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Minutes of 6/27/2011

June 28th, 2011

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
June 27, 2011

"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: Mark Catalano, Bonnie Moroney, Bill Dowling.

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

Members of the public present: Roberta McGee, Frank Maturo, Jim Covey, Lisa Covey, Kelly Trammell, Mike Gooden, Greg Hogan, Joan Karpf, Evan Karpf, Rena Vecchio, Dan Walker, Scott Sonia, Joyce Charrette, Butch Garneau, Bill Smalley

Pledge of Allegiance

Frank Maturo filmed the meeting.

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

Selectman Dowling pointed out on page 3, the beginning of the fourth paragraph, the minutes state �Selectman Dowling� and it should be �Selectman Catalano�. Chairman Catalano made a Motion To: Accept the minutes of the Work Session as well as the Meeting of June 13, 2011, as written with the one change noted. Selectman Dowling seconded and the Motion passed. Selectman Moroney abstained as she was out of town and not in attendance at either meeting.

The Secretary then brought up the minutes for May 23, 2011. At the meeting on June 6, Chairman Catalano said there were corrections regarding statements he made. The Secretary said she would check the tape and make changes as appropriate. The Secretary reported the statements were as in the minutes and the Chairman declared no corrections necessary.

The following items were approved and signed:

Signature cards for Certificates of Deposit for Ambulance and Recycling
Current Use Warrant � Burns
Release of Current Use � Asker, Landolphi/Johnson, Knapp (This was for a CU correction only)
Water Warrant � Roesbery
Water Warrant � Second Issue, 2011
State Water Grant Request and Certification � To receive our yearly grant
Kelly Trammell continued discussion from the previous meeting on using credit cards for making payments in the Town Clerk/Tax Collector�s office. She confirmed with our website manager, Notchnet, the price of $2,700 for setting up the new web page is good to the end of this year and that our software company, BMSI, will waive their set up cost of $500. Mrs. Trammell also spoke with Frank Caruso from our computer repair vendor, Certified Computer Solutions, and Mr. Caruso estimates about two hours for set up and monitoring. Mr. Caruso has worked with both companies who would be involved with this, Interware and BMSI so he is very familiar with what is required. Discussion of costs and fees took place and Mrs. Trammell will continue to work with the companies and bank on finding out exactly what these will be so they may be absorbed into the cost. It was reiterated that once the initial set up is complete, there will be no cost to the town. It was noted Interware has a set fee of 2.95%, regardless of which credit card is used and likewise of any reward plan that may be attached. They will give us two card swipe machines. Mrs. Trammell was asked to confirm that Notchnet will spread their fee of $2,700 over two years as originally stated and to get this as well as any other quotes in writing. During discussion, it was stated there is at least one request a day about paying taxes by credit card/on-line and two requests a day for doing the same with registrations. Selectman Dowling who volunteered to do some research regarding towns/cities already set up said he had not heard from one town yet and Windham does only cars and dogs on-line. He said he would wait two weeks to get more information. Chairman Catalano said he believes it is a good idea to do this but wants to be sure there are no hidden costs. Security was brought up and it was stated that this would be like any other on-line transaction. Evan Karpf as if there were a minimum number of transactions required each year and Mrs. Trammell said that it didn�t appear to be any as rates have been quoted on action, not per active use, which some will use to base their fees. Dr. Karpf also asked if money would be electronically transferred into the town�s account and if the bank will charge a fee for this. Mrs. Trammell said it will be electronically transferred and she will be looking into this along with the other items. She said she will also be speaking with the Treasurer when she returns from vacation. As to setting up a procedure to be sure transactions are hitting the account and at the correct amount, Mrs. Trammell acknowledged these would be part of any conversation. When she has been able to attain the information she seeks, Mrs. Trammell will report back to the Board.

Next was a discussion about the Chamber of Commerce budget appropriation. Because of the freeze the Selectmen put on non-mandatory spending, the Board decided to release half of the amount when they were deciding on the so-called �feel good� and other donation articles. Jim Covey said what they received is only enough to get into July for the Information Booth salaries for one thing. Mr. Covey went on to say that though they did put in the Wi-Fi, they have reduced the Music Series to six weeks and cancelled the Porta Potty. Their heavy-spending months are essentially July and August and Mr. Covey requested the remainder of the money as they cannot go on without it. Selectman Moroney said the financial review is due in a few weeks and the idea was to cut back at this point � as all departments, and in fairness to department heads, have been asked to do no unnecessary spending and when the report is in it will be revisited and the remainder will be paid then. Chairman Catalano said that was her opinion, his own is that this is a tourist town and what they are talking about with the Chamber of Commerce is as important as bullet proof vests, ammunition or the cruiser to the Police Department. Rena Vecchio disagreed with equating money to the Chamber with the importance of bullet proof vests and felt the remark was unnecessary. Chairman Catalano apologized to Sgt. Smalley if he came across as rude as he didn�t mean it that way. He said his point was only that these are critical items to running the Department and sees the same for the Chamber of Commerce. He went on to reference a TV program in which a politician didn�t want to upset anyone and the gist of it was that for true leadership you have to make the hard decisions and not worry about what other people think. He reiterated this is a tourist town and all the things the Chamber does is important to the town and trying to make it a destination where people want to come and stay and not just travel through. Mrs. Vecchio asked if they received half because it got lumped in with the donation articles or was it otherwise. Chairman Catalano said it was discussed with those as they felt the Chamber could be included as similar. He said he has since changed in mind. Mrs. Vecchio asked if this money was a warrant article or part of the Operating Budget as she couldn�t remember. When she was told it was part of the Operating Budget, she said as the people voted for it then they should be given their money. Selectman Dowling made a Motion To: Give the Chamber of Commerce the remainder of their money. Chairman Catalano seconded and the Motion passed with two in favor and one opposed.

