TOWN OF TUFTONBORO
MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN
Monday October 17, 2005
*Accepted* 10-24-05 CORRECTIONS IN BOLD
Selectmen present: Bill Stockman, Chip Albee and Susan Weeks.
Selectmen reviewed mail, which included:
Building Permits for YMCA of Greater Boston, Brian Donoghue, Jeffrey Boggs,
Eleanor Lecours; Electric Permit for Charles & Sue Ann LaMonica, Grace
Roselle & Sally Fiske, Dave & Joan Northy, Randy Trudeau, Joseph
Mulkern; Plumbing Permit for Chiarello, Joseph Mulkern, John Goggin;
Certificate of Occupancy for Dorothy Morris; Sign Permit for Tuftonboro Central
School; Property Transfers from Melody Park Realty Trust to Laura Walsh-Cuneo,
Robert B. and Judith K. Sullivan to Christopher Stephens et al, Peterson,
Peterson & Reisler to James Ham & JoAnn Smith, Paula Reid to Stephen
& Judy LaBella, Michael Rogers to Laurie Brown; Standard Dredge & Fill
for Owen Gwyn; Driveway Permit for Richard Rowsell; Notice of Voluntary Merger
for Virginia Smith, Joan Riordan Rev.
Trust; E-mail from NHDHHS re: Social Security increase; Lakes Region Planning
Commission appropriation for 2006-2007; Hilltop Sign Shop Proposal; Coalition
Communities; September Fuel Usage for Police, Fire and Highway
Departments; Primex PrimeTimes; Letter
from WEDCO re: Town Representation; E-mail from NHDHHS re: Process for mosquito
spraying; Parks & Rec 10/13/05
agenda and 9/22/05
meeting minutes; Conservation Commission News; Alton Planning Board Notice of
Public Hearing 10/18/05;
The Inner Chamber; Memo from LGC re: new rates for health and dental insurance;
LGC Coordinator Connection newsletter; Letter from LGC re: new federal
prescription program; Comments & issues re: reval; Approval for Operation
for Randall Hoyt; Approval for Construction for J. Willard Marriott Jr. (2), Kenneth/Nancy
Sousa, Kathleen/John Sousa; NHDES Letter of Compliance for Robert Parmenter;
Wetlands & Non-Site Specific Permit for Barbara Simmonds Revocable Trust,
Todd & Kara Shannon; Driveway Permit for Douglas Parsons.
Minutes:
The Selectmen’s meeting minutes of 10/3/05 were approved with a minor correction and the
non-public minutes of 10/3/05
were approved as written.
Items for Signature: Supplemental Intent to
Cut for Thompson; Intent to Cut for Lake & Lodge Realty (Savage); Request
for Change in Employee Compensation for Sheehy, Magee; Hilltop Sign Proposal;
Land Use Change Tax for Brewster Academy; Medical and Dental Contract Renewal.
At approximately 3:05
Selectmen met with Fire Chief Adam Thompson. Chief Thompson reported 209 fire,
108 medical, 46 service and 7 paramedic interrupt calls to date. This is up 82
calls from last year at this time. There have been 30 oil and 6 gas burner
inspections. Because of the heavy rains the past two weekends
two roads were closed for both weekends – Dame Road
and Lang Pond Road. They
have both been reopened. Chief Thompson has been in contact with the Department
of Emergency Management and gave them a rough estimate of $6,000.00 for the
cost of the damage due to flooding. A representative of FEMA will be out to
survey the situation. There were several roads under water but had no damage
and all of the dams held up. The Police, Fire and Highway Departments all
worked together in response to the flooding. Chief Thompson also reported that
due to the heavy rain the 4700-gallon tank at the oil spill at 46
Angela Drive overflowed and was spilling oil into
the lake again. NHDES arranged to have the oil filtered out from the water to
fix the problem. The Town of Wolfeboro
has put their ambulance contract out to bid. Depending on who gets the contract
this could impact the town’s ambulance service. In conjunction with Fire
Prevention week the department has visited the Tuftonboro
Coop Nursery School
and plans to also visit Tuftonboro Central
School. The holding tank at Mirror
Lake station has been pumped out 3
times and there is a possibility of a 4th by the end of the year.
Only 2 were budgeted for this year. Chief Thompson has been looking into a new
septic system and has gotten the approval of a neighbor for an easement since
the septic needs to be 75 feet from the well. Selectman Weeks advised that he
would be able to get a cost estimate from contractors without a design and that
he should also get an estimate from town counsel on the cost of doing the legal
work on the easement. It should be kept in mind that the new septic might not
be necessary depending on the status of the Public Safety building. Chief
Thompson will get the cost estimates for future discussion. Both stations need
to be paved, as they have not been done in about 15 years, this will be
included for next year’s budget.
