Minutes
Selectmen’s Meeting
March 3, 2008
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.
Guests: Joe Welch, Terry Bonser, Sue Mooney, Celia Abrams, Gene Reed, and William Dean.
Others: Heidi Seaverns.
Terry Bonser, Moderator, was the first to address the Board. He informed the Board that the ballots have been received and he will be testing the voting machine tomorrow. He stated that he was not able to line up a vendor for food on Election Day on Tuesday, but there will be food available for Town Meeting on Saturday. He reminded everyone that voting on Tuesday is from 8am-7pm here at the Community Center. Absentee ballots can be picked up until Monday March 10th. Individuals can register to vote on Tuesday. The Supervisors cannot take new registrations on Saturday. Mr. Bonser stated that he has had 1100 ballots made up for Tuesday. Someone asked the question about the capacity of the gym at the Elementary School. Mr. Bonser stated that the capacity of the gym was approximately 600 people. Mr. Bonser
asked if the warrant and the move/second list could be emailed to him. Mr. Brown said that would be done on Tuesday. Since the Board had no further questions for Mr. Bonser, he left the meeting.
The Board next decided who would move & second warrant articles #4-#13 at Town Meeting. Petition articles #2 and 14-22 will be moved and seconded by the petitioners. Ms. Seaverns will complete the list and distribute it to the Board members.
The Board will act on outstanding minutes at their next meeting.
Board members reviewed bills, mail & correspondence.
The Board next addressed the signature file and signed an Intent to Cut form (taxes current).
Mr. Bock recognized Joe Welch. Mr. Welch stepped forward to address the Board. He had a list of about 21 questions for the Board regarding the Board of Assessors petition article. Mr. Bock stated he had spoken with Mr. Welch earlier in the day about attending the meeting, but he was unaware of how extensive Mr. Welch’s presentation was going to be. Mr. Brown stated for the record that individuals wanting to be on the agenda contact the office prior to the meeting so they can be put on the posted agenda and the Board can prepare for the questions being asked prior to the meeting. Board members felt that this was a timely issue and Mr. Bock asked Mr. Welch to continue. Mr. Welch asked a series of questions about the proposed Board of Assessors including procedural issues (election, qualifications needed, term,
compensation, duties, funding) as well as to the changes that would take place in the day-to-day operations of the Selectmen’s Office and when the petition would be voted on. He also asked about the statement that was made at the last Board meeting in regard to the $27 million dollar error in the update that was done in 2007. Ms. Seaverns stated that the $ 27 million dollar error was not an error and it was value removed as a result of the informal hearings with taxpayers. Mr. Bock addressed the procedural questions. The petition article is on the Town ballot on Tuesday (Election Day). If the article passes, a 3-member board would be elected in March of 2009. The terms would be staggered, one for 1 year, one for 2 years, and one for 3 years. Compensation for the board would be determined by a vote of Town Meeting. The Board of Assessors (BOA) would assume all the assessing responsibilities from the Board of Selectmen (BOS) including but not limited to signing tax
warrants, Intent to Cut & Excavate forms, Yield & Gravel tax warrants, and abatements. It is unclear if the BOA themselves would do the assessing or they would continue to contract assessing to a professional. Mr. Bock stated there are many unknowns at this time. Mr. Reed stepped forward. He stated the $27 million dollar change in value was an error and that errors are why the Town should have a Board of Assessors. They would oversee the individual/firm doing the assessing in Town. He went on to state that the duties of the BOA are spelled out in the RSA and the only qualification needed for the Board of Assessors is to be competent. He went on to say that he believes that contract assessing would continue even if the Board of Assessors were voted in. He is in hopes that a Board of Assessors could do a better job with assessing than a busy Board of Selectmen has done. He also stated that if the voters were unhappy with the BOA, it could be eliminated through the voting
process. Discussion followed about the pros and cons of the Board of Assessors. Mr. Welch thanked the Board for their time.
Next to address the Board were Sue Mooney & Celia Abrams from the Conservation Commission. They wanted to let the Selectmen know that the Conservation Commission will be working with the Planning Board to draft conservation subdivision regulations. Ms. Mooney also informed the Board that the Conservation Commission might have a guest speaker at their meeting on March 10th to discuss conservation subdivisions. Ms. Mooney & Ms. Abrams thanked the Board for their time and left the meeting.
Mr. Brown reported to the Board that the Road Agent has made a request to purchase a replacement 2-yard sander. The current sander is 10 years old and should be replaced.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to authorize the replacement of the 2-yard sander for the Highway Department at a cost not to exceed $ 5000.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
The next issue to be addressed by the Board was the awarding of the contracts for assessing for 2008.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to award the contract for special assessing services (lakefront analysis) to New England Municipal Consultants, Ltd. in the amount of $ 8000.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to award the contracts for general assessing & data verification to Commerford, Nieder, Perkins, LLC.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Bock spoke to the choice of the Advisory Assessing Committee members. Mr. Bock stated that the Board had met with all of the prospective members except one (out of town). He stated they were all well qualified individuals. Much discussion followed about the number of people on the committee and whether or not a Selectman should be a member as well. Mr. Netishen felt strongly that the committee should have a Selectman member since the other committees the Board has created all have had a Board of Selectmen representative. Discussion continued and as a result:
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to choose 5 members and 2 alternates for the Advisory Assessing Committee.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
At this time there will not be a member of the Board of Selectmen on the committee.
The discussion then turned to appointing members of the committee. The Board as a whole felt that the appointment of the committee members would happen this evening and based on the acceptance of those individuals, the Board would appoint the alternates at a later date.
Motion: Bock, second Bonser to appoint Lisa Stevens, Andrea Lewy, John McSorley, June Proko and Jeff Gurrier to the Advisory Assessing Committee for one year.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Discussion followed about how to best determine the committee’s charge. At this time, the committee will be asked to come up with their own goals/objectives. Mr. Reed stated he thought the Board had made great choices of the members of the committee and it was a positive step. Mr. Bock thanked all those who came forward.
Ms. Seaverns reminded the Board that they needed to request a report from the Town Engineer (RCCD) via the Planning Board on the roads that appear on the warrant for acceptance-Sofia way, Nicholas Way, Anna Lisa Way & O’Brien Way. Mr. Brown will contact the Planning Board to get the process started.
Ms. Bonser would like to mail a copy of the warrant and the ballot to each household. She has researched the cost and reported to the Board that it would be $ 632 if we used the bulk-mailing permit.
Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to send a copy of the Town Warrant and the Town ballot to each household in Town using the bulk mail permit.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Mr. Bock reminded the television audience that Election Day is March 11, 2008. The polls will be open from 8am-7pm and voting is at the Community Center. Town Meeting starts at 9am on Saturday March 15, 2008 at the Elementary School.
Mr. Bock reminded the television audience that it is illegal to leave snow on the roads as a result of your own plowing operations. All snow must be cleaned up from the roadway or you could be fined. Mr. Brown rode around with one of the plow drivers on Saturday to experience first hand what the drivers are up against. He said a lot of the roads are very narrow and there is barely enough room to get the trucks through. He thanked the Highway crew for a job well done.
8:35 PM Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to enter non-public session under
RSA 91A: 3 II (a).
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
8:42 PM Motion: Bonser, second Bock to come out of non-public session.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
8:42 PM Motion: Bonser, second Bock to keep all discussions in non-public session non-public. Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Having no further business,
8:43 PM Motion: Bonser, second Netishen to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Seaverns
Approved as written on April 14, 2008.
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