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Minutes of 11/13/2007

November 17th, 2007

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
November 13, 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, Rena Vecchio

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM.

Members of the public present: John Burt, Jeff Duncan, Mike Gooden, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf, Tadd Bailey, Jay Ouellette, Bill Rines, Joyce Charette

Pledge of Allegiance

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

Chairman Moroney moved to accept the minutes of November 5, 2007, as written. Selectman Vecchio seconded, and the motion passed.

Stan Borkowski’s report has not been received.

Jay Ouellette came to talk about the Carroll Economic Development Corporation (CEDC). Chairman Moroney stated that the selectmen had been asked about where it stands, and progress in developing the industrial park, and they couldn’t answer those questions. Mr. Ouellette said he and four others formed the CEDC, a non-profit corporation, about 10 years ago to try to create jobs in an area other than tourism. The town voted to turn the land over to the CEDC, and for 2-3 years they were very diligent in trying to market the land. Mark Tetreau, Steve Messina, Frank Caruso, and one other gentleman worked hard to get this project going. DRED was contacted, but when the Mountain View Grand was renovated, DRED turned in that direction. They had studies and surveys done, all at no cost to the town. The Mt. Washington owners contributed, and residents as well. Mr. Messina and he are still willing to work. They recently had a furniture company look at the land, but there are no takers right now. Mr. Ouellette said that according to Bernie Waugh, the land can only turn over to another non-profit; it can’t revert to the town. He said they have been in touch with Peter Riviere of the Coos County Economic Development Council, and will be meeting with Mike Brunetti and Pat Corso from the Mt. Washington Hotel just to talk. He said they have been filing the annual reports required by the state. Chairman Moroney asked about memberships and was told they had received $10 donations from people, and raised 9-10 thousand dollars to pay the engineers. Chairman Moroney suggested that after the holidays they have a public meeting and perhaps could get some volunteers to help the two remaining board members. Mr. Ouellette said he thought that was a good idea, and we should work around Mr. Messina’s schedule when setting a date. He said in the past the selectmen had not been supportive. John Foster had a beverage company interested, and a shoe factory looking for warehouse space. Both ideas were turned down. Billy Rines asked about plans for a road, and Mr. Ouellette said they thought maybe someone would clear and build one instead of paying for land. He said an impact study has been done and a subdivision plan recorded. Mike Gooden asked what type of people were needed, and Mr. Ouellette said it would be great to find someone with a development background and also marketing experience. Evan Karpf said he had attended a seminar where the focus was on showing towns how to make money and bring business to town. Perhaps these same people could help the CEDC. Mr. Ouellette emphasized again that the CEDC is an independent firm from the town, but is for the town. This land is currently tax exempt, but will bring tax dollars when business comes.

Chairman Moroney had a list of employees with vacation time left, and asked those present at the meeting when they planned to take the time. She pointed out that our policy does not allow carryover of vacation hours, and asked the secretary to send a reminder note to all the employees about their vacation hours left.

Chairman Moroney read the warrant article from last year regarding hiring a town administrator, and stated she thought we ought to present it to the town again this year. Several people expressed support for hiring an administrator. The option of sharing one with another town was brought up, and Chairman Moroney thought it would be difficult to share with other towns that have problems too. The salary level was discussed, as the article had an amount of $60,000 including benefits, and that translates to an actual salary of $36,100 before benefits and taxes. Joan Karpf suggested we be able to show the efficiency and cost effectiveness of having an administrator, perhaps getting someone who could do grant writing. Chairman Moroney said we need to check with LGC for a job description. Mr. Rines suggested we need someone to oversee all the departments, and Selectman Vecchio thought that if we had an administrator overseeing day to day operations, it might help to get people to serve on the Select Board. Most often the selectmen work full time, and oversight of town activities takes a lot of time. Chairman Moroney suggested we come up with a salary, and then figure the cost per thousand in taxation. The secretary will contact area towns that have town administrators, and get some information from them.

The following items were approved and signed.

Town Hall Use Application – Gillery
Current Use Tax Warrant and Release – Wheeler
Current Use Tax Release (August 2007 Warrant) – Rogers
Water Warrant – Strickland, Riverside
Manatron Contract (Proval Software and Support)

John Woolhouse had trouble locating the letters for the sign below the gazebo, and discussion took place as to where they should be stored – town hall, police station, or with the Chamber of Commerce. They are currently with the Chamber. A decision was tabled.

The secretary reported that the MS-1 that was signed and mailed last week has not been received by the NH Dept. of Revenue Administration yet, and while they received the emailed copy of the report, they must have an original signature page. Both selectmen signed a new signature page.

Chairman Moroney read the current income and asset numbers pertaining to the Elderly Tax Exemption. She then read those that have been adopted by Littleton.

