MINUTES
Public Hearing Pursuant to NH RSA 33:8-a
Bonds or Notes in Excess of $100,000
Colonel Town Swimming Pool
ATTENDEES:
Selectmen David
Stickney and Allan Carr
Town Manager Ed
Samson
Recreation Directors
Eddie & Denise Wood
Selectman David Stickney opened the public hearing at 6:05 PM and read the following notice of public hearing.
Notice is hereby given that there will be a public meeting
of the Lancaster Board of Selectmen upstairs in the Town Hall,
Town Manager Samson explained that the proposal is to refurbish the existing pool as well as demolish and rebuild the existing pool building. The building houses the pool furnace and equipment and is used for storage on the off season. Mr. Samson said that 3 years ago the cost was estimated at three-quarters of a million dollars (to replace the pool). Since that time a pool company has indicated that the pool could be refurbished for less and have a 15-year life expectancy.
Quotes (refurbish
pool):
Ø In excess of $200,000
Ø
$172,865 –
accepted by the Spending Committee. If
the warrant article is approved the company with this bid will do the job.
Quotes (building):
The initial quotes were approx. $100,000. At that point some local contractors reviewed the plans and made some suggestions that could reduce the cost. The first bids were rejected and the outlined changes were provided to those who wished to bid on the project. The low bid is $88,500. Mr. Samson stated that the existing building houses some new pool equipment that will have to be removed before the demolition. The company that installed the equipment will remove it and reinstall it in the new building for a cost of $11,000.
Page 2 –
Total quote $172,865 (refurbish pool) + $88,500 (demo and construction of new pool building) + $11,000 (move and reinstall pool equip) = $272,365. The $300,000 in the proposal allows for contingency if needed.
It was noted that in recent years there have been a number
of upgrades to the
Mr. Samson noted that there have been comments regarding the cost vs. the number of days the pool is open. He said that weather is a factor as well as staffing. The pool is traditionally staffed with teachers or college age people who return to work or school in late August. There is not enough staffing to maintain the pool through late summer. A copy of “fast facts” created by the recreation directors is attached to these minutes.
Mr. Samson said that the proposal is to take out a bank loan, as interest rates are low at this time. He said he has been communicating with the Passumpsic Bank which is offering a 4% interest rate (possibly less). Mr. Samson said interest only would be paid from the time the loan is secured until completion of the project. He said that at the time the loan is finalized, following completion of the job, the loan would be closed at the actual amount owed. There will be no taxpayer obligation for 2008. The projected annual payment for taxpayers is $25,000 over a 15-year period. This translates to 11 cents per $1000 valuation.
Selectman Enos arrived at 6:15 PM.
Discussion was opened and members of the audience were given an opportunity to ask questions. There were none.
Selectman Stickney
closed the public hearing at 6:22 PM.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jean E. Oleson
Approved March 3, 2008
_______________________________
David Stickney
_______________________________
Leo Enos
_______________________________
Allan
Carr