SUNAPEE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
6:30 PM Town Office Meeting Room
Monday, July 16, 2012
Present: Fred Gallup Chairman, Shane Hastings, Joshua Trow, Suzanne Gottling and Donna Nashawaty, Town Manager
Also Present: See attached sign-in sheet
Chairman Gallup opened the meeting at 6:30PM
REVIEW OF ITEMS FOR SIGNATURE:
Motion to approve the following CZC’S:
Parcel ID: 0131-0036-0000, 147 Lower Main, Joyce Hill
Parcel ID: 0235-0065-0000, 26 Middlebrook Road, Leslie Larson
Parcel ID: 0235-0065-0000, 26 Middlebrook Road, Leslie Larson
By Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. All in Favor
Motion to approve the following Charitable Exemptions:
Parcel ID: 0201-0001-0000, North Road, YMCA Camp Coniston, INC.
Parcel ID: 0202-0001-0000, North Road, YMCA Camp Coniston, INC.
Parcel ID: 0133-0025-0000, 63 Main St. Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Parcel ID: 0133-0034-0039, Harbor So. Lake Sunapee Protective Association
Parcel ID: 0133-0086-0000, 74 Main St. Sunapee NH Historical Society
By Selectman Hastings, seconded by Selectman Trow. All in Favor
Motion to approve the following Education Exemptions:
Parcel ID: 0123-0002-0000, 26 Seven Hearths Ln. Broom Family Foundation
By Selectman Trow seconded by Selectman Gottling. All in Favor
Motion to approve the following Religious Exemptions:
Parcel ID: 0104-0023-0000, 37 Prospect Hill Rd Methodist Church
Parcel ID: 0129-0001-0000, 9 Lower Main, Sunapee Methodist Church
Parcel ID: 0130-0014-0000, 1 Brandywine Dr. Sunapee Methodist Parsonage
Parcel ID: 0129-0044-0000, 5 Old Georges Mills Rd. St. Joachim’s Catholic Church
Parcel ID: 0136-0009-0000, 378 Lake Ave. St. James Church Rectory
Parcel ID: 0233-0052-0000, 193 Bradford Rd. Our Lady of Unity, Inc.
Parcel ID: 0233-0073-0000, 21 Nutting Rd. Lake Sunapee Baptist Church
By Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Trow. All in Favor
Closing on Wastewater Interim Funding
Donna Nashawaty asked the Board of Selectmen to authorize Chairman Gallup to sign the Wastewater Interim funding promissory note at a later date. Motion to authorize Chairman Gallup to sign the Wastewater Treatment Plant Interim Funding promissory note at a later date by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. All in Favor.
Noise Ordinance and Skateboard Discussion
Donna Nashawaty read the minutes of the July 3rd meeting to recap the noise ordinance and skateboard discussion that the Board had at that meeting. Chairman Gallup
updated the audience on why and how the fireworks ordinance came to be. Chairman Gallup went on to say that during the fireworks ordinance discussions the noise ordinance was bought up, the town has a generic one that was adopted quite a number of years ago. The Board has decided to start a process to update the current ordinance to make it an ordinance that conforms to our times. The Board hopes to build something that is fair to everyone and allows for people to do things, without being an annoyance. There will be at least one (1) public hearing, with all the comments or public input worked into a “draft” ordinance. Chairman Gallup stated that the town has been experiencing safety issues in the harbor area with some skateboarders. The Board supported the kids in their effort for the new skateboard park;
hopefully it makes it a much more user friendly entity. Selectman Trow stated he read though the sample noise ordinances, but hasn’t had time to merge into something that would be appropriate. Selectman Hastings also stated he hasn’t had much time, but what Chief Cahill wrote up is very similar to the ones he has looked at. Selectman Gottling thought the Board had good presentations and the models are excellent, so we can beef ours up. Some audience questions; How is the Board was leaning? Is the Board thinking of banning skateboarding in the harbor or different sections of town? Are you banning it every day of the week or just on weekends? Chairman Gallup replied that was a suggestion that Chief Cahill made regarding some areas in the harbor. Chairman Gallup went on to say that Chief Cahill did not indicate it would be banned all over town. Chairman Gallup feels this is something the Board needs to look at. Chairman Gallup is concerned especially in the already
congested harbor on summer weekends, with someone riding along on a skateboard, with the pedestrian traffic, that someone is going to get hit by a car. Chairman Gallup doesn’t see the Board banning skateboards completely, but there would probably be some compromise in the middle. Another question that was asked; would it only be skateboards or would it also be bikes, scooters, etc.? Chairman Gallup replied that that would be something that needs to be entered into the discussion; it’s all open for discussion. Peter White asked if the Board has received a lot of complaints regarding the skateboarders. Chairman Gallup replied not a lot, it’s a scenario where a few are causing the problem. Chairman Gallup went on to say that’s part of the reason the Board trying not to be too restrictive and also give the Police Department “some teeth” to be able to tell individuals that this is not allowed. The Board is not trying to curtail the
recreation of skateboards; the Board wants to make sure it’s done in a safe manner. One of the kids in the audience, who lives in the harbor stated that their disappointed that this might be banned or restricted in the harbor because their skateboard, scooter or bike is their only means of transportation. It’s also fun and really good exercise for the kids. Chairman Gallup stated the chances of the Board banning it to the point that kids wouldn’t be able to ride their bikes or scooters to school are probably pretty slim. A parent was concerned regarding where this stops. It all comes down to common sense; there are times the harbor is too busy to walk, run or bike, so maybe traffic should be banned in the harbor during the summer months.
