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Minutes of 02/26/2007

March 1st, 2007


Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 26, 2007
"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, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf, Doug Bews, Mike Gooden, Tom Gately, John Burt, Ann Fabrizio, Carmine Fabrizio, Bill Dowling, Warren Walsh, Claire Gritzer, Mike Matz, Donna Matz, John Trammell, Jeff Duncan, Bill Smalley, Rena Vecchio, Karen Moran

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

Selectman Strasser moved to approve the minutes of 02/12/2007. Selectman Moroney seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

It was noted that Stan Borkowski’s report had been posted on the bulletin board.

The Commerford Nieder Perkins LLC contract that had been approved on February 12 required selectmen signatures on two pages, and only one page had been signed on the 12th. Selectmen added the required signatures.

Selectman Strasser said he’d promised numbers on the raises proposed by the selectmen, and passed out a sheet (copy attached) comparing selectmen’s budget raises with Budget Committee raises and with salaries from other New Hampshire towns. Karen Moran said she had a problem with Selectman Strasser bringing up all the budget item questions after the deliberative session, that he and everyone else had the opportunity to question and change things then, and he had not done that. She and others questioned what the numbers on his handout meant, and which towns he was talking about. A specific answer was not given, just that the numbers were from the LGC survey for towns under 1000 people with full time positions. Selectman Strasser wanted people to know that the selectmen had recommended more than the 2 ½% in raises mentioned, and that the Budget Committee had recommended 10%. Ms. Moran suggested that Selectman Strasser was trying to harass people into defeating the budget, and brought up the hydrant fee issue and the article in the Democrat last week where Selectman Strasser suggested people defeat the proposed operating budget. Both Ms. Moran and Tom Gately questioned why Selectman Strasser hadn’t brought this up on Feb. 6th. He stated he’d had trouble finding the right line on the MS7 because it was included with other items. He and Mr. Gately went back and forth on where the $28,000 in hydrant fees were used last year – bond payment or waterline expansion, and the selectmen proposed increasing the hydrant fees to $68,000 which all the taxpayers would have to pay. Included in that would be money to Rosebrook Water Co., a private business. Selectman Strasser stated the $68,000 was in anticipation of bonding the expansion of the water line on Lennon Road, which will not happen in 2007. Ms. Moran stated the underfunding of the water system has always been covered by the town, and it’s not the Budget Committee’s job to make the water revenue what it should be. By eliminating the hydrant fee expense, the town taxpayers will save money. It will cost the town $27,000 in taxes rather than $61,000. Bill Dowling brought up the fact that with all the underfunding of the water department, the town had still offered a discount for hookups to a contractor in town which is discrimination, and they are paying a private water company which is unconstitutional. Selectman Strasser disagreed with that statement, mentioned the PUC document saying we are to pay the $15,500 to Rosebrook Water Company, and that our attorney said we could probably get out of paying it, but wasn’t sure. Ms. Moran said the PUC could not order the Town of Carroll to pay Rosebrook. In the end, it was said that the voters will decide what to vote for. Selectman Strasser handed out a spreadsheet showing his water numbers, and Ms. Moran handed out another sheet showing the same numbers with the added line item for hydrant fee expense to the town. (copies attached) Rena Vecchio asked if Selectman Strasser had distributed his sheet anywhere in town, and was told no. In the end it was decided the voters would decide which operating budget they preferred.

A letter written to employees outlining labor laws regarding lunch breaks and signing in and out for work was read. This letter stated an employee could waive the right to a meal break if he could reasonably eat while at his work station. An additional letter was read that will be signed by each employee who decides to waive his right to a meal break. Selectman Strasser moved to adopt the waiver policy, Chairman Wright seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

An amended Coos County Ambulance Agreement was presented for approval by the selectmen. The county has increased the contract amount from $1,500 to $5,000, and the selectmen approved and signed the new contract. Jeff Duncan asked that these funds be placed in the Ambulance Equipment Special Revenue Fund to be used for future purchases. He suggested that a warrant article be drawn up next year to place these funds in a capital reserve fund. He also mentioned that Selectman Strasser’s letter to the county referred to fire protection, and this agreement is for ambulance service only to the unincorporated areas. Selectman Morney made a motion to place the $5,000 in the Ambulance Special Revenue Fund, Selectman Strasser seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The following documents were approved and signed.

