Minutes of Meeting

                                                     Board of Selectmen

 

Meeting held upstairs in Town Hall                               Monday – April 21, 2008

 

Attending: Town Manager Edward Samson

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

                   Town Administrative Services Manager Becky Newton

 

Others attending: Alan Savage, Murray Vashaw, Joe Bochefor, Don Williams and Lucy Wyman.

 

            The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chairman Leo Enos followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

APPOINTMENTS:   None

 

OLD BUSINESS:

            To review and approve the minutes of the April 7, 2008 meeting.

 

A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by David Stickney to approve the minutes as written.  A vote was taken and the motion carried.

 

            Department Head Up-dates:  None

 

            Intent to Cut:

                        Douglas Copson to cut 6 acres of 20

                        Richard Harris to cut 2 acres of 5

            Elderly Exemption for Paul Lombardo – meets requirements.

            Water & Sewer Abatement for Stan Knecht of $196.00  ($l08.00 –water $88.00 –sewer)  for property on l59 Main St.

 

NEW BUSINESS;

 

            Letter from LCHIP re:  Project Agreement.  Becky Newton spoke to the letter saying that there were 3 things that needed to be done.  The 3rd floor window sashes, repairs and painting of the building’s cornice, and selected exterior masonry repairs.  She has contacted Stephen Decator about the windows and Eric Gagne on the masonry work.  LSHIP is very particular as to who does the work.  They might not be able to do all of the masonry work due to the cost but will do what is most needed at the time.  The front steps also need attention.  They also need to finish the transfer switch. 

            The money that was received from the Tillotson Grant will be used towards the elevator and sprinkler system.  Becky has also talked to Daniel Hebert on quotes for that.

            Don Williams asked which was more important, the elevator or the sprinkler system.

            Becky Newton said that the elevator would be the first priority so that we can be ADA compliant.  There are many things that need to be done but a list of those necessary have to be addressed first.  The elevator cannot be put on the outside of the building.  When it is put in it will not go all the way to the basement.

            Alan Savage asked what if someone wanted to go down to the Assessors office and the elevator didn’t go there.  He was told that they could go in thru the back entrance or the Assessors could meet in the Selectmen’s office.

            It was mentioned that we could go back to LCHIP for more money when we decide to do other things.

            Don Williams asked when they would start putting in the elevator and Becky Newton said that they needed to get more information before starting.

 

            Edward Samson said that the Town needed to appoint someone to be the Representative to North Country Council and also a Transportation Representative. He also stated that Steve Young had expressed interest in serving.

 

A motion was made by David Stickney and seconded by Allan Carr to appoint Steve Young as the Town’s representative to the North Country Council and also the Transportation Representative.  A vote was taken and the motion carried.

 

            Edward Samson stated at the last meeting there had been many applicants who wished to serve on the Town Conservation Commission.  After reviewing all the applications the following were appointed – John Accardi was appointed to the 3 year tern and Robert Elwell and Melissa Grella were appointed to two year terms.

 

A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by David Stickney to appoint the above mentioned to the Town Conservation Commission.  A vote was taken and the motion carried

 

            Edward Samson said that Rideout’s Repair was due for the renewal of their recycling permit.

 

A motion was made by David Stickney and seconded by Allan Carr to issued the new permit.  A vote was taken and the motion carried.

 

            Edward Samson said that he had been approached by one of the Groveton Selectmen to “trade services”.  By that they thought that since our Town crew was grading up on Page Hill that they continue on into the Groveton part.

            Leo Enos questioned who would be driving the grader on the Groveton end, he was told that it would be our driver.

            David Stickney asked why they didn’t do their own section, he was told that Groveton felt that while we were there we could continue on.

            It was the general consensus of the Board that this not be done and Edward Samson will contact the Groveton Selectmen with the decision.

 

            Edward Samson brought up some information regarding the Employees Health Insurance.  He said that some of the employees are eligible to go under their spouses insurance, which offers some things that the Town insurance does not have, such as dental.  He said that the Town would offer the employee up to 40% of the insurance to go on the spouses plan.  They will have to be covered by an alternative health plan and show proof to the Town of it.

            Lucy Wyman stated that you are giving the employee money to apply to another plan.

            Alan Savage asked how the money would be given.

            Edward Samson said that they money would be given in a lump sum and that the employee would not be able to come back on the Town plan for a year.

            Leo Enos suggested that the money be given in 2 payments.

            Edward Samson said that there were not a lot of employees who would want to do this but he would like to pursue it further.   The Board was in agreement with that.

            Lucy Wyman asked if there were two employees and one was single and the other had a family plan did they get the same pay rate and the answer was yes.

 

            Becky Newton said that Asplande was ready to do trimming on Mt. Prospect but had to wait for the road ban to be lifted.

            She also said that they were waiting for the estimate on the culvert on Depot. St.

 

INFORMATION;

 

            Alan Savage spoke saying that he had issues with having to pay for tires that he was taking to the transfer station.  There had been a discussion with he and the Town Manager about the removal of things from the lot that he had just purchased from the Town.  He also has some scrap metal but doesn’t feel he should pay.  David Stickney said that if he brought the scrap metal down for the Town to recycle he could bring the rest of the tires without cost. 

 

            Don Williams said that he was looking ahead and wondered how the Town stands on the closing of the landfill.  Becky Newton said that there have been no issues with the monitoring so far.

 

            Lucy Wyman said that she felt that there should be a “swap shop” sort of thing set up at the Transfer Station.  To have a tractor-trailer set up there with shelves in it and have the attendants sort things that come in.

 

            Allan Carr stated that it would be nice if we could convince more people to recycle but until that is done we have to do the best we can.

 

            Edward Samson said that they are trying to discourage people from going down to the Transfer Station and picking over things,  it is a big liability issue.

 

            Lucy Wyman again stated that there is a lot of waste going to the Transfer Station that shouldn’t be.  She said that the Town should tell contractors to have two dumpsters and separate their materials.

 

            David Stickney said that they could suggest that but they cannot mandate it.

 

            Lucy Wyman wanted to know if the Planning Board and Zoning Board members ever attended any workshops.  She was told that they do and that there were several members going to Manchester on April 26th to attend one.  Other Boards also attend outside meetings pertaining to what they do.  She also wanted to know if the Town was going to do anything about the idling of vehicles.

 

            Don Williams asked if people who have yard sales have to pay a fee for it.  The answer was no.

 

            Lucy Wyman asked when the Zoning Ordinances were going to be addressed as she felt that the Planning and Zoning Ordinances needed a lot of changes.  She also said that the Town needs to address the wetlands ordinance. 

 

            Edward Samson told her that if anyone wanted any changes to the ordinances they would have to submit it to the Select board, then it would go to the Tri-Board meeting and then to Town Meeting.   There are several steps to be taken.  Once accepted there would have to be a Public Hearing in January and the voted on at Town meeting.

 

            Noting that there was no further business to come before the meeting a motion was called for to adjourn.

 

A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by David Stickney to adjourn.  A vote was called for and the meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                                        Approved:

 

 

Sandra E. Doolan – Clerk                                                     Leo J. Enos, Sr.

 

 

                                                                                                Allan Carr

 

 

                                                                                                David Stickney

 

 

                                                                                                Board of Selectmen