TOWN OF TUFTONBORO
MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN
Monday March 6, 2006
*Accepted* 3-14-06 REVISIONS IN BOLD
Selectmen present: Bill Stockman, Chip Albee and Susan Weeks.
Selectmen reviewed mail, which included:
Plumbing Permit for Boston YMCA; Electrical Permit for Stephen Farrell;
Approval for Construction for Robert/Susan Bahr; NHDES Notice of Strict
Liability for Museum Lodges; Property Transfers from Museum Lodges to Neve
Brothers (2), Museum Lodges to Tiffany Brack, Wilfred Drouin to Wilfred Drouin Jr.,
Lake & Lodge Realty to RAM Properties
Limited Partnership, Marion Donovan to Warren Shatzer Trust; Dufresne-Henry re:
Tax map with additional GMZ shown; ZBA Notice of Decision re: Browne Realty
Trust; Coalition Communities; LGC re: requirement to notify federal government
of Creditable Coverage; Parks & Rec 3/9/06 agenda and 2/2/06 meeting minutes; SPACE newsletter; Letter from
Avitar re: Current Use maps; Plan of Subdivision for George & Lorraine
Demers; Primex Awareness in Action booklet; Legislative Bulletin #11; Memo re:
Cheney Easement.
Minutes:
The Selectmen’s meeting minutes of 2/27/06 were approved as corrected.
Items for Signature: Compensation Authorization for Kyle Williams;
Compensation Authorization for Jason Boucher; Abatement for YMCA Camp Belknap;
Current Use Application for Catherine Nesbit; Abatement for Lakes Region
Conservation Trust (2).
At approximately 8:45
Chairman Stockman 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.
At approximately 9:00
Selectmen met with Fran and Ellen Laase along with Scott Marsh from MRI
regarding their 2004 appeal to the BTLA. The BTLA had advised meeting with the
Selectmen to resolve the issue, as there is backlog of appeals. The legal
issues regarding the contamination of their property have not been resolved as
yet so any reference to other properties was by letter. The Laase’s want to
understand how the percentage of contamination was arrived at since it does not
seen equal for all properties. Mr. Marsh said that the percentages would not be
the same since each property is first assessed for its market value at the time
of the abatement. An adjustment is then made for contamination and then the
town’s ratio is applied. The values of the properties are different but how the
abatement is handled is the same for all. A contamination factor of 50% was a
decision by the BTLA not the Selectmen. The Laase’s will review the additional
information given to them regarding how their abatement was arrived at and if
they still have questions Mr. Marsh would be more than happy to meet with them.
At approximately 9:20
Selectmen met with Michelle Willette and David Santamaria from Stewarts
Ambulance. Ms. Willette and Mr. Santamaria were concerned that there was
misinformation being discussed regarding a proposed ambulance contract with
their company. Stewarts Ambulance has
been in business for 25 years and currently provides service for 4 towns in
this area – Meredith, Moultonborough, Sandwich and Center
Harbor and 100% of the service for Huggins
Hospital. As of July 2006 they will
also provide service to Wolfeboro. The proposed contract with Tuftonboro in the
amount of $70,000 would provide the town with access to ambulances in
Moultonborough and Wolfeboro. They also provide 24- hour paramedic coverage.
There are currently 60 employees - 19 paramedics and 41 EMTI or EMT
Basic. More staff will be added in July. There are eight ambulances in service
at this time with two more being added shortly. Ms. Willette advised that once
an ambulance is dispatched another one is sent to take its place. Selectman
Weeks stated that the town has had a good relationship with Lord’s Ambulance
Service for many years and that changing to an unknown is worrisome. There is
also a concern about Stewarts becoming a monopoly. Ms. Willette recommended
that the Selectmen call the towns they service in addition to Huggins
Hospital for information on the
service provided. Chairman Stockman questioned whether it was a good move to
include a bay for the ambulance in the new Public Safety building. Ms. Willette
said it was a very good idea and that it would be a savings to the town.
