TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday April 24, 2006

 

*Accepted* 5-1-06 Corrections in Bold

 

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

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permit for Olivia Kuehn, Steve Ross; Approval for Construction for Jeffrey Taylor; Property Transfers from Scott & Laura Backman to Ellen Purdy, Julie Sbraccia to Marilyn Barba; Notice to Cities & Towns re: Ray; Opinion letter from Town Counsel re: MRI professional Services Agreement; Letter from Town Counsel re: BTLA Show Cause & Hearing Notice; Letter from Stewarts Ambulance and Memo re: status; Memo from Tax Collector re: Larry Phelps; Driveway Permit for Mary Jane Sargent; HEB Field Reports #1, 2, 3 re: Transfer Station; Legislative Bulletin #17; Coalition Communities; LRHHPF 2/23/06 and 3/16/06 meeting minutes; Memo re: Rick Richardson; NHDES Certificate of Attendance for Greenwood; Business Review; Notification of Routine Roadway Maintenance Activities re: 109A; Permit by Notification for Burnett/Shea; DRA Newsletter; Memo re: Use of Beach/Pavilion; Draft of letter re: Town House Use.

 

Minutes: The Selectmen’s meeting minutes of 4/17/06 were approved as written. The non-public minutes of 4/17/06 were approved as written.

 

Items for Signature:  Notice of Lien for MacDonald; Timber Tax Levy for Bean, Hunter, Holmberg, Sargent; Application, Certification and Agreement Form for Federal Surplus Property.

 

Chairman Albee called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.  The first order of business was review of the minutes. Selectman Weeks made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Seconded by Chairman Albee with all in favor. Selectman Weeks made a motion to accept the non-public minutes as written. Seconded by Selectman Stockman with all in favor.

 

 At approximately 9:03 Selectmen met with Ted Bense who had several issues to bring before them. Mr. Bense suggested some publicity regarding the fact that the town has opted not to participate in the one day Household Hazardous Waste collection. Selectman Weeks suggested instead more publicity to promote the Household Hazardous Waste Product Facility in Wolfeboro. Mr. Bense advised that the rates would be the same as last year. Sarah Silk asked if the town was interested in becoming a member, as it is not too late to join for this year. The incentive for the town to join is that the cost is half the price to members. There are no additional fees but someone from the town would have to attend the monthly meetings. The Selectmen said they were not interested in joining and were happy to continue as is. Chairman Albee asked Mr. Bense to draft a press release to publicize the hazardous waste facility in Wolfeboro.

Mr. Bense also reported that the monuments were missing from the GWH r-o-w on Mirror Lake. People using the r-o-w are infringing on the abutting land. Mr. Bense suggested replacing the monuments and also smoothing out the access 5 to 10 feet from the lake for boat launching as it has become very rough. He also suggested a sign at the access on Lang Pond Road to advise that launching motorboats are not allowed.  Another issue is trailer parking at 19 Mile Bay Beach. There should be a sign directing trailers be parked across the street in the town parking lot. There were trailers and other vehicles parked in the beach area all winter and some are continuing to do so. Mr. Bense suggested putting down concrete pads on the ramp at the beach, as the ramp needs some work. The pea stone is drifting or is being carried away. The Selectmen were not in favor of using concrete but were in agreement that something should be done. The corduroy road was discussed. Selectman Weeks will have sign made up to warn of the hazard.

 

At approximately 9:25 Selectmen met with David Hynes of DRA. Mr. Hynes wanted to explain his comments in a report in regards to the assessing of current use property by Avitar. Since there are not enough sales in Tuftonboro or anywhere else in the state to substantiate his opinion he was charged with a study to prove his opinion and then report back to the BTLA. Until this can be documented the statement was removed from his report to the town. Mr. Hynes will attend the BTLA hearing on May 11th as the DRA representative since he oversaw the reval and did the town’s assessment review of general assessment practices. He stated that the issue to be determined is the methodology used to assess the islands. Without enough sales data it becomes an opinion of value. Avitar will have to show their rationale and prove their assessments are correct. Mr. Hynes reported that Avitar’s reval was done according to current standards and that their values were proportionate and uniform. He said that Avitar will fight having to do another full reval and that it is up to the petitioners to prove their case. Selectman Weeks questioned how much latitude the BTLA has in deviating from the petition. Mr. Hynes stated that they could do what they want. He also said that the RSA that allows a petition with only 50 signatures is archaic and because of it the BTLA has been inundated with cases. The RSA is to be reviewed.

