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 22, 2007

MINUTES

 

APPROVED: 10.29.07 w/corrections

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

 

II.      REVIEW / APPROVAL MINUTES:     October 15, 2007

Selectman Stockman made a motion to approve the minutes of October 15, 2007 as corrected.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Duffy.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

The Minutes of the non-public session of October 18 were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to approve the minutes.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Duffy.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

Minutes of the October 18 Work Session were reviewed.  Chairman Weeks made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected.  Selectman Duffy seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

III.    DEPARTMENT UPDATES:  4thMonday – Road Agent

Steve Hunter reported on highway department activities: The shoulders and ditches are being repaired on Tuftonboro Neck in anticipation of adding a new surface next year.

 

Mr. Hunter noted he had received his performance evaluation and wanted to discuss it.  Chairman Weeks advised that the Selectmen would schedule a non-public session with Hunter to discuss the review. 

 

Hunter reiterated his belief that 18 foot wide roads are not wide enough.  He noted that the edge of the road is the hardest thing to maintain and feels the roads should be at least 20 feet wide.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that the Planning Board has scheduled a site walk for November 1 at 7:30 a.m. for the subdivision application for the Hertel property on Federal Corner Road.  There will be 19 lots, with the first phase build out of 5 or 6 lots.

 

Selectman Duffy asked Hunter about getting some asphalt to repair a pothole on the corner of Craig Way and Route 109.  There was a brief discussion about maintenance of private versus public roads and who is responsible.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that Ed Bergeron of HEB Engineering will be presenting the revisions for the Lang Pond Road improvements.

 

HEB also submitted a wetlands permit application for the High Street Culvert.  There was a brief discussion about River Heights Road residents’ concerns about damage to their road when the repair is made.  Steve Hunter advised that private roads are not maintained by the town and are the responsibility of residents on that road.

 

Chairman Weeks asked about the culvert near the new subdivision at the Hertel property. There was a concern that it needed to be cleaned.  Hunter advised that one side has been cleaned.

 

IV.     TOWN ADMINISTRATOR/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REPORT

          Cathy Pounder - Administrative Assistant Report:

Pounder advised that the Town had received an email this morning from Guy Pike from Lakes Region Fire Apparatus.  He would like to be on the citizens safety services committee.  The Selectmen will add his name to the list.  Selectman Duffy noted that William Magee would also like his name added to the list for consideration.

 

The Town received a BTLA appeal for an abatement for George and Irene Baker.  The abatement was already granted to the Bakers, so Cathy will research the issue to find out if they are asking for another abatement.

         

          Jeanie Forrester - Town Administrator Report:

1.  Forrester advised that the new pending list and calendar had been updated and forwarded to the Selectmen.  Upcoming calendar events include:

-         a presentation by CIP to the Selectmen on Wednesday, October 24 at 4:30 p.m. at the Town Office

-         a meeting with Mat Serge of Upton & Hatfield on Friday, October 26 at 9 a.m. on the Trider Petition; Chairman Weeks noted that Anne Chapel, Cathy Pounder, and she would be meeting with the attorney.

-         Employee reviews are due October 26

-         The Administrative Assistant and Town Administrator attending workshop on Town Meetings

 

2.  Chairman Weeks mentioned that she had received complaints about the website not being up-to-date.  Forrester advised that information is forwarded to the webmaster when received.  Administrator will review the website.

 

3.  Forrester advised that the hearing for the Trider Petition is on November 2nd.

 

4.  The Selectmen received a letter from Town Counsel Sullivan advising that the Confirmatory Warranty Deed has been recorded.

 

5.  Forrester asked the Selectmen when they would like to schedule the recycling presentation from Don Maurer of NH DES.  Chairman Weeks asked to schedule it for November 12, when the Transfer Station has its monthly department update.

 

6.  Forrester advised that she is following up with the NH DES about future landfill monitoring requirements.

 

7.  The draft Budget Calendar has been submitted to the Selectmen for review and comment.

 

8.  The Cost-of-Living increase for 2008 is 2.3%.  Forrester asked if that was the figure the Selectmen would like to use for 2008.  Selectman Stockman asked Forrester to confirm that this was the final figure.

