Town of Tuftonboro

Meeting of the Selectmen

Monday, April 30, 2007

9 a.m.

 

*Accepted* 5.7.07 w/corrections

 

Selectmen present:  Susan Weeks, Bill Stockman, Dan Duffy

 

Selectmen reviewed mail, which included:  NHDES Dredge & Fill Application for Karen Beane; Unpaid Receivables Report from Tax Collector; NHDES Wetland and Non-Site Specific Permit for Alfred & Wilma Greymount; memo from Carolyn re: Island Trash Pickup; Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda and Minutes; letter from NH Municipal Bond Bank re: Gould loan application; notice of Public Meeting on Wolfeboro sewage project; Notice to Abutters re: applicant Town of Wolfeboro & Jean P./Charles F. Whitten; memo from Carolyn re: gifts & donations account; Title XXXIV Public Utilities, Chapter 362 Definition of Terms; NH Retirement System letter; Wolfeboro Oil Company quote for heating oil; NH Department of Revenue Administration notification of 2006 Total Equalized Valuation; Tuftonboro Conservation Commission Report to Wetlands Bureau for Dredge & Fill application for Kenneth & Jane Podsen; US Bankruptcy Court notification re: New Century TRS Holdings; Building Permits for Zadeda Farms, Inc., Patrick Mancuso, Tuftonboro Historical Society, and Karen Haeger.

 

Items for signature:  Permission to cross Town Beach on Cow Island for Karl/Diane Adams; Property Tax Credit/Exemption for M. Martell, Sr.; Notice of Appointment of Officer for Ellen Laase; Land Use Change Tax for Sandra Eaton.

 

At approximately 9:03 a.m. Chairman Weeks called the meeting to order.  Minutes of several meetings were reviewed.  The minutes of April 23rd were reviewed and corrections made.  Chairman Weeks made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections, seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor.  The non-public minutes of April 23rd were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Selectman Duffy, with all in favor. The non-public minutes of April 27 were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Selectman Duffy, with all in favor.  The work session minutes of April 27 were reviewed and corrections made.  Chairman Weeks made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections, seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor.

 

Chairman Weeks invited John Simms to present information about the Wolfeboro sewage project.  Mr. Simms distributed a summary of their investigation and proposal regarding the project.  Mr. Simms showed a variety of maps outlining the area being discussed and reviewed their work to date on the project.  The report done by Wright Pierce does not address the wider environmental issues and that is what this group has addressed.  There was discussion about the report, impact on Tuftonboro, and various other issues regarding the project.  Chairman Weeks and Mr. Simms discussed how the meeting room would be set up on May 1st and who would be attending.

 

The Selectmen commended the group for their efforts regarding this project and agreed to have a follow-up meeting after the May 1st meeting.

 

Chairman Weeks reported that the Budget Committee meeting last week was productive.  The Committee has named Lloyd Wood as representative to the Capital Improvements Program Committee.  They also inquired about the status of the public safety building project and when work would begin again on this. 

 

Chairman Weeks also reported on the following: DRA-Current Use work session was attended by Selectman Stockman, herself, and the Town Administrator;  documentation has been forwarded to bond counsel for the bond on the Gould property; a reminder to everyone of the meeting tomorrow night regarding the Wolfeboro sewage project.  Chairman Weeks will be attending the regional pandemic meeting to learn about emergency response issues tomorrow.  Weeks advised that she saw Ken Perry over the weekend and he advised that the potential tenant for the Gould house would like to heat the home using the wood stove.  Weeks asked the Town Administrator to find out from the insurance company if there were any liability issues.  Weeks advised that the Selectmen met with the Police Chief last Friday to do a follow-up on the Administrative Secretary position and had made an offer.  The Chief is ready to hire the new person, but needs to do the background check before allowing access to computers and files.

 

The Town Administrator gave the following report:

  • Selectmen should have received their updated calendar, pending list, and minutes;
  • A citizen had asked about the Safe Routes to School Program.  The program is 100% federally funded for infrastructure (e.g. sidewalks) and safety-related projects, signs, etc.  The Selectmen invited the NHDOT to discuss the project and learn more since sidewalks/pedestrian issues are addressed in the Master Plan.  Chairman Weeks noted that HEB had already done some engineering site work last year.  Selectman Duffy asked about long term maintenance on sidewalks and who would be responsible, financially, to maintain them.  The public is invited to attend the meeting on May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Town House.
  • Bond Counsel is asking for information about the lease on the Gould property which they need for their paperwork.
  • Planning Board Chair Rick Friend asked for a key and password to the building.

 

Chairman Weeks advised that, after Selectman Duffy’s investigation into costs and repair of the Code Enforcement Officer’s vehicle, the Selectmen voted to have the car repaired.

 

Selectman Duffy advised that he would like to look into the maintenance of the current police cruisers.  He would like to see the records and logs about how the cars are being maintained, where they are being driven, how they are being cared for, to ensure the cars are being maintained.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that the Weary Traveler Restaurant has been torn down.  Pope Dam has been drained because of a leak that was noticed during high waters.  There are actually a couple issues with the dam.  Initial reports were that it was owned and maintained by Fish & game, but they don’t have the funding to repair, so it wouldn’t be repaired.  However, since Tuftonboro is eligible because of flooding from the last storm, it should be eligible for aid from a different bureau at the state.  She is hopeful that it will be repaired in the next couple of months.

