Minutes
Selectmen’s Meeting
September 17, 2007
6:30 PM Chair Bock opened the meeting and asked all those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Peter Bock, Bill Netishen, Mary Bonser and Town Administrator Charles Brown.
Others: Heidi Seaverns.
Mr. Bock started the meeting by congratulating all those involved in Nottingham Day-volunteers and Town departments as well. Each of the Board members remarked about the resounding success of the event and the decision to use the rain date given the weather conditions predicted for Saturday.
Regarding department & administrative business,
Mr. Brown informed the Board that their meeting scheduled for November 12th would need to be changed to November 13th in observance of Veteran’s Day, which falls on Sunday this year. Mr. Brown reported that the Fire/Rescue department by-laws are not ready for the Board’s approval as yet. The Board next discussed the request from the Fire Chief on behalf of the Fire Department to use any remaining contingency funds for items that are needed before the department relocates to their new facility. Mr. Brown informed the Board that he had spoken with the attorney to see if these funds, if available, could be used for this purpose. The attorney stated that if the items were necessary for the facility to operate the funds could be used. Mr. Brown has discussed this issue with the Fire Chief
earlier in the day. The radio communication system hardware/installation is necessary for the station to operate. The base station that the department is using at present is actually a mobile unit. The Chief will be working on an itemized list of equipment needed with costs involved as well as the cost for an additional repeater for the system. The Chief will make a presentation to the Board once the information is compiled. Mr. Brown informed the Chief that the gear washer/extractor and the kitchen appliances do not meet the test of necessity to operate the building. At this time, there appears to be a sufficient amount of money left in the contingency to get the communications system installed. On a related note, the Fire Department has sent out RFP’s to several different dispatches to see if there is a better service out there. Mr. Brown told the Board that the request had been made of the Trustees to transfer $ 51,000 from the Fire Station Capital Reserve Fund to the
General fund so it can be used for Fire Station construction costs. This expenditure was part of the warrant article approved at Town Meeting to fund the Station.
The Board inquired about the status of the overall budget. Mr. Brown stated that the budget was in good shape overall, once you took into account the $ 218,000 that the Town has received from FEMA for damage in the April flood.
Mr. Brown reported to the Board he had informed the Town Clerk that the Board did not feel that having the Police and/or the Animal Control Officer try to collect the dog licensing fees was financially prudent. It was suggested that an article be included in the next newsletter about licensing dogs. Mr. Brown gave Board members a copy of the memo from the Town Clerk regarding preservation of Vital Records. There is grant money available to use to preserve vital records. The individual that performed the audit made several suggestions about storage of these records. The Board would like to pursue the possibility of creating an archive room within the building for these and other Town records during the upcoming budget cycle.
The Board next considered a request for interest abatement from a taxpayer whose bill was sent to the wrong address as a result of the change in tax billing software.
Motion: Netishen, second Bock to abate interest in the amount of $ 30.47 for 1st issue tax bill for Map 8 Lot 7-3.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Ms. Bonser stated she would contact members of the CIP committee to try to set up a meeting.
The Planning Board sent a memo to inquire about the status of the response from the Town Attorney in regard to the letter sent by Grace LaPointe’s attorney about the subdivision she wishes to do on Barderry Lane. Discussion followed. Mr. Brown indicated that Attorney Teague would provide written comments to the Planning Board if requested.
Mr. Bock asked Mr. Netishen to give an update on the fire station construction project. Mr. Netishen reported the project was moving along rapidly. The paving has been completed. The fence between the school lot & the fire station lot will be installed in the next couple days, if it has not already been done. The tile should be installed at the end of this week. The department is working with Verizon to get phone lines put into the building. The department will most likely use Comcast for their Internet provider for the foreseeable future.
Regarding outstanding minutes,
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to accept as amended the minutes of September 4, 2007.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to accept as written the minutes of non-public meeting on June 25, 2007.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to accept as written the minutes of non-public meeting on July 9, 2007.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to accept as written the minutes of non-public meeting on July 23, 2007.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Bock asked if there was any new information on Nottingham Lake. Mr. Brown informed the Board that the Town engineer had not seen the hydrology study for the dam that had been submitted to NH DES. This study is an integral part of the redesign of the bridge as well as the new dam. The engineer had told Mr. Brown that the study would not be available to him until DES approves it. Mr. Brown is going to contact NH DOT again to raise the issue of a temporary bridge to get the road open before winter. The Town has applied to FEMA for funds for this project.
Mr. Brown reported to the Board that he had met with Dave Noyes on Friday morning. Mr. Noyes gave him copies of the most recent plan of the Square incorporating additional information he has discovered. Much discussion followed about how best to proceed with this. The Board will review the plan provided over the next few days and get their questions, if any, answered by Mr. Noyes before approaching any of the property owners. There was a discussion about forming a committee but no decisions were made.
The Board then reviewed bills and the mail.
Having no further business,
7:29 PM Motion: Netishen, second Bonser to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Seaverns Approved as written 10/15/07
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