Minutes
Selectmen’s Meeting
June 11, 2007
6:01 PM Chair Bock opened the meeting and asked all those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Peter Bock, Bill Netishen, and Mary Bonser and Town Administrator Charles Brown.
Others: Heidi Seaverns
Guests: Jaye Vilchock, Sandy Vilchock, Jack Caldon, Judy McGann, Amy Plante, Judy Doughty, Scott Curry, Elizabeth Kotowski, Edward Kotowski, Bill Loconzolo, Carol Stevenson, Skip Seaverns and several other people.
Regarding department business, Fire Chief Jaye Vilchock stepped forward to address the Board. He reported that he & Mike Kennard had met with a representative from Two-Way Communications of Newington earlier today. They discussed options to improve reception on the Town radio frequency. They visited Fernald Farm, John Fernald’s home & the new fire station site and took geodetic co-ordinates & elevations of the sites. The Chief would like to have the company complete an RF study of the communication system and the 3 sites visited. This would address the best solutions to the communication system to get the best performance possible. The study would address the topography of the Town as well as the options to get the best performance. The report would be transmitted electronically to the Chief and would
take about two weeks at a cost of approximately $500.00. The Chief is in hopes that the cost could be shared with Emergency Management.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to authorize the Fire Chief to have Two Way Communications perform an RF study of the performance capabilities of the Fire Department communication system.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Bock reminded everyone to stay off the fire station site. It is an active construction site. The contractor will be setting up times that people can visit the site to see the progress being made but until then, please stay off the site. Chief Vilchock thanked the Board for their time and left the meeting.
Mr. Bock welcomed members of the School Board and Superintendent McGann to the meeting. He explained that this joint meeting of the Boards was to keep the lines of communication between the School & the Town open and to foster the idea that we are really one entity. The Boards exchanged lists of topics they would like to discuss. The Selectmen asked if the School Board had ever considered putting the names of high school graduates from Nottingham in the Town Report, which could be similar to the list of 8th graders that is published each year.. Mr. Caldon replied that the Board had not discussed it but he would bring it up at the next meeting. Ms. McGann reminded everyone that there are specific guidelines about what information can be published by the district and forms that must be signed by the parents
of the students each year as to what can be released. Mr. Caldon informed the Board that Joan Breault, one of the members of the School Board, will be shadowing high school students this fall to get an idea of what a typical school day is at the different schools. He went on to say there are approximately 15 students that are going to participate in this program. The School Board is preparing a letter to the community highlighting some of our high school student’s accomplishments as well as some of the accomplishments of the elementary school students. Next item to be addressed was the enrollment and projection assessment study. Ms. McGann gave each Selectman a copy of a similar study that the Hampton School district had done. It will be a very comprehensive study, which looks at the various high schools as well as the elementary school portion of Nottingham’s education system. The School Board is close to signing an agreement with an agency as soon as their next
meeting (6/20/07). They are hopeful that it will be complete by budget time but they do not have a timeline for completion at this point. Ms. Plante stated that the data would be good for about 5 years and that the study will be something the Town can use as well in their future planning. The School Board has earmarked $ 12,000 to pay for this study. Mr. Caldon then brought up the subject of improving the existing soccer field in back of the school as well as security for that field. There was a brief discussion about which should be done first, improvements or security. Mr. Caldon informed the Board that the School Board had approved a committee at their last meeting to investigate the creation of ball fields at the school. The School Board wants a well-planned effort and is aware that it may not always be an easy process. Ms. McGann stated that there are grants available for projects like this and applications are looked on more favorably if they are community based rather than
just school or town based. Mr. Netishen reminded the School Board that they need to consider Priest Road when they are making decisions about this project. The next topic of discussion was the new fire station and how it will impact the school. Ms. McGann stated that the cross-country trail that bordered the station site needed to be ready for the start of school in late August. Both Mr. Bock and Mr. Netishen were confident that the trail would be ready. There has only been a small disturbance to the trail itself that they are aware of. There was a discussion about the fence that will run along the trail separating the station site from the school property. The Selectmen and the School Board will meet at the site on July 16, 2007 at 9:30AM to walk the site. A discussion followed about the advantages of having the station in close proximity of the school. Ms. Plante asked about signage & warning lights for the station. Mr. Bock stated that there would be sign and lights
indicating the presence of the facility. Mr. Bock then asked about the cancellation procedure. Mr. Caldon explained that policies of this type are always being reviewed so the School Board can update them when a problem is discovered. Ms. McGann then stated that the SAU has not received word about the grant as yet. She is hoping to hear within the next month. She explained that the SAU had applied for generators for all the districts within the SAU as none of them have generators. Ms. Bonser asked about the possibility of posting agendas for meetings at the post offices. Ms. McGann stated they could fax or e-mail them to the Nottingham Post Office but they still need to work out a way to get the information to the West Nottingham Post Office. The School Board members & Ms. McGann thanked the Selectmen for their time and left the meeting at 7:05PM.
