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Minutes of 01/19/2009

January 24th, 2009

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2009

"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 Quigley, Secretary

Board members present: Bonnie Moroney, Christopher Hancock

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM.

Members of the public present: Becki Pederson, Linda Dowling, Bill Dowling, Bill Rines

Pledge of Allegiance

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

Chairman Moroney tabled the minutes for January 12, 2009 until next week’s meeting.

Stan Borkowski’s report was not received.

It was noted that this meeting was mostly for warrant articles; however, there were some items that needed to be addressed.

Rebecca Pederson, Town Clerk, came to the Board and reminded them that her previous Deputy, John Goodney, had resigned due to health reasons. Ms. Pederson requested the approval of the Select Board that she hired Kelley Trammell for the vacant position. Chairman Moroney made a Motion: That the Selectmen sign the Deputy Appointment and Oath. Selectman Hancock seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

The Default Budget was then presented for signatures. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Sign the Default Budget. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

Next, Chairman Moroney read a thank you letter to the Women’s Discussion Club. They had sponsored several events throughout the fall and requested, instead of charging an admittance fee or selling tickets, that people bring non-perishable food items for our food pantry. Through their generosity, we had another large number of items donated, for which we have been grateful as there has been quite an increase of people relying on the food pantry this winter.

The Board proceeded to go through the warrant articles. Chairman Moroney read each one followed by a brief discussion. The Motion was made that: The Selectmen recommend the article and seconded. A vote was taken and the Motions passed unanimously. The articles are attached.

This was followed by the first of two articles submitted by petition.

“To see if the Town will vote to grant a driveway access easement on the Land Donation Property in Bretton Woods known as Map 419 Lot 18 to abutting property known as Map 419 Lot 16 if the Warrant Article for the Land Donation Property is passed. This easement will be granted on the day of transfer of the Land Donation Property. This would give Steve Messina access to a portion of his property which currently does not have a driveway access. Mr. Messina would then have the opportunity to beautify his property located on National Scenic Byway 66, Route 302 East which currently has an existing dilapidated house that is an eyesore in our town. Any and all liabilities within the easement will be the sole responsibility of the owner of Map 419 Lot l6. This easement would be no cost to the taxpayers of Carroll but may increase tax revenue to the Town once improvements of the property are completed.” By Petition

Brief discussion followed and it was pointed out as at the previous meeting when it was stated that granting this easement would be setting up a situation just like one the Town tried to eliminate when it attempted to close Fieldstone Lane. That was an issue of vehicles and traffic and considered quite dangerous to both emergency vehicles and traffic using Fieldstone Lane. Chairman Moroney made a Motion: That this article not be recommended by the Selectmen. Selectman Hancock seconded and it passed unanimously.

The second petition article was then read:

“To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to negotiate a transfer of land parcels, one parcel being owned by Curtis and Beckie Pike of 147 New Straw Road, being approximately +/- 1.8 backland acres, the other parcel being owned by the Town of Carroll, approximately +/- 1.8 acres fronting on New Straw Road.

This is being brought forward pursuant to a report from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services which states the “manganese concentration exceed Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards in groundwater in monitor wells MW-5 and MW-6, both close to the down gradient boundary of the groundwater management zone,” from the Town of Carroll’s old landfill. The monitoring wells are within twenty (20) feet of the Pikes’ backland property, which land falls off abruptly, leading a reasonable person to assume a high probability of contamination of the Pikes’ backland property, this being the parcel of land the Pikes wish to transfer to the Town of Carroll in return for the Town owned parcel of the same acreage fronting on New Straw Road.

If the Town votes to adopt this transfer of land article, this plan must also be approved by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The Pikes will bear all costs related to this transfer of land parcels.”

Discussion of this ensued. Bill Dowling, Transfer Station Superintendent, using a hydrological study map, pointed out the locations of well #1, which was a dry well when put in, and well #2, which was on a 15 acre parcel that was sold, subdivided out and the piece with the well on it, bought back by the Town. It was stated that if there is in fact contamination, the Town may have to buy the property if the exchange is not made. Mr. Dowling noted that elsewhere on the town property an old oil tank was found after the brush was cut this summer, behind monitor well 3. He said the tank will be removed next spring, but he mentioned it as he said he didn’t know if it had ever leaked or not—not that this is near the property in question, but just as an aside, that we don’t know what happened in the past. As stated in the article, it was again mentioned that should the article be approved, it would have to go to DES, who will have the final say if the exchange of land may take place. Because of all the unknowns, the Selectmen expressed their reluctance to have such a transfer take place. Therefore, Chairman Moroney made a Motion that: This article not be recommended by the Selectmen. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

It was noted we are in receipt of a check from the State for $4,121.84, reimbursing the Town for 75% of the cost to repair Cherry Mountain Road, about 2.5 miles from the intersection with Route 115, following the heavy rains in September, 2008. Because a Disaster had been declared for several counties, including Coos, we were eligible to apply to FEMA funds. John Goodney, Emergency Management Director, was made aware of the opportunity and inquired if the Town had had any damage as a result of the storm. When he was told of the damage on Cherry Mt. Road, Mr. Goodney attended the required meeting for applying for the funds. Afterward he worked with Bill Rines, Road Agent, to gather the information and complete the application for the reimbursement. It is required that the Selectmen vote to accept these funds. Therefore, Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Accept the reimbursement funds and Selectman Hancock seconded. The Motion passed unanimously. This caused Chairman Moroney to wonder if Mr. Goodney had been able to contact his state rep to come to a meeting regarding a replacement for Mr. Goodney since he tendered his resignation as Emergency Management Director. As we do not know, we will check with Mr. Goodney.

Chairman Moroney asked about the search for a new auditor as our current one, Karen Carew and Company are getting out of municipal auditing. The three recommended companies were contacted. We have received information from one, we have sent financials to another in preparation for their proposal to us, and the third did not respond. Mrs. Moroney suggested we find out their thoughts on the Management Letter which Carew and Co. requires, but she has been led to understand that not all auditing firms do. We will look into this also.

Linda Dowling said it was sometime in the 1990’s that they stopped putting a warrant article in to have the books audited so she wondered if they stopped it all together. Chairman Moroney said there are various State mandates regarding auditing, so she doubted that it was stopped. It was suggested because there is a line in the budget for auditing that the need for an article was negated. Mrs. Dowling said she will check to see if we need a warrant article to do the audit, and will let the Office know.

It was noted that the Capital Reserve accounts should all be listed separately this year and that there will not be one for either the Fire Truck or the Emergency Vehicle as a result of the new engine that was approved last year.

It was requested that since the bridge fund is no longer needed, there should be warrant article to discontinue the Capital Reserve Fund, 01-4920.00-050. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Recommend the assorted Capital Reserve Fund articles. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Moroney noted that there are other Capital Reserve Funds that are empty and these should be discontinued by warrant article at a later time.

There being no further business, Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: adjourn the meeting. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended at 8:20 p.m.

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024