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 03/09/2009

March 15th, 2009

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
March 9, 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 7:00 PM.

Members of the public present: Bill Dowling, Bill Rines, Mike Gooden, Carmine Fabrizio, Ann Fabrizio, Lisa Covey, Jim Covey, Art Savona, Jeff Duncan, Ken Mills, Rena Vecchio, Bill Smalley

Pledge of Allegiance

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

Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Accept the minutes for March 2, 2009 as written. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion was passed unanimously.

Stan Borkowski’s report was not received.

Robert Hunt, Food and Beverage Manager at the Mount Washington Resort attended to tell the Board that the Resort needed to change their liquor license to include the new outdoor pool area. As in the past, the Town must approve this change. He noted they are awaiting receipt of their Assembly Permit, which had some items pending, so this will be applied for by March 16. Mr. Hunt brought their usual letter for the Selectmen to sign, which Chairman Moroney read. Discussion took place as to whether it should specifically state the parts of the area to be used – Mr. Hunt said it would be as stated in the letter, at the pool kiosk, and not walkways. In answer to a question, Mr. Hunt said guests will not be able to carry liquor from location of the property to another. When he was asked if he had any objection to this, Fire Chief, Jeff Duncan, said he did not. The letter Mr. Hunt presented was dated for the previous meeting and had the next day’s date in it. The Selectmen’s Secretary was asked to retype the letter with today’s and tomorrow’s dates in it and the Selectmen would stop in the Office tomorrow to sign it. Chairman Moroney made a Motion That: The Selectmen sign the corrected letter. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed. Mr. Hunt will come in and pick it up tomorrow.




The following items were approved and signed:

Intent to Cut – New Hampshire Fish & Game
Town Hall Use Permit Application – Savoy
Northern New Hampshire Fire Mutual Aid Pact – Chief Duncan explained the agreement had
been previously signed but this form, which is to be returned, was not.

The Board then reviewed the Safety Committee spreadsheet Chairman Moroney advised this was the result of a state safety inspection in the spring of 2006. There were several infractions and deficiencies and the Town had been given a period of time in which to change or correct these or face large fines. They accomplished this with a lot of hard work and set up the Safety Committee to help avoid this situation in the future. This Committee meets quarterly and inspects a different building or area each time. A week later they meet to discuss findings and how any problems found might be fixed or eliminated. Mrs. Moroney devised the spreadsheet as a way to keep track of the issues as the Committee discovered they were getting “lost” from one meeting to the next. Most have been completed but there are some remaining things needing finishing. Among them are the detectors in the Offices which Chief Duncan will check to find out if they are combined heat/smoke or single use; some items at the Town Hall and Town Garage; and two burned out emergency light bulbs at the Transfer Station. Chairman Moroney also noted at the meeting in March, the Committee talked about monthly checks of fire extinguishers by the Fire Department. Jeremy Oleson, a member of the Committee, said they could do this. Chief Duncan agreed and requested a list of locations.

Art Savona put in a bid for the repairs to the Town Hall addition – precipitated by the ice backup and leak in early February. Bill Rines said Mr. Savona was one of the four people who have looked at it and the only one to submit a bid. Discussion took place about the Highway crew doing some of the work, particularly regarding blown-in insulation. Selectman Hancock asked Mr. Savona if he had checked the roof problem. Mr. Savona believes it is a result of improper installation and improper materials used. Selectman Hancock asked about the value or cost of a full solution. He believes the roof problem must be taken care of before inside problems are addressed or we’ll be throwing good money after bad. It was asked if the contractor who did the addition had looked at it. It was noted that Stan Borkowski said this would be taken care of as he had spoken with Mr. Yourison. Chairman Moroney asked if we had heard from the insurance company, which we have but not the adjuster who is supposed to be in touch. It was then suggested this be tabled until we hear from the insurance company or the adjuster. Chairman Moroney asked if Mr. Savona would work on the roof. He is very opposed to metal roofing and in fact, will be changing one back to conventional roofing on another job in the spring, so he would not. The Chairman then asked if the same builder installed the roof or subbed it out. Bill Smalley said he thought it was put on by Paul Cormier.

Chairman Moroney next spoke of incorrect information regarding taxes. She said the statement had been made on Candidate’s Night and Becki Pederson, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, had corrected it then. However, the same information had been put in a letter mailed out. Mrs. Moroney then read an email she sent to Don Borror at the Department of Revenue Administration and Mr. Borror’s response. Both are attached.

