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Minutes of 09/18/2006

September 18th, 2006

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2006
"These minutes of the Town of Carroll Select Board have been recorded by its Secretary. Though believed to be accurate and correct they are subject to additions, deletions and corrections by the Select Board at its next meeting when the Board votes its final approval of the minutes. They are being made available at this time to conform to the requirements of New Hampshire RSA 91-A:2."

Minutes recorded by Susan Kraabel, Secretary.

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

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Eleanor Brauns, Doug Bews, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf, Bill Dowling, Bill Smalley, Harold Garneau, Tom Gately, Billy Rines, Jeff Duncan, Mollie White, Mike Gooden, Betty Gilman, Lorraine Monahan, Jim Covey, Lisa Covey, Edith Tucker, Jason Hodgman, Butch Garneau


The board announced the approval of bills and signing of checks.

Selectman Strasser moved to approve the minutes of the meeting on 09/11/06. Chairman Wright seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.

It was reported that Stan Borkowski’s report was not received this week prior to the meeting.

Evan Karpf expressed an interest in volunteering to be the Health Officer, but stated that he would need training for the position. If the town would agree to pay for training, he would perform the duties with no remuneration required. Chairman Wright moved to appoint Dr. Karpf and pay for necessary training. Selectman Moroney seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously. The secretary will call LGC about training sessions.

The subject of duty rosters came up again. Selectman Strasser related some previous experiences with town government, his basic message being that small problems ignored become large problems. He feels that what they are trying to do is not micro-managing, but oversight, the legal responsibility of the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Moroney said she’d been to a meeting on Saturday with 21 other selectmen, and none of their towns have duty rosters. Mention was made that selectmen should set goals and measure performance, but not get involved deeply with daily work. Discussion about the Public Works employee schedules led Selectman Strasser to state that he’d be satisfied with having a list of employees working without specifying location. Acting Chief Smalley said he had issues with posting a roster ?" specifically officer safety. He has spoken to the Attorney General, and was told he was not required to give schedules to any civilian. The AG suggested the selectmen consult town counsel if they were not satisfied with his opinion. The subject was tabled until town counsel opinion is received.

It was reported that no one had come forward to serve as “taxpayer-at-large” member of the Bridge Replacement/Road Committee, and Joan Karpf will serve. Ed Martin has volunteered to represent the Historical Society, and all members have been notified of the first meeting on Tuesday, September 19.

With regard to a 2007 revaluation, Selectman Strasser had talked to Mark Nieder again and said he could probably come up some Monday night to speak to residents.

The secretary reported that we received another letter from Mr. Robert Williams’ attorney regarding the $5,000 check sent to the Cemetery Fund. This second letter indicates the money may be for perpetual care rather than a donation, and the Town Clerk is going to call the attorney. In the meantime, the check is being held in the office.

Discussion took place about the 1972 gas truck and the 1986 blue truck that are no longer being used and are at the highway garage. Chairman Wright moved to put an ad in the paper offering them for sale. Selectman Moroney seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously. At the same time an office for Mr. Borkowski was mentioned, and that will be discussed with him.

Selectman Strasser informed residents that for the first time a new unit sold for over one million dollars in Bretton Woods. This was a single family home at 49 Slopeside Lane. The certificate of occupancy was approved and signed by the selectmen. When the secretary asked about billing for the CO, Ms. White asked if we didn’t normally charge people before we issue permits and the like. The answer was yes.

Bill Dowling came before the board to explain some of the line items on his proposed budget. He has trucking priced at $125 per trip for trash, bulky waste, and construction materials. The cost for tires will come from a warrant article. He explained that we don’t charge for metal dropped off, and what we sell does not have a hauling fee associated with it, but it may next year. Chairman Wright moved to accept the Recycling budget, Selectman Strasser seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Butch Garneau came before the board to ask about the water line project that was originally talked about last fall ?" putting in new line near the fires station so we no longer use the line that runs under Rte. 3. It was explained that the funds for that project were not encumbered at the end of the year, and there was a temporary cash flow problem in the spring. Right now we are having to watch budget dollars as we have spent 72.3% of the budget total with only 69% of the year completed. Billy Rines said it would be approximately $15,000 to complete the job. In discussing water issues, Mr. Rines said the state will mandate monitoring backflow preventers on each house twice a year. In addition reading water meters will require at least 3 days each billing cycle. It was suggested that Mr. Rines talk to Whitefield about their water department and come up with an estimate for hiring another employee dedicated to the water department.

