MINUTES
Selectmen’s Meeting July 7, 2008
Town Hall 6:30
PM
Allan Carr David Stickney Leo Enos
Becky Newton Edward Samson Murray Vashaw
Alan Savage Melissa Grima Paul Hood
Selectman
Enos called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
Town Manager Samson explained that tonight’s appointments are assessment appeals. He suggested that the select board hear the appeals tonight, review all the information presented and make their decision at the next selectmen’s meeting in two weeks.
Dr. Beattie was present to appeal the cell tower land use change tax that was assessed to him. He advised that he had also filed an assessment tax appeal on the property. Dr. Beattie stated his reasons for appeal as follows:
·
The tower is
beneficial to the town and the area economy
·
At the present
it is not economically beneficial to him
·
Assessed is
3.5 acres, that were taken out of current use, of 118 acres
·
The 3.5 acres
is assessed at $120,000 for the land use change tax. Roughly $33,000 per acre when calculating
from the 2007 assessment and equalization ratio.
·
The compared
land values in the area are $7,000 - $10,000 an acre
·
The assessment
report prepared for the Lancaster
National Bank states that with a special purpose property local data is limited
in its usefulness when preparing a value estimate. The report says that the assessment is based
on a fully tenanted tower, as towers in the southern part of the State are
fully tenanted. Dr. Beattie stated that
there are 4 places on the tower with only 2 occupied.
·
It is not a
moneymaking operation. Other landowners
along the ridge were not interested.
·
With 2 tenants
on the tower could break even over a period of time. The lease is for 7 years with renewals up to
30 years
Mr. Samson questioned what the breakdown of the 3.5 acres is. Dr. Beattie said that the enclosed part is 50’x70’ with about 1.5 acres for the road. He said there is a power line running up the side of the road. Dr. Beattie said that the access road is an unimproved road – an unimproved old town road. He said part of the main entrance is his and the town is not responsible for it.
Dr. Beattie said that he can pass on taxes to the carriers if there is greater than a 4% increase in a year.
Page 2 – Selectmen’s Meeting 07/07/08
Selectman Stickney asked about the acres on top of the ridge. Dr. Beattie said that 1.5 acres are cleared with about a .5 acre (50’x70’) fenced in area. He said the road is about 1.5 acres. On the lower road the power line is under the road and on the upper part of the road it is overhead.
Town Manager Samson said he has the complete packet of information regarding the appeal with a letter of explanation from Dr. Beattie. He said he would make a copy for each board member. Mr. Samson also stated that the comparables were not local. Mr. Samson advised Dr. Beattie that a decision would be make at the next select board meeting and that he was welcome to attend.
2. Paul & Aurore Hood – Denise Boynton tax abatement request.
Mr. Samson stated that Jason Call, Town assessor, has suggested no change on the assessment. He said that Ms. Boynton has authorized Paul & Aurore to speak in her behalf.
Mrs. Hood had a packet of information for each board member (copy attached to minutes). She said that Ms Boynton is requesting that the assessor look at the property one more time. Mrs. Hood said that it is a financial hardship for Ms Boynton at this time. The packet of information that Mr. & Mrs. Hood provided for the select board outlines all the reasons that they feel the assessment is too high.
Mr. Samson stated that he has an extensive packet of information and will make copies for each select board member. He said that the board would take two weeks to review all the information and make at decision at the next select board meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
1.
Review and
approval of June 16, 2008 Selectmen’s meeting minutes.
Moved by Allan
Carr and seconded by Leo Enos to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2008
meeting.
Motion carried – unanimous.
2.
Signing of
various paperwork
·
Timber Tax
Warrant – Richard Harris (Rte 3 North) $82.62, Lisa Nast (off Buffalo Road)
$275.64. Signed by selectmen.
·
Abatement –
Bruce Webster $31.18. Mr. Webster is a
taxpayer for rental property on 7 Stone Street.
