TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

PO BOX 98, 240 MIDDLE ROAD

CENTER TUFTONBORO, NH  03816

Telephone (603) 569-4539

Fax (603) 569-4328

 

Selectmen’s Meeting                                                                             October 29, 2007

 

MINUTES

 

Approved w/corrections: 11.5.07

 

Chairman Weeks opened the meeting and immediately made a motion to go into non-public session at 8:50 a.m. per RSA 91-A:3, II(e).  Selectman Stockman seconded the motion.  Chairman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes, Selectman Duffy – yes.

 

The Selectmen moved out of non-public session at 8:55 a.m.

 

I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Weeks called the Selectmen’s meeting to order at 9 a.m.

 

Weeks noted that the Selectmen’s meeting was being held in the cafeteria of Tuftonboro Central School and that school children from grades 4, 5, & 6 would be attending at various points throughout the Selectmen’s meeting.  Weeks introduced the Selectmen, the Chief of Police and Fire, the Administrative Assistant, and the Town Administrator to the audience.

 

II.  REVIEW / APPROVE MINUTES: The Selectmen reviewed the minutes of October 22, 2007.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Duffy.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

The Selectmen reviewed the non-public minutes of October 22, 2007.  Chairman Weeks made a motion to accept the minutes as written.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

III.  DEPARTMENT UPDATES:  Both the Fire Department and Police Department gave brief updates, which are normally presented in more detail on the 3rd and 1st Monday of the month respectively.

 

Chief Thompson gave the following report:  There were 168 fire calls, 140 medical calls, 37 service calls, 30 special details, 17 oil burner inspections, 28 gas inspections, 3 life safety inspections, and 3 wood stove inspections. 

 

Thompson noted that in their last trip to the hazardous waste facility, they disposed of 40 gallons of hazardous waste, with 32 gallons being mixed oil and gasoline from the Mirror Lake station and the remaining portion being paint from the Dearborn property.  Thompson advised that they would like to put a dumpster on the Dearborn property to dispose of the boat (which they plan to cut up) and shingles that can’t be used. 

 

Thompson is currently working on his budgets in preparation for the Selectmen’s review. 

He advised that they are looking at various options for a new boat which they plan to include in their 2008 budget.  They are looking for a boat that will be cost effective and serve the Town’s emergency purposes.  He noted that the Town serves 24 islands and provides mutual aid to surrounding towns.  The tentative estimate for the boat is $80k.  Thompson noted that Melvin Village Marina is working with the Fire Department on selecting the right boat, because they will be powering the new boat and currently service the existing fire boat.   Chairman Weeks asked the Chief to talk a bit about training at the Dearborn property and explain that to the children.  The Chief briefly discussed the training that they do.

 

Chief Shagoury gave the following report:  Activity is slightly down this year, but because there are fewer officers, each officer handles slightly more than last year.

 

The Chief advised that a security audit was completed on the computer system.  He explained that this was so no one can hack into the computer.  The Department received a good score on the audit.

 

The Chief mentioned that Halloween was on Wednesday, October 31 from 5 – 7 p.m.

 

They are currently performing physical testing of applicants for the police officer position.  The Chief explained to the children that the testing requires the candidates to run, do sit ups, push ups, etc. to see if they will qualify for the police academy.  Fifteen people have expressed an interest, three have passed.

 

IV.TOWN ADMINISTRATOR/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REPORT:

Cathy Pounder gave the following report:

  1. There will be a flu clinic at the Town Offices on October 30th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.;
  2. Pounder followed up on the Baker appeal and confirmed that the Bakers are continuing their appeal to the BTLA…they felt the tax assessment is still too high.
  3. Pounder spoke with Eric Roseen about the Scouts using the Town House and advised him that that Scouts can use the Town House, but will need to accommodate the Planning Board and ZBA if they need to have a meeting there.
  4. Another BTLA came in for Ralph Kirshner v. the Town.  Pounder will process the paperwork and forward to MRI.
  5. There is a NH Labor Law class being held December 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Pounder will be attending.  Is anyone else interested?
  6. The Boy Scouts will be meeting at the Town House on November 1 due to Halloween.
  7. Pounder advised that she added a package to the Selectmen’s mail regarding a complaint about Mr. Holmes from John Ratcliff.

 

Jeanie Forrester gave the following report:

  1. Selectmen have received their pending list and calendar update. Forrester advised that she will remove the Sargent deed from the pending list, since this item is now complete.
  2. Chairman Weeks asked that Forrester add the Upton work session with the Planning Board and Budget Committee on November 26 to the calendar.
  3. Forrester noted that she would like to begin scheduling work sessions with the Selectmen to begin employee evaluation reviews and department budgets.
  4. Forrester confirmed that the COLA of 2.3% is correct and that Chief Shagoury also verified the number.
  5. The meeting with the Department of Revenue Administration is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6 at 9 a.m.
  6. All budgets are due today, employee evaluations were due last Friday, most are in.
  7. A reminder the Trider hearing is on November 2nd.
  8. Pounder and Forrester attended a workshop last Saturday on how to run a successful town meeting.  The workshop provided information on important dates, how to write warrant articles, required content of an annual report, and terminology.