 

9.  Per Michelle Clarke at the Department of Revenue Administration, they are still waiting for information from Carroll County before we can set our tax rate.

 

10. Lakeside Ambulance submitted a proposal for next year’s ambulance service, which is 15% higher than last year.

 

11. Per Cathy Koukal at the Tuftonboro Central School, the October 29 Selectmen’s meeting will be held in the dining room at 9 a.m.  School children, grades 4, 5, & 6 will be attending the meeting.  Addressing the question from Joe Kowalski regarding videotaping the children, Koukal advises that it is ok.  If there is anyone who can’t be taped, she will make sure they are not in view of the camera.  The Fire Chief and Police Chief will attend the meeting and there will be a question and answer period for the children.

 

V.      APPOINTMENTS:

1.     David Ladd & Bob Iacovell – Lanes End Road: David Ladd advised the Selectmen that he was neither for or against Lanes End Road becoming a town road.  He gave a brief history of the road and ownership.  He advised that the request is to turn Lanes End (from Rte. 109) to Loon Point Road (chain link fence) from a private road to a public road.  It is approximately 1172.8 feet long and 20 feet wide with shoulders.  Bob Iacovell attended the meeting representing the condo association.  He noted that 15 families live on that road and there is heavy use from June to October.  None of the homeowners are residents and put a small amount of stress on town services.

 

Chairman Weeks recommended submitting a petitioned warrant article for vote at Town Meeting.  There was a brief discussion about how the association should present their case and what information would be needed (possible surveying and engineering work).  Weeks urged Iacovell to get legal assistance in drafting the warrant so that it would not be rejected by the Department of Revenue

 

David Ladd submitted his draft warrant article regarding the River Reach dredging project.  Chairman Weeks explained it will go before the Selectmen and Budget committee and then goes into the warrant for town meeting.  Weeks advised that Mr. Ladd should have a representative at the February Budget Committee meeting to present their warrant article.

 

2.     Dawn Evans – Conservation Commission: Ms. Evans met with the Selectmen to discuss instituting a used oil recycling program.  She spoke with Tim Noury of the NH DES, who is very excited about getting this program up and running.  Out of 234 towns in state of NH only 28 don’t have a center or a contract to do recycling of oil.  The NH DES’ goal is to get all towns participating. 

 

Evans advised that there is grant funding available, $2500 every year, with priority given to towns who don’t currently participate.  Ms. Evans presented a PowerPoint presentation on the benefits of a used oil recycling program.  She noted that the personnel at the Transfer Station were agreeable to the program and Scott Greenwood, in attendance at the meeting, confirmed that.  Evans advised she was looking for 4 things from the Selectmen:  a.) She would like authorization to make a grant application on behalf of the town (She advised that grants are due on December 1 for February 1, 2008 approval.); b.) she would like to be the point of contact for the application; c.) she would like the tank located inside the Transfer Station; and d.)  She wondered if funds could be borrowed from the Conservation Commission to get the program started.  Chairman Weeks advised that the program needs to be submitted to the Selectmen and Budget Committee and then be voted on at Town Meeting. 

 

Joe Kowalski warned that the program required constant monitoring, and that more research needs to be done to make sure we know all that’s involved.  Scott Greenwood commented that he didn’t see any problem with it and that it would be a benefit to the Town.

 

Chairman Weeks made a motion to allow Ms. Evans to write the grant application for the used oil recycling program.  There was a brief discussion on how to ensure that only Tuftonboro residents were disposing of their used oil.  Selectman Stockman seconded the motion made by Chairman Weeks.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.  The Selectmen advised that the cost of the program should be included in the Transfer Station budget.  

         

3.     Chief Thompson asked the Selectmen if they had reviewed the Hazard Mitigation Plan he  had submitted last week.  The Chief wanted direction on how to pursue this project before the end of the year because he has $6,500 budgeted for it.  Chairman Weeks advised that they had received correspondence from the Lakes Region Planning Commission that they had been contracted to help Tuftonboro with their plan.  Additionally, the Commission was looking for a $3,000 contribution towards the plan, and suggested that the Town become a member in 2008.   Chairman Weeks advised the Chief that the Planning Board will make a recommendation on this and that the $6,500 could still be used if it is contracted before the end of the year.

