TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

PO BOX 98, 240 MIDDLE ROAD

CENTER TUFTONBORO, NH 03816

Telephone (603) 569-4539

Fax (603) 569-4328

Selectmen’s Meeting                                                                                                 March 31, 2008

Minutes

Approved as corrected 4.7.08

I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Stockman called the Meeting to order at 3:30pm.

II. REVIEW / APPROVAL MINUTES: March 24, 2008

March 24, 2008: The Selectmen reviewed the minutes of the March 24 Selectmen’s Meeting. Chairman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes as written; Selectman Sundquist seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

March 24, 2008: The Selectmen reviewed the minutes of the March 24 Selectmen’s Non-Public Meeting. Chairman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes as written; Selectman Duffy seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

III. DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

Selectmen:

Chairman Stockman reported that Guy Pike was voted Chair for the Public Safety Facilities Committee. He added that John Simms will provide guidance as needed but will not be a regular member.

Selectman Sundquist reported that she and Selectman Duffy will be attending a dinner for the NH Retirement System on Wednesday, April 3. Sundquist also reported that her Friday office hours are very busy with many citizens coming in to see her.

The discussion turned to the Selectmen’s Allowance, currently being disbursed on a tri-annual basis. The Selectmen considered the benefits of submitting bills as they occur for greater accountability and tracking of expenses, but ultimately decided to continue with the current method of disbursal.

The Selectmen noted the importance of funding the Coalition Communities. Chairman Stockman will look into the amount previously funded. (FYI..The Town paid $5K on 6/06 and $5K in 2007)

IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE REPORT:

Town Administrator Bill McChesney and the Selectmen reviewed the updated Selectmen’s Pending Items and Important Dates list. Among the items discussed:

ó Town Warrant Error: Bill McChesney requested a written directive from the DRA for the correct amount to raise. The DRA responded that the Town should raise the difference between $2,800,768.00 and $2,237,078.00, the difference being $563,690.00. Additionally, any amendments made to the operating budget at Town Meeting must be voted on again.

ó Dearborn Property: Chief Thompson received a proposal for asbestos removal that is $1100 less than the sole proposal.

ó Lang Pond: If the Board is determined to go ahead with the project, the Town may want to complete the final design before the end of the year in order to bid the project for next year’s Town Meeting. Chairman Stockman noted that the Selectmen’s letter to Mary Hersey should specify cut-off dates for information regarding the Hersey proposal.

ó Easement/Landfill Closure: McChesney is preparing to review the water quality data from the DES, and will write a letter to the State.

ó 2007 Audit: McChesney is working on the Town’s 2007 Audit.

ó April 2, 2008: Selectman Duffy and Bill McChesney are planning to attend the Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting at 2:00pm in Meredith. On a similar topic, Selectman Duffy made a motion to pay the annual dues to the Lakes Region Planning Commission. Selectman Sundquist seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

Administrative Assistant Cathy Pounder submitted the following report:

ó The Winnipesauke Republicans have rescheduled their meeting for Monday, April 21 at the Town House at 7pm. They have offered a $25 donation for the cost of heat and electric.

ó The Annual Town Report, MS-2 (Report of Appropriations), MS-11 (Annual Report of Town Officers), MS-7 (Budget), MS-50 (Treasurer Report), a signed copy of the Town Warrant was mailed the NHDRA on Friday, March 28, 2008.

ó BTLA Settlements for Jon & Jill Barton (Cow Island 25-2-25 & 25-2-172) and Kathleen & Carl Eldridge, Sr. (Wildwood Estates 32-1-34) have been returned, signed, and the refunds are in this week’s accounts payable. Copies went to Avitar and BTLA.

V. APPOINTMENTS:

4:00pm: John Simms provided the Selectmen with a report of Tuftonboro’s Operating Costs expenditures from 2000-2007. The data for the report was gathered from past Town Reports and broke down the expenditures by department. Chart 1 of the report indicated that the cost of operations, town-wide, continues to climb at roughly 10% per year. In Simms’s report, he states that “recent Capital Project expenditures have been more erratic, exceeding the Capital Capacity in 2006 by $472K and falling short in 2007 by $295K. Even though Tuftonboro’s Operating Costs increased by 9% between 2006 and 2007, the tax rate decreased from 1.99 to 1.86, but only because Capital Project expenses did not occur as planned.” Simms noted that “holding the tax rate down by not spending funds on Capital Projects is unwise. Just look at Wolfeboro.”

In Simms’s report, he recommends tending to the Town’s Operating Costs if we plan to spend capital funds at the Capital Capacity rate while keeping the tax rate low. He pointed out that Operating Costs in the Government Department are growing at 18% per annum, the fastest growth rate of all the departments. Chairman Stockman noted that more and more is being asked of administrative personnel as Town, State and Federal regulations change, insurance requirements change, and support for growing committee participation.

The discussion turned to stipends for committee members. Chairman Stockman said that he is opposed to stipends. Anthony Lyons spoke to the merits of stipends as members of committees often spend a great deal of their own time and money. Lyons also noted that the Town gives no recognition to volunteers. Neal Hansen spoke in opposition to stipends, stating that “stipends are contradictory to volunteerism.” Selectman Sundquist noted that the Selectmen should look into it further.

4:15pm: Mike Phelps of the Conservation Commission addressed the Selectmen on the matter of the Wolfeboro Rapid Infiltration Basin Project and a denial by the DES Water Council to hear an appeal by the Tuftonboro Conservation Commission. Phelps recommended that the Selectmen request a hearing with the Water Council on behalf of the Town of Tuftonboro. Following a discussion, Selectman Sundquist made a motion to apply for a hearing under the name of the Town of Tuftonboro; Selectman Duffy seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0). Bill McChesney and Mike Phelps will work jointly to write the request for rehearing.

