Board of Selectmen - Minutes (Draft)
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETINGTuesday, January 3, 2017
Call Meeting to Order 5:00PM
DRAFT
Approved on ______________(Date)
Present: Donald Harty, Chair; Hugh Curley, Vice Chair; J. Chris Bowes, Selectman; and Kelly Dearborn-Luce, Recording Secretary.
Staff Present: Nancy Wheeler.
5PM – Don Harty, Chair opened the meeting.
Hugh Curley made a motion to go into non-public session for interviews under RSA 91-A: 3 II (b) hiring. Chris Bowes seconded the motion, all voted in favor.
At 6:05PM Board returned to regular meeting. No final decisions were made. Hugh Curley made a motion to not seal the minutes. Motion was seconded by Chris Bowes. Roll call vote to not seal the minutes was Don Harty- yes, Hugh Curley – yes and Chris Bowes – yes. Motion passed.
Other Attendees: Len Gilman, Virginia Drew and residents on Old Turnpike Road.
The group recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Scheduled Time:
6PM Pat Bergervin Old Turnpike Road – paving petition. The residents on Old Turnpike Road spoke to the Board about the need for pavement on their road. They spoke of the concerns of the road and read the petition to see if the Town would pave it. The Board discussed the list of roads that Gordon Ellis, Road Agent prioritizes for the year. Chris Bowes will check with Gordon. If the road is not on Gordon’s list to do, then the citizens can submit a petition to the Town voters. Don Harty asked Kelly to assist the citizens with details.
Review and Accept Agenda Chris Bowes made a motion to accept the agenda for Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Hugh Curley seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
Signature:
- Accounts Payable/Manifest was reviewed and signed.
- Payroll was reviewed and signed.
- Report of Cut for Webster Park was reviewed and signed. Chris Bowes made a motion to approve the Report of Cut. Motion was seconded by Hugh Curley, all voted in favor.
- Chris Bowes made a motion to abate the yield tax levy for the Webster Park. Motion was seconded Hugh Curley, all voted in favor.
- Abatement – New Rye Church. The yearly request to abate the taxes for the New Rye Church was submitted. Chris Bowes made a motion to abate the taxes for 2016 in the amount of $4,052.00 motion was seconded by Hugh Curley, all voted in favor.
- Exemptions (x3). Chris Bowes made a motion to approve the Veterans exemptions for the following properties: R1-27-0,U18-6-39, and R09-22-2. Motion was seconded Hugh Curley, all voted in favor.
- DRA Auditor Option per RSA 41:31-b was reviewed. DRA to request notification from the Town of the Auditor that was hired. Don Harty signed the form.
Staff:
Nancy Wheeler reported that the IRS mileage rate is set at 53.5 cents per mile and in 2016 it was .54 cents. Hugh Curley made a motion to adopt the IRS 2017 rate at .53.5 cents per mile. Motion was seconded by Chris Bowes, all voted in favor. Nancy mentioned that the Travelers Insurance check came in for Webster Park and there is now $5,000.00 left in the Park budget.
Kelly Dearborn-Luce reported on the Webster Park insurance coverage and will be updating the list with the Insurance Company. Kelly also spoke about the truck that knocked down wires which tore the electrical conduit off the side of the Old Town Hall (Food Pantry) building. An electrician was called and he submitted a quote of $1,860.00 to repair. The Board discussed future concerns of the height of the conduit and would like to see if it can be raised up higher for safety, which was not part of the quote. Hugh Curley made a motion to approve the repairs, at a price not to exceed $2,500.00 and to authorize Don Harty, Chair to sign a new quote. Motion was seconded by Chris Bowes, all voted in favor.
Jay Hickey, Zoning Compliance Officer submitted a request to waive the building fee of $40.00 for a handicapped ramp at Lance Lane. Chris Bowes made a motion to approve the waiver of the fee. Hugh Curley seconded the motion, all voted in favor.
Jay Hickey also received correspondence from Sonny Sell, Big Easy Campground regarding a request for a permit to have live entertainment during functions and/or Friday or Saturday nights. The Board would like to discuss further at their next meeting.
Discussion:
Warrant Articles for 2017 were reviewed and discussed.
Article 2 is for the contingency fund of $10,000.00 (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 3 is for $1,200.00 from unexpended fund balance for cemetery plots. (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 4 is for $150,000.00 Capital reserve of town roads. (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 5 is $10,000.00 Capital reserve for the Highway Department. (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 6 is for $15,000.00 Capital Reserve for bridge replacement. (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 7 is for $4,000.00 for Northwood Lake milfoil. (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 8 is Police Revolving Fund (police Details). Nancy stated this is to add a purpose to Police detail fund and to expand uses of police detail funds.