 

4.     Ed Bergeron – Lang Pond Road – Mr. Bergeron advised the Selectmen that the wetlands permit for the High Street Culvert has been submitted to NH DES

 

Bergeron presented the Selectmen with revisions made to Lang Pond Road, based on his last meeting with the Selectmen.  There was a discussion about the changes made, including parallel parking for five cars; combining two of three culverts together and building a 12 ft. clear span bridge (which would make it eligible for NH DOT funding); replacing the remaining culvert with a box culvert; and slope (1 to 2 slope because state does not want to encourage people to stop alongside the road).  Bergeron noted that the state was pleased that the road was being pulled away from Mirror Lake and that there was minor wetlands impact. 

 

Bergeron noted that HEB has been in contact with Mary Hersey about the plans.

 

Selectman Stockman noted that a lot of residents walk along Lang Pond Road and wanted to make sure the road was wide enough to be safe for pedestrians/hikers.  Steve Hunter requested that the road be 20 feet wide.  The Selectmen also agreed that the bridge should be 24 feet wide with a pedestrian rail to accommodate pedestrians.

 

There was a brief discussion about turning radiuses at the parking lot and ramp area and installing a concrete ramp in the water.

 

Bergeron advised that additional survey work needs to be done because Fish & Wildlife want to know where every 6” diameter or larger pine tree is located.  Bergeron estimated $2,000.00 in cost to do this work. 

 

Bergeron presented a cost estimate of $457,044, and advised that the entire project probably won’t be eligible for grant funding.  He noted that the NH DES Watershed Restoration Protection Grant would probably be available because of the concerns about the health of Mirror Lake.  Bergeron also noted the cost estimate does not take into account the increase in the road width or bridge width.

 

There was a discussion about work needing to be done this year relative to test borings in order to give a better estimate of what the real project costs will be.  Bergeron advised that test borings are not in the current scope of work.  Bergeron advised that there was still time to do test borings this year.  Chairman Weeks asked Forrester to review this year’s budget to see what funding is available. 

 

Chairman Weeks noted that they should probably have a public hearing on the Lang Pond Road project with the Conservation Commission, Selectmen, and HEB Engineering.  The Selectmen will schedule a public hearing for November 19, 2007 at 4 pm. at the Town House and asked Forrester to publish the notice in the newspaper after the application is filed.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that she met with the Parks & Recreation Commission at the Gould property.  They Commission is working on the trails and have accomplished a lot so far and some really nice trails are taking shape.  Mike Phelps asked if a notice could be posted restricting wheeled vehicles.  Chairman Weeks commented that she didn’t want to start imposing rules until they see how the trails are being used

 

Weeks advised that she, Barbara Wood, Betsy Frago, and Joe Kowalski have been working on the Time Warner project and have already logged 38 ½ hours in a week and a half.  They are identifying how many households are in Tuftonboro at the direction of the attorney.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that the Selectmen plan to do a work session with the ZBA and noted that the recent articles in Town & City on Riggins Rules and ex parte communications would be a good basis for the agenda.  Weeks advised that she thought the meeting should be expanded to include the Planning Board and that we should ask Attorney Upton to facilitate the meeting.  The meeting should take place some time in November.  Forrester will set this meeting up. 

                  

The Selectmen had a brief discussion about the cemetery boundaries.  Chairman Weeks noted she had met with the Cemetery Trustees and that there is a problem with the fence line in relation to cemetery plots.  The cemetery lot layout comes nearly all the way to the building and that as a result, a good number of plots were lost.  Selectman Stockman said he had met yesterday with Ann Hackl and the man who set the corners.  They were able to locate all the plots and there is no problem.  Stockman suggested that the Town mark the granite posts with numbers so they can be found.  He is convinced there is no encroachment.  A lot of the corner markers are covered with grass and sand and needs to be cleaned up and tagged…it’s mostly a matter of finding them.  Mike Phelps noted that Hersey Cemetery has the same problem.  It was suggested that a map be made of the total cemetery and get it all on one piece of paper.