Chairman Gallup has no problem with kids riding their bikes, scooters or skateboards to school, but in the harbor on a weekend, with cars and boats coming and going and people walking on the sidewalks, it’s probably not the best time for kids to be riding a skateboard around the harbor. The parents responded that’s common sense and personal responsibility. Chairman Gallup said there are some folks who are not using common sense, but the parents didn’t understand why they had to suffer for it. Chairman Gallup stated if the Board puts this ordinance together the right way, no one would have to suffer for it. A parent said it starts with a few streets and then another street is added, it will grow and the parents would like to see this nip in the bud. It should be our education for our children and our
choices, this is just the beginning. The Board decided to table this discussion so the Board can review the sample ordinances. Chairman Gallup assured the parents that there would be posted public hearings, so that everyone has a chance to have their say.
Betsy Katz-Harbor House Livery
Betsy Katz requested to allow the Harbor House Livery to spend $718.68 to replace four (4) windows on the main floor of the Sugar River side of the building. Motion to approve the $718.68 for the windows in the Harbor House Livery by Chairman Gallup, seconded by Selectman Gottling. All in Favor.
USDA Refunding Bond Public Hearing
Public Hearing opened at 7:43PM Chairman Gallup read into the record the resolution authorizing the issuance of refunding bonds. Public Hearing closed at 7:48PM Motion to adopt the resolution as read by Selectman Hastings, seconded by Selectman Trow. All in Favor.
Michael Marquise, Town Planner-Main Street Improvements
Michael Marquise gave a little history on the 2010 Master Plan, which has a lot of ideas on direction that came not only from the Planning Board, but also from community input. When this was started in 2008, there was a community session with over one hundred (100) people attending to discussed where the town was and where the town was going. The main discussion was the whole concept of a community center. The importance of this in a town like Sunapee might not seem great, but as things change, many times they change slowly and you don’t realize what you give up. Michael Marquise went on to say that back in the 1950’s Main Street was the main street and when the state upgraded Route 11 and created a main thoroughfare through the town, which separated the community and lost the Main Street character. The State
has recognized this and has started providing funds called TE-Funds or Transportation Enhancement Funds that are set-up to help modify what they have done with these highways through the middle of towns. There are three (3) things that this main street improvements can do, the one the Planning Board focused on the most was the fact that you could get some traffic calming and a village quality throughout the town. Michael Marquise presented the Board with two (2) designs for the Route 11 improvements. As part of the Transportation Enhancement Funds, the town is expected to come up with some money towards design, getting into the process and then the state would contribute the balance to create the reconstruction.
