TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday May 15, 2006

 

*Accepted* 5-22-06 CORRECTIONS IN BOLD

 

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

 

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permits for Carol & Ted Bense, Lois Smith, Terry Colby; Application for Driveway Permit for Colby; Standard Dredge & Fill Application for Tower, Tower, Ludwig & O’Rourke; Standard Dredge & Fill for Frank Bell Family Trust; Memo from MRI re: 2006 Building Permit Status; Memo from MRI re: Sales Review; Abutter Notification from Dan Derby; Alton ZBA Notice of Public Hearing re: Telecommunications Tower (2); Training certificate for Shagoury (3); LGC Notification of State of Housing in NH conference; Memo re: Invitation to Tuftonboro Islanders Assoc meeting; UNH News & Views; ZBA Notice of Decision for Poirier; Legislative Bulletin #21; Letter from John Zimmer re: assessment; Scope of work proposal from MRI re: town administrator.

 

 

Items for Signature:  Intent to Cut for Lyon; Intent to Cut for Perkins; Intent to Excavate for Holmberg; Supplemental Intent to Excavate for Holmberg; Land Use Change Tax for Colby, Boggs; Timber Tax Levy for Palmason, Bense, Hersey; Right to Burial for Culleton; Lien Discharge for Jamieson.

 

 

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 Chairman Albee with all in favor.

 

The Selectmen reviewed and signed the following:

  • Lien Discharge for Jamieson
  • Intent to Cut for Lyon
  • Supplemental Intent to Excavate for Holmberg
  • Tax Warrant for 1st Bill
  • Timber Tax Levy for Palmason, Bense, Hersey
  • Right of Burial for Culleton

 

Held for further review:

  • Chairman Albee and Selectman Stockman are looking for a reclamation plan or closure plan from Gerald Holmberg before signing an Intent to Excavate for the current year. Mr. Holmberg will be notified.
  • The Selectmen asked to have Scott Marsh from MRI meet with them regarding the Land Use Change Tax forms for Boggs and Colby, which will be held until that time, and the sales review memo.

 

The Selectmen spoke briefly about the BTLA Show Cause hearing that Chairman Albee and Selectman Weeks attended last week. They felt it was unlikely a new reval would be ordered and that the lead petitioner did not provide much factual information.

 

All 3 selectmen will attend the Tuftonboro Islanders Association meeting on July 15th, which will be held this year on Cow Island. Transportation to the island will be arranged with Ellen Watts.

 

Chairman Albee reported on several issues; about 30 people attended the potluck last Wednesday. The request for additional grant money for the Cheney easement has been submitted along with the signed Purchase and Sales agreement. The Purchase and Sales agreement on the Dearborn property has been signed and forwarded along with the deposit to Town Counsel.

 

A tentative walk of the Dearborn property with Architect Mo Gagnon, Chief Shagoury and Chief Thompson has been scheduled for Wednesday. Selectman Weeks will coordinate. A walk of the property has been scheduled for Thursday May 25th at 5 pm for the Planning Board and Conservation Commission. Selectman Stockman will notify the Commission at tonight’s meeting. Tony Lyon will notify the Planning Board.

 

Chairman Albee announced the hiring of Jack Parsons for the full time Code Officer position. Mr. Parsons will start on Monday 5/22/06. The schedule is to be determined. Ted Wright has agreed to train Mr. Parsons and Lane Evans will continue as well.

 

The issue brought to Selectmen Stockman by David Puchacz of 12 Sawyer Point Road regarding a building permit was discussed. Chairman Albee will contact Mr. Puchascz and explain that his old building permit from 1994 is not valid and a new application must be made.