Certificate of Occupancy – Abel Lane – Eden
Certificate of Occupancy – 36 Slopeside Lane – Celebration Assoc.
Certificates of Occupancy – #8, #36 Deerpath Rd. – Elworthy
Tax Abatement – Socransky
Water Abatement – Scales
Sign Permit – BW Resort Waste Water Treatment Plant
Intent to Cut – Corkery
Oath of Office – Evan Karpf, Planning Board (to update records only)

The CO for Slopeside Lane had been signed by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief, and Selectman Strasser by February 16th, so that the paperwork was available for a bank closing on the property. Selectman Strasser said he had done what’s been done before, and presented a policy statement to be approved by the board. It stated that any one selectman could sign a CO if it had already been signed by the Fire Chief and Building Inspector. Questions arose about replacing the recently adopted policy of having the application and payment coming to the town office, and all signatures being done there before the selectmen approve, so the original documents stay in the office. It was also asked why Bretton Woods properties are treated differently than any others. Ms. Vecchio suggested that with the other two selectmen not having seen this new policy before tonight, they might be given a chance to think about it and gather information before voting on it. Selectman Moroney moved to table the issue for a week, Selectman Strasser seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.

The two bids for a contract to do the groundwater monitoring at the landfill were opened. Horizons Engineering presented a price of $2,030 for the year 2007, and a price of $500 to prepare the permit renewal application in June. Provan & Lorber gave a price of $1,900 for the monitoring, and did not submit a price for the permit renewal, although they said they could provide the service. Mr. Dowling said in his request for proposal, he had not asked for the permit renewal quote, so the selectmen decided to table the award process until we can get the additional information from Provan & Lorber.

The secretary reported a phone call from David DuVernay from Rindge, NH, asking about the real estate tax exemption for Resort Waste Services Inc. in Bretton Woods. NH DES granted them the exemption in 2004, and Mr. DuVernay would like to know if the town fought the exemption status and if so, what action they took. Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, has a wastewater treatment plant, is claiming the DES exemption, and the town of Rindge intends to appeal the ruling. According to Chairman Wright, there was no attempt to block the exemption for Resort Waste Services. The secretary will call Mr. DuVernay.

Joan Karpf asked to have a clarification to a statement made in the 1/29/07 minutes. The minutes stated that town counsel said that “as far as any board matters involving Mr. Bews, the Karpfs would have to stand down on discussion and vote.” She wanted to know if this was fact. Selectman Strasser said in his conversation with Bernie Waugh, he’d said that Mr. Bews could ask the Karpfs to stand down. Selectman Strasser said it was his opinion of what Atty. Waugh said, and not fact. Ms. Karpf presented a copy of RSA 673:14 Disqualification of Member – Local Land Use Boards, and said this specifically deals with these issues.

Evan Karpf gave the secretary $20 for a copy of the audio tape from the 1/29/07 meeting. He then read an email sent by Selectman Moroney that a local resident had forwarded to him (copy attached). He felt the email was a malicious act and gives false information. The email indicates that Selectman Moroney thinks Dr. Karpf and John Birknes are trying to slip the architectural design review through as a regulation rather than through a town warrant article, hoping that no one would come to the Planning Board meeting to object. He showed an article from the February 14th Coos County Democrat which explained that it was originally planned to place this on the town warrant, and Atty. Waugh stated that step was not legally required. Dr. Karpf explained the idea for this ordinance came after Charles Adams spoke to the town about architectural plans for Bretton Woods, and Doug Bews asked about what would happen on this side of town. Dr. Karpf explained he thought there was a need or an ordinance covering commercial property, not residences as portrayed in the email. The attorney said it should be a regulation, which would be more flexible than an ordinance. Dr. Karpf said the email in question contains false information and is written to rile people up. He has received threats and believes letters of this type bring on this type of behavior. Dr. Karpf stated that since moving to Carroll, he has done nothing but support this town. He has served on boards at no cost to the town, and after no one came forward to volunteer to be Health Officer, he volunteered. He’s been to Concord and Berlin many times to educate himself, and tried to give information to the town. He stated he’s had enough, and submitted his resignation as Health Officer, effective immediately. He stated he had started the process of raising funds for a generator for the town hall, and he was done with that. He was trying to get funds for Valley Pride Day, which is something he’s done on his own time using his own funds, and he’s not doing that any more. He said he has every right to suggest an ordinance, and the people have every right to vote for or against it, he just resents the way he and his wife have been treated.

Selectman Strasser told Dr. Karpf that he’s done a lot for this community, and hoped he would reconsider his decision to resign as Health Officer, and tabled acceptance of the resignation.
Roberta McGee complimented Dr. Karpf on the job he’s done as Health Officer. Ms. Vecchio spoke about all the rifts in town, and the need to heal these rifts. She said we don’t all have to agree about things, but need to work to heal. The town needs to stand together.

At 8:25 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended, and moved to go into executive session regarding legal 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.

At 8:40 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Wright declared the meeting ended.