VI. SIGNATURE:

1. Notice of Lien – Thomas Ferdinand, 59 Dame Road, Lot 44-2-1. Chairman Stockman made a motion to sign the lien; Selectman Sundquist seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

2. Lien Discharge – Leah Berry, 24 Union Wharf Road, Lot 41-1-33. Chairman Stockman made a motion to sign the lien; Selectman Sundquist seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

3. Permit to Conduct a Raffle – Friends of the Tuftonboro Free Library. Chairman Stockman made a motion to sign the permit; Selectman Duffy seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

4. Drake Service & Parts, Inc. - Skid Tank Purchase (pertains to Waste Oil Grant). Chairman Stockman made a motion to sign the credit application; Selectman Duffy seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

VII. NEW BUSINESS:

1. Cartographic Associates, Inc., recently hired by the Town of Ossipee to prepare modern, accurate property maps, requested copies of Tuftonboro’s property maps that abut Ossipee in exchange for the completed Ossipee maps that abut Tuftonboro. Chairman Stockman made a motion to provide Cartographics with the maps; Selectman Sundquist seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS:

1. Anthony Lyon of the Agriculture Commission updated the Selectmen on the status of the proposed Community Garden. He acknowledged that the Agriculture Commission has been researching community gardens on-line and talking with many interested citizens. The proposed Community Garden is to be situated on the Town’s land adjacent to the Town Office parking lot. Lyon explained that there are 30- 40 proposed garden plots, ranging from 400 to 500 square feet each. The annual cost is $50 per plot. A set of proposed ground rules for the Garden has been developed; Chairman Stockman noted that he has some additions and changes for the rules. Selectman Sundquist asked who would prepare the land for the Garden, to which Mr. Lyon explained that Spider Web Gardens has volunteered $2,000 towards the preparation of the land. Monies collected from garden-plot rentals will be used to reimburse Spider Web Gardens.

Citizen John Simms asked if the Town Office water supply can handle the demand of gardeners. Chairman Stockman suggested a faucet arrangement similar to what is used in the cemetery.

Marion Morgan asked if the boundary line between the Town and the abutting property is clearly visible in order to avoid trespass incidents. Chairman Stockman responded that the boundaries are clearly marked, and that he will inform the abutter of the proposed garden.

Lyon added that the next meeting of the Agriculture Commission is on Wednesday, April 16 at the Grange Hall, where interested gardeners are welcome to sign up for the Garden. He also noted that the Town Wide Yard Sale plans are moving along well.

The Agriculture Commission will present their formal proposal to the Selectmen for approval during the next Selectmen’s Meeting on Monday, April 7 at 7:00 pm at the Town Office.

2. Roger Drowne came before the Selectmen to bring to their attention that his view tax problem has not been resolved. Chairman Stockman responded that the assessor plans to revisit the location as soon as the snow depth recedes. Roger also mentioned that the Planning Board Minutes from 10/19/06 are incomplete on the website.

Roger asked the Selectmen to look into whether or not there is salt in the sand stored in the so-called shed on William’ property. The Selectmen provided him with a formal complaint form to be filled out and given to the Code Officer to investigate. Drowne filled out the form and turned it in at the conclusion of his visit to the meeting.

3. BTLA Reports of Settlement Meeting & Order: Ralph Kirshner; June & William Letoile, Jr.; George & Irene Baker. Selectman Sundquist recommended that they meet with each party to try and reach a settlement independent of a formal hearing with the BTLA. Stockman and Duffy agreed with Sundquist. The matters will be given to Cathy Pounder for arrangements.

4. The Code Officer’s vehicle did not pass inspection. His new vehicle should be here by the time the 10-day grace period is up. The vehicle will not have an inspection sticker at the time it is sold.

IX. CORRESPONDENCE:

1. E-mail from John Mead concerning bacteria levels in Mirror Lake. The Selectmen will gather information

and respond to Mr. Mead in detail.

2. Letter from BTLA to Bert & Diana Poirier

3. Copy of recorded Boundary Line Agreement for Laase / Phelps /Adjutant / Town of Tuftonboro

4. DES – Additional Volatile Organic Compound Sampling for Groundwater Discharge Permit Sites

5. Attorney General Dept. of Justice – Trust Fund Administration and Statutory Filing Requirement seminar

6. DES – Hidden Valley/Mason Water System Implementation Schedule for Order WD 07-029

7. DES – 2008 Annual Drinking Water Source Protection Workshop on May 19

8. Current Use Board – Public Notice of upcoming Hearing and Meeting

9. DES – Standard Dredge & Fill Application (2): Michael Kennedy, Cow Island 38-1-5; Raymond Skinner,

128 Cow Island.

10. DES – Corrected Letter for Richard & Dianne Quinby, 51-3-1

11. PSNH Street Light Repair Form

12. NH Dept of Labor – 2008 NH Labor Law Training

13. Note of thanks to Police Dept/Officer Hathcock from Renee Horton, President PTCO

14. Stantec – Tuftonboro Landfill Annual Post-Closure Report 2007

15. Approved Minutes from 1/16/08 CIP Meeting

16. Approved Minutes from 2/5/08 Budget Committee Meeting

17. Updated Town Contact List in Selectmen’s individual yellow folders

18. Building Permits: Carl Boedecker, 69-2-26, Screen porch and deck; Dr. Robert Bahr, 26-2-1-A, porch and

deck extension; Cheryl Swansburg, 50-1-6, interior remodel; Ron & Carolyn Sundquist, 11 Vere Royce Road,

connector room.

X. PUBLIC MEETING:

XI. ADJOURNMENT: At 5:35pm, Chairman Stockman made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Selectman Sundquist seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous (3-0).

Respectfully submitted,

Marion Morgan

Administrative Secretary