TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

PO BOX 98, 240 MIDDLE ROAD

CENTER TUFTONBORO, NH  03816

Telephone (603) 569-4539

Fax (603) 569-4328

Selectmen’s Meeting         August 27, 2007

MINUTES

Approved w/Corrections: 9.10.07

Present: Selectmen: Chairman Susan Weeks, William Stockman, Daniel Duffy, Administrative Assistant Cathy Pounder, Town Administrator Jeanie Forrester

I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Weeks called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

II. REVIEW/APPROVE MINUTES:  The Selectmen reviewed the minutes of the August 20 Selectmen’s Meeting.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to approve the minutes of August 20, 2007 as corrected.  Selectman Duffy seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.  The Selectmen reviewed the non-public minutes of August 20, 2007.   Chairman Weeks made a motion to approve the non-public minutes as corrected.  Selectman Stockman seconded.  Motion carried unanimously

 

III.  DEPARTMENT UPDATE:  Road Agent Steve Hunter gave a report to the Selectmen. 

 

1.  The roads are dusty, the reclaiming has been done, and Pike will be in Tuftonboro the week of Labor Day.  He stated that Tupek Lane, County Road, the Transfer Station, and the Mirror Lake Fire Station will be fine graded and paved.

 

2.  Steve will coordinate with Fred Sargent to make sure the Transfer Station will be ready for the paving, which is expected to happen on Thursday and will be ready to drive on by Saturday.

 

3.  There was a brief discussion about the High Street Culvert.  Chairman Weeks advised that HEB is filing a wetlands application and the state will be doing the work on the culvert.

 

4. Chairman Weeks advised that HEB is close to filing an application for Lang Pond.

 

5.  Chairman Weeks advised that Michael Hlushuk is done with the work on Lake Road except for the catch basin and hoping that the Road Agent will be able to work on it this week. 

 

6.  Steve commented that he wondered if the Town wouldn’t be better served to have a second highway garage in the Mirror Lake area.

 

III.  TOWN ADMINISTRATOR/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: No report from the Town Administrator because she was on vacation for the past week.  Report from Administrative Assistant Cathy Pounder included the following:  1.  Lloyd Wood has scheduled a meeting of the Budget Committee for Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Library meeting room.

 

2.  The Boston Post Cane needs to be passed on to the next resident.

 

3.  Chief Shagoury submitted his August schedule.  He also verified that the thank-you from Ms. Costello should have been sent to the State Police as they handled the accident.

 

4.  The FCC paperwork has been faxed to Robert Ciandella; letter received from Barbara Wood opposing the Time Warner request for exemption.

 

5.  Information from Vicki Kinnaman for the Selectmen on the Census project.

 

6.  Letter from the State Police regarding the missing radar unit…they never logged in a unit from Tuftonboro.

 

7.  Pounder asked the Selectmen if they would be having a meeting on September 3rd, Labor Day.  The Selectmen decided not to have a meeting that day.  The next meeting of the Selectmen will be on September 10.  The Police Department will be expected to give their Department Update on that date along with the Code Officer and Transfer Station.

 

8.  Pounder advised the Selectmen that Munismart sent a notice about a sale on their software.  The previous price was $800, now it is $500.  The Treasurer, Jack Widmer, Town Administrator, and Administrative Assistant all recommend that the software be purchased.  This software will allow the Tax Collector and Town Clerk to input their deposits immediately which will provide timely and accurate data to the general ledger.  Per Munismart and Jack Widmer, this might take an extra 5 minutes at the end of the day for the Tax Collector and Town Clerk, but it is absolutely critical.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to approve the purchase of the software.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Duffy.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

9.  Pounder advised that since her last report to the Selectmen, three keys to the Town House have been returned.  She noted that Selectman Stockman did not believe it was necessary to get the Town House re-keyed.  The Selectmen agreed that new keys were not required.

 

V. APPOINTMENTS:  Jack Widmer, Treasurer, met with the Selectmen to report on the status of finances for the Town. 

 

1.  He advised that we are maintaining approximately $120 - $125k in the general account and approximately $1.8 million in the money market fund, which is earning approximately $6,000 in interest on a monthly basis. 

 

2.  He reiterated the importance of the software upgrade mentioned earlier, stating that it is critical to be able to go on-line to see on a day-to-day basis, the accounts.  With the new software in place, the general ledger will match with the bank account. 

 

3.  Widmer noted that funds are down considerably right now because of two school payments for July and August, which are the two biggest payments of the year.

 

4.      Widmer advised the Selectmen that he had reviewed the information from the Internal Controls workshop that Pounder and Forrester attended, and strongly recommended that the Town find the funds to hire a bookkeeper for the Town.  He mentioned that Tuftonboro is different than other towns…typically a Town will hire someone with accounting background who will then wear many hats in addition to the financial responsibilities.  In Tuftonboro, we have the opposite.  Given the $8 ½ million the town handles on an annual basis, it is critical that we have someone with an accounting background, plus future regulations (SAS 112) will demand more accountability.  Jack noted the funds in the Administrative Assistant line and thought funds could be used from that line item.  Carolyn Sundquist advised that Lisa Herder’s position was included in that line item and that Lisa had worked 15 hours a week.  Jack stated that he would be happy to participate in the interview process to help select the right person.