Amount to abate is for service provided by the Water Dept in the winter
when the renter called them because the water meter had frozen. Landowner believes that nothing should have
been done unless authorized by him.
Selectman Stickney was not in favor of abating the charge.
Moved by David Stickney and
seconded by Leo Enos to abate the $31.18.
Motion carried – 2 yes and 1 no.
Page 3 – Selectmen’s Meeting 07/07/08
1.
Morse Lodge
Lane/Morse Road
There
is an existing Morse Road that no one was aware of until recently. For 911 purposes the names are too much
alike. Recommendation is to rename the
Morse Road.
Moved by David Stickney and
seconded by Leo Enos to rename Morse Road and keep Morse Lodge Lane as it is.
Motion carried – unanimous.
2.
Depot Street
Culvert Replacement – Becky Newton
Pre-bid
meeting July 16 at 2:00 pm and bid opening July 31 at 2:00 pm.
3.
Masonry
Restoration Proposal – Becky Newton
Estimated cost $119,140.00. Proposal is to wash exterior of town hall building, do a mortar analysis, repoint all 4 sides of the building, paint all the trim and paint the cornice.
B.
Newton stated that the town received $130,000 in LCHIP money with $40,000
allocated to the windows. She advised
that there is enough money to do 3 sides of the building unless $22-24,000 is
taken form the Town Hall Improvement CRF established for maintenance to the
building. David Stickney stated that if
there were sufficient money in the CRF he would make a motion to use it for the
above purpose.
Moved by David Stickney and
seconded by Allan Carr to do the whole building, depending on how much is in
the Town Hall Improvement CRF and to authorize the Town Manager Edward Samson
to withdraw up to $24,000 from the CRF to complete the building project.
Motion carried – unanimous.
4.
Tax Appeals –
all recommendations from Jason Call, assessor for the town.
·
McGee/Sansoucy
– an adjustment
·
Mary Snowman –
no change recommended
·
Lancaster
Associates/Eastpoint Properties – no change
·
Pallaria – no
change
·
Watkins –
North Road $406,860 reduced by $8,750 to $398,110
The
selectboard will make a decision at the next meeting.
5.
Winter Sand
Quotes
The
town requested price quotes on the purchase of 6000 tons of winter sand. Quotes received are as follows:
·
Cloutier Sand
& Gravel - $6.77/ton or $40,620
·
Carroll
Concrete - $6.00/ton or $36,000
Both
quotes include delivery.
Page 4 – Selectmen’s Meeting 07/07/08
Alan
Savage voiced his concerns over the fact that the request was not put out to
bid. Town Manager Samson replied that
both Cloutier and Carroll were contacted.
Mr. Savage felt that it should have been advertised as there may be
people (himself included) with a couple of trucks that could negotiate a better
price. He said he feels that he has lost
as a taxpayer and because he hauls winter sand for Mr. Cloutier. Mr. Savage said that last year Mr. Cloutier
was never contacted however Mr. Samson stated that he personally called him but
never received a response. Mr. Savage
asked that for next year the request be put out for bid. The Town Manager and Selectmen were in favor
of that.
Moved by Allan Carr and seconded
by David Stickney to accept the bid from Carroll Concrete of $6.00/ton for
winter sand.
Motion carried – unanimous.
For review by the select board.
1.
Recently
issued building permits.
2.
B. Newton
advised that the town is moving along with the bridge project, culvert project,
town hall building project and Mt. Propsect Road.
3.
Allan Carr
asked when Burnside Street will be paved.
Mr. Samson advised that it should be done next week.
4.
Leo Enos asked
about the Mt Prospect Road. Mr. Samson
advised that another landowner complained today.
5.
David Stickney
asked if a row of trees could be planted by the Beloin property in Route 3
North. Mr. Samson said a row was planted
but the deer ate them. He said more
would be planted.
Motion was made, seconded and carried to
adjourn the meeting at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jean E. Oleson
Signed/Date:
________________________________________
David Stickney
________________________________________
Leo Enos
________________________________________
Allan Carr