 

Mr. Hynes will also be reviewing the MRI contract for assessing this year he will be looking at fees and charges and work billed. The contract appears to be broad in scope, with not much definition of the work to be done. A draft of the final report on the assessment review will be given to the Selectmen sometime in June or July. It cannot be released to the Selectmen before then.

 

Selectmen met with Fred Malatesta from the Lakes Region Water Company. The NHDES had placed a moratorium on building in Hidden Valley for one of the two water systems (#2372020). A Hidden Valley property owner wants to build a home and would be using the second water system (#2372030), which does not have a moratorium. Mr. Malatesta wanted to know what he has to give the Code Office so that a building permit can be issued. The Selectmen advised that he should provide information that shows which lots are serviced by which systems and clarification from NHDES on which well has the moratorium.

 

 The Selectmen reviewed the abatement for Quimby and once the frontage is verified it will be approved.

 

Selectman Weeks made a motion to sign the Notice of Lien for George and Michelle MacDonald. Seconded by Selectman Stockman with all in favor.

 

A motion to approve and sign the gravel Tax Levy for Bean, Hunter and Holmberg was made by Selectman Stockman. Seconded by Selectman Weeks with all in favor.

 

Chairman Albee made a motion to approve and sign the Federal Surplus Property Authorization. Seconded by Selectman Weeks with all in favor.

 

The Selectmen discussed the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Cheney easement. The closing date was changed to August 31st. Chairman Albee reported that the acreage issue was resolved by Attorney Ryan and Noreen MacDonald. Chairman Albee made a motion to authorize Ann Hackl, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, as signer on behalf of the town. Seconded by Selectman Stockman with all in favor.

 

The Selectmen discussed the request to use the beach and pavilion for a party. After some discussion the selectmen decided that they would not allow anyone to reserve or have exclusive use of the beach or pavilion. Parties may be held but not to the exclusion of others.

 

At approximately 10:15 the Selectmen watched a Power Point presentation by Dawn Evans of the Conservation Commission on used oil recycling. The state is offering a reimbursement grant and is targeting those communities that do not have a program in place. This is strictly for do-it-yourselfers to bring their used oil to the Transfer Station. There are many recycle companies that will pick up the used oil and reprocess it. The Selectmen felt this was a something they would be interested in and would include it in the plans for the Transfer Station for next year. As it is a reimbursement grant there is no money in the budget for this year but the Selectmen will save it for further discussion. Joe Kowalski asked that the personnel at the transfer Station be kept in the loop.

 

The Selectmen reviewed the memo from the tax collector re: Larry Phelps. After some discussion Chairman Albee made a motion to abate the $17.96 in additional charges associated with placing a lien. Seconded by Selectman Stockman with all in favor. A note will be sent to Mr. Phelps explaining the process and the fact that he was not singled out.

 

Selectman Weeks reported that the interviews for the Code Officer position are continuing with one more scheduled this week. It will be a tough decision as there are several excellent candidates.

 

Chairman Albee reported that Paul Kimball stopped in prior to the meeting with 3 issues for the Selectmen to review. The first issue was whether or not red and green lights should be installed on the building. This would tell the user if the compactor was open or closed. The Selectmen approved wiring for future lights. The second involved fireproof sheetrock for the old building. The Selectmen did not approve this expenditure as the money could be better spent on a fire detection system. The last issue had to do with grade and drainage questions to be discussed with HEB.

 

Fred Sargent reported that brush removal would cost $50 more per load.

 

The public meeting was adjourned at 11:00.

 

At approximately 11:00 Selectman Weeks made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A: 3 II (d) to discuss a land purchase. Chairman Albee seconded the motion. Roll call: Chairman Albee – yes, Selectman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

Administrative Assistant