Town of Nottingham
Selectmen’s Meeting
March 16, 2009
6:30 PM Acting Chair Bonser opened the meeting and asked all those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Mary Bonser and Peter Bock
Members Absent: Bill Netishen
Guests: Gene Reed; Sam Demeritt, Chair, Nottingham Conservation Commission, Celia Abrams, Nottingham Conservation Commission; Deb Stevens, Nottingham Conservations Commission; Sue Mooney, Nottingham Conservation Commission
Others: Charles Brown, Town Administrator; Traci Chauvey, Recording Secretary; Gary Anderson
Ms. Bonser read the results of Town Meeting. The Selectman’s seat will have a recount Tuesday, March 17, at 6:00 PM. Top two vote getters were Bonnie Winona Whittemore with 256 votes and Gary Anderson with 263 votes. Sandy Weston ran uncontested for Town Clerk. Gail Mills ran as an uncontested write-in candidate for Trustee of the Trust fund. Peter Corriveau ran uncontested for Cemetery Trustee. Bill Dean and Arthur Stockus ran for uncontested Planning Board seats. Gene Reed, John McSorley, and Jason Neuman ran uncontested for the Board of Assessors. Sara Wotton and Joy Bicknell ran uncontested for Library Trustee seats. Chester Batchelder, Donna Danis, and Charlene Andersen all ran uncontested for Budget Committee seats. Romeo Danais ran and Peter Landry
was a write-in for uncontested Zoning Board seats. Zoning Ordinance Articles #2-#8 and #10-#11 passed. Zoning Ordinance Article #9 did not pass. Article #12 did not pass. Articles #13-#15 passed as written. Article #16 was passed with an increase of $200. Articles #17-#23 passed as written. Article #24 passed with an $800 increase. Articles #25-#28 passed as written.
Ms. Bonser inquired about department reports. Mr. Brown informed the Selectmen that he had just received information from Senator Shaheen’s office regarding the Cop Grant; it was reinstated, effective today. Applications are due in by April 14. The grant will pay entry level salary and benefits for a three year period. No local match is required but the officer must be retained by the department at the end of the three years. Mr. Brown has passed the information on to Chief Foss.
Mr. Brown has spoken with Nottingham Fire Chief, Jaye Vilchock. He has been informed that the department is not rushing ahead on the truck purchase. They are taking time to ensure all of the items in the proposal are met. Mr. Brown will be contacting the bank to check on interest rates and a lease agency to check on options. At Ms. Bonser’s inquiry, Mr. Brown reported that he has spoken with Mr. Sweeney, Chair of the Building Committee, earlier today. There had been a concern by some individuals that the new building had settled. It does not appear this way from the plan. Mr. Bock inquired about the status of the fire/rescue car. Mr. Brown reported that the check engine light is on and it did not pass emissions testing. It may be sidelined. He is leaving it
up to Chief Vilchock.
Mr. Brown reminded the Selectmen that they needed to fill Chair Netishen’s vacant seat for the recount. Ms. Bonser reported that Jon Carron had confirmed with Moderator Terry Bonser that he was available.
Motion: Bock, second Bonser to appoint Jon Carron to the vacant seat for the Selectman’s recount to take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at 6:00 pm.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 2-0.
Mr. Brown informed the Selectmen that he had received information for two upcoming trainings through LGC. One he had passed on to Janet Horvath, the other, which he was interested in attending on April 4th, is on communication with boards, committees, and the public.
Ms. Bonser reported that she had attended an Eagle Scout ceremony for Joseph Codding. The ceremony was very moving. Mr. Bock noted that Nottingham has the fortune of being the home of several Eagle Scouts, which is a direct reflection of the leadership commitment in Nottingham. He thanked all who are involved.
Mr. Brown informed the Selectmen that the Sky Hawks, in conjunction with the Recreation Department, want to renovate the basketball court outside the Community Center. He provided the Selectmen with some written information for them to review.