The next process cycle will be through August of 2013 and if the town is willing to put some money up for the design, the town would be in the 2013 cycle. Peter White, Vice Chairman of the Planning Board stated the important thing to remember is that this is a long range plan, but to get on the process cycle is critical to be able to do something in the future. When Route 11 came through town, it really did cut the town in half. Peter White went on to say that as a Planning Board, looking at a much broader scope, for the town, sustainability, community and all the things that people told the Planning Board when they did the Master Plan, to reconnect Main Street and Lower Main Street, especially through pedestrian connection. Peter White stated that slowing the traffic down is good for the community, it’s good
for safety, it’s good for business, and it’s a win-win situation all the way around. If you can slow the traffic down by beautification; sidewalks and trees, it also makes it a much more enjoyable experience for the people who live here. Peter Urbach is pleased to see the Planning Board come forward with these two (2) proposals, it’s nice to see something suggested in the Master Plan actually come to life. But Peter Urbach is a little unclear about what the Board of Selectmen is being asked to do? Chairman Gallup said the indication to him is the Planning Board would like the Board of Selectmen to consider to putting some money in an article to move forward with the planning and design of this project. Chairman Gallup said the Board of Selectmen would need some figures on what the Town portion would be and it would be consider with everything else presented for the warrant. Peter Urbach stated that the discussion suggests that there’s a lot more work to be
done before anything seriously can be presented to the Board of Selectmen or to the voters. Will the Board of Selectmen be asking the planning board to do that additional work or how will that happen? Chairman Gallup said that was an excellent question and that the Board of Selectmen should talk about that. Chairman Gallup asked Michael Marquise if he had any thoughts. Michael Marquise responded that he has briefly spoken to someone at Clough Harbor Associates, the firm that did the roundabout in New London; they would need to come in and speak to a group like this to find out the costs. Selectman Gottling asked what the town needs to do to get into the 2013 state process cycle. Michael Marquise stated that the town has to have a set of plans to show the state that the town is serious about this project. After further discussion, Michael Marquise will
contact some firms for estimated costs for this project.
Public Comments
John Augustine stated that he’s only been coming to meetings the last couple of months, but it seems that the town existed for decades, without all these ordinances that have been recently discussed. Within the past year or so the focus of the Board of Selectmen has been how people deal with their dogs, where they can barbeque, what they can do about fireworks and skateboarding and occasionally about covered bridges and libraries. John Augustine is not sure what the Board of Selectmen talked about in prior decades, but clearly not those things. John Augustine thinks there are things of great importance to the town similar to what was just discussed; other things about public safety, fire, land use, taxation, the top ten categories of the budget and assumes the prior Board of Selectmen talked about those things. John
Augustine’s concern is some members of the public now have the Board of Selectmen’s ear and the Board’s losing sight of the major issues that they should be dealing with. The fact that the ordinances got passed, but are not enforced, which means it makes no difference.
John Augustine would like the Board to consider if these are the most important things that the Board should discuss. Jo Hill stated that she worked for the Board of Selectmen for twenty-two (22) years and the subject of dogs running loose took more time than the constructive things that needed to be done. Jo Hill went on to say that was one (1) small example, but you really don’t see dogs running loose, so one way or another the dog owners got the message. It’s those little things that take up the Selectmen’s time. In Jo Hill’s opinion, the Selectmen would rather be doing something else.
Selectmen Action
•Motion to allow Chairman Gallup to sign the use of facilities application submitted by the Historical Society to use Central Street for “A Walk Back in Time” on July 28th by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. All in Favor.
•Motion to allow Chairman Gallup to sign the use of facilities application submitted by the Abbott Library to use Dewey Beach for the summer reading program beach bash on August 1th by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Trow. All in Favor.
•Motion to approve the Chairman to sign the Wastewater Treatment Plant construction contracts and notice to proceed by Selectman Trow, seconded by Selectman Hastings. All in Favor.
•Motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the letter to the Governor regarding the Scenic Byway by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Trow. All in Favor.
Chairman Gallup read into the minutes the thank you letter to Brian Garland for his years of service on the Recreation Committee.
Town Manager
•Donna Nashawaty read the letter from Howard Simpson thanking the community, and specifically Officer Tim Putchler and Dana Ramspott, Sunapee Fireman for their help when his son got in a motorcycle accident in Sunapee.
•The Sunapee Library property has been recorded and has now completed the property transfer.
•Donna Nashawaty asked the Board what to do with fireworks permit fee if permit is denied, it was never addressed. Donna Nashawaty went on to say that it states on the permit the fee is non-refundable. The consensus of the Board was to refund the money to the applicant. Motion to make it the practice of refunding the $20 fireworks fee, if permit is denied by Selectman Trow, seconded by Selectman Hastings. All in Favor.
Chairman Gallup wanted to mention that a very special individual to the Town of Sunapee, David Coffin passed away on Sunday.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:08PM
Barbara Vaughn
Administrative Assistant
Approved:_____________
____________________ ______________________
Frederick Gallup, Chairman Emma Smith, Vice Chairman
_________________________ _____________________________
Shane Hastings Suzanne H. Gottling
Joshua Trow
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