 

V.      APPOINTMENTS:  None

                  

VI.     SIGNATURE:

1. Land Use Change Tax – Trapasso/Top of the Bear Inc. – Selectman Stockman was concerned with the appraised value.  He would like a letter from MRI explaining how they came up with the value.  Chairman Weeks suggested they wait till they receive a recommendation from MRI.

 

2. Wolfeboro Oil Company – Satisfaction Survey – forwarded to Highway Department for signature.

 

3. HEB Authorization for additional work required to locate the pine trees - After brief discussion, Selectman Duffy made a motion to approve the additional work.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

4.  Building permits included: Theresa Masterson, Geoffrey H. Blackett, and Richard Bareham.

                            

VII.    NEW BUSINESS: none

                                               

VIII.  CONTINUED BUSINESS: 

John Ratcliff submitted a packet to the Selectmen regarding his neighbor, Mr. Holmes, and his collection of junk.  Mr. Ratcliff noted that this has been a problem since 1995 and Holmes has not only not cleaned up the junk but continued to add to it (there are now approximately 50-60 pieces of junk).  Ratcliff noted his concerns about environmental, fire, and health hazards.  Ratcliff advised that he has contacted the local, state, and federal environmental agencies.  Chairman Weeks commented that she didn’t realize the volume was increasing and agreed that the Selectmen needed to act on the situation.  She asked Jack Parsons to contact Town Counsel for direction.

 

IX.       CORRESPONDENCE:

1. DES Additional Information Request for Shoreland Waiver application– David & Katherine Dietz

2. Melcher & Prescott Insurance – An Independent Broker & Consultant for Health Insurance Options

          3. Watershed Conference Flyer

4. Budget Committee Minutes of 9/25/07 – Chairman Weeks commented that the Selectmen needed to start having regular work sessions to get the budget process moving.  She asked Forrester to consult with Lloyd Wood about when the Budget Committee meetings will start up.

          5. Updated Abutters List from HEB for High Street Bridge Dredge & Fill Application       

6. Mirror Lake Protective Association – Copy of Letter Sent to Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen

          7. Eastern Lakes Region Housing Coalition, Inc. – Invitation to Workshops

          8. NH Association of Conservation Commissions – Annual Meeting

          9. Letter to Joe Klementovich from DES – Information Only

          10. HealthTrust 2008 Rates – increase by 8.6%

          11. Planning Board Minutes of October 4, 2007

          12. Zoning Board Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2007

          13. NHDOT – October SRTS Newsletter

          14. NH Healthy Kids Annual Meeting

          15. ZBA Hearing Notice – Robert Hennessey Variance

 

Additional correspondence included:

1.  NH DES document re: standard operating procedures; No. 201-Processing of Permit Applications from Thomas S. Burack, Commissioner

 

2.  An email from John Simms as a follow-up to the CIP presentation.  He would like to have another meeting with the Selectmen to discuss.  Selectman Stockman commented that he had some concerns about the report that he would like to discuss.   Simms suggested the 7th or the 14th of November.  The Selectmen agreed tentatively on November 14th at 6 p.m. and would like to include the Planning Board and the Budget Committee and hold the meeting at the Town House.

 

3.  The Selectmen received a copy of letter the Conservation Commission sent to the NH Attorney General’s office regarding the Wolfeboro sewage issue.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that she, Joe Kowalski, Betsy Frago, and Barbara Wood continue to work on the Time Warner petition, identifying the number of households in Tuftonboro.  She advised that the opposition statement is being filed today.  She also advised that she signed an affidavit about the number of households.  Time Warner was not using the correct data, claiming that Tuftonboro had 18% coverage.  However, the correct data shows that it is 13%, which is below the threshold of 15%.

 

Weeks advised that the Trider lawsuit is scheduled for a hearing this Friday, November 2nd at the Strafford County Courthouse, and Weeks, Anne Chapel, and Cathy Pounder will be attending as witnesses.                         

 

X.  PUBLIC MEETING:

Question and Answer Period for Students.  No questions.

 

The Selectmen agreed to have a work session next Monday following the Selectmen’s meeting.  Agenda items include continuing work on the instructions for the members for the Citizen’s Safety Services Committee, Police Department Budget, employee reviews, and the Chief’s performance evaluation, the Town Clerk’s budget and employee review, and the Joint Loss Safety Committee budget.

 

The Selectmen noted that they need to have a non-public meeting with Fred Sargent before his regularly scheduled department update.

 

XI.  ADJOURNMENT:  Chairman Weeks adjourned the meeting at 10:05 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeanie Forrester

Town Administrator