Ms. Bonser reported that the Selectmen had received a request from the Silver Star Families of America to proclaim May 1st as Silver Star Banner Day in recognition of those who have served and are serving in the armed forces. Ms. Bonser has checked into the organization and they are in good standing in the State of Missouri. She read the proclamation for the record. The Selectmen asked to have this placed on the agenda for meeting of the full Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Bonser informed all that she would not be available for the meeting scheduled for March 30, 2009. The Selectmen will hold a workshop on Friday, March 20 at 8:30 to welcome the new member and assign committees.
The Selectmen signed bill manifests and read the mail file. Ms. Bonser commented on a note received which praised the Nottingham Fire/Rescue Department for assistance they had recently provided. Mr. Brown informed the Selectmen that he had received three notes in all. He had also received a note of complaint about road maintenance on one of the private roads, which also commended the Fire/Rescue Department. Ms. Bonser acknowledged Mr. Reed. Mr. Reed asked the Selectmen to pass on the appreciation expressed in the notes to the members of the department.
Mr. Bock requested a copy of a letter from Comcast dated March 11, 2009.
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to appoint Chief Gunnar Foss as the agent authorized to sign agreements related to police coverage at Pawtuckaway State Park for 2009 between the State of New Hampshire and the Town of Nottingham.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 2-0.
The authorization letter was dated March 30, 2009. Mr. Brown will contact the Selectmen for signatures once corrected.
APPOINTMENTS
7:00 PM – Gene Reed – Questions About Deed Waivers
At 7:00 PM, Ms. Bonser acknowledged Mr. Reed and invited him to the mic.
Mr. Reed stated he was before the Selectmen to get specifics on deed waivers. Mr. Brown informed Mr. Reed that he receives a pending deed list from the Tax Collector, researches the properties, and makes recommendations to the Selectmen. Discussions take place in non-public but any motion made during non-public appears in the regular meeting/workshop minutes. Ms. Bonser informed Mr. Reed that the Selectmen view this as a very sensitive area and asked him to refer to map and lot numbers, not names if he intended to ask about specific properties. Mr. Reed questioned why the deed waivers were approved. Mr. Brown responded that nine times out of ten, the reason is because of liability, either the liability of the property or the liability of a family that is being displaced. Ms. Bonser
feels that deed waivers are never a risk to the Town. The Town does not have to take deed because of the potential liability of the property or the family that is being displaced. She informed Mr. Reed that interest, fees, and taxes are always collectible at any point in the process. Mr. Reed noted that several of the deed waivers were on Map 23. Mr. Bock informed Mr. Reed that he had been designated by the Board of Selectmen as the appropriate individual to view the status of the structures to determine their eligibility for waivers, acknowledging that the waivers were for the buildings, not the land. He referred to them as “non-habitable” and “trash.”
Ms. Bonser recused herself at 7:08 PM and took a seat next to Mr. Reed at the guest mic. She explained that some homes on her property are not kept up by the owners. When they start to disintegrate and become abandoned, she and Mr. Bonser take the responsibility of removal. Ms. Bonser feels it is not the Town’s responsibility. Mr. Reed suggested that they be removed from the books, noting that the tax rate is set on gross value and that value includes these properties that have no value. Mr. Bock feels that there needs to be some kind of ‘proof’ that the buildings are removed, such as identifiable before and after pictures. Ms. Bonser agreed with the suggestion. She resumed her seat on the Board at 7:13 PM.
Mr. Reed informed the Selectmen that he would like to attend a non-public session to discuss other deed waivers with them, noting that there are other means of tax relief. At Mr. Bock’s inquiry, Mr. Reed informed the Selectmen that he was seeking information as a private citizen, not as a member of the Board of Assessors. The Selectmen and Mr. Brown informed Mr. Reed that they could not discuss non-public information with the public. They offered to have a non-public meeting with the Board of Assessors. Mr. Reed feels that the assessors would not have any more right to the information than the public since it would not come under their responsibilities in that role. He believes that the government works for the public and the public has a right to know the specific reasons for the deed
waivers. Mr. Brown reiterated that the decisions made in non-public, by the elected Selectmen, are made public in the minutes; however, the discussion’s of people’s personal lives and financial information used to make those decisions is not public. Mr. Bock informed Mr. Reed that they would be seeking legal advice on exactly who should and should not have access. Mr. Reed thanked them and stepped down.