Chairman Catalano went on to the bids for the Water Department truck. Selectman Moroney abstained from the proceedings as there was a bid from her husband. The bids were $500 from Paul Moroney and $1,100 from All Metals Recycling. Chairman Catalano made a Motion To: Accept the bid from All Metals Recycling of $1,100. Selectman Dowling seconded and the Motion passed. Chairman Catalano requested that Scott Sonia contact the bidding parties.

The zoning verification letter for Stone Hill Condo Development was then discussed. This was for the McLane law firm who was working with the buyers of phase 3 and they needed to know the zone the property is located in, that residential condominiums is an allowed use, and that there are no known violations. After researching and finding all in order, the letter was written (as attached). Brief discussion ensued and while it was asked if the Fire Chief and the Building Inspector should be requested to look at the property, it was stated this had all been approved a number of years ago and all permitting, etc., was in place. Selectman Dowling made a Motion to: Sign the letter and Chairman Catalano seconded. The Motion passed with two in favor. Chairman Catalano abstained.

Nomination of Jeff Larrabee to the Zoning Board of Adjustment followed. However, as Mr. Larrabee must be a resident to sit on the Board and had not been able to come to the Town Clerk to change his residency, this was tabled until a later date.

Chairman Catalano read the thank you note from the Tyler Blain House. This is the homeless shelter in Lancaster and they had received the first half of their appropriation from the Town, for which they were most grateful.

Other

Selectman Dowling stated the Building Committee had gotten together but couldn�t have a meeting as they didn�t have a quorum. He said since then, Chief Trammell is not interested in being on it anymore as the police building didn�t pass this year. He also said Chief Duncan didn�t seem interested, and he would be checking with the other members, though Erik Bergum has already said he would remain. He will also be checking the calendar for nights to meet.
Chairman Catalano brought up the subject of numeric tallies which had been discussed previously. A vote had been put off as the question had arisen about showing tallies by the Select Board and Budget Committee for petition warrant articles also. Chairman Catalano checked with LGC and said he got two very different opinions. One was that if they do any, they do all and the other was that it was only for capital reserve and like appropriations � just money articles. He said when he asked if it was legal either way, he didn�t get an answer but was told some towns do it one way, others do it the other way. Chairman Catalano said he likes the idea of the numeric tally and is fine with either way. Selectman Moroney asked was initiated this as she was absent from the last meeting. Chairman Catalano explained that Selectman Dowling had brought the RSA in and Jeff Duncan had asked about the voting. Selectman Moroney said she was not arguing it, just stating that the votes are always in the minutes of the meetings anyway. It was noted that the tallies would be in the Town Warrant but not on the ballot. Butch Garneau asked what is gained from this. Chairman Catalano said it may cause questions to be asked if people see that not all Board members voted in favor of an article or likewise, not all voted against one. Chairman Catalano made a Motion To: Implement 32.5.Va RSA from the budget RSA�s that provide numeric tallies with no names, for all warrant articles to provide that information for town meeting. Selectman Dowling seconded and the Chairman asked for further discussion. Dan Walker noted that this is for the Budget Committee also, but wanted to clarify they would see only the articles with money attached to them. This was deemed correct. Chairman Catalano called for a vote and it passed unanimously.

Next was a response to George Brodeur�s email and Chairman Catalano had said he would bring a draft to this meeting. However, he said he left it too long and was unable to complete it for tonight. He will have it ready for the next meeting and will send it to the Secretary before that to distribute to Selectmen Moroney and Dowling.

Evan Karpf said after discussion of the appearance of the town at the previous meeting, he took off signs for 491 Route 3 South (the former Fun Towne property) but left the frame to protect his ability to put one back up and wanted this written into the minutes. He said the same was done for Bruce Seymourian�s property (the former Buddy�s Hole in One) with the same request that it be written into the minutes so as to not jeopardize a future sign. It was noted that as long as it�s not impacted by the State, the town has not control over them, once the new one meets town ordinance.

Butch Garneau brought up a sewer or septic issue on Route 3 South and asked if this would be for the health department. The Health Officer, Evan Karpf, said he had been there two weeks ago and will write a letter of deficiency and will move forward on it.

Jim Covey asked if the illegal sign at the Zermatt could be removed and stated when he and Lee were putting the flowers at the intersection they noticed a lewd phrase on the sign so they cleaned it off. He reminded all that vandalism is taking place and everyone should be aware and report anything they see. Chairman Catalano asked that �Beautification Discussion� be put on the agenda for the next meeting.

Further discussion of signs and town ordinances were discussed. Selectman Dowling said a person had stopped after a previous meeting about placing a sign on Don Gadbois� post and though Chairman Catalano said he would contact Mr. Gadbois about it, Selectman Dowling said he shouldn�t � the person who wants the sign should do it. It was stated the town has standards about what a sign looks like and they should be met. We also need to see verification or documentation about the sign for Skeet�s on Don Gadbois� property. Mr. Garneau wondered if it might be in the State right of way. It was reiterated that signs which are legitimate and legal are fine.

As there was no further business, the Board was polled and went into non-public session for town aid, legal, and personnel matters at 8:35 p.m.

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

There being no further discussion, Chairman Catalano made a Motion to: adjourn the meeting. Selectman Moroney seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Catalano declared the meeting ended at 9:15 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, July 11, 2011.

Town of Carroll, New Hampshire ®2024