Minutes
Selectmen’s Workshop
January 28, 2008
8:00 AM
8:03 AM Chair Bock opened the meeting.
Members Present: Peter Bock, Bill Netishen, Mary Bonser and Town Administrator Charles Brown.
Guests: PB Chair Dave Smith, Gail Powell, Sam Demeritt, Charlene Andersen, Peter Gylfphe, and Paul Colby.
Mr. Bock explained the Board of Selectmen’s efforts to hold down the budget. The planner line in the budget was reduced to $ 3500 for 2008. The reasoning behind this action was that in house staff could perform the completeness reviews on subdivision/site plan review plans that are now being done by the Planner. Once the plan is accepted, it can be sent to the appropriate agency for further review. Mr. Colby spoke to his experience reviewing plans and stated he was not a certified planner. Mr. Bock repeated the Board’s intent in cutting back the money to fund this position for 2008. Mr. Netishen spoke to the issue of the State moving costs back to the Towns over the next couple years and beyond and how this would be hard on the budgets for the next two years at least. He went on to say that it is his belief
that the position is not needed for at least the next year. Peter Gylfphe spoke to the fact that the current Planner is not a certified planner and he feels that the Planning Board has not accomplished as much as they had hoped when they contracted the services. Much discussion followed about the Planning process in general and what would happen for reviews if there were no contracted planner. David Smith spoke to the turmoil the Planning Board has worked through in trying to reach a consensus on a number of issues. Mr. Glyfphe gave a brief overview of the application process-completeness, acceptance, compliance and finally approval/denial. Mr. Brown reminded everyone that the Town could still use Strafford Regional for plan reviews as they have done in the past with the cost of these services paid by the applicant. Sam Demeritt spoke to the good experience the Conservation Commission has had with the Planner and the work she has done for them. Charlene Andersen asked about
services provided with the Conservation subdivision ordinance. Discussion followed about having a planner at all the meetings and whether it was necessary to have someone in attendance at every meeting. Discussion continued about the planner position and how best to handle this issue. It was asked why the Planning Board could no longer do these regular tasks without a planner offering an opinion. The process had worked reasonably well for many years without a planner reviewing everything.
The Board took a brief recess at 9:37AM.
The Board reconvened their meeting at 9:48AM. Mr. Brown asked the Board to review a job posting for the secretary/office assistant position the Selectmen’s office. The Board agreed to posting the open position after the Budget Committee Public Hearing. There was a brief discussion about the timeframe to appoint the Advisory Assessing Committee. No decisions were made. At this point, Paul Colby retuned to the meeting. Much discussion followed about the proposed zoning changes & ordinances. There was general agreement / opinion that the proposed Conservation Overlay should not be “mandatory” and that the subdivision regulations should also be a part of the overall submittal.
Having no further business,
10:32 AM, Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Charles A. Brown
Approved as written on April 14, 2008.
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