to present that they have it to the Board members by April 2nd. Ms. Kotowski thanked the Board and left at 8:00PM.
Mr. Brown asked the Board if they would sign the warrant on Thursday night after the Budget Committee makes their recommendations. This is to expedite the posting of the warrant as well and get it to the printer as soon as possible. After some discussion,
Motion: Netishen, second Bock to sign the warrant Thursday February 8th after the Budget Committee makes their recommendation.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Brown informed the Board that a resident in Town is subdividing his property and claiming a portion of Nottingham Square as his. Mr. Brown has received some information from the Historical Society that supports the claim the Town has on the Square. Mr. Brown would like permission from the Board to have a title search done on the property.
Motion: Netishen, second Bock to have a title search done for Nottingham Square, which has been owned by the Town since the 1700’s.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Netishen suggested asking the surveyor for his back up information on the ownership of the square. Mr. Brown will contact the surveyor.
The Board will act on the outstanding minutes at their next meeting.
Mr. Brown informed the Board that there are now boxes at the recycling center to recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Once the box is full, it is sent to a company that recycles these items properly.
The next item to be addressed by the Board is the Nottingham Lake Dam & its operation. Mr. Brown reported to the Board that he had met with Bill & Wendy Booth in regard to the operation of the dam. They had met with a representative from the Dam Bureau and they have real concerns about the operation of the dam at Nottingham Lake. They informed Mr. Brown that the Town Emergency Services are not listed on the notification list even though the Town had received correspondence indicating the phone numbers had been added to the list. The only people on the list are the dam owner (phone number with answering machine), property manager (same number) and the dam owner’s son (1 Massachusetts cell phone and 2 Maine cell phone numbers). The plan of operation filed with DES has not changed since the original owner filed
one many years ago. The Booth’s have asked that the Town write a letter to the Dam Bureau supporting the Booth’s concerns. Mr. Brown would also like to ask again that the Town Emergency numbers be added to the notification list. The Board gave their approval of a letter being written. Mr. Brown informed the Board that he would be attending a meeting with a representative from DES at the Booth’s home on Tuesday.
The Board would like the leash law ordinance included in the March/April newsletter.
The Board next addressed the signature file,
Motion: Netishen second Bock to sign Land Use Change Tax Bill for Map 5 Lot 2-1B in the amount of $ 12,000.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Motion: Netishen second Bock to sign Land Use Change Tax Bill for Map 13 Lot 23-1 in the amount of $ 450.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Ms. Bonser reminded everyone of the Valentine dance to be held on February 9, 2007 here at the Community Center. Admission is a dessert to share.
Mr. Bock brought up review of the point system for the Fire/Rescue as well as the Chief’s stipend as action items the Board needs to work on this year.
Mr. Netishen brought up GASB 45 as an action item that the Board needs to work toward this year.
Mr. Brown informed the Board that he had given the okay to the Fire Chief to have the door replaced at the Old Town Hall.
Ms. Seaverns left the meeting at 8:35PM.
8:35 PM Motion: Bock, second Netishen to enter non-public session under RSA 91A: 3 II (a).
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
9:13 PM Motion: Bonser, second Bock to come out of non-public session.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
9:13 PM Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to keep all discussions in non-public session sealed.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board briefly discussed Mr. Netishen’s estimated tax rate calculations for 2007.
Mr. Netishen informed the other Board members that he would be out of Town February 20th. Mr. Bock informed the members that he would not be at the April 2nd meeting of the Board since he will be out of town.
9:25 PM Having no further business before the Board,
Motion: Netishen, second Bock to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Seaverns
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