TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday December 19, 2005

 

*Accepted* 1-09-06 ADDITIONS IN BOLD

 

Selectmen present:  Bill Stockman, Chip Albee and Susan Weeks.

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permits for Kirk & Carole Dewitt, Gordon & Ann Hunt; Electrical Permit for Paul Zimmerman; Plumbing Permits for Steven Yamane, Dick & Helen Howard; Notice of Denial for AMG Realty Trust; Letter from Philip Martin to Avitar; Letters from Lawrence & Jane Walsh, Rosanne DiStefano re: property values and appraisals; Statewide Enhanced Education Tax Warrant from NH DRA; Letter from BTLA re: petition for reassessment; Letter from BTLA to Garreth Chehames re: petition for reassessment; Letter from Evelyn Sirrell re: The Coalition Communities; 2005 Coalition Communities Report; Letter from Adelphia Cable re: price adjustments; Letter from Avitar re: assessment questions; NH Business Review; Northeast Municipal Forum; Gov. Wentworth Regional School Board Meeting Agenda for 12/19/05; Report from Dufresne-Henry re: November landfill groundwater monitoring results; 2005 Wage, Salary & Benefits Survey book from LGC. Property Transfers from Natalie Hatfield Schram Rev. Living Trust to Lakewood Rev. Trust, Dorothy E. Mccann to The Mccann Living Trust Agreement, Paul Beattie & James Evergates to Olivia J. Kuehn, Gerald J. & Lorraine S. Keavany to Peter Ford – Trustee of the Twins’ Island Trust, Margaret R. Hines to Joyce Sacramone.

 

Minutes: The Selectmen’s meeting minutes of 12/12/05 were approved.

 

Items for Signature:  Application for Veterans Credit for Weisenburger; Revised Medical Coverage Contract from LGC; NHDRA Equalization Ratio Survey.

 

At approximately 3 pm Selectmen met with Joe Lessard and Scott Marsh from MRI regarding the proposed 2006 assessing contract. The current contract expires 12/31/05. Mr. Lessard advised that there were a couple of ways to proceed: Continue with the same services or a multi-year contract that would work in conjunction with state guidelines to be at or near 100% by year five. Chairman Stockman said that since the town had just finished a reval, he felt minimum services would be needed for 2006. Selectman Weeks thought that our software would enable the town to keep adjusting values to stay at 100%. Mr. Lessard said that was true however the state requires a separate contract for updates and that all elements of a full reval would have to be done – sending notices and holding informal hearings – so it would be important to look at the cost versus the benefits. After some discussion the Selectmen asked for a contract that covered ongoing assessing for 2006 only.

 

At approximately 3:30 Selectmen met with Jane Batchelder regarding a variance she was seeking to build an overhang over her front entrance for her handicapped husband. Mrs. Batchelder said she applied for the variance on 12/2 and has a hearing with the ZBA on 12/28/05. Because of the possibility of her husband coming home earlier she asked her contractor to start before the hearing and she wanted the Selectmen to know what she was doing. Selectman Albee said he felt she didn’t need a variance because the house is grand fathered and she is permitted enjoyment of her house and quiet access. The Selectmen had found information regarding this issue and will forward a copy to the ZBA. Mrs. Batchelder was advised to attend the hearing.

 

Selectman Albee reported on the JLMC meeting. A budget of $1000.00 was proposed for 2006 ($600 stipend for quarterly and annual inspections and $400 for training and mileage). Selectman Albee made a motion to accept the budget of $1000.00 for JLMC. Seconded by Selectman Weeks with all in favor.

 

Selectman Albee also reported on the Budget Committee meeting on 12/13. The following budgets were accepted – Patriotic Purposes, Welfare and Health Agencies.

 

The following items were approved and signed:

  • NHDRA Equalization Ratio Survey
  • Application for Veterans Credit for Weisenburger
  • Revised LGC Contract for Medical and Dental (includes Medicomp without prescription benefits)

 

The Selectmen discussed the Statewide Enhanced Education Tax Warrant for 2006 in the amount of $2,281,314. This is in line with previous years amounts.

 

Selectman Weeks questioned whether or not the car repairs were included in the Code Officer’s budget. Selectman Albee advised that it was included and that the budget was given to BudCom for review only.