Selectman Albee reported on the tour of the Wakefield
Public Safety Building
a couple of weeks ago. He felt it was very informative and will help the town
avoid the mistakes made by the other towns. Additional costs for heat, electric
and maintenance have to be taken into consideration so the building must be as
efficient as possible. Storage capacity should be considered since the other 2
buildings visited did not have enough storage. The Selectmen felt that a 4-acre
parcel would be a sufficient size for the building. Selectman Weeks spoke to
Chip Maxfield of Maxfield Real Estate who suggested composing a letter to the
property owners of the parcels the town is interested in to let them know of
the town’s interest in buying the property. Chairman Stockman reported that the
price of the parcel the town has made an offer on has been reduced to
$129,000.00 for the general public and $125,000.00 for the town. The offer is
still on the table. Any further discussion of negotiations will be done in
executive session.
The Moores Marine payment is still being held. Patti Korbett
of H. E. Bergeron will be asked to contact Moores
to let them know why we are holding it.
The rates for health and dental coverage have gone up 6.4%
over last year. Selectman Albee said he has checked around and feels that LGC
HealthTrust gives us as good a deal as we are going to get. Selectman Albee
made a motion to accept and sign the 2006 contract for the health and dental insurance
with HealthTrust and to add an option for a Medicare supplemental program
without prescription drug coverage for retirees over 65 - MCNRX. This option
would allow retirees to remove the prescription coverage and have health
coverage at a reduced rate. Seconded by Selectman Weeks with
all in favor.
Chairman Stockman moved to accept the Land Use Change Tax
for Brewster Academy.
Seconded by Selectman Albee with all in favor.
The Selectmen approved and signed the following:
- Vacation
request for Sundquist
- Change
in employee compensation for Sheehy, Magee
- Intent
to Cut for Lake & Lodge Realty (Savage)
- Supplemental
Intent to Cut for Thompson
The MS-1 and MS-4 were approved and signed on 10/14/05 in order to get
it to the state by the due date of 10/15/05. The DRA Parcel Count was also signed on Friday
for the same reason.
The Hilltop Sign Proposal was amended and will be faxed back
to Hilltop.
Selectman Albee suggested having a meeting with tax-exempt
property owners since values have increased considerably and the cost of
services the town offers has risen, it might be a good idea to just speak to
all concerned. This is especially true for the camps. Some camps make a payment
in lieu of taxes but others do not. NHDRA will be contacted for advice on exempt
properties and then letters could be sent. Having a letter of agreement would
also avoid any misunderstanding. It should also be noted that Avitar has determined that the Lakes Region Conservation
Trust is not eligible for tax-exempt status for their Tuftonboro properties.
The Selectman discussed their concern with the handling of
the final values sent to Tuftonboro property owners. Many property values were
increased with no explanation and it may have appeared like the town was doing
something devious. The database was not available after the new values were
mailed so in order to get an explanation property owners were calling and
visiting the town office in addition to contacting the Selectmen. Selectman
Weeks spoke to Loren Martin from Avitar and was informed that there were
changes that impacted waterfront properties. The computer in the Selectmen’s
office has been made available for property owners to come in and look at all the assessment
information. Selectman Weeks will contact Avitar to have them come to a meeting
to give Avitar an opportunity to explain what happened. Chairman Stockman noted
that abatements could be prepared, without having to get an expensive appraisal
done, by using the information here at the Town Office.
The payment to Avitar will be held until verification is
done regarding any amount still due. The Selectmen would also like more
training and involvement in the assessing system.
At approximately 3:55
Selectmen met with Road Agent Steve Hunter. Mr. Hunter reported the roads are
holding up despite the torrential rain the past week. The extra work shouldn’t
have too much of an impact on the budget. It is unknown at this time when Pike
is coming to pave. Mr. Hunter thought that Dame Road
would not have washed out if it were paved. Mr. Hunter stated that 90% of the
problems are occurring because Fish & Game are not managing the wildlife.
He has been trying for the past 3½ years to get F & G to manage the beaver
dams. The culvert at Ledge Hill Road
and Brown Road had to be
cleaned out for 9 days in a row because of the beavers.
The fire pond on Todd Shannon’s property was discussed. Mr.
Shannon has gotten all the permits necessary to fill the pond in. It is now the
town’s responsibility to have it filled. Mr. Hunter will contact Mr. Shannon.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10
PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carolyn Sundquist
Administrative Assistant