 

Carolyn Sunquist invited the Selectmen to come to the next meeting of the Library Trustees which is scheduled for a May 17th at 3 p.m.   

 

Chairman Weeks noted there are two volunteers for the Agricultural Commission: Annette Cram who works for the Cooperative Extension Service and Tony Lyon, a member of the Planning Board.  Weeks would like to appoint these two volunteers and ask them to set up the Commission based on the guidelines on “Creating an Agricultural Commission in Your Hometown” published by the UNH Cooperative Extension and ask them to bring recommendations forward for additional committee members.  Weeks suggested a three-year term with a June timetable, like other committees.  A motion was made by Selectman Stockman to appoint Annette Cram and Tony Lyon to the Agricultural Commission, seconded by Selectman Duffy, with all in favor.

 

There was a brief discussion about the Capital Improvements Program Committee including the number of committee members and whether a Selectman should be a member of the Committee.  There was consensus that there be no Selectmen on CIP.  It was noted that there should be representatives from the Planning Board and Budget Committee and that Tony Lyon and Lloyd Wood have been selected. It was tentatively agreed that there would be seven (7) members.  The Selectmen will review those who have volunteered for the Committee and choose the members at next week’s Selectmen’s meeting.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that the Selectmen are also looking for a volunteer for Census Bureau project.  The Selectmen will also be reviewing all the committees to see where replacements are needed, noting that the Planning Board also needs additional members.

 

Chairman Weeks advised the other Selectmen that the Class 6 road issue that came up at last week’s meeting needed some clarification.  Weeks noted that the Selectmen had the information about the issue months ago (except for Selectman Duffy who was not elected at the time), but they had not taken time to learn about what they needed to do.  Weeks distributed the information about Class 6 roads to the Selectmen in addition to some information from the Master Plan about Tuftonboro’s future development.  She noted that she has sent an email to the Planning Board advising that the Planning Board and Selectmen need to look at the issue and possibly get advice from a professional planner.

 

After brief discussion, the Selectmen voted to give permission to cross the town beach to Karl and Diane Adams.  A motion was made by Selectman Stockman, seconded by Selectman Duffy, with all in favor.

 

The Selectmen also signed the application for a veteran’s tax credit and a notice of appointment to the Pandemic Preparedness Committee.

 

There was a brief discussion about the land use change tax assessment for Sandra Eaton.  The Selectmen asked the Town Administrator to check with MRI to find out how the $10k value was determined, noting that it seemed low.

 

Chairman Weeks reviewed the mail, noting that the Tax Collector is getting ready for a tax sale on May 4, and had forwarded the Selectmen a list; and Island Trash Day has been scheduled for July 21st.

 

Weeks noted that she and Jack Parsons toured the Gould property and that it needs some cleanup, possibly have the regular maintenance people rake out the flower beds; the metal trash needs to be picked up; there is some water in the basement, but doesn’t appear to be a problem but we may want to clean it up; the sump pump in basement that is not installed.  John Simms suggested getting volunteers to clean up the house…maybe have an Open House/Cleanup Day.  There was a brief discussion about having a giant yard sale.  Chairman Weeks will talk with the Parks & Recreation Commission this week about the property.  She noted that there are lots of ideas but no plans for the building, the property was purchased for the land.  She also noted that it needs a new furnace.  Weeks will report back next week after discussion with Parks & Recreation.

 

Chairman Weeks noted the Selectmen had received a letter from the NH Municipal Bond Bank approving the loan application for the Gould property in the amount of $575k for a five year term with a bond bank fee of $7,500.00.  Weeks noted that the Selectmen had till May 10 to finalize the term of the bond.  After brief discussion among the Selectmen about the term, Selectman Duffy made a motion to have a five year term on the bond, seconded by Selectman Stockman, with all in favor.

 

Selectman Stockman requested that the Highway Department give a report on the status of the roads at the next Selectmen’s meeting.  Joe Kowalski noted that Ledge Hill Road looked a little “thin.”

 

Chairman Weeks noted the memo about the gifts & donations account and asked Carolyn to explain.  Currently there is a separate bank account for gifts & donations with a little over $1k in it.  The Auditor advised that there should not be a separate account, gifts and donations should go into the general fund.  The account needs to be closed out and the funds transferred to the general fund.

 

There was a document in the mail with a note regarding the definition of terms under the Chapter 362 of the Public Utilities as relates to cell towers.  There was a brief discussion about the definition and whether the cell tower needed subdivision approval.  Chairman Weeks advised that it was exempt as confirmed by an attorney last month.  Although it does not need subdivision approval, it does require site plan review.  Selectman Duffy reviewed the definition and also agreed that the cell tower was exempt.

 

Wolfeboro Oil submitted prices for prepaying of oil.  Selectman Stockman will check on other prices.  In order to receive Wolfeboro’s prepay price, it must be paid in full by July.  Selectman Duffy commented that there is more than one program and that we should check around.

 

Selectman Duffy asked for cooperation from the Selectmen on enforcing the Right To Know law.  He stated that he felt that the Selectmen did not stay on the specific topic and naturally digressed into other topics while in non-public. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeanie Forrester

Town Administrator