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Minutes of 1/22/2018
January 29th, 2018
Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2018
“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 Maryclare H. Quigley, Secretary
Board members present: Brian Mycko, Paul Bussiere, David Scalley
Members of the public present:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Mycko.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Chair announced the approval and signing of the manifests.
Selectman Scalley made a motion to approve the minutes of January 8, 2018. It was seconded by Selectman Bussiere and passed unanimously.
Selectman Scalley made a motion to approve the minutes of the Public Bond Hearing on January 9, 2018. It was seconded by Selectman Bussiere and passed unanimously.
Selectman Scalley made a motion to approve the minutes of the Budget Public Hearing on January 9, 2018. It was seconded by Selectman Bussiere and passed unanimously.
Imre Szauter, Chair of the Building Committee, reported on the Committee’s activities. He said they had their regular meeting on January 18, which focused on the PowerPoint presentation, the project budget and the property tax implications for their Fourth Informational Session scheduled for that evening. Department Chiefs John Trammell and Jeremy Oleson as well as EMD, John Gardiner, Selectman David Scalley, and Project Manager Allan Clark who discussed the process, deficiencies of the buildings currently occupied, the budget and property tax implication analyses, as well as the current property tax rate and the project warrant article. During the Session, it was noted that the WMRSD decision to close the Jefferson Elementary School in June will reduce local education tax rate by either $0.28 or $0.35 per $1,000 valuation. It was also highlighted that the water project bond will end in 2022 (annual payment of $49,361) and the transfer station bond will end in 2024 (annual payment averages about $30,000). It was stated that the PowerPoint and Allan Clark’s analyses will be posted on the town website. He noted there was also a reporter from Salmon Press, publisher of the Littleton Courier and Coos County Democrat, in attendance and to whom he gave his contact information. He said this opens another avenue for publicity.
Mr. Szauter said the Committee’s brochure was mailed to 552 registered voters on January 8. He said several were returned, mostly because of expired forwarding addresses and which he has shared with the Town Clerk. He went on to say there has been no money spent from their budget line, with their full balance of $2,500 remaining and that $26,281.39 remains from their warrant article line. He advised the Committee’s next meeting is Thursday, February 1, at 9 a.m. at the Town Hall with another tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 8, depending upon the outcome of the Deliberative Session on February 6.
Mr. Szauter finished his report by thanking Selectman Scalley, Chief Trammell, Chief Oleson, EMD Gardiner and Project Manager Clark for their work and participation at the informational session and to all Committee members and residents for their attendance as well as participation in the discussions. He said of special note, is that Allan Clark has offered tours of the new Franconia Public Safety building at 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 25, and Saturday, January 27, and that all are invited. He requested that people park behind the building rather than in front of it.
Selectman Bussiere, with Selectmen Mycko and Scalley agreeing, thanked Mr. Szauter for the outstanding job he has done. Mr. Szauter responded that it was because it was a great committee and a terrific property manager.
Chairman Mycko moved to the next item of the advisory warrant article: “Should we advise the Planning Board to put an article on the 2019 Warrant to repeal the Building Code adopted in 1976?”
Selectman Scalley said he does not agree as he believes it is going backward, not forward. He feels there is a good thing in place and that it only needs some tweaking. Selectman Bussiere said he feels it’s a dinosaur and that it needs more than tweaking and he wants an opinion from the people, so he recommends it. Chairman Mycko agreed and also recommends it as he feels we need to get the will of the people. Thus the Selectmen recommend the article 2 to 1.
Next, Selectman Bussiere asked that his colleagues look at the building permit for the Town of Henniker. He said this also refers to the RSA to which our Town Counsel had referred in an earlier email, and that this is for all except one and two family homes. He said he had checked around the State and this one seems to also follow according to the RSA regarding inspections; i.e. if a Certificate of Occupancy is needed, then inspections are needed. Selectman Bussiere said he feels this allows people to get inspections if they wish, but that they can make minor repairs, etc., without a permit. This is why he wanted to present it to the Board for consideration – he feels it makes it easier for residents to maintain their homes.