 

Mike Phelps advised the Selectmen that he had gone down to NH DES brought back a stack of papers from their files relative to the Wolfeboro Sewer project.  The Conservation Commission is meeting this afternoon in a workshop to go over the documents and create a strategy and then get a letter to the Attorney General.  The Conservation Commission expects to have a work session every Monday to keep track of the Wolfeboro Sewer project.  Chairman Weeks asked if the Commission has gotten any legal or technical assistance on this.  Phelps advised that they are waiting on the state to see if their appeal is accepted.  If it gets more complicated then they would expect the need to hire someone to represent the Town.

 

VI.  SIGNATURE:

          1. Intent to Cut – James & Jane Webster

2. 9-1-1 ALI Database Liaison Appointment Form – Jack Parsons will be the primary contact, with Cathy Pounder as the secondary contact.

3. Building Permits: Amy Goodman & Tom Marden; James Breslin, Amg Nom. Trust; Harrison Perrine, Timber Tax Levy for Alfred & Wilma Greymont;

4. Right of Burial – 3 lots for Donovans

5. Timber Tax Levy for Greymont

                            

VII.    NEW BUSINESS:

1. Vote on Lights for the Town Office Front Entrance and Parking Lot- Selectman Stockman made a motion to purchase the lights.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Duffy.  Vote on the motion: Selectman Stockman – yes, Selectman Duffy – yes, Chairman Weeks – abstain.  The quote ($1,400) does not include labor.

2. GWRSD Community School Facility Information Survey – Chairman Weeks advised that the questionnaire needs to be filled out and sent in before October 26.

3. Joint Loss Safety Committee Follow Up to Annual Safety Inspections – The JLSC will be visiting all departments on November 14 to followup on recommendations made.

                                               

VIII.  CONTINUED BUSINESS:

1. MRI Professional Services Agreement –  Forrester advised that this was the contract for financial training for the Administrative Assistant.  Chairman Weeks advised that this was in lieu of a bookkeeper.  Selectman Stockman made motion to sign the contract.  Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

IX.     CORRESPONDENCE:

1. Lakes Region Planning Commission - 2008-2009 Membership Rate

2. Lord Ambulance Service - 2008 Budget Cost

3. Standard Dredge and Fill Application – Town of Tuftonboro

4. LRHHPF Joint Board Meeting Minutes – 9/20/07 & 10/18/07 Agenda

5. CIP – Agenda for 10/17/07

6. DOT Driveway Permit – Phil Sheridan

7. Septic Approvals – Christine/Glenn Cordelli, Elizabeth/Richard O’Rourke, Anchorage Realty Trust, Mark Ferman, Bruce Sanderson, Barbara Jones, George K. Plummer III

 

OTHER MAIL: Letter from Fairpoint Communications Verizon about broadband service; Comprehensive Environmental Incorporated, booth at LGC Conference; American Red Cross – report on their activities; DRA newsletter; NH Business Review.

                                                 

X.      PUBLIC MEETING:

Joe Kowalski asked the Selectmen about the hazard mitigation plan.  Chairman Weeks explained that the Town had been denied grant funding previously because we didn’t have a hazard mitigation plan.  LRPC has been contracted to help Tuftonboro with their hazard mitigation plan and has asked for a financial contribution.  Chief Thompson brought in three different hazard mitigation plans which have been reviewed by the Planning Board. 

 

Kowalski asked the status of the work session of the citizens safety services project.  Chairman Weeks advised that the Selectmen are looking at a second draft.  The Selectmen are going to wait till after the CIP presentation before recruiting members to the citizens safety services committee.

 

There was a brief discussion about posting an advertisement in the paper on the CIP presentation to the Planning Board and Budget Committee scheduled for October 30.  Forrester will speak with John Simms about it.

 

Chairman Weeks noted that she did speak with Roger Murray about the conservation trust easement for Ragged Island and he agreed to review it.

 

Chairman Weeks made a motion to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3(II)(a) at 11:20 a.m.  Selectman Stockman seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion unanimous with Chairman Weeks – yes, Selectman Stockman – yes, Selectman Duffy – yes.

 

Chairman Weeks made a motion to return to public session at 11:56 a.m.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

No action was taken during the non-public session.

                  

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

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeanie Forrester

Town Administrator