TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday July 10, 2006 AT THE TOWN HOUSE

 

*Accepted* 7-17-06

 

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

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permit Edith & Edmund Lowney, David Vaillancourt, Dan Weir, Sheila Cronin, Steven Metz, Jeffrey Hunter; Permit by Notification for Dorothy Ellis; Memo re: removal of signs; Memo re: library site walk; Memo re: Hersey appointment; Property Transfer from Judson Edwards to Trust, Scott & Amanda Fernandez to George & Susan Delaney; NHDES Report of water sample at 19 Mile and Melvin Beaches; Notice of Voluntary Merger for Barnes; Wolfeboro Planning Board Notice to Abutters re: July 11 hearing; NHDES Verification of Closure for  Joubert lagoons; Notice re: Election Law Training; DRA Newsletter; Community TV Monitor newsletter; Minimum Impact Expedited Application for Shatzer; Approval for Operation for Stephen Tholander, Elizabeth/William Frago, Darrin Naseck, Marilyn Barba, Susan/Warren Shatzer; Approval for Construction for Roderick Macalpine, John Goggin.

 

Items for Signature:  Board Appointment for Light; Lien Discharge for Loveday; Abatement for Riordan; Abatement for Allan; Unlicensed Dog Warrant.

 

To Do Folder:  MRI Memo re: sales review; Kaiser Letter re: assessment; Tuftonboro Islanders Association Meeting; HEB High Street Bridge; Web Site Survey; Cheney Conservation Easement Deed; Request from Moores Marine for payment.

 

Correspondence Folder:  Letter to Hayes.

 

Chairman Albee called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.  The first order of business was review of the minutes. Selectman Weeks recommended a minor change and then made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Seconded by Chairman Albee with all in favor.

 

Selectman Weeks reported speaking to Joe Klementovich of HEB regarding the final details at the Transfer Station. A punch list will be put together and then a meeting scheduled with the Selectmen, Mr. Klementovich and Paul Kimball to review the list.

 

Selectman Weeks also reported calls to Attorneys Ryan and Sullivan regarding the Cheney easement. Attorney Ryan is on vacation. Attorney Sullivan felt that the title issue was not a problem as it is a private mortgage more than 50 years old. Chairman Albee said, after speaking to Attorney Ryan last week, that Wayne Cheney should contact the survivors to get a signed affidavit. Selectman Stockman has been working with Mr. Cheney on this issue.

 

Selectman Weeks went to Hidden Valley today to look at the Allan property. After reviewing the property and Mr. Allan’s abatement application, Selectman Weeks made a motion to deny the abatement application. Seconded by Chairman Albee with all in favor.

 

The Selectmen reviewed and signed the following:

  • Unlicensed Dog Warrant
  • Lien Discharge for 37 Juniper Drive – Loveday
  • Appointment of Conservation Commission Alternate Jerome Light

 

The Selectmen reviewed the abatement application for Edward Riordan. Selectman Weeks made a motion to deny the application. Seconded by Chairman Albee with all in favor.

 

Chairman Albee reported speaking to Don Jutton from MRI regarding the Town Administrator Assessment being compiled by Blake Cullimore. Mr. Jutton said that he wanted to do follow-up interviews next Monday. An executive session will be needed to discuss.

 

Chairman Albee said that he read almost all of the Adelphia bankruptcy information and that it basically covered the sale to Time-Warner.

 

Chairman Albee and Selectman Weeks will be attending the Islanders Association meeting on Saturday. Selectman Stockman is not able to attend.

 

Chairman Albee started the discussion regarding the proposed change of name of Samm Lane. Michael Moraros was in attendance as he was the one who named the road. Mr. Moraros explained the issues he has had with Robert Grady since he purchased his land from Mr. Grady. Mr. Moraros was very upset and thought it unfair to have the road renamed at Mr. Grady’s request. After much discussion, Chairman Albee made a motion approve the name of Samm Lane. Seconded by Selectman Stockman. Selectman Weeks abstained.

