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Minutes of 12/06/2010

December 9th, 2010

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
December 6, 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 Maryclare Quigley, Secretary

Board members present: Bonnie Moroney, Mark Catalano

The public meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM by Selectman Moroney

Members of the public present: Bill Dowling, Linda Dowling, Frank Maturo, Mike Gooden, Evan Karpf, Joan Karpf, Bill Smalley, Lisa Covey, Jim Covey, Scott Sonia

Pledge of Allegiance

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

Chairman Moroney read the following statement: “This meeting is being taped by a private citizen and is not done under the sponsorship of the town and is not an official record of the town.”

Chairman Moroney made the announcement that the food sale and lunch on Election Day made $300.82 for the town Food Pantry. A lot of people had contributed food for this and/or worked on it and she thanked all.

Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Accept the minutes for November 29, 2010 as written. Selectman Catalano seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

Stan Borkowski’s report was received and posted.

The following items were approved and signed:

Certificate of Occupancy – Birchwood Commons, Suite 7
Property Tax Abatement – Gray
Land Use Change – Byrne (Parker Road)
Yield Tax Warrant – New Page/U.S. Government
Intent to Cut – New Page/U.S. Government
Thank You Letter to Attleboro Ski Club – Groceries for six families for Thanksgiving dinner
and more
Thank You Letter to VFW Post in Whitefield for gift cards to Mac’s for Christmas

Next was insurance. Selectman Catalano said he believes we have done the best we can on our medical/dental insurance and that we should sign the papers. However, he wants to hold off for another few days on the Workers Comp, Unemployment and Property Liability as he still feels we can get a better price from his carrier. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Sign the renewal for medical/dental insurance with Health Trust. Selectman Catalano seconded and the Motion passed.

Chairman Moroney read a letter from Michael Palmer, President, Palmer Group Properties requesting that the town accept the new road in the River’s Edge 2 Subdivision. That Secretary said this had been put on the agenda to bring it forth but asked that it be tabled as she is awaiting some more information regarding it. Chairman Moroney made a Motion to: Table this request until the next meeting. Selectman Catalano seconded and it passed.

Under Other:

Chairman Moroney said the Building Feasibility Committee met last week – as an aside, she said when the CIP is up and going, this committee will no longer be necessary. They are looking to the future regarding a police station and have been looking at the Byrd property (shopping area where Good ‘n You had been). The Committee is putting a warrant article together -- $500,000 is the cost of the property – but they will look to bond approximately $700,000, and there is a bit over $130,000 in the building Capital Reserve Fund. She explained the current building that houses the Police Department is not up to code and by continuing to meet and work on it, whether the article passes or not, they are protecting the town as it shows an effort is being made to do something about it.

Selectman Catalano said he had gotten together with Joan Karpf and Sue Kraabel to discuss water. He wasn’t sure of the years but thought it was either 2006 and 2007 or 2007 and 2008 that money to pay the bond was raised by taxation but paid out of water revenue. They discussed how it happened and also if that money was back in the water account. They all agreed to look at ways to take it from the General Fund and put it back in the Water Department. Selectman Catalano said the Selectmen had just used a big amount of Unreserved Fund Balance to reduce taxes, so it really wouldn’t be prudent to remove another $90,000. Using some of the money the Water Department owes the General Fund was brought up. Chairman Moroney said the Water Department currently owes the Town $30,000 or so, and the Board can vote to forgive the debt. Once the final reading for the year is done, we may have a better idea. However, if we can forgive the debt it might give the Department a chance to start out fresh next year. Whatever happens, she feels it would be better to let them see where they stand. Selectman Catalano verified there is still time to write a warrant article and perhaps it could be done to space out payments or at the end of each year, look at the amount owed to the General Fund and forgive the debt. He asked Chairman Moroney if it would be all right for them to continue to discuss this and bring information back to the Board and asked Mrs. Karpf if she would be willing to work with the group. She said she would.

It was noted there is $7,000 in the proposed budget for fire hydrants and Scott Sonia said it’s to replace three. Mrs. Karpf wanted to know the responsibility of the people in the Water Department when it comes to expenses that benefit the whole town, not just the water users. She mentioned hydrant fees and said she had done a lot of research. She feels these should be shared town wide as everyone benefits from them. Though she said she understood that Bretton Woods pays to repair and maintain their own hydrants, so she was wondering how to handle this. But she believes if the community benefits, the all should be helping to pay.

Chairman Moroney said the hydrant fee issue had come up again but they need to look into this more closely and handle it more properly than in the past. They must come up with a more realistic cost – that the last time she was led to believe a number was just used. Also, a warrant article will be done so hydrant fees will be used specifically for hydrants. This was not the case in the past. She said she feels it is better to let this go this year and allow the department to get things set up. They will know a lot more as things work out.

Mrs. Karpf also asked anyone had ever considered a separate water district from Bretton Woods as they have their own system. Chairman Moroney said the only thing that would affect out there at this point would be hydrant fees, as all money coming in now goes only to the Water Department. If hydrant fees do get revived, a percentage would be assigned to Bretton Woods. A brief discussion was held about who owns the Rosebrook Company and it is believed to be CNL as during a previous discussion with them about combining the two water companies they were told there is a board which would be part of the discussion.

It was reiterated that the discussion group will come back and present the information to the Select Board regarding getting the $90,000 back to the Water Department and also perhaps how to do hydrant fees. It was also suggested that Scott Sonia and Kelly Trammell be part of this group. Other discussions were advised to wait for 2011.

Selectman Catalano advised Jim Covey that Charlie Kenison had been able to get down to stake out the location for the train near the intersection. There was some discussion about the location of this. It was noted there are blue flags which identify a water line and the train needs to be to the right of that. Mr. Covey and Selectman Catalano will get together with Mr. Kenison about the stakes. Selectman Catalano said he feels they should still do a balloon test so people can see the height and line of sight.

Sgt. Smalley spoke on behalf of the Chiefs of Police and Fire, to compliment the Highway Department for their work on two different occasions. The Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend there were snow and ice issues in town and they couldn’t get the State out for whatever reasons. The conditions were very, very bad and there were numerous accidents and cars off the road. The Police called Bill Rines and asked if he would assist them with the roads which he did and helped tremendously. Then this past Wednesday the ice was so bad a car went off the Old Cherry Mountain Road, hit a tree, and the occupant had a heart attack. The road had not been gated yet for the winter. The emergency vehicles got into trouble on the ice and went off the road. The responders had to go on foot the rest of the way in the treacherous conditions. Again the Highway Department was called and though extremely dangerous was able to put sand down. Sgt. Smalley said the men of the Highway Department Bill, Scott and Greg, were to be commended for their assistance in both cases. He again extended thanks and appreciation from the Police Department and the Fire Department.

As there was no further business, Chairman Moroney moved to go into Non-Public Session for Town Aid at 7:45 p.m. The Board was polled and went into Non-Public Session.

At the close of Non-Public Session, Chairman Moroney moved to return to Public Session and seal the minutes from Non-Public Session. Selectman Catalano seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

There being no further discussion, Selectman Moroney made a Motion to: adjourn the meeting. Selectman Catalano seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Selectman Moroney declared the meeting ended at 7:57 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, December 13, 2010.

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