The board reviewed the $12,362 library budget and Selectman Strasser moved to accept it. Chairman Wright seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Selectman Strasser said he’d spoken to Don Borror at the DRA, and he’s looking for our MS4 Revised Estimate of Revenues. The secretary said he’d have it this week. Selectman Strasser then said he’d spoken to Linda Kennedy, also from the DRA, and she said we’re doing the current use tax penalty correctly. It is not billed until lots under 10 acres are sold or construction starts. If a lot under 10 acres gets isolated by the sale of others around it, that tax is due immediately, no matter if it has been sold or not.

Doug Bews said he wanted to clarify something from the previous meeting. Jerry Warren wanted to pay the current use penalty when he subdivided his land before selling the lots. The town could not come up with a number and he agreed to have the tax paid at the time the lots were sold.

Betty Gilman came before the board to discuss the building permit for the Gamaches. She is aware it is on hold, but wants the selectmen to direct Mr. Borkowski to pull the permit. She’s afraid they’ll start work at any time, and she doesn’t think they should be allowed to put a modular home on that lot. She said that R-B zoning does not permit manufactured homes, and she wants the permit pulled. She asked the selectmen to have Stan get in touch with her, as he does not return her phone calls.

Dr. Karpf reported that they had completed interviews for the Chief of Police position and expect to have a recommendation next week. When asked, he said they had interviewed 12 candidates. The hiring board planned to determine the top three candidates, present the top candidate to the selectmen, and if necessary, the second, then the third.

Jim Covey asked the selectmen if they had taken a position on the proposed Verizon cell tower, and was told they had not discussed it. Mr. Covey said the ordinance is clear on how to site towers like this, and it should go somewhere else, as it is within the viewshed. He stated the balloon test was done in a matter of hours and should have been floated for days so everyone could see how the tower would impact the views in town. He proposed the town landfill property as an alternative site. Mr. Covey was assured there would be a public hearing prior to approval. Ms. Karpf questioned whether they need to go to the ZBA for a use variance and setback variance.

Mr. Rines said we need a larger culvert on the land we purchased up here, as the water runoff is too much between the fire station and the land here. He’d like Butch Garneau put in the culvert while his equipment up here. Chairman Wright moved to have Mr. Garneau give us a price and do it. Selectman Moroney seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.

It was announced that the meeting with Charles Adams of the MWH would be Tuesday, October 3rd, in the town hall at 7 PM.

Selectman Strasser, after looking at the budget numbers for the year, said Mr. Rines could use some of the $28,000 in hydrant fees the town would pay the water department to fund his water line project near the fire station. He moved to authorize use of these funds for the water line. Chairman Wright seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Mr. Rines said he’d like it noted that what was thought to be a leak in the town water line on Ruth Road turned out to be a problem with an aerator inside the house. He also stated, when asked, that we currently have 91 hydrants in Twin Mountain.

Chairman Wright asked Mr. Rines if he had looked at the leak by the overhead fan in the gym. He has looked at it and will fix the problem in the next week.

Mollie White said the Mt. Washington Hotel will sponsor the Halloween Rec party this year. She also wanted to thank Butch Garneau, Greg Hogan, and Gary Whitcomb for all the work done on the basketball court.

Mr. Garneau asked where the 8 AM start for construction came from (the selectmen), and could that be changed to 7AM. He realized that we have tourists in town, but that extra hour means a lot to the workers. Jeff Duncan pointed out that the zoning ordinance allows for excavation work
Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM.

Bill Dowling stated that we recently received a letter from the DES which says every landfill in the state will be closed by 2017. Mr. Dowling is working on a plan for the Town of Carroll, and hopes to have an answer for us by 2011.

At 8:30 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended and moved to go into executive session regarding personnel and legal matters. This was seconded by Selectman Moroney. The board was polled, all three voted yea, 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. Back in public session, the selectman made the following list of warrant articles that need to be written.

1. Adoption of new state construction codes.
2. Adoption of future construction codes approved by the state.
3. Hydrant fees to be determined by the number of hydrants in town. Make sure the old article says fees are to be used only for line extensions and hydrants.
4. $40,000 for road restoration/construction/paving
5. F350 truck.
6. $40,000 for Bridge Replacement/Road. Amend capital reserve fund to allow use for a road instead of replacing the bridge.
7. Recycling Center Special Revenue Fund clarification. ?" B. Dowling.
8. Recycling Center Use of Special Revenue for 2007 ?" B. Dowling.
9. Amend 25 % of value on Remodel section of Building Permit ?" Planning Board.
10. Clarify 33 foot height limit on buildings ?" ZBA.
11. Town Administrator ?" max $60,000 including benefits.

At 9:30 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended.

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024