Income Limits Asset Limit Value of Exemption
Single Married Age 65-74 Age 75-79 Age 80+

Carroll 18,400 26,400 35,000 20,000 30,000 40,000
Littleton 30,000 40,000 75,000 35,000 52,500 70,000

After brief discussion Chairman Moroney moved to write a warrant article raising Carroll’s numbers to the levels used in Littleton. Selectman Vecchio seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

It was reported that Mr. Borkowski will call Roberta Daly about the letter of intent we had not yet received from her.

Chairman Moroney went through the local ordinances that had been enacted over the years. In 1971 an ordinance was passed restricting use of the town dump to residents and property owners of the Town of Carroll. In 1986 an ordinance relating to conduct and activities on town properties and further relating to conduct and activities in using roadways within the town was passed. In 2004 an ordinance relating to conduct and activities on town properties and further relating to conduct and activities in using roadways within the town was passed. The 2004 ordinance encompasses provisions from both the 1971 and 1986 ordinances, and thus makes them obsolete. In 1995 an ordinance to establish a street and house numbering system was passed. This is still in place. Mr. Rines will check to make sure our ordinance on roadways is up to date with state changes as to weight limits.

Dr. Karpf reminded people of the diabetes screening at Jack’s in Whitefield on November 14, from 11am-2 pm, and at Shaw’s in Lancaster on November 15. He also mentioned the Planning Board meeting on November 14 at 7 pm and the CIP meeting on November 15 at 7 pm. He also gave a Health Officer’s report to the selectmen.

Selectman Vecchio asked about the possibility of charging impact fees to the developers in Bretton Woods. Dr. Karpf said we must do the CIP first. Chairman Moroney warned that we must have controls to see that impact fees are used properly or they must be returned. Selectman Vecchio asked how long it would take to do the CIP and was told the Planning Board would be doing a warrant article for the March election. This precedes detailed work on the CIP.

Mr. Rines said he’s concerned about going over on his highway and water budgets. With fuel prices rising, he’s bound to go over in some areas. He also mentioned the work Dan Daine is doing on water meters and the cost incurred for his services. He said they’re close to having all meters working, and feels we need to go around and read them all again to determine how many are actually not working. At the last go around, the hand held reader was not properly reset at times, and he feels they recorded too many as inoperable. Chairman Moroney said Mr. Daine should be working on specific meters, not general water.

Jeff Duncan presented a proposed warrant article for a new fire engine. This would be a five year lease purchase agreement with the first payment coming in 2008 and the last in 2012. This would replace Engine #3 which is 20 years old and needs extensive repairs. It has failed the last 2 pump tests. The warrant article asks the town to appropriate $155,000 as a down payment and first payment for the lease. $90,000 is to come from the Fire Department and Ambulance Apparatus, Equipment and Personnel Special Revenue Fund. Chief Duncan’s spreadsheet for the payment schedule shows that in 2008 voters would be asked to raise $65,000 from taxation for the down payment and also $55,000 to be put into the capital reserve fund. In 2009 through 2011 there would be no request for money to the capital reserve fund; the request would be for lease payments in the amount of $65,000. The final payment in 2012 would be made from existing capital reserve funds and would be approximately $60,000. Chief Duncan said at that point we would still have $46,000 in capital reserve, and the special revenue fund would have grown to make possible the purchase of an ambulance in 2012. Chairman Moroney suggested he re-write the warrant article to clarify the source of the initial $155,000 needed for 2008.

Mr. Rines said he still has the old Caprice Police Cruiser in the highway garage, and since it is not really useable, would like to get rid of it. Chairman Moroney moved to call Mr. Hunt in Franconia and have him pick up the car. Selectman Vecchio seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

Selectman Vecchio asked some questions about water service in town. Mr. Rines said subdivisions now have standards that must be met when installing water lines, but in the past things were different. He talked about Birch Road that has 9 houses and Lee Hallquist’s place all on a 2” line and no hydrant. He said because of the density in Rivers Edge, they were approved for 8” lines. Dr. Karpf said the Planning Board can adopt pipe size standards for subdivisions. Mr. Rines also said when the water meters were installed, most of the meters were the same size, regardless of the pipe size. Now they have to replace meters so we get accurate readings.

Chairman Moroney moved to donate $100 to the Fire Department and Ambulance Assn. in memory of Pat Martin. Selectman Vecchio seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

At 9:09 PM, as there was no additional business, Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended, and moved to go into executive session regarding legal matters and town aid. 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
Warrant article - Property tax exemptions
Industrial Park land use - CEDC
Term Limits for Planning & Zoning
Chamberlain property
Paquette Circle house
Website
Tax Anticipation Note
Bank change/PDIP
Highway Shed
Warrant article – town administrator

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