 

Chairman Weeks asked for a moment of silence for Jerry Thayer, a Wolfeboro Selectman, who passed away.

 

VI.  SIGNATURE:  1.  The Selectmen signed the proposal from Kimball Lumber for the front entrance repairs.  Jack Parsons will oversee the project. 

 

2. Building Permits for Greg Jones, David Bean, John Swansberg, Brian McNamie, and Carolyn Sundquist.

 

3.MS-1 Summary Inventory of Valuation was signed.  Chairman Weeks noted that Tuftonboro is over the $1 billion mark for property values.  New buildings and new subdivisions have added over $10 million to the value (according to the assessors).

 

VII.  NEW BUSINESS:  1. The Selectmen received a note from Jerry Nichols, a resident, stating that he had picked up trash and asking if the Town could make arrangements to pick up the trash and dispose of.  The Road Agent advised that he will get the trash picked up.  Selectman Duffy asked if Mr. Piper should still pick up the trash at the beach.  The Selectmen agreed that Mr. Piper should continue removing trash through Columbus Day.

 

VIII.  OLD BUSINESS:  Chairman Weeks read a letter from the Carroll County Register of Deeds opposing making records available on-line. The Town Administrator will draft a letter for the Selectmen to Moultonborough stating that they do not have consensus on the topic.

 

IX CORRESPONDENCE: 

 

1. Copy of Roger Murray’s Mountain Shadows 2006 Subdivision Review asking for a waiver from the Planning Board. 

 

2. Two letters from the Coalition Communities – Chairman Weeks noted that it appears that we’ve taken a step back to being a donor town. 

 

3. Clean Air-Cool Planet notice.          

 

4. Training Certification for Chief Shagoury. 

 

5. Notice of Moultonborough Right to Know Forum – Chairman Weeks asked Forrester to let Tuftonboro boards and committees know of the meeting. 

 

6. Tuftonboro Free Library request for entry into the Dearborn property. 

 

7. Michael Hlushuk letter.  Michael will be reporting to the Selectmen on the project soon and would like them to take a look at the work prior to then, in case they have any questions.

 

8. Thank-you to Police. 

 

9. Conservation Commission letter regarding the Wolfeboro treatment facility – Chairman Weeks noted that the letter was quite strong and demanding and asked the other Selectmen at what point should they get involved.  Chairman Weeks wondered if the Selectmen had any legal authority to do anything.  Selectman Stockman advised that he would speak with Mike Phelps and check into the legal end of it…Selectman Stockman concurred that he thinks the Conservation Commission is taking a fairly strong course of action.  Chairman Weeks advised that the Selectmen need to monitor this situation and be sure that a dialogue and communication is open with Wolfeboro.

 

10. Permit by Notification – Murley

 

11. Wetlands and Non-Site Specific Permit – Munsey & Frederick

                       

12. Septic Approvals – Ringer, McCormack, Payne & Garff

 

X.  PUBLIC MEETING:  There were no comments from the public.

 

1.  Selectman Stockman advised that there was a request to rent parking space in the Dearborn garage.  Chairman Weeks noted a concern about the security of the building, safety, and access issues, especially since the Library would be storing books there.

 

2.  Selectman Stockman noted that there was a power outage and the alarm system at the Town House and Town Offices went off.  Stockman noted that he couldn’t get his security code to work and will check into it.

 

3.  Chairman Weeks advised that Jeff Taylor, who facilitated the public forum on the public safety facilities, will be sending a report to the Selectmen.  He will make a formal report to the Selectmen at the September 10 Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

 

4.  Jack Parsons reported that Mirror Lake has blue-green algae (cynobacteria) and that residents should not use the water unless it is boiled, until further notice.  There will be announcements on local radio and postings.  The bloom is near Lang Pond Road, with the major cause thought to be fertilizers from lawns.

 

XI.  NON-PUBLIC: Per RSA 91-A:3, II(c).  Chairman Weeks made a motion to move into non-public per RSA 91-A:3, II(c) at approximately 10 a.m.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Chairman Weeks made a motion to move out of non-public at approximately 10:05 a.m. since the individual the Selectmen would be meeting with was scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

 

The Selectmen had a brief discussion about miscellaneous items including:

 

1.  The Boston Cane Presentation.  Selectman Stockman will check to see who the oldest person in Tuftonboro is. 

 

2.  On advice from the Selectmen, the Town Administrator will “tweek” the draft welfare guidelines and the Selectmen will review one more time before approving.

 

3.  Chairman Weeks asked that the Selectmen schedule a meeting with Chief Shagoury to talk about several issues.  Selectman Duffy will check his schedule and get back to the Town Administrator about his availability the week of September 3rd.

 

Chairman Weeks made a motion to go into non-public at approximately 10:45 a.m. per RSA 91-A:3, II (c).  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  The vote carried unanimously.

 

Selectman Stockman made a motion to move out of non-public session at approximately 12:05 p.m.  Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  The vote carried unanimously.

 

XII.  ADJOURNMENT:  Chairman Weeks made a motion to adjourn the Selectmen’s meeting at approximately 12:06 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeanie Forrester

Town Administrator