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Minutes of 05/01/2006

May 4th, 2006

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2006




Board members present: William Wright, Allen Strasser, Bonnie Moroney

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Doug Bews, Tom Gately, Evan Karpf, Bill Dowling, John Goodney, John Burt, Mike Matz, Donna Matz, Dale Shakespeare, Carmine Fabrizio, Edith Tucker, Paul Bussiere, Jeff Duncan, Art Savona, Leslie Bergum, Billy Rines, John Birknes

The board began with the approval of bills and signing of checks.

Selectman Strasser made a motion to approve the minutes from 04/24/2006. The motion was seconded by Selectman Moroney and passed unanimously.

Chairman Wright said that he’d received a call from Cliff Maples last week asking to be put on the agenda for tonight. He’d called and complained that his wife had been given a hard time at the transfer station when she brought things from the Maples’ Twin Mountain house. Chairman Wright said if he came in during the meeting we would hear him out.

Paul Bussiere introduced Leslie Bergum, a Bretton Woods resident, and asked the selectmen to appoint her to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Selectman Strasser moved to appoint, Selectman Moroney seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Safety inspection issues were next on the agenda. Billy Rines said he had not been in contact with Mark Gensamer regarding completing the town hall electrical problems …amp;quot; grounding the lights in the kitchen area and moving the main shut off closer to the meter. As far as the highway department building, Fred Davis has completed the work until PSNH can switch over the power to the new lines. He’ll have some minor work to do then that building’s electrical work will be done.

Selectman Strasser reported on his meeting in Concord with Cynthia Flynn. While she abated the $1,500 fine for the payroll related items, she stated that we should have been submitting progress reports on the main safety issues. That same day we faxed her the Safety Summary Report from January 1, 2006 that had not been submitted. Selectman Strasser said he needs to send the state a progress report by the end of the week, and as a result he’d like to meet tomorrow morning at 10 am with Selectman Wright, John Gardiner, John Goodney, and Billy Rines. He’d like to have a list from everyone of work completed, complete with dates of ordering items, receipts of those items and work performed.

The next topic discussed was the paving project in front of the police station and post office. David Reinhard has submitted a 3-part bid ranging from $3,200 to $14,800 depending on which option we choose to do. The selectmen discussed the options with Mr. Rines and looked at the budget for available funds under building maintenance. Selectman Moroney asked if we got multiple bids, and Mr. Rines said he got asphalt quotes from 3 different people …amp;quot; Reinhard was $85/ton, Bigelow $100/ton, and Central Paving $110/ton. She also asked how long we had to accept the current quote. The selectmen voted to accept the $14,800 bid subject to Mr. Rines checking on the quote expiration, since we need to wait until the Treasurer’s Report is finished for April.

Chairman Wright pointed out that the latest report from Stan Borkowski was posted on the board for people to read.

Doug Bews came to the board for confirmation that the portion of his lot that he wants to subdivide has a water tap. The selectmen referred him to Mr. Rines.

An Intent to Cut from Sharon Pronovost was reviewed. Selectman Strasser moved to sign, Chairman Wright seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously. The document was signed.

Two payroll tax related issues were discussed. Employees currently have their NH Retirement and health and dental contributions withdrawn after-tax, meaning they pay Federal income tax on these amounts. By signing the Flexible Benefits Plan Adoption Agreement, employees individually will now have the option of having their health and dental contributions deducted pre-tax. The Tax Shelter Election Form for NH Retirement will change the contributions to pre-tax by group. The Police and Fire Groups have elected to change to pre-tax, while the Employees Group will continue to make contributions after-tax. Selectman Strasser moved to sign all forms, Selectman Moroney seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.

Chairman Wright read the letter from Linda Dowling stating that the selectmen cannot open and close a road, specifically Fieldstone Lane, without town meeting approval. Jeff Duncan said the road had not been closed, just dead-ended. Selectman Strasser stated that we would be sending copies of minutes to Town Counsel to determine if the road closure had been handled properly. John Birknes asked if it wouldn’t shorten the distance to Bretton Woods if Fieldstone was open, and Mr. Duncan said it was only 300’shorter, and the fire trucks can’t drive over it in spring, as there is a load limit problem. Mr. Birknes told the group that he was here not only as a resident and taxpayer, but as a representative of the Bretton Woods Property Owners Association. He outlined the ISO rating change from 7 to 10 at the time of the last BW inspection, and the resulting increase in homeowners’ insurance rates as a result of being over 5 miles from the fire station. He feels that even that 300’ may help get the rating changed, and that the town ought to consider how much tax revenue comes from BW, only to increase with the new resort owners’ proposed building plans. Anything that can be done to improve the ISO rating should be done. A new fire and police station will have to be part of future plans.

John Gardiner said the idea of a fire station in BW was not a new one. 21 years ago the hotel owner wanted a fire station and the selectmen at the time said no. 5 years ago it was discussed again and the owners would not donate a piece of land for a station. He also stated that people buying in BW should be aware at the time of purchase that the distance to the fire station is over 5 miles. Mr. Birknes said there are 2.8 acres set aside for a fire/police station, and that the property owners association controls property, not the developers.

Selectman Moroney asked Mr. Birknes about the meeting with CNL that had been discussed a few weeks ago and that has not taken place. Mr. Birknes stated he’d not met with the principals of the sale, and if he did would suggest no board be present in numbers that would constitute a quorum. Edith Tucker cautioned against formal meetings that could possibly go against state right to know laws. Selectman Moroney suggested that the town officials need to get more information about what the new people will expect of the town, and Mr. Birknes stated that when the Planning Board has new subdivisions and development come up, they will have legal and engineering representation at their meetings.

Art Savona said with all the talk about insurance costs, he had yet to hear the word “safety,” and that was the reason that road was closed to through traffic in the first place. There was much discussion about where the 5 mile measurement fell in BW, and that they don’t rate individual units, but areas of buildings. He referenced a June 2004 letter from ISO which details how the Town of Carroll was last rated, and will give the office a copy on Tuesday. Jeff also stated that they won’t use Fieldstone Lane even if it’s available. There are two blind corners and a stop sign at 302, and if they go Rte. 3 to 302, they have better visibility and can control the stoplights to get onto 302. The respond plan street map that ISO uses shows the emergency equipment going through the lights.

Having asked what the status of the road is now, Mr. Duncan was told that the road will be open when ISO comes on May 8 for a BCEGS Inspection. Minutes from 2003 and 2004 meetings are being sent to Bernie Waugh, and unless he sees some reason not reopen the road, it will be reopened by May 8. Mr. Duncan asked that it be noted in the minutes that against the recommendation of the fire chief, the police chief, the road agent and the safety committee (John Goodney), the selectmen chose to reopen the road to through traffic.

Mr. Gardiner spoke to the issue of selling a portion of Old Route 3 to John Foster. He advised the selectmen to wait on this. We have a bike path coming into town, we still have snowmobile trails, and he’d like to see a pedestrian bridge put in so people can use the snowmobile trails without people being so close to Rte. 3. If in fact the town should end up with the church property as mentioned last week, having this land would be a good thing. Mr. Rines also objected to selling this land, and we have potential water line upgrades coming, and even with an easement, doing work on someone else’s property is always more difficult. Both he and Mr. Gardiner stated that the town has not abandoned that road. We still maintain it. Selectman Strasser said we will no doubt need a town meeting vote, that our attorney would be looking at the details.

At 8:16 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended and moved to go into executive session regarding personnel matters. This was seconded by Selectman Moroney. The board was polled, and went into executive session

At the close of executive session, Chairman Wright made a motion to return to public session and seal the minutes from executive session; Selectman Moroney seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024