7:07PM Mr. Bock opened the public hearing to hear the request of property owners of Indian Run Road to declare that road an emergency lane pursuant to RSA 231:59-a. Elizabeth Kotowski stepped forward to address the Board. She handed out to the Board members copies of the information she would be referencing throughout her presentation. This information included a copy of the letter previously submitted by the group in December of 2006 as well as several maps of Pawtuckaway Lake. Ms. Kotowski thanked the Board on behalf of the Indian Run residents for the opportunity to have the public hearing. Ms. Kotowski gave an overview of prior meetings with the Board. She and the other residents believe that declaring Indian Run an emergency lane is in the public interest. Dolloff Dam Basin is one of the deepest parts of the lake and
the boat ramp located at 8 Indian Run would provide year round access. Ms. Kotowski explained that once the lake is drawn down in the fall, the basin still provides boat access unlike most of the other access points, which maybe dry once the lake is drawn down. The residents feel the road meets the criteria for an emergency lane in that it provides year round access to the lake and the power line that services a large portion of the other side of the lake (Tuckaway Shores area) goes underneath the lake from this cove as well. The residents would like it declared a winter emergency lane so it can be passable. Mr. Bock asked Ms. Kotowski what her definition of passable was. Ms. Kotowski replied that the road would be plowed and sanded. She asked Mr. Loconzolo to step forward and address the road itself. Mr. Loconzolo reported to the Board that he & Mr. Miles had rebuilt the road about 10 years ago with an excellent base. He stated that there are no culverts and there have been no
washouts since they rebuilt the road. Carol Stevenson stepped forward. She stated she is a life long resident of the lake and has lived at the Indian Run address for 20 years. She said that she owns the boat ramp as well as ½ of the turnaround area. She informed the Board that she does the plowing of the road and Mr. Loconzolo does any maintenance that is needed. Mr. Netishen asked if someone knew when the power line was put underground. Ms. Stevenson thought it was done approximately 25-28 years ago as a result of a plane getting tangled in the wires. Ms. Stevenson informed the Board that she had been asked by the power company to plow off road access to a couple of poles in the last couple storms and that one of the power company trucks had gotten stuck. A long discussion followed about what areas of the lake were affected if that power line goes down. Mr. Netishen asked if anyone had communicated with the owner of the road. Ms. Kotowski said she had communicated by e-mail &
phone with the owner. Ms. Seaverns informed the Board that the certified letter sent to the road owner had been returned unclaimed. Mr. Netishen explained that if Fire/Rescue used the boat ramp for a rescue they may set up a command station on the property and could be there for a while. Ms. Stevenson said she understood that and that was fine as long as she could get in and out of the property. Ms. Stevenson and Mr. Loconzolo stepped down. Mr. Kotowski stepped forward and read a letter supporting the emergency lane designation. Skip Seaverns then stepped forward to address the Board. He informed the Board that he had driven down Indian Run before he came to the meeting. He stated that the road itself was very good, however the road to get to it was rough. He reminded the Board that they should consider the whole network of roads before making their decision. He stated he thought the Board should have a specific reason for the designation as well as a designated length and that
only minimal maintenance be done. Much discussion followed. Both Mr. Netishen and Ms. Bonser feel the power line makes this situation unique. Mr. Bock stated he would like to deliberate about this issue until the next meeting. Since there was no more public comment, Mr. Bock closed the public hearing at 8:20PM. The Board members will drive down Indian Run after their morning meeting on June 25th and make their decision on the request at their meeting on the evening of June 25th. The audience thanked the Board for their time and left the meeting. The Board took a short break.
