TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

MEETING OF THE SELECTMEN

Monday March 19, 2007

 

 

*Accepted* 3/26/07 CORRECTIONS IN BOLD

 

 

Selectmen present: Susan Weeks, Bill Stockman and Dan Duffy.

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included:  Building Permits for Whitney, Stephen Farrell; Demolition Permit for Bailey/Doyle; Approval for Construction for Denis Gillum (3), Melvin Village Marina, Zadeda Farms inc, Property Transfer from Denis & Angela Gillum to Janine Gillum, Alan Harding to Susan Harding; Standard Dredge & Fill for C & E Realty Trust, Lemery Rev Trust; BTLA Order of Withdrawal for Robinette; Notice of Rate Increase from Ron Labranche; NHDOT Temporary Driveway Permit for Weeks; LRPC Request for Nominations; Memo re: plowing of 19 Mile Bay parking lot; E-mail from NHMA Government Affairs re: Retirement Working Group Proposal; Legislative Bulletin #12; NH Civil Engineer; Chamber News; 2007 local Officials Workshop; LRPC workshop re: GIS as a Planning Tool; Letter from Laase re: Tax Abatement Settlement for 2004.

 

Items for Signature:  MS-2 Report of Appropriations Actually Voted; Transfer Station Agreement for Wakefield Disposal Service; Supplemental Intent to Cut for Weeks; Community Signature Cards; Supplemental Intent to Cut for Hersey; Payroll Authorization.

 

 

At approximately 3:10 pm Selectman Weeks called the meeting to order.

 

At approximately 3:10 pm Selectman Weeks made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A: 3 II (c) to discuss a personnel issue. Selectman Stockman seconded the motion. Roll call: Selectman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes, Selectman Duffy - yes.

 

At approximately 3:35 pm Selectman Weeks reopened the public session and welcomed Selectman Duffy. The first order of business was a motion by Selectman Stockman appointing Selectman Weeks as Chairman. Selectman Duffy seconded the motion with all in favor. Chairman Weeks explained that the tradition has been to appoint the most senior selectman as chairman.

 

The Selectmen then reviewed the 3/12/07 meeting minutes. Chairman Weeks made a change, which was accepted. Chairman Weeks made a motion to approve as corrected. Selectman Stockman seconded the motion with all in favor. Chairman Weeks made a motion to accept the 3/12/07 work session minutes as written. Selectman Stockman seconded the motion with all in favor. Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the Non-public minutes of 3/12/07 as written. Chairman Weeks seconded the motion with all in favor. These minutes have been sealed.

 

Town Administrator Jeanie Forrester gave the following report:

ü      She is following up with Attorney Sullivan regarding the Lang Pond Road liability issue.

ü      The Safe Walk to School grant program questionnaire was submitted to NHDOT.

 

A discussion then ensued regarding Ms. Forrester’s hours and work location. The selectmen agreed to the following: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8 am to noon at the town office and Wednesday 8 am to noon at home. The schedule is subject to meetings.

 

At approximately 3:45 Selectmen met with Fire Chief Adam Thompson. Chief Thompson reported 30 fire, 38 medical and 5 service calls for a total of 73 so far this year. Also, there have been 1 oil burner and 3 gas burner inspections, 2 life safety visits and 1 wood stove inspection. The chief thanked everyone who worked on the public safety facility project. He received a quote of $1995.00 from the Scott Larsen Group to do asbestos testing on the Dearborn house. At this point the selectmen said to make the most use out of the building for training and look for additional quotes. The pandemic meeting scheduled for 3/20 has been postponed - no new date as yet. Chief Thompson has been working with Melvin Village residents and answering questions about the proposed cell tower. Training was done at the former Scott house before being torn down this week. The chief attended a meeting Friday on the moving of the barn from the former Scott property to the Historical Society property sometime this spring. In response to the Chief’s question about the public safety project, Chairman Weeks said they would start over once the dust has settled. She advised the Chief to start preparing information for the capital improvement committee.

 

Chairman Weeks advised Chief Shagoury that the town administrator would coordinate scheduling interviews for the police department job opening once the selectmen submitted their schedules.

 

Chairman Weeks said the selectmen would be looking for volunteers to work on the following committees:

ü      Capital Improvement Committee

ü      Carbon Coalition – Energy Committee

ü      Transportation Study Group

ü      Agricultural Commission

ü      Wolfeboro sewage disposal issue

 

There is also an opening in the treasurer position.

 

The treasurer’s report for 2006 in the Town Report was in error and will be fixed this week.

 

The Gould property purchase needs to be settled. Chairman Weeks will do the title search. Ms. Forrester was asked to contact bond counsel.

 

At approximately 4:00 Selectmen met with Transfer Station Supervisor Fred Sargent and Attendant Scott Greenwood to review the compost program. The sample bin and pail are on display at the town office. The orders must be placed by April 2nd. The cost for the bin is $35 and the pail is $7.50. Ms. Forrester will do a press release and have flyers at the post offices, transfer station, library and town office. It will also be posted on the town website.

 

The Selectmen approved and signed the following:

ü      Transfer Station Agreement with Robert Waddington (DBA Wakefield Disposal Service)

ü      Community Bank Signature Cards for checking and money market

ü      Supplemental Intent to Cut for Hersey

ü      Supplemental Intent to Cut for Weeks

ü      MS-2 Report of Appropriations Actually Voted

 

The payroll authorization will be done at a later date.

 

Chairman Weeks advised that a letter was received from Mr. & Mrs. Laase regarding their 2004 abatement and appeal to the BTLA, which had been settled. They are now asking for adjustments to their 2005 and 2006 assessment. However, they did not file abatements for those years. The adjustment to the 2004 assessment is only good until a town wide revaluation, which was done in 2005.

 

Chairman Weeks reported that Christie Sarles and Brian Talbot have volunteered for the Capital Improvement Committee.

 

The snowmobile club will no longer plow the parking lot at 19 Mile Bay. This will have to be addressed next year.

 

A discussion ensued regarding the maintenance of the town website. Ms. Forrester said she checked with Virtual Town Hall about who owns the site – the town owns the content and banners and VTH owns the templates. Bill Kaiser suggested using volunteers. The software currently being used is FrontPage. There will be further discussion on this subject next Monday.

 

Resident Jon Beaulieu gave Selectman Duffy a copy of the Right to Know law.

 

Chief Shagoury is looking into a grant for portable radios. He also reported that the local NHDOT would like to put up signs at 19 and 20 Mile Bay that say ‘Drifting Snow’ and need a letter from the chief. The selectmen had no objection to this.

 

Resident John Galvin said that he had some issues with statements made by the selectmen regarding the proposed cell tower in Melvin Village, as reported in the Granite State News. Chairman Weeks said that they were just commenting on a letter they received and that it is not appropriate to discuss these issues at a selectmen’s meeting as the matter is still before the Planning Board. The selectmen’s comment was that it was too late to offer town property for the cell tower in lieu of the current location, which is private property.

 

Resident Bill Kaiser said he is on the agenda for 3/26 and gave the selectmen a handout for review beforehand. It concerns the fire department and mutual aid given to Moultonborough.

 

Resident Joe Kowalski said that parking for town meeting was a problem and asked to have the parking at the school addressed next year.

 

At approximately 4:40 pm Selectman Stockman made a motion to go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A: 3 II (c) to discuss a personnel issue. Chairman Weeks seconded the motion. Roll call: Chairman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes, Selectman Duffy – yes.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carolyn Sundquist

Administrative Assistant