Emails regarding the Coalition Communities were brought up and it was noted these were sent to call attention to the fact that the State is trying to bring back “donor towns.” It was pointed out that they are having a hearing January 23, 2018 (tomorrow) and Selectman Scalley asked if they should send someone. Bonnie Moroney asked to speak to this as she said she has felt this is very important to the Town and wondered by the Selectmen did not recommend their money this year. She said they are hitting tourist towns and was surprised and disappointed that the Board is not doing more about it. She said she feels this is hard for a lot of residents and it will have a big impact on them of this passes. She said she also understands that it will go toward other taxes and not just school. She reminded the audience that the State Lottery was for schools/education when it was instituted in the 1960’s and she was informed in the last few years that the money is going to a lot of other things. She said she had discussed this two or three years ago as it seemed things were “revving” up again. When it was stated there had not been many notifications or mail in recent years, she said she believes it’s because the format has changed somewhat and the Coalition now has a lawyer speaking on behalf of the “donor towns” and they are working to keep costs down. She said she would highly advise the Board to change their mind about recommending the warrant article. Michael Hogan reiterated the recommendation and said he feels communication was the problem. He also said he has heard Mrs. Moroney speak to this numerous times, including when they were Budget Committee members together. Selectman Bussiere said he agrees that it is important and the Board should revisit their recommendation. Selectman Scalley said he feels that it went silent and that is why they voted as they did. Mrs. Moroney talked a bit about the Coalition’s history and how they were instrumental in eliminating the “donor town” structure previously and things got quiet for a while. Each time something different arose, they were more active and vocal; they’d make a difference and things would calm down again, thus reducing the need for communication. Now it’s time to get active again.
Chairman Mycko read the warrant article: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000 (Two Thousand Dollars) for the Coalition Communities in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; which group consists of and represents 36 towns, including the Town of Carroll, in a solution to our educational funding crisis by opposing the re-establishment of donor towns and by keeping the statewide property tax so that it can be used locally to fund our own education assessment from the White Mountains Regional School District. The Selectmen do not recommend 3 to 0.”
Chairman Mycko made a Motion to: Rescind the previous vote of the Board. Selectman Bussiere seconded and it passed unanimously. Chairman Mycko made a Motion to: Recommend the article, Selectman Bussiere seconded and it passed unanimously. Thus, The Selectmen recommend 3 to 0.
The following were approved and signed:
Engagement Letter – Devine Millimet Attorneys at Law, Bond Counsel
Northpoint Engineering, LLC – Agreement for Professional Services – Carroll Landfill
North Country Fire Mutual Aid District Agreement – Town of Carroll
Water Warrant – Transform Health; Hunt Properties
Veterans’ Exemption – Shearer
Ambulance Agreement, Unincorporated Places – Coos County
Public Safety Agreement, Unincorporated Placed – Coos County
The Secretary asked the Board to approve signing the following as the 2018 Warrant has to be redone for the advisory article and the Coalition Communities as well as the 2018 Default Budget and 2018 MS-636 which includes estimated revenues. She will notify the Board when they are ready. Chairman Mycko made a Motion to: Approve signing and Selectman Scalley seconded. The Motion passed unanimously.
Other:
Selectman Scalley asked if there were Certificates of Occupancy for the buildings on Ruby’s Way. The Secretary said she had them for “Other” as they were too late to be put on the agenda. Selectman Bussiere made a Motion to: Sign the CO for 35 Ruby’s Way, Selectman Scalley seconded and it passed by a vote of 2 yes and 1 abstention. Selectman Bussiere made a Motion to: Sign the CO for 37 Ruby’s Way and this passed by a vote of 2 yes and 1 abstention.
Michael Hogan asked the Board if there was any interest in the new game Keno. There was brief discussion that it is gambling and must be in a business with food and a “pour license.” It was stated that there hadn’t been any interest shown by any of those places which could host it and the Board had no interest in putting forth a warrant article.
The Board decided the next meeting would be Monday, February 5, in case something comes up for Deliberative Session that would require their attention prior to the Session.
The Board was polled to go into non-public session, per RSA 91-A-3 for Personnel and Town Aid at 7:55 p.m. Chairman Mycko, yes; Selectman Bussiere, yes; Selectman Scalley, yes.
At the close of non-public session at 8:05 p.m., Selectman Scalley moved to return to public session and seal the minutes from non-public session. Selectman Bussiere seconded and the Motion passed.
Back in public session, the Board noted that Fire Chief Oleson had advised that he checked after-the-fact, and found that he should not sign-off building permits or certificates of occupancy in any other capacity than that of Fire Chief. He had only signed the Certificate of Occupancy for Chairman Mycko. They also noted the process by which they could approve Chief Oleson to do so and following that making another change. Selectman Scalley said rather than going through all that town counsel suggested, he wondered if it would be cleaner if he just signs as building inspector and Selectman since Selectman Bussiere is the only one who signed it, and remove the name of Chief Oleson. By consensus, they agreed to handle it in this manner.
Selectman Scalley asked about removing an article from the warrant. The Secretary said because the budget public hearing has taken place, she believes they cannot remove one that has money in it (though she will check on it), but that at the Deliberative Session they might amend the amount to zero if that’s what the decision is. Selectman Scalley said they had had a demonstration with the sidewalk plow that was supposed to be so good, but those in attendance found it to be quite inadequate so they are not interested in this one and have chosen to look further.
There being no further discussion, Selectman Scalley made a Motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Bussiere seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Mycko declared the meeting ended at 8:15 p.m.