Regarding a question about the housing of ambulances in Wolfeboro Ms. Willette
stated that the final approval for the lease of a building in Wolfeboro to
house the vehicles would be March 8. Verbal indications are that all criteria
have been met and approval would be granted. The Selectmen thanked Ms. Willette
and Mr. Santamaria for coming to talk to them.
At approximately 9:50
Selectmen met with Fire Chief Adam Thompson. Chief Thompson reported 48 fire,
22 medical, 8 service calls and 9 oil burner inspections. He also reported that
the airboat was used last week to assist NH Electric Coop in getting out to the
islands to restore power. The airboat was also used to assist NH Fish &
Game with a recovery in Meredith on Sunday. Bart Carlson has requested the use
of the Melvin Village
station on 9/11/06
in case of rain for the 2006 Reliability Tour (antique cars). Chief Thompson
said he was willing to accommodate the request. The Selectmen approved the
request. Zane Sundquist has applied to the department and has been taking
training courses on his own time. The department currently stands at 24
members. Kyle Joseph has resigned as part-time captain and is now working
fulltime in Laconia. He will
continue to help out until a replacement is found. Mr. Joseph will also
continue as an on-call firefighter.
Lloyd Morgan Jr. asked the Selectmen for help in getting the
residents on Neal Hill Road
hooked up to Adelphia cable. The contract with Adelphia calls for service when
there are 15 houses per mile so as long as they meet the criteria there should
be no problem. The Selectmen said they have very little authority except as
written in the contract, which is not up for renewal for several years but
will have someone contact Adelphia about this.
Selectman Weeks said the Selectmen need to make a decision
regarding the land for the Public Safety building. The property on Union
Wharf belonging to Ted Wright has a
potential buyer. Selectman Albee said he is not opposed to making a commitment
subject to town approval but didn’t want this to be the end of the discussion
regarding property. Mr. Wright is willing to wait until town meeting. Chairman
Stockman made a motion to enter into a Purchase and Sales Agreement with Ted
Wright to buy his property on Union Wharf Road with the provision the Selectmen
continue to investigate other properties. Seconded by Selectman Albee with all
in favor. If the property is presented at town meeting then they do not have to
go through the Planning Board and Conservation Commission approval process. Mr.
Wright has offered to do the survey for the Boundary Line Adjustment with the
abutter.
Selectman Albee made a motion to award a contract for
$8500.00 to Kimball’s Lumber to shingle the roof on the Town House
pending approval at Town Meeting. Seconded by Chairman Stockman with all in
favor.
The Selectmen approved and signed the following:
- Compensation
Authorization for Kyle Williams
- Compensation
Authorization for Jason Boucher
- Intent
to Cut for Joseph Libby
- Abatement
for Camp Belknap
Chairman Stockman made a motion to approve the two
abatements for Lakes Region Conservation Trust. Seconded by Selectman Weeks. It
passed 2-1 with Selectman Albee voting against approving the abatement.
The application for Current Use made by Catherine Nesbit will
be held for further information.
Chairman Stockman reported several contacts by residents
regarding assessment procedures.
Selectman Weeks read the information given out last week by
Joe Kowalski regarding state standards for websites. One of the pages is a
questionnaire, which will be sent to all department heads and board chairmen.
Once the responses are received the Selectmen can then establish a policy for
the website.
A discussion ensued regarding the Power Point presentation
for town meeting. After much discussion it was decided that Selectman Weeks
would rework the presentation this week and have the new text available for
review at next weeks meeting. There was some talk of forming a building
committee to work along with the Selectmen and architect and to hold several
meetings to present the project to the townspeople.
The Selectmen announced they would not have a meeting on
Monday march 13th but would meet on Tuesday March 14th at
10:30 am at the Town House.
At approximately 11:00
Chairman Stockman made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA
91-A: 3 II (d) to discuss the proposed acquisition of land; RSA
91-A: 3 II (c) to discuss two personnel issues. Selectman Albee seconded the
motion. Roll call: Chairman Stockman – yes, Selectman Albee – yes, Selectman
Weeks – yes.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carolyn Sundquist
Administrative Assistant