 

At approximately 9:25 Selectmen met with Rich Piper regarding the contract now required for haulers who bring trash to the Tuftonboro Transfer Station. He was concerned the Selectmen had gotten the wrong impression last week. He stated that he just had some questions about the contract but he was not unwilling to sign it. His major problem was with the requirement to coordinate times with the supervisor. He was afraid he could be told he could not bring trash on Saturday, as this would put him out of business. Chairman Albee said that it was just meant to have some control and that maybe the facility should open on Mondays just for the haulers. Mr. Piper said he was satisfied and signed the agreement, as did the selectmen.

 

At approximately 9:30 Selectmen met with Fire Chief Adam Thompson. Chief Thompson reported two roads, Dame and Sodom, had to be shut down over the weekend due to the heavy rain. There was minor damage and they have been reopened. Selectman Stockman said he received several complaints and that more signs were needed to inform people before they got on the road. A sign saying “ROAD CLOSED AHEAD” would have been helpful. Chief Thompson will arrange for more signs through the emergency management budget. Chief Thompson reported 84 fire, 34 medical and 17 service calls for a total of 135 calls to date. There have been 1 woodstove, 17 oil, and 35 gas inspections and 3 life safety visits. A dry hydrant has been put in place at Mountain Shadows. The dry hydrant at Cheryl Williams’ property on Middle Road was discussed. If the hydrant is removed, the fire department still has the right to use the pond. This needs to be discussed with Ms. Williams before any action is taken. Spring maintenance on the vehicles has been completed. It was found that the springs on engine 2 would have to be replaced at some point this year. Chief Thompson will also be attending the Islanders Association meeting on 7/15. Arrangements have been made with the Road Agent to clean up the library fire pond this Wednesday. Chief Thompson and Lieutenant Pike will attend a 5-day training session next week. Lieutenant Pike has completed all required health and fitness tests and would be attending the C2F2 training in the fall. This is required certification for full time fire personnel.

 

Tony Lyon reminded everyone again of the Master Plan forum to be held on June 1st at 6:30 pm at the Town House. This is a very important meeting where decisions would be made. Joanna Whitcomb has detailed maps, which show land use, soils and resources. Discussion will include current and future land use patterns and zoning. Selectman Weeks advised that it is the Planning Board who adopts the Master Plan and then all zoning changes after that would have to conform to it. The plan, hopefully, will be finished this year and then a whole new zoning document to be completed for March 2008.

 

In response to a question from Chief Thompson the Selectmen advised that the selection of the site for the public safety building was a political one and therefore a selectmen decision. The Chiefs of Police and Fire will have more input on the building itself as they have more expertise than the selectmen. The Selectmen agreed with Chief Thompson that when answering any questions it is important to be as honest as possible.

 

At approximately 10 am Selectmen met with Town Clerk Heather Cubeddu. Ms. Cubeddu updated the Selectmen on the problems with the new MAPP (motor vehicle) system. One major concern was the effect it was having on the town clerk expenses budget. The state keeps changing requirements so there are expenses that were not anticipated. There are quite a few bugs in the state system and the BMSI software. There was a lack of training by BMSI – only 2 hours one evening – and it is difficult to get in touch with them. Unfortunately there is no other software certified at this time. Selectman Weeks said that if it is determined the town is not on the right track with BMSI then maybe switching to the state software now would be advisable. In that case the state would provide all of the equipment and install it. The equipment already purchased by the town would not be used. Ms. Cubeddu advised that she would be attending a regional Town Clerks meeting in June and would be able to get a better idea how other towns are making out. Because of the tight budget Ms. Cubeddu stated that before she purchases the laptop to be used for the new election system that was to be implemented this year she wants to make sure the state has all of their ducks in a row so that she knows she is getting the correct hardware.

 

Blake Cullimore of MRI will be notified to go ahead with his proposed scope of work in conjunction with determining the job description for a Town Administrator, as he presented to the Selectmen.

 

The public meeting was adjourned at 10:25.

 

At approximately 10:30 Chairman Albee made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A: 3 II (b) to discuss personnel issues. Selectman Weeks seconded the motion. Roll call: Chairman Albee – yes, Selectman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

Administrative Assistant