Minutes of Meeting

                                                    Board of Selectmen

 

Meeting held upstairs in Town Hall                               Monday – July 9, 2007

 

Attending: Town Manager Edward Samson

                   Selectmen David Stickney, Leo Enos, Sr. and Allan Carr

 

Others attending: Alan Savage, Murray Vashaw, Rev. Don Williams, Joe Bachofer, Kathy Trumbull, Pat Payer and  Lisa Payer.. Also members of the Col. Town Spending Committee – Mike Foster, Tricia Eastman, Heather Bailey, Maryanne Cannon, Andy Cliché, Sue Chancey, Sally Knect, Janine LaBounty. Col. Town Directors Ed and Denise Wood and Safe Haven Director Gerri Scott.

 

            The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chairman David Stickney followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

            At this time Mike Foster of the Col. Town Spending Committee passed out a letter that he read to the meeting. (said letter is attached to the minutes as well).  The letter was in regard to previous issues that had been presented regarding the condition of the Col. Town Community Camps.

            Edward Samson asked the Board if they had any further comments to make regarding the letter.

            Allan Carr said that he was glad that the fence at the field had been taken care of and he didn’t think that the Board had been to harsh on anyone, they (the Board) were only bringing to the Committee the issues that had been presented to them.

            Tricia Eastman said that the reason the Committee had formed the Community Collaboration was to get many people involved.  She felt that the way the issues were handled were to negative.  Many of the issues that were brought up were already in the works, the Committee would like to have things handled in a more positive manner.

            Edward Samson said that the man who made the complaints came to him and had planned to do more but he had asked him to wait and let the Board go to the Committee and try to work things out.  The Board was not trying to single out any one particular person.  The Committee is responsible for not taking action sooner.  Members of the Committee were not happy about the way it was put in the paper, they said that they did not have time to respond before it was put in the paper.

            Maryanne Cannon said that if the one who had complained had gone out there a year earlier things might have been different.

            Sally Knect said that she knew of people who had used to camp and no one had brought any of this to their attention.

            Edward Samson said that the condition of the camp was really bad compared to what it used to be in years past.  What it used to be is not now!!

            Tricia Eastman said that they have had a lot of items that needed to be taken care of and the camp was put on the back burner, mainly because it is not used as much as it used to be.  The main thing  is the budgeting and they do know that there needs to be maintenance done out there.

            Edward Samson said that the Board understands that but there were also other things that needed to be taken care of.

            Allan Carr said that the Board had also received complaints last year about the condition of the camp.

            Rev. Williams asked what the Committee was going to be doing about the things that had been brought to their attention.

            Maryanne Cannon said that they would look at them differently now that everyone seemed to be on the same page with the issue.

            Leo Enos said that there has been some progress made and both the Board and the Committee will have to keep the line of communication open.

            Pat Payer asked if the Town had a web-site.  Edward Samson said that they did and if the Committee would like to take some pictures in and have them put on and promote the camp that would be fine.  Pat also stated that he thought that it would have been best if the issue had been taken care of internally.

            Edward Samson said that this issue has been a long time in coming, this just didn’t happen overnight with one letter.

            Janine LaBounty said that she would like the Board to agree that if there were other complaints that they go to the Committee first and then if they are not taken care of then the Board can proceed with firmer action.

            It was asked if anyone from the Committee comes to the Town Manager or the Board with issues.  They were told that Mr. Wood comes to the bi-weekly Department Head meetings, as do all other Department Heads who work for the Town.

            Gerri Scott who works at Safe Haven said that since this all come to light there has been a cloud over the building and she hoped that once things get on track things will be better all around.

            After no further discussion the Committee was thanked for coming to the meeting and addressing their concerns and everyone will try to keep the lines of communication open so things like this won’t get out of hand again.

 

            Kathy Trumbull came to the meeting to discuss the test wind tower that is situated in Jefferson but is very visible from many of the roads out east.  She said that this is a growing problem and the Boards should be aware of this.  This was put up without any of the residents being notified.  She read a letter of concerns that she had.  (said letter is attached to minutes)  Edward Samson said that the best time to see it from out East is sunset as it shines pretty good at that time.  She also said that Jefferson has several issues with it and we should also look into the noise factor that goes with it.  Edward Samson thanked her for coming and said that they Board would look into it.

 

OLD BUSINESS;

 

            To review and approve the minutes of the June 18th meeting.

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to approve the minutes with one correction.  On Page 2 of the minutes – change name of Leon Enos to Leo Enos on Resolution motion.  So noted.  A vote was taken and the motion carried with the change.

 

Department Head Up-dates – None.

 

Signing of Various Paperwork:

            l. Mark Coulter – Sign Permit Application for Welding Repair Shop Rt. 135

            2. Intent to Cut – Prospect Farm – John Dodge – Cut 60 acres out of 260.

            3. Roger Merrow – Rt. 2 – Cut 30 acres out of 33.5 acres.

            4. Paul Crane – Intent to Excavate.

 

NEW BUSINESS;

 

INFORMATION;

 

            FEMA project worksheets.  Edward Samson had been given authority to sign all of the necessary paperwork for this as it was for the damage that the Town had during the April storm.

            Minutes of the Col. Town Spending Committee of May 9, 2007.

            Copies of building permits that had been issued.

                        .

Letter from Department of Resources and Economic Development regarding a Technology Grant for $10,000.00 that we had applied for for the Wireless LINC.

(A copy of the RESOLUTION is attached to the minutes.)

 

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by David Stickney to accept the motion for the grant.  A vote was taken and the motion carried.

 

            At the last meeting the Board voted to accept the $l5,000.00 Tillotson Grant money and put it in the Town Hall Capital Reserve Fund Account.   We now need to take $6,000.00 out for  a Historic Property Study.  This needs to be done so that we can apply for the LCHIP monies.

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to expend $6,000.00 for a Historic Property Study from the Town Hall Capital Reserve Fund Account. A vote was taken and the motion carried.

 

            It was also brought up at the last meeting that proposals were asked for to put electrical work and a fire alarm system in the Town Hall building.  Proposals were received from:

            Ray’s Electric - $94,l38.00 for electrical and $71,000.00 for the fire alarm.  These figures were way above what we had for money so they redid the figures to be.  Electrical $82,525.00 and fire alarm $67,660.00

            Lufkin – Fire alarm  all the way through the building for

$51,840.00.  David Stickney asked if we could use any of the old system and the answer was no.

A motion was made by David Stickney and seconded by Leo Enos to give the Town Manager Edward Samson authority to spend up to $l50,000.00 to be used for the electrical and fire alarm systems to be put in the building.  Ray’s Electric for the electrical and Lufkin for the fire alarm system.   A vote was taken and the motion carried.  The sprinkler system will be part of the LCHIP money.

 

            Noting that there was nothing further to come before the meeting a motion was called for to adjourn.

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to adjourn.  A vote was called for and the meeting adjourned at 7:30 P.M.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                                        Approved:

 

 

 

Sandra E. Doolan – Clerk                                                     David Stickney

 

 

                                                                                                Leo Enos, Sr.

 

 

                                                                                                Allan Carr

 

 

 

                                                                                                Board of Selectmen