Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Minutes of 7/25/2023

July 26th, 2023

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2023

“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 Kelly Trammell, Secretary Pro Tem
Board Members: Jules Marquis, John Greer, Bonnie Moroney

Members of the Public: Brian Mycko, Imre Szauter, Rena Vecchio, Jeff Duncan, Chris Pappas, Vern Amirault

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairperson Marquis

Pledge of Allegiance

APPROVAL OF 7/11/2023 SELECT BOARD MINUTES – Selectperson Moroney made a motion approve the minutes as written. Selectperson Greer seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF 7/13/2023 SELECT BOARD MINUTES – Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve the minute as written. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The Secretary announced that due to Selectperson Mills’ resignation, there was a vacancy for Select Board representative to the Conservation Commission. She advised the Commission would be meeting the following day at 1:30 p.m. to review a Wetlands Application. Selectperson Moroney said she would be willing to do it. Selectperson Greer made a motion to appoint Selectperson Moroney as representative to the Conservation Commission. Chairperson Marquis seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

RECREATION COMMITTEE FAMILY FUN DAY – Selectperson Greer said the band needs a stage and the Committee does not have a tent big enough for them. As a result, it was decided to split the event and have the kid’s activities at the Recreation Area during the day and the band at the gazebo from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Selectperson Greer made a motion to rescind the alcohol waiver at the Recreation Area. Chairperson Marquis seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Greer made a motion for an alcohol waiver on August 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gazebo for this event. Chairperson Marquis seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Greer said the Recreation Committee is having a meeting on July 31st. Selectperson Moroney stated there is a lot going on with this group that must get dialed in. She said the Recreation Director stated at Deliberative Session that the Committee had a calendar of events scheduled for the year. Nobody has seen it. Nobody knows who is on the Committee. Selectperson Greer said it is Donna Goettler, Erin Oleson and Melissa Jellison. Selectperson Moroney said the Committee should be taking minutes and have held elections. Both items should be filed with the office. Moroney said the Committee is having meetings by email and that is illegal. Chairperson Marquis said the Committee should have everything taken care of and put together before they come to the Board. Selectperson Moroney said the Select Board has never had this much involvement in the Recreation Committee’s activities. Moroney said for example, the food truck permit. That is up to the Recreation Committee to make sure the packet is filled out and present it to the Board requesting the fees be waived. It is not up to the office to chase it. Moroney said they should not be asking other departments to fill in like picking up trash. Selectperson Greer agreed and said that the Board is running lean and Donna is not always available. Donna is also new to the Director position. Selectperson Moroney said she had asked for someone from Recreation to attend tonight’s meeting but nobody did. She said the other two members are experienced and should be able to guide Donna. She said if Recreation cannot get things together, she would possibly consider putting an end to Recreation events for the year until better planning is done. Rena Vecchio asked that the Board please still allow the ski program to exist as she feels it is important for the kids.

FOOD TRUCK APPLICATION – SMOKIN’ REDNECKS – Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve and have the Chