TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday April 11, 2005

 

 

*Accepted* 4-18-05

 

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

 

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permits for Lois Farrell, Tim Morrison; Electric Permits for Richard Dickie; Dufresne-Henry re: Tuftonboro Landfill Groundwater Management Permit; Dufresne-Henry copy of letter to DES; Minimum Impact Expedited Application for David Ladd; NHDES Wetlands & Non-site Specific Permit for Ronald & Deborah Harrison; Copy of Letter from Laminated Concepts to Moores Marine re: non-payment of materials; Legislative Bulletin #15; Memo from Supervisor of Checklist re: update status; Betsey Patten re: assistance with Low and Moderate Income Homeowners property Tax Relief on May 23; Certificate of Attendance for Officers Jamie-Lynn Sheehy and Thomas Lafavre; NH Department of Safety re: Emergency Declaration eligibility for snow events in January and February; Ray Burton Executive Council Report #6; Notice of rate increase from Ron LaBranche; Public notice from Wolfeboro ZBA e: Telecommunications Tower; Copy of letter from Code Officer to North Country Village re: Septic Failure; Carroll County 2004 Annual Report; Business Review; Berlin Police Dept. request for old computers; The Inner Chamber; Lakeside; Memo re: flag donation.

 

 

Minutes: The Selectmen’s meeting minutes of 4/4/05 were approved.

 

 

Items for Signature:  Intent to Excavate for Hammer; Timber Tax Warrant; Gravel Tax Warrant; Elderly Exemptions for Holmes, Bisbee; H. E. Bergeron Transfer Station Letter Agreement; Veterans Tax Credit for Dow.

 

 

At approximately 3:00 Selectmen met with Jay Poulin of H. E. Bergeron regarding the Letter Agreement for proposed work at the Transfer Station. Mr. Poulin advised that the Town needs a permit from NHDES. This is just a one-page document letting the DES know that work is being done. Joe Kowalski will pursue this. Selectmen requested an as-built plan at the end of the project and rate schedule of employees that may be involved in the project. The amount of construction administration is up to the Town and is billed hourly. It was agreed that the best time to start the work is in the fall. Selectman Weeks made a motion to accept the Letter Agreement. Seconded by Selectman Albee with all in favor. Mr. Poulin submitted the name of a company to contact for advice on the Public Safety Building Project. Selectman Weeks will make the contact.

 

The bid package submitted by Wes Flierl was reviewed and approved. The dates just need to be filled in. Selectman Weeks contacted Paul Kimball to remind him the door at the Town House still needs to be painted. Mr. Kimball also expressed interest in painting the Town Office. Mr. Kimball will contact Chairman Stockman to do a walk around.

 

Selectmen approved and signed the following:

  • Veterans Credit for Albert Dow (Mr. Dow will be contacted again to fill out the remainder of the paperwork.)
  • Gravel Tax Warrant
  • Timber Tax Warrant
  • Intent to Excavate for R. Gerry Hammer
  • Elderly Exemption for Holmes
  • Elderly Exemption for Bisbee

 

Selectman Albee related a discussion with Attorney Deborah Fauver regarding recent Supreme Court decisions on zoning. Ms. Fauver is willing to speak to the ZBA to explain these decisions. Selectmen were in favor of the idea. Selectman Albee will follow-up.

 

The Selectmen accepted the donation of an American flag from Mickey Purdy.

 

At approximately 3:35 Selectmen met with Ann Hackl of the Conservation Commission and Steve Hundley of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to discuss the Cheney Farm Easement document. Mr. Hundley had been made aware of the many questions the Selectmen had about the document. Mr. Hundley proceeded to explain the hierarchy of the different organizations involved and the need for referencing them in the document. There are different levels of authority and responsibilities starting with the United States of America to the USDA to the NRCS. Most of the deed language comes from the Office of General Counsel and for the most part is not subject to revision. All easements need a conservation plan, which the NRCS is responsible for and which has been done for the Cheney Farm. They are also responsible for monitoring the compliance through the Conservation Commission. The Commission would report any concerns to the NRCS. State Conservationist, Theresa Chadwick is authorized to sign the document but is not authorized to approve any amendments. Mr. Hundley noted that it is almost impossible to get an amendment unless it is an error that was not caught before closing. Mr. Hundley also advised that the Office of General Counsel (OGC) has added requirements since the Selectmen reviewed the original document and it is conceivable that the OGC will make additional requirements before closing. Any revisions proposed by the Selectmen will need to be approved by OGC. Mr. Hundley agrees that there are some areas that need clarification. A base line document is basically what the parcel looks like at the time of closing – buildings, land, streams. utility lines, etc. Mr. Hundley clearly stated that the landowner is getting paid to relinquish his development rights and the OGC is very stringent about this. The Selectmen called for a break to meet with the Code Officer.

 

At approximately 4:50 Selectmen met with Code Officer Ted Wright. Mr. Wright said he was getting busy. He presented a copy of a Cease and Desist notice from the Town of Alton, which would help create a paper trail for additional enforcement. Selectman Albee requested more detail under enforcement on his mileage reports. Mr. Wright thought it would be too difficult to keep track of. Mr. Wright inquired about hiring Lane Evans in order to train him so that Mr. Evans can fill in when he takes some time off. Selectmen agreed to try it on a trial basis. Selectmen made it clear that if and when Mr. Wright resigns it should not be assumed that Mr. Evans would get the position. The job would still be advertised. An executive session will be scheduled to discuss salary.

 

At approximately 5:10 Selectmen resumed the page-by-page discussion of the Cheney Farm Easement. Mr. Hundley wanted the Selectmen to understand that in the event the Town becomes the owner of the property the easement must be transferred to another entity. Mr. Hundley will contact the OGC and will get back to the Selectmen as soon as he hears back from them. It may take a couple of weeks.

 

Penny Garrett was unable to wait so she will be contacted to reschedule.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

Administrative Assistant