TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday January 22, 2007

 

*Accepted* 1/29/07

 

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

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included: Building Permits for; H. E. Bergeron re: Public Safety Building Property – Test Pits & Foundation Recommendations; Letter from Islanders Association re: fire boat; Mo Gagnon e-mail e: estimate of annual operating costs for PSB; Coalition Communities; Info re: DRA seminar in Derry; ZBA Notice of Decision re: Anderson; Property Transfers from Ruell/Mongeau to Trust; GWRSD Letter re: Town Payments; Legislative Bulletin #4; E-mail from Drowne.

 

Items for Signature:  Waste Management Contract.

 

At 9:00 am Chairman Albee called the meeting to order, with the first order of business a review of the 1/16/07 minutes. Selectman Weeks and Chairman Albee recommended removing 2 lines. Selectman Weeks then made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor. The selectmen then reviewed the work session minutes of 1/19/07. Selectman Weeks recommended a minor correction. Selectman Weeks then made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor.

 

Selectman Weeks suggested holding an open house on the public safety building at the town office on Wednesday 2/14 between 4:00 – 5:30. This would coincide with the library open house. Library Trustees will be consulted before scheduling the open house. Chairman Albee said he would like to have displays at the fire stations also but there is an issue with parking.

 

The selectmen scheduled the bond hearing for Tuesday February 20th at 6 pm after the selectmen’s meeting.

 

Chairman Albee reported speaking to the town moderator Dan Barnard at length regarding the upcoming bond articles to be voted on at town meeting on 3/14. Bond articles require a certain structure to the meeting. Each article must have the voting open for one hour. Chairman Albee will be contacting Attorney Barnes for advice. Mr. Barnard said there may be other requests for a secret ballot on warrant articles.

 

Chairman Albee reported that the cost for maintenance of the public safety building was estimated by Mo Gagnon at $28,000. When compared to the current cost for heat and electric it is a difference of $20,458.00 but if you add in the fire station improvements it is only a difference of $3300.00.

 

At approximately 9:15 selectmen met with Richard Leary. Mr. Leary said he had previously brought the issue of a clogged drainage ditch on Ledge Hill Road  to the selectmen over a year ago and nothing has been done. It is causing water to puddle on his property. Chairman Albee said he had brought it to the attention of the road agent at that time. Selectman Stockman said he would speak to the road agent.

 

At approximately 9:20 selectmen met with Code Officer Jack Parsons. Mr. Parsons had previously asked the selectmen to approve the most current state approved building codes. Selectman Weeks said that she had consulted with Town Counsel Tim Sullivan and that it was too late to get it on the 2007 warrant but that the selectmen could approve the codes now and it would then go on the 2008 warrant. Mr. Parsons said he thought the state would be approving the 2006 codes sometime this year. Chairman Albee read the following:

“The Code Officer proposes using the adopted NH State Building Code and the 2003 International Residential Building Code for 1 & 2 Family Dwellings, the National Electrical Code 2005, 2003 International Energy Code, 2003 International Plumbing Code and the 2003 Mechanical Code.”

Selectman Weeks made a motion to authorize the code officer to use the above mentioned codes. Seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor.

The selectmen next discussed the proposed schedule of fees. Mr. Parsons said he checked with other towns and several contractors to see how much they charge. The rate was increased to $125 per square foot and the minimum fee for a building permit went from $25 to $30. Mr. Parsons reported that the number of inspections being done has gone up considerably over 2005. Chairman Albee made a motion to accept the recommendations of the code officer to use the proposed schedule of fees. Seconded by Selectman Weeks, with all in favor.

 

Selectman Stockman said he may be able to attend the Coalition Communities meeting on Tuesday 1/30. The selectmen discussed some of the issues and provided input for the questionnaire for Selectman Stockman to bring with him or to mail in the event he is not able to attend.

 

The selectmen scheduled another work session for Tuesday 1/23 at 2:30 pm to work on the final numbers for the public safety building, library and the Gould property.

 

Chairman Albee made a motion to not recommend a new fire boat for the 2007 warrant. Seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor.

 

Chairman Albee made a motion to recommend a warrant article in the amount of $50,000 to continue permitting design and begin work on Lang Pond Road. Seconded by Selectman Weeks, with all in favor.

 

Chairman Albee made a motion to create a warrant article for the construction of the Mirror Lake ramp in the amount of $9800.

 

The selectmen approved and signed the Waste Management contract.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 am.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist, Administrative Assistant