 

Selectman Albee said he has checked into the computer software used by the police departments and the vast majority use the software the town currently uses (IMC). He feels that the department should keep this software to be compatible with other departments. Chief Shagoury will be advised.

 

Resident Barbara Wood asked if the town has looked into the impact of a central Public Safety building on insurance. She said she has checked with her company and was advised that if it were further than 5 miles from her house she would not be covered. Chief Thompson said that the ISO standard is to be within 5 miles. Selectman Weeks said that the central location being looked at would have more homes within the 5-mile radius than there are presently and that the plan is to have everyone within 5 miles of a station.

 

Chairman Stockman reported on the progress of the Cheney farm easement. He spoke to George Lamprey and was assured he would have an updated appraisal in early January for the Selectmen. Wayne Cheney has not yet gotten a copy of his conservation plan. Chairman Stockman was advised by NCRS that it was in the Conway office and that Mr. Cheney would have to request it and copy it for the Selectmen. It could then be forwarded to Attorney Ryan for review. The plan will most likely have to be updated.

 

At approximately 4:00 Selectmen met with Town Clerk Heather Cubeddu regarding an ADA questionnaire and survey from the state, which was to be done by both the moderator and town clerk. As Ms. Cubeddu had not been an elected official for the previous election she was looking to the Selectmen for answers to some of the questions.

 

Selectman Weeks reported that she had walked the proposed site for the public safety building last week with Chief Thompson, Code Officer Ted Wright and Engineer Ed Bergeron. The architect was ill and could not attend. It was determined to be a good location, with usable land, sufficient road frontage and good site distance. The engineer will make a report to the architect. The owner of the property will be in town next week so a meeting should be set up for the Selectmen to walk the site with the owner and discuss how much the property would cost.

 

At approximately 4:20 Selectmen met with Fire Chief Adam Thompson. Chief Thompson reported 247 fire, 142 medical, 62 service and 10 paramedic interrupt calls to date. Total of 461 calls this year compared to 341 last year. Chief Thompson provided the Selectmen with a breakdown of the calls and advised that there appears to be no pattern to the increase.

 

Chief Thompson presented a proposed budget for the department including a salary step chart, which showed where we are now and were we should be. There were substantial increases in several categories, which included:

  • Full time captain position
  • Changing from cell phones to Nextels
  • Requiring CDL licenses and health certificates
  • Software to report to the state
  • Clutch fan to decrease noise 10E
  • Repair oil leak on 10E1
  • Dry hydrant maintenance
  • Honda generator for Mirror Lake station

 

The Selectmen felt it was premature to give the budget to BudCom. Chief Thompson will clarify salary amounts and provide a list of current personnel and pay rates. The station maintenance budget has not yet been completed. Chief Thompson is waiting on getting general information for a septic system.

 

Chief Thompson mentioned that the generator for the Town Office is not large enough to run the office and that we should start thinking ahead. He noted that the generator should be pulled out of the shed when running.

 

Chief Thompson said that he has found a more appropriate evaluation form for his department. He will provide the Selectmen with a copy for their approval. Chief Thompson was given his evaluation to be discussed after the meeting.

 

The Selectmen will not be meeting on Monday December 26th and Monday January 2nd. They scheduled a workshop for Tuesday December 27th at 8 am to sign checks, review assessment questions and work on a wage scale.

 

Chairman Stockman reported he has received several requests to change the meeting back to 6:30.

 

At approximately 5:20 Selectmen met with Joe Kowalski to review the proposed Transfer Station budget. Mr. Kowalski reported that 188.68 tons have been recycled this year compared to 235 tons for all of last year. The Selectmen approved the budget with the salaries to be determined.

 

Selectman Weeks spoke to Paul Kimball regarding the exceedingly slow progress on the Town House renovations. Mr. Kimball thought he would be done shortly. He also has an idea for a ramp instead of a step for the rear exit. He will discuss with architect Wes Flierl.

 

The Selectmen reviewed the Planning Board budget, which increased mainly due to the Master Plan. A total of $17,950 was projected to finish the plan next year. The Planning Board budget was approved for a total of $25,968 and will be presented to BudCom.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 pm.

 

At approximately 6:05 Selectman Weeks made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A: 3 II (c) to discuss a personnel issue. Selectman Albee seconded the motion. Roll call: Chairman Stockman – yes, Selectman Albee – yes, Selectman Weeks – yes.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

Administrative Assistant