Town of Carroll, New Hampshire

• Town Services
• Town Meeting Minutes
• Planning Board/ZBA
• Applications & Forms
• Town Clerk/Tax Collector
• Map
• Home

Minutes of Town Board Meetings

• Planning Board
• Board of Adjustment
• Select Board
• Budget Committee
• Building Committee
• Energy Commission

Minutes of 10/01/2007

October 5th, 2007

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
October 1, 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: Bonnie Moroney, Allen Strasser, Rena Vecchio

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM.

Members of the public present: Billy Rines, Jim Covey, Bill Dowling, Linda Dowling, John Burt, Ann Fabrizio, Carmine Fabrizio, Claire Gritzer, Jo Ann Klatskin, Karen Horsch, Paul Bussiere, Jeff Duncan, John Trammell, Kelly Trammell, Daniel Daine, David Daine, Becki Pederson, John D’Urso

Pledge of Allegiance

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

Chairman Moroney moved to accept the minutes of September 24, 2007, as written. Selectman Strasser seconded, and the motion passed.

Stan Borkowski’s report is posted on the bulletin board.

Jo Ann Klatskin, speaking of the NH Public Deposit Pool (PDIP), explained that this is a state sponsored investment fund for public funds, established in 1993. Ms. Klatskin works for MBIA which was hired to administer the pool that is overseen by the state. It is a safe credit facility that has investments in such things as treasuries, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. This fund is for excess funds, earns interest daily, and everyone earns the same interest. Ms. Klatskin explained that the interest earned is at market rate, that it can change on a daily basis – Monday’s rate was 5.22%. She said funds can be transferred in and out same day via wire or next day via ACH transactions. Typically banks charge fees for wires, but often do not for the ACH electronic transfers. There is a monthly management fee of .35% based on the average balance of the portfolio. The majority of towns in the state participate and some of the schools. We currently have capital reserve funds in PDIP and Karen Horsch suggested this would be more suitable for the special revenue funds rather than the general fund. A PDIP account for the general fund was opened a couple years ago but never funded. Discussion took place regarding the mechanics of transfers, and the federal regulations restricting ACH transactions on savings accounts to 6 per month. Selectman Strasser asked what happened to the idea of changing banks, and was told it just hadn’t been given a priority. The secretary will call Martha Woolhouse again, and then we will determine if the town wants to participate in PDIP for some of the accounts currently at Laconia Savings.

Chairman Moroney said Ron Cote of the DRA would like to meet with the selectmen regarding the 2008 Property Assessment Review. She said he’d like an hour of their time and is not available October 15-17. She suggested the selectmen think about this until the next meeting.

John D’Urso had not arrived yet, but Chairman Moroney explained to the group that the issue is the two trailers on his property, and going through records from 2004 on, nothing had been finished by Mr. D’Urso. Records indicate that he’d discussed subdividing his property, using the trailer for storage, and using it for a residence. Mr. Borkowski recently indicated that in order to user the trailer for storage, he needed to remove plumbing, put it on a foundation, and get a building permit. Paul Bussiere said to the board that he’d spoken about this issue with Mr. D’Urso, and he was at the meeting to answer any questions about the ZBA’s decision several years ago that Mr. D’Urso did not need a variance or special exception for using one of the trailers for storage. Mr. Bussiere could not find minutes to the ZBA meetings, but recalled the discussion and stated what he could remember in his note to the selectmen. The secretary reported she’d spoken to Mr. D’Urso earlier in the day, and was told that if this couldn’t be resolved tonight, he’d refer the matter to his attorney. Chairman Moroney said at the last meeting they’d had with Mr. D’Urso, he was given 30 days to get a building permit for his trailer or move it. Since neither has happened, and Mr. D’Urso was not present, she asked the secretary to call Town Counsel.

Selectman Strasser prepared a breakdown of costs and timing for the town’s portion of the bridge replacement (copy attached). The total design costs will be $93,882, with the town’s portion to be $18,776.40. The estimated cost of the bridge construction is $710,000, with the town’s portion to be $142,000. Selectman Strasser estimates we’ll need to borrow $325,000 for 6 months and the interest cost will be $8,500. He said in preparation for a warrant article for March 2008, the selectmen need to decide whether to appropriate the payments in 2008 or spread his estimated $56,394.40 between 2008 and 2009.

Daniel Daine, a licensed plumber, came to talk about his working for the town to get all our water meters working. He said there were so many different things to be done that it is hard to come up with a set fee. He felt it would be best to work by the hour ($45/hr). Selectman Strasser suggested doing 20-25 meters as soon as possible so we could get an accurate dollar amount to put in next year’s budget. Billy Rines said the original estimate of 100 inoperable meters was too high – there are probably only 50 that don’t work. After a bit of discussion, Chairman Moroney moved to have Mr. Daine work on 10 different meters right away. Selectman seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously. He will get together with Mr. Rines and pick a variety of situations for the 10 he will work on – some good, some bad.

Selectman Strasser said he’d received complaints from people that have multiple water bills, and thus were hit with the $100 increase more than once. Mr. Covey said most businesses have 2 services, but the minutes where the rate increase was passed said it would be “per user.” The selectmen asked Mr. Rines to ask Becki Pederson how many people got more than one bill, and to check on the number of water lines that go to these people.

