TOWN OF
Selectmen present:
Chip Albee, Susan Weeks and Bill Stockman.
Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permits for Richard Lovett Jr. & Janet Baker, Kirk & Carole Dewitt, Cheryl Swansburg; Memo re: Videotaping; Standard Dredge & Fill for Joanne Hamlin, Robert Evans, Andy Geoghegan; Property Transfer from Gary & Elaine Qua to Paul & Ann Remus; Boundary Line Adjustments for Marriott; NHDES results of water tests for 21 Thomas Point Road; Coalition Communities; Coalition Communities survey response from Knox;
Items for Signature: Lien Discharge for Ferdinand; Supplemental
Intent to Cut for
At approximately 9:00 Chairman Albee called the meeting to order. The first order of business was review of the 10/16/06 minutes. Chairman Albee and Selectman Weeks made several corrections and additions. Selectman Weeks then made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Seconded by Selectman Stockman with all in favor.
At approximately 9:05 Selectmen met with Robert and Lauren Tucker and their attorney Randy Walker. The Tuckers were invited to attend the meeting and speak to the Selectmen in an effort to resolve the pending litigation in Superior Court regarding their 2005 assessment. Attorney Walker advised that the Tucker’s were looking for a reduction in their assessment of $214,000. Attorney Walker compared the Tucker property with their neighbors on either side, which were assessed at a lower value. Chairman Albee said the major difference appears to be in the land value. Selectman Weeks stated that it is hard to give an assessment lower than what the Tuckers paid for the property in 2003. After much discussion Selectman Weeks offered to do a site visit, which was scheduled for 1 pm. Selectman Stockman will accompany Selectman Weeks. A decision will not be reached until the Selectmen discuss it at their regularly scheduled meeting next Monday October 30th.
Jeanie Forrester, Town Administrator, gave her report to the Selectmen:
Ms. Forrester also advised that the Selectmen need to address the memo from the Administrative Assistant regarding the videotaping of board meetings. Clarification is needed so that the boards and the general public are aware that the taping is either being done for the town or for personal use. Chairman Albee reported that he had addressed this to Joe Kowalski last week and that Mr. Kowalski told him he would let everyone know beforehand. Mr. Kowalski, present at the meeting, said that the board should make the announcement. Selectman Weeks said that Mr. Kowalski is only paid to tape the Selectmen’s meetings. After some additional discussion Mr. Kowalski said he would make up a sign to be used at each meeting he tapes.
At approximately 9:35 Selectmen met with Road Agent Steve Hunter. Mr. Hunter reported that he had submitted his budget but does not have any estimate yet for the paving. A discussion ensued regarding separating out sub categories under winter and summer maintenance to give a better picture of where the money is being spent. Selectman Weeks asked for one big category and then sub categories for each task, however, the software uses the state’s Chart of Accounts so it would not be able to be broken down that way. Instead each sub category would have its own budget line. Selectman Weeks asked the administrative assistant to contact Munismart regarding this issue and report next week. The road agent was asked to contact H. E. Bergeron regarding the status of the Land Pond Road Permit by Notification for the town. Mr. Hunter reported that the catch basins have been cleaned. The state and Mr. Hunter checked the two catch basins in Melvin Village. The one at the parsonage was overlooked and needs attention. The State was also asked to check the drainage culvert at the Melvin River. Mr. Hunter was asked to follow up with the state. Mr. Hunter asked a property owner on Ledge Hill Road to put in a larger culvert for his driveway as the owner was doing renovations. There was also a question regarding the placement of mailboxes; this is under the control of the federal government. Sand and salt have been stockpiled in preparation for this coming winter. Chairman Albee asked Mr. Hunter to budget for a cabinet to hold combustibles at the town shed. Mr. Hunter said he has money this year to purchase it. A sketch of the transfer station and town house parking lot is still needed for the paving budget. Selectman Weeks advised that the town house lot should be surveyed first and then a design should be drawn up before doing any paving.
The Selectmen will present the Budget Committee with a proposed schedule at their meeting on Tuesday 10/24 at 6 pm. BudCom will get the budgets before meeting with the department heads.
Chairman Albee reported that a letter was sent to Bob Theve along with the parking ordinance in response to his issues with the parking lot at 19 Mile Bay.
The Selectmen approved and signed the following:
The Letter Agreement with H. E. Bergeron for the transfer station will be held until next week when they meet with Jay Poulin.
Selectman Weeks reported on the school withdrawal study. The draft document had been reviewed at the meeting and then voted on. It passed 10-3. Selectman Weeks voted against approval of the document as she felt it needed a major rewrite. She also felt the public was treated poorly. They were not allowed to provide any input before the vote. The approved document recommended New Durham becoming a one-district town in which they would buy their own elementary school and then tuition to the GWRSD. The promised numbers on the impact to the other towns in the district was never provided. There is one more meeting scheduled to accept the minutes of the last meeting.
Selectman Weeks reported on the last Planning Board meeting. Ten applications were heard with three of them being large subdivisions of 20-30 lots each. The board scheduled site visits for the subdivisions in the next couple of weeks.
Chairman Albee reported that the Selectmen met with the Department of Revenue Administration to set the tax rate and we are still waiting for final approval.
At approximately 10:10 Selectmen met with Senator Kenney who is running for reelection. Much of the discussion centered on the statewide property tax issue. The legislature has until mid-2007 to define adequate education.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35
Respectfully Submitted,
Carolyn Sundquist
Administrative Assistant