Jeff Duncan spoke about the Emergency Management Director position and presented Dan Walker who had expressed his interest in it. Mr. Walker is involved with emergency services here and had previous experience in Franconia where he moved from. Brief discussion took place regarding what has been done in the Town and the locations of records. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Name Dan Walker as the new Emergency Management Director for the Town of Carroll. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion was approved.

Chairman Moroney brought up that the Select Board had voted to encumber funds from the 2008 budget to 2009 for the continuation of sidewalk repair. Though it was meant as a contract, the paper with the price quote has the word “Proposal” on it and in view of the situation with New Straw Road, the Board chose to also return this money to the General Fund.

Chairman Moroney spoke about the budget she and Selectman Hancock had been working on. At the Deliberative Session the budget had been cut by $75,000 and the Selectmen want to at least have an idea of where it can be reduced if need be. If the budget article passes, the Selectmen will compare their proposed changes with those the department heads have come up with and work from there. Rena Vecchio asked if they had to cut positions to come to the new figure and the Selectmen said no. Mrs. Vecchio also asked if they had to cut hours, and the Selectmen said no they did not.

The Town has received emails from Karen Moran and Lee Hallquist about the group Our Town Energy, and Chairman Moroney read one of these. (They were “forwards” so they were both the same.) The Secretary said they had only been received today and she telephoned to inquire if municipalities could participate but had not heard back. Bill Smalley suggested emailing them as getting a response that way would be more likely as they’re very busy. The Selectmen want to consider this for another year.

Lee Hallquist also emailed his opinion regarding a new police station and keeping costs down. The Chairman read it at the meeting and it is attached.

Chairman Moroney brought forth the unfinished business regarding ownership and width of Old Town Road near the Gadbois residence. A map and request to research this situation were given to former Town Counsel several years ago, but in spite of numerous reminders, this was not completed. Mrs. Moroney said because of an addition to his house, Mr. Gadbois ended up with part of it on town property and supposedly he worked something with the Selectmen of the time to move the road over, thus that portion of his house would no longer be on town property. Mrs. Moroney said nothing could be found documenting any of this and that the Selectmen did not have the authority to simply exchange land, there would have had to have been an article to be voted on at Town Meeting. Therefore, Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Send the map to the new Town Counsel to discover if the road belongs to the Town or if the Town voted to change the width and therefore Mr. Gadbois does own part of it. Bill Dowling said he had not been able to find anything in the Town Reports yet, but he would keep looking. Jim Covey asked why the Town should have to pay to prove that Mr. Gadbois does or does not own the road—why wouldn’t we put the onus on Mr. Gadbois. Mrs. Moroney explained it had been in the hands of the lawyers for both sides for a long time and ours hadn’t been able to get to it. Chairman Moroney changed her Motion to read: To send the map to the lawyers, explain the situation, that we can’t find where it was legally done, only Selectmen’s signatures, and ask the best way to move forward on it. Selectman Hancock seconded and it passed.

Chairman Moroney said it was brought to their attention Candidates Night that the Board hadn’t formally terminated the Personnel Policies Manual for Carroll, NH, revised June, 2006. Chairman Moroney said they accepted the new one; and therefore, Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Terminate the previous manual. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed.

Mr. Dowling told the Board that the bulbs for the Transfer Station have been ordered at Laconia Electric and will be installed as soon as they are received.

Jim Covey clarified that the Employee manual just terminated had been initiated by Mrs. Moroney when she first came on the Board, as there had been nothing in place at that time, to which Mrs. Moroney agreed. Mr. Covey asked how it came about that a new handbook was needed. Mrs. Moroney said different employees had come forth saying there needed to be more information in it. Thus they began talking about it and working on it. As there had been rumors, Mr. Covey said he wanted to get the answers right from the Select Board – and he asked if any Town employees had come before the Board to complain about substandard pay, to which Mrs. Moroney said no; he continued with substandard benefits, to which Mrs. Moroney answered no; and unfair labor practices, to which she again said no. Mr. Covey then asked what Town employees have served more than five years—Mrs. Moroney said Sgt. Smalley and Mr. Dowling. After a brief discussion it was determined that Detective Rick Brown is at the five-year level and Fire Chief Jeff Duncan, is only months short of it.

Mr. Covey asked how the reduction of working hours came about for the Fire Chief and the Police Chief and how it benefited the taxpayers. Chairman Moroney explained that they felt it was not fair to the employees who had to work 43 to 53 hours before getting overtime, versus anybody else. To clarify, Mr. Covey asked if this was initiated by the Board and Chairman Moroney said it was. Chief Duncan wanted to make it clear that they were not made to work 53 hours, they were scheduled for 40 but could not receive overtime until after 53 hours. Mr. Covey then asked when the fire department went from a volunteer department to an on-call paid department and asked if it was last January. He was told it was the late 1970’s or early 1980’s.