7:15 PM – Nottingham Conservation Commission – Emergency Watershed Funds
At 7:21 PM, Ms. Bonser acknowledged Mr. Demeritt and invited him to the mic.
Mr. Demeritt informed the Selectmen that the Conservation Commission had just received information on a flood plain easement program that pays the cost to restore flood plain areas to their natural state. There is a very short window as the applications are due by March 27, 2009. He thought the town may be interested to see if they could get funding for moving the highway buildings. The Conservation Commission has a meeting with Sue Hoey, the local contact for the program, tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM. At Mr. Demeritt’s inquiry, Mr. Brown reported that there had been no consideration to moving the gas tank and highway shed due to cost. There was discussion about above ground tanks and the size of the area of containment required. Mr. Demeritt would like to see the tanks moved.
Ms. Bonser feels that the Building Committee and Mr. Fernald should be brought in on any discussion to move the entire highway garage site. Mr. Brown reported that an engineering study had shown that the pit was a good location for these types of things. Mr. Demeritt indicted that the program will relocate the ball fields, if there is a suitable site. Mr. Bock feels that this grant is something the Selectmen would support. At Ms. Bonser’s inquiry, Mr. Demeritt confirmed that the application does not obligate the Town to any funds that may be awarded. The Selectmen asked Mr. Demeritt to obtain additional information for them to review at their workshop this coming Friday. Ms. Bonser asked Mr. Demeritt to contact Mr. Fernald , and thanked him for bringing this to their attention. Mr. Demeritt stepped down.
The Conservation Commission members left the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Bock mentioned that the School Building Committee was scheduled to meet Monday, March 30, noting that there was no Selectmen’s Rep on the Committee. Ms. Bonser asked him to confirm that the meeting would be going forward in light of the article being voted down. They had also been looking for a CIP Rep, Ms. Bonser will contact the CIP members.
Mr. Brown informed the Selectmen that, in response to a letter from DES, they had to redefine the ground water management zone at the dump. The process would involve releasing and recording of documents at the registry. At Ms. Bonser’s inquiry, Mr. Brown reported that he was going to contact Peter Landry, the original surveyor, to see about setting metes and bounds.
Mr. Brown reported that he had received a request to provide DES with quite a bit more information on Mill Pond Bridge. The engineers had met with them on the 11th. The meeting did no go as well as they hoped. DES is requesting a lot more information than they have in the past. Ms. Bonser inquired about the abutters. Mr. Brown informed her that they are all on board and ready to move ahead.
Mr. Brown has received two bids for generators that fall within the scope and price range they are looking for. Mr. Bock will come in to the office tomorrow to review them.
At 7:45 PM, Ms. Chauvey asked to excuse herself as Recording Secretary and speak to the Board. Ms. Bonser invited her to the mic. Ms. Chauvey asked the Selectmen if they intended to oversee the Impact Fee Study or if they were planning to hand it off to the Planning Board. Ms. Bonser wants it to go out on a Request for Proposal (RFP). Mr. Brown will oversee the RFP but feels that the Planning Board should oversee the study. Ms. Bonser suggested that the Planning Board write a scope of services to provide to Mr. Brown for the RFP. Mr. Brown agreed. Ms. Chauvey will take it to the Planning Board. At 7:53 PM, Ms. Chauvey resumed her seat as Recording Secretary.
Having no further business,
Motion: Bock, second Bonser to adjourn the meeting.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 2-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Traci Chauvey
Recording Secretary
Approved as amended at the April 13, 2009 meeting.
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