8:33PM The Board next addressed the signature file:
The Board reviewed a letter from Primex³ in regard to extending the multi-year workmen’s compensation agreement that the Town has with them. By signing the agreement, the Town would extend their agreement until 2011.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to authorize Charles Brown to sign multi-year agreement with Primex³ for the Town’s workmen’s compensation coverage.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board signed an Intent to Cut for Map 16 Lot 27 & 28 and for Map 27 Lot 3.
The Board signed an Intent to Excavate for Map 69 Lot 8 for the tax year 2006-2007 and for the tax year 2007-2008.
Motion: Bonser second Netishen to sign the pole petition for 1 new pole & 2 replacement poles on Nielson Road.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board next acted on two abatements;
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to approve the abatement for New Hampshire Electric Co-Op based on review and Avitar’s recommendation.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to deny the abatement for Map 42, Lot 19-18 based on review and Avitar’s recommendation.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board members then signed salary histories for returning members of the summer Recreation staff. The Board members also reviewed the bills at this time.
Mr. Brown reported to the Board that Mr. David Noyes had completed his fieldwork at the Town Square and the Board would have the information from him by the end of this week. Mr. Brown informed the Board that Verizon had invoiced the Town for $ 350 to reconnect the Police Department lines but the Police Chief had spoken with a Verizon representative and that charge had been removed.
The Board next acted on a memo from the Planning Board requesting the release of a landscaping escrow account for Excelonics, Inc.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to release the escrow money of Excelonics, based on recommendation from the Planning Board.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Since the School Board indicated they would not be attending the joint meeting of the Selectmen & the Budget Committee, Mr. Brown will inform the Budget Committee Chairman that the meeting will need to be rescheduled. Mr. Brown informed the Board that the FEMA meetings are ongoing. He stated that the Road Agent had met with additional FEMA personnel and they had visited one of the sites (culvert on Deerfield Road) to see if it would qualify for one of their mitigation programs. Mr. Brown reported to the Board that several areas in Town sustained additional damage in last Tuesday’s thunderstorm. Mr. Netishen asked if there was any new information on the Nottingham Lake Dam. Mr. Brown stated there was nothing new. He informed the Board he had last contacted NHDOT about a Bailey bridge last week but still has not
heard anything.
Regarding outstanding minutes;
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to accept as written the minutes of May 14, 2007.
Vote: 2-0-1 in favor, Bock abstained, as he was not present at the meeting.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to accept as written the minutes of May 29, 2007.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The Board briefly reviewed a letter received today from Chris Mills containing copies of the information requested at the May 29, 2007 meeting. Since the Board had just received the letter this evening, they will review it and get back to Mr. Brown about a response.
Ms. Bonser informed the Board that she had spoken with someone at Wal-Mart and they would be sending a grant application to the Town of Nottingham for the PLAC to apply for funds that need to match the grant they have received from NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). Mr. Netishen asked that a list be prepared of all the organizations that use this building and whether or not they are charged a fee for the use of the building. He stated that the Board needs to review the policy of building usage.
9:10 PM Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to enter non-public session under RSA 91A: 3 II ©.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
9:30 PM Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to come out of non-public session.
Vote: 2-0 in favor.
9:30 PM Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to keep all discussions in non-public session non-public. Vote: 2-0 in favor.
The Board reviewed a letter from a taxpayer requesting abatement of interest paid on past due taxes. The Board had entered into an agreement with this individual previously due to hardship. Since the individual has not made monthly payments as promised and has now paid off her overdue tax obligation, the Board does not feel an abatement is appropriate. Mr. Brown will inform the individual in writing of the Board’s decision.
9:32 PM Having no further business before the Board,
Motion: Bonser, Netishen second to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Seaverns
Approved as amended
6/25/07
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