Mr. Covey proceeded by asking if the Town of Carroll forgives property taxes for any town residents. Chairman Moroney said not that she’s aware of and certainly not since she’s been on the Board. He said people in town have come to him and said there are elderly people in town who have had their taxes paid for. Mr. Covey said he had come here and spoken to Town employees and that has been affirmed to him more than once, so he’s just trying to find out if it’s true or not. Chairman Moroney said if he recalled last year there was a vote that increased the amount that seniors could take off their taxes. Mr. Covey said he understood that but that’s not his question – his question is if we have ever forgiven property taxes for any town residents. Again, Mrs. Moroney said no, not since she has been on the Board.

Mr. Covey then asked if anyone from North Country Council had been contacted about using their data base to get grant money because they have over 200,000 grants there for such things as equipment, i.e. generators; and buildings, i.e. police buildings. Bill Rines said he had gone through this just last week but got nowhere as all he gets is that money must be available first to be considered for grants. Mr. Covey said not all grants are like that and spoke of the Tillotson grant which is in Coos County and gives away all kinds of money locally -- he quoted a number of grants given out by them. Mr. Covey asked if any grants had been requested to help offset any of the town equipment. Ken Mills asked what the requirements are for submitting a grant request and though Mr. Covey offered the newspaper article he was quoting, Mr. Mills noted that did not answer what the requirements are – it told of who should apply and the results the foundation was looking for, but not the criteria needed to apply. Discussion ensued about applying for these grants. Jeff Duncan said he and Chief Trammell spend time daily looking for grants they can apply for and have not found anything that they qualify for – they get letters every day from any number of places including North Country Council that they follow up. Mr. Mills explained he was trying to make the point that so much of this grant seeking is a waste of time -- the Town simply does not qualify. Mr. Covey said his big thing is that no one applied for a USDA grant and we know they do municipal buildings – that we should have done that a long time ago. Mr. Duncan said one of the requirements is that we have approval from the Legislative Body – the voters, which Mr. Covey said we may get tomorrow. He said grants should have been applied to cover the design for the building; and grants should be applied for every step of the way.

Another thing Mr. Covey asked about is if the Town had ever gone to private or state surplus auctions. Bill Rines said he has but has not been able to get anywhere, other than the one time about two years ago he was able to purchase the small white truck that he drives. It was reiterated that money cannot be spent without voter approval – regardless of where it is to be spent. Mr. Covey said that the Board had all the capital reserve money which could be spent, which he was advised again, could not be spent without voter approval. Discussion ensued again about the time various people have spent looking for grants we may qualify for and how little there is to be found so far. Mr. Covey said that’s good and he is just hoping we get in the mindset of looking for grants – even if we have to hire someone for $15 or so an hour to do it for the Town.

Mr. Covey asked if the Town had ever considered leasing police cars, as they did where he was employed before his retirement. Bill Smalley explained they had looked into it over the years and there is no advantage at all.

Mrs. Vecchio asked that Mr. Covey tell the Board who the employee was who said the Town forgave property taxes for some elderly. She asked this not necessarily be done in public session and Mr. Covey said he’d be happy to do it in executive session whenever the Selectmen want. Mrs. Vecchio stated she feels it puts the offices in a shadow, to which Mr. Covey responded not at all, it was stated to him. Discussion ensued again and Chairman Moroney said this has not been the case since she’s been in office. She went on to say there had been a few instances where some interest had been forgiven but these were very few and for particular reasons. Chairman Moroney went on to say she has never heard of forgiving taxes, ever. Mr. Covey asked if anyone goes after liens and Mrs. Moroney said the Tax Collector is very vigilant about these. Mrs. Vecchio also stated that all the things said tonight by Jim Covey shows her that the Town needs a manager – someone who has the expertise and time and can do all that Mr. Covey has talked about. She expressed that is her opinion.

Ken Mills asked that the minutes show that department heads do in fact seek grants appropriate for their department. Chairman Moroney added they look for other departments also while they are doing it. Mr. Mills agreed this should all be noted.

As there was no further business, Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended at 8:17 p.m. and moved to go into Executive Session for personnel/legal matters. 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 Hancock seconded and the motion passed.

There being no further discussion, Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: adjourn the meeting. Selectman Hancock seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Moroney declared the meeting ended at 8:35 p.m.

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024