John D’Urso came before the board to discuss the issue of the second trailer on his property. He said he’d been before the Planning and Zoning Boards and then back to the selectmen. He said every one of the boards had approved his plan to use the trailer as a storage facility, and now the selectmen said they didn’t want his trailer on the property. Chairman Moroney said at their last meeting they had asked him to get a building permit and Mr. Borkowski had outlined what needed to be done – remove the plumbing and put it on a foundation. Selectman Strasser said he should do what Mr. Borkowski wants; don’t say we don’t want it. Just get a building permit. Selectman Vecchio said it has to be on a foundation, and Mr. D’Urso said in 2004 it didn’t need to be on a foundation – the law changed after that. Chairman Moroney said he has 3 choices: get a permit, remove the trailer, or get a lawyer. The selectmen never said they don’t want the trailer. She said they’ve waited over the 30 days they gave him, and he now has 15 days to make a decision, and then the matter will go to the lawyers.

It was reported that the new copy machine is in the office and running. The old one is now at the police station although there is no longer a service contract attached to it.

The letter from Michael Palmer requesting the town take over Mahlyn Drive and Poplar Lane was read. Mr. Rines stated that the road still needs a top coat, shoulder work and a couple culverts. He also said he hasn’t received as built plans for the Rivers Edge II subdivision after changes were made. Chairman Moroney made a motion to write a letter to Mr. Palmer stating that he must complete the roads, shoulders, and culverts, and then after a year, they would consider the warrant article for town vote. The letter should also request the as built plans. Selectman Vecchio seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

The Cartographics contract for 2008 was presented. The contract prices remain the same, but they did not include the 3 additional copies of the dispatch map again. The secretary will call them for an amendment.

The following items were approved and signed.

Tax Lien Abatement – Downing
Water Abatement – Francis
Water Warrant – Rogers

Action Items:

Jeff Duncan reported that neither he nor the town clerk could be the liaison for the LUCA census program. He said there are huge fines if you share information, and these two positions have too much of a conflict. When asked, he said this program will involve 500-1700 hours of time. In the coming week, June Garneau and Jenn Hancock will be approached about being liaison.
Stan Borkowski is preparing a letter to Sovereign Bank so the Elworthy letter of credit can be released.
The secretary will ask Ms. Horsch what she’s found out about a line of credit with Laconia Savings Bank.

Mr. Covey thanked the board for their decision to include $18,000 for the Chamber of Commerce in their budget. He also said that the Twin Mountain Bicycle Path had been approved; now they need to raise the $1million to build it. There is a 45 day appeals period, but Mr. Covey doesn’t think any one will appeal the decision to approve. He then asked why none of the roads in Bretton Woods are town roads. Selectman Strasser said some people in Bretton Woods want them to be, and Selectman Vecchio said some do, but not all.

Chief Duncan said he’s been working with North Country Council to get GIS training, but there are huge costs involved with purchasing the software. He said for now he’d like $600 to purchase the software Cartographics uses for their maps (NAD83). For 12 years, we’ve received a disk with the maps, but have been unable to read it. Selectman Vecchio moved to approve the $600 purchase. Selectman Strasser seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Selectman Strasser said he’d read the minutes from a recent meeting he’d missed, and the statement that he wanted to show Bretton Woods people new property values was not true. He said what they previously thought were identical units turned out not to be, and he wanted to make sure the new values were not done the same way as Avitar had done them. He said as liaison to the assessors, he wanted to go with Phil Bodwell to visit the BW units. Chairman Moroney said she told Mr. Bodwell until the selectmen vote to do this, he was not to go. Letters with new property values will be sent to owners by the end of the week or the first of next week.

Selectman Strasser talked about the sign put up by Don Gadbois that was removed from the state property along Rte. 302. He questioned how Mr. Rines knew that the location Mr. Gadbois now wanted to use was on town property. Selectman Strasser said we need to treat Mr. Gadbois fairly, and he didn’t think we have done so.

Ms. Pederson asked the selectmen to include several items in their budget for her office. She asked that they put her salary at $35,000, and Ms. Hancock’s at $11.00 for 4 -6.5 hour days per week. She also came with a request for a new computer for Ms. Hancock, and asked for money for 2 conferences per year plus the normal training seminars.

Mr. Rines came back to the board with his budget changes from last week and totals for the three departments. General buildings items totaled $105,600, but did not include the rent for the police station. The highway department budget totals $264,965.50, and the water department is $131,509.94. Mr. Rines suggested a warrant article to replace tables in the gym, as many of them are damaged.

The selectmen reviewed town officer and administration accounts and made minor changes. Final review will be done Monday, October 8, 2007 at 7 pm. This will be the only item on the agenda.

At 8:30 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended, and moved to go into executive session regarding personnel and legal matters. This was seconded by Selectman Vecchio. The board was polled, and went into executive session.

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

Action Items:

Response letter to Bretton Woods land offer
Property tax exemptions – increase limits
Industrial Park land use - CEDC
Term Limits for Planning & Zoning
Chamberlain property
Paquette Circle house
Website
Local ordinances
LUCA Program
Tax Anticipation Note
Conservation funds
Release Elworthy Funds
Highway Radios – Compatibility w/Police
Ad for Salt Shed

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024