 

At approximately 5 pm Selectmen met with Mary Hersey and Steve Plante. Mr. Plante requested clarity on what can be done to Piper Road; in particular he questioned his use of a chain to close off the road. Mr. Plante said that he and Ms. Hersey spent a considerable amount of money fixing the road and he doesn’t like to see it destroyed by cars. He said there was also a constant problem with people dumping garbage. Selectman Weeks explained that it is a class VI road, which means the town does not maintain it and a chain cannot be put across the road. In answer to a question as to how to get the town to maintain the road, it was explained that the question has to be put to the voters at Town Meeting. Ms. Hersey then gave the Selectmen a letter explaining her issues with the town regarding her property on Lang Pond Road. Selectman Weeks reported that the Selectmen had made a site visit to the area in question last week after the meeting and met Ms. Hersey there. Ms. Hersey said the letter was her response to that meeting. Chairman Albee read the letter (see attached). Chairman Albee then stated that the Selectmen would have this discussion in a week or two in order to enable them to review her issues. Selectman Weeks said she would have the Police Department monitor the usage of the beach to evaluate parking needs.

 

At approximately 5:15 Selectmen met with Dan Phaneuf regarding his abatement application, which had been denied. Mr. Phaneuf made comparisons to his neighbor’s house, which is larger. And he also questioned the assessment on his 88 feet of lake frontage. The Selectmen said they would take another look at his application.

 

At approximately 5:30 Selectmen met with Ron Albert regarding his abatement application. Selectman Weeks advised that when his application was first reviewed the Selectmen were thinking of the wrong property and are willing to approve the reduction of $60,000 as recommended by Avitar. Appraiser Kathy Smith spoke for Mr. Albert as she had done an assessment review on the property and felt that several errors were made and that a further reduction would be appropriate. Mr. Albert has the smallest lot and the highest assessment. The property only has 50 feet of lakefront. Ms. Smith said that all of her issues are addressed in her letter attached to the abatement application. The Selectmen said they would take another look at it.

 

Fire Chief Adam Thompson presented a candidate, Chris Morgan, for appointment to the Fire Department. The Selectmen will discuss next week.

 

At approximately 5:35 Chairman Albee made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A: 3 II (b) to discuss a personnel issue. Selectman Weeks seconded the motion. Roll call: Chairman Albee – yes, Selectman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes.

 

The Selectmen’s meeting was adjourned at 5:40 pm.

 

At approximately 5:40 Chairman Albee opened the second public hearing on the purchase of the Dearborn property for the proposed public safety building. There were about 7 people in attendance. Selectman Weeks presented the same information as was presented at the first hearing.

 

Laurie Bowen, an abutter to the Dearborn property, questioned whether the brook that runs through the property would be affected. Selectman Weeks said that there are no plans to use the brook and that it actually runs along the boundary of the property. Ms. Bowen also expressed concern because it is inside a school zone and she had a problem with large emergency vehicles coming out of that driveway. She also asked about school functions as people park along the road from the school to the library. Selectman Weeks said that parking for school functions has not been addressed.

 

Cheryl Williams asked about the hazardous material on the property – the house and the chicken coop. Selectman Weeks replied that it seems to be minimal and would be dealt with. Ms. Williams asked about the size of the property. Selectman Weeks said that it has been determined the minimum size needed for the facility and parking is ¾’s of an acre and the selectmen feel comfortable that the site is big enough.

 

Richard Croteau expressed concern about the paved parking in proximity to the stream.

 

Other concerns mentioned were:

  • Sirens – no longer used
  • Lighting – town has a lighting ordinance
  • Noise – berms will be used to screen from abutters

 

Cheryl Williams stated that the school issues should be addressed before going further. She asked why the big rush. Chairman Albee advised that this project could take another 2-3 years and the selectmen have been working on it for about 2 years.

 

Selectman Stockman asked if the selectmen should be looking at the Wakefield property, which abuts the Dearborn’s. This would gain more road frontage and parking. Selectman Weeks thought it was a difficult lot to do anything with.

 

Selectman Weeks said it is anticipated that there will be less Fire Department traffic with the central station.

 

Chief Thompson advised that he had questioned the neighbors about noise around the stations and the consensus was that it did not affect them.

 

Chairman Albee stated that a lot of issues would be addressed in the design stage.

 

Richard Croteau asked if there were any possibility of widening the road or putting in sidewalks. Chairman Albee said that in the type of campus setting envisioned it would require walking paths or sidewalks and landscaping.

 

Mr. Croteau stated that his major concern is that he has seen an increase in traffic and noise and people are going much faster. Jan Croteau said she thought it important to make the area very pedestrian accessible and safe.

 

Tony Lyon answered a question about zoning. He felt the project itself would not require much if any changes. He did note that the Planning Board is looking at town wide zoning changes as the Master Plan is put together.

 

Chairman Albee advised that the Selectmen would have more and more meetings as the project goes forward so that by the time the town is asked to approve the project they would have all the information needed to make an informed decision. The Selectmen would probably vote next week to purchase the property.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

 Administrative Assistant