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 03/29/2010

April 1st, 2010

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
March 29, 2010

"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 Pro Tem

Board members present: Christopher Hancock, Bonnie Moroney, Mark Catalano

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Hancock

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Carmine Fabrizio, Ann Fabrizio, Bill Dowling, Linda Dowling, Tom Gately, Mike Gooden, Bill Rines, Frank Maturo, Bill Smalley, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf, Jim Covey, Lisa Covey, Scott Sonia, Tadd Bailey, Leslie Bergum, Jeff Duncan, David Ikasalo, Andrew Martel, Edith Tucker

Pledge of Allegiance

Linda Dowling was in attendance with video equipment and Chairman Hancock read the following statement: “This meeting is being taped by a private citizen. It is not done under the auspices of the town and is not an official record of the town.”

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

Chairman Hancock made a motion accept the minutes from March 22, 2010, as written. Selectman Moroney seconded the motion, and it passed with Chairman Hancock abstaining, as he was not present at the meeting.

Oaths of Office for Lori Hogan (Budget Committee) and Ken Mills (Planning Board Alternate) were presented. Chairman Hancock moved to approve and sign. Selectman Moroney seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Joan Karpf came before the board with additional questions about the Water Rules and Regulations. She brought copies of RSA 38:22, 38:29, 38:21, 38:27, a fact sheet from NH DES,, and a hand written comparison of water expense and revenue from 2005-2009. She again questioned why the application for water included references to water service being a contract between the town and property owners, their heirs and successors. She feels if water bills are not paid, the property should be liened and referenced RSA 38:22. She pointed out that Part (d) deals with billing renters rather than the owner, and the property can still be liened for non payment. She would like her tenant to be billed and our regulations do not allow for that.

Ms. Karpf asked about how the money raised in different categories would be spent. She asked about the base rate, flat rate, user rate, and fees – where will they be going. Chairman Hancock said he thought the base rate includes operating expense and fixed expense. All the revenue will go into the Water Enterprise fund, and because of the 2010 warrant article, $9,500 will be transferred into the Water Improvement Capital Reserve Fund.

Ms. Karpf then asked about the hydrant fees that used to be in the budget, and was told that they came about after the 1993 vote on the water bond. After counting hydrants in Twin Mountain and Bretton Woods, taxpayers paid Bretton Woods $15,000 and the Town of Carroll either $23,000 or $25,000 annually in hydrant fees. These were discontinued in 2006 or 2007.

Ms. Karpf again expressed her concern about the sustainability of our water system and passed out the fact sheet. She then referenced her expense/revenue comparison sheet that showed numbers taken from annual reports, and said adding the two sides showed their should be a surplus of $80,416, and in the annual report she sees only a surplus of $1,600. She wondered about the difference. These numbers will be researched. She then referenced RSA 38:29 and said that the water revenue shouldn’t be going into the general fund. It was pointed out to Ms. Karpf that the water revenue is deposited into the Water Enterprise Fund. Money is only transferred into the general fund to pay what is owed for the water expense paid out of the general fund. Funds are not comingled, which was her concern.

Ms. Karpf then referenced RSA 38:27 and questioned whether you can interpret this to mean that the town cannot charge non-users any fees for the water system. This brought up the subject of the bond, and the fact that it has been determined that the entire town is liable for it as it was passed by town vote. Ms. Karpf said she’s concerned about future needs of the town water system and how it will be funded. She asked if there will be a report issued annually of needs and how these things will be funded. She then asked if we’d considered a separate Water District where money could be raised from those in the district that don’t have service to their homes but do have hydrant service for fire protection.

The next item dealt with getting fuel for town vehicles while the state pumps are closed, and Bill Rines said he and Jeff Duncan had talked and they had some reservations about using the snowmobile tank for diesel storage. Issues raised were liability, permitting for a fuel distribution area, expense distribution for town departments, and whether we would use enough diesel during off hours to make it worthwhile. Since the ski area will be closed and plowing will be done, the need for diesel will be way down. Chairman Hancock made a motion to determine the cost of bulk diesel delivered, and in the meantime send out letters to the local fuel stations. These letters ask for a discount quote, hours of availability and billing arrangements offered. Selectman Moroney seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.

Chairman Hancock went through the ballots of March 9, 2010, reading the number of votes for and against each article. The individual articles were not read unless someone chose to speak to one. Selectman Moroney spoke to articles 25 and 26 which had to do with the Recycling Special Revenue fund and the $30,000 withdrawal requested. Article 25 was to change the name and expand the purpose of the fund, and needed a 2/3 majority to pass. Since there were only 5 more yes votes than no votes, the article failed. Thus the $30,000 for the bond payment requested in Article 26 cannot be transferred and will have to come out of the budget somewhere else. With regard to Article 48, Selectman Moroney said that Ben Jellison had gotten legal advice regarding the election of Budget Committee members, and was told that the current members would prepare the 2011 budget, and in March 2011 we would elect new members for staggered terms.

Selectman Moroney read the proposed Agenda and Meeting Policy and the changes Selectman Catalano had suggested. Basically it sets timeframes for setting the agenda (1 pm Thursday), for getting materials to the selectmen so they can respond at a meeting (7 or 10 days ahead), and for the amount of time an individual can speak (10 minutes). Chairman Hancock moved to establish the policy as amended, Selectman Moroney seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously. A copy of the policy as amended is attached and will be posted on the bulletin board.

Frank Maturo came with questions about the Avery sweeping contract with the town. He wanted to know why last year we used a town truck and man to pick up the sand. Mr. Rines said the contract was for sweeping only and Avery dumped into our truck and it was taken to the highway garage. He said because it took Avery less time than he thought, we were billed for less than the contract price. Mr. Maturo said the quote this year from Presby said he’d take the sand up to Lake Road. It was also mentioned that Presby referenced sweeping at the town hall, police station and fire station, and Avery’s contract didn’t, although he’s swept those areas in the past. It was stated that this year’s quotes were the same from both companies. After receiving the quote from Presby, he was asked to come inspect the roads to make sure he wouldn’t change his mind once he examined them, and Selectman Moroney said the selectmen had never heard back from him. Evan Karpf said he’d spoken to Mr. Presby and was told he’d looked at the roads and would stick with his price. Chairman Hancock said next year they would make the bid process more formal -- get more detailed bids with an established deadline.

Mr. Maturo said he was concerned about Old Town Road. He said the gravel is washing out and is worried that water will be back on the road. He said the water is not going toward the old culvert. Chairman Hancock said they need to get the boundaries, etc. settled, and then we can decide what to do.

Andy Martel said he’s picked up some flags and is working with Mr. Rines to get new flag poles so we can hang the US, State, and POW/MIA flags.

Bill Dowling said since the police are getting new security cameras for the police station, he wondered if he could have their old ones for the transfer station. Sgt. Smalley said the cameras and the monitor were broken beyond repair, and probably the cameras had been discarded. Mr. Dowling then brought up the Safety Committee’s inspection that said there was a problem with the filling station for the Bobcat. They want him to get a hose that will reach the Bobcat so he can eliminate the use of the 5 gallon jug during the filling process. Mr. Dowling called the Labor Board which is in charge of Safety issues, and they said if the Fire Chief is happy, they’ll be happy. Chief Duncan recommended a 16 ft. hose, and thus Mr. Dowling came to the board to ask if there was money in the General Building’s budget for this hose. Selectman Catalano said he has hoses from when the Twin Mountain Trading Post sold gas, and he’d be happy to donate one to the town.

There being no further business, Chairman Hancock made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Moroney seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chairman Hancock declared the meeting ended at 8:07 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, April 5, 2010.

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024