Article 9 is for $10,000.00 to be added to Expendable Fund Trust Fund for maintenance of Historic Town Buildings. Board held lengthy discussion on the need for this article. The Board agreed that this article could be deleted and that Article 13 would be sufficient.
Article 10 is for $15,500.00 for replacement of boiler at Fire Station. (No further discussion by the Board)
Article 11 is for $50,000.00 for a Capital Reserve fund for constructing a Town Office. The Board held a lengthy discussion regarding the word “construction” and to use 50/50 of undesignated funds or tax impact. The Board agreed this one article should be separate articles.
Article 12 is (if Article 11 passes) deposit proceeds from sale of Town owned land into Capital reserve for construction of Town Office. Board discussed the potential complications of this article and agreed to delete it.
Article 13 is for the establishment of an expendable trust fund for maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of Town owned land and buildings. Board discussed this article and how it relates to Article 9. This article should be described at the hearing of its intentions to be used for maintenance of the Meeting House too.
Article 14 is to allow The Board to dispose of tax deeded property by listing with a Real Estate Agent. Board discussed the need to adopt this article as it has made a positive difference in the last two sales of property.
Economic Development Committee / letter was reviewed. The Board agreed to post notice and send out to Departments and advertise locally.
Vacation time request was reviewed. Chris Bowes made a motion to approve the employee’s time requested. Motion was seconded by Hugh Curley, al voted in favor.
Encumber funds for Webster Park was discussed. The Board discussed the current projects of repairing the small pavilion and grinding of the stumps and their quotes. The Board noted they would need a quote for the back-stop repair. Hugh Curley made a motion to award the bid for stumpage to “Trees Are Us” at a cost of $3,300.00. Kelly will send award notice. Board wanted to make sure the stumps are at least 6” below grade. Chris Bowes seconded the motion, all voted in favor. The Board calculated the cost of the remaining projects and would like to encumber that cost. Chris Bowes made a motion to encumber $17,000.00 for the Webster Park projects. Hugh Curley seconded the motion, all voted in favor.
Minutes for review and discussion:
Draft – December 19, 2016 were reviewed. Chris Bowes made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion was seconded by Hugh Curley, all voted in favor.
Minutes to sign:
Final – December 5, 2016 were reviewed and signed.
Selectmen Liaison Reports:
Hugh Curley spoke about the appointment for voting members for BCEP. Hugh would like to alternate the voting member. Hugh will speak with BCEP for further information. Hugh did mention that current Epsom member on the BCEP, Len Gilman, has a “perfect attendance”!
Hugh asked Kelly to follow up some information with Lt. Young at the Liquor Commissioners Office regarding the entertainment requirements with the liquor license.
Hugh also noted that he spoke with Lt. Michael regarding the purchase order for the imaging software and then signed the purchase order.
Hugh said he would also like to research other Towns as to their scheduling of Officers as it relates to overtime.
Chris Bowes received some information from CNHRPC regarding the DOT 10 year transportation plan. Chris would like to follow up and submit a plan for a “turn-lane” near the Meetinghouse and New Orchard Road.
Chris also spoke about the invitation to the Manchester Monarchs games to celebrate “Epsom Night”. Chris will obtain more information and help sponsor the Town of Epsom.
Don Harty said he has met with the Fire Chief and they have been repairing the drains (grates) at the Fire Station. Don also noted that he would like to continue to work on the water line easement for the Meetinghouse and asked Kelly to contact the property owners again for a meeting.
Don read the letter submitted by John Dodge regarding the retirement of John from his business. Don also noted that John has served on Town committees as well and thanked him for his time.
5 Minutes for Public Questions and Comments:
Len Gilman spoke about the nice visit he had at the Highway Barn and that Gordon did a good job with what he had to work with. Len also noted that the residents wishing to pave their road may end up with other issues such as “speeding”.
Virginia Drew applauded the board for speaking about the renovations for the Meetinghouse. Virginia also noted that this (current rental space) building may have mold and air quality concerns.
For your Information:
Town of Freemont – Wireless Tower notice
CDFA – Block Grant info
NHMA – newsletter
Dodge Heating – Retirement notice of John
Pittsburg BOS re: Eversource/Roads
Webster Park Insurance Claim
At 8:00PM Chris Bowes made a motion to adjourn. Hugh Curley seconded, all voted in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Dearborn-Luce
Recording Secretary
These minutes are in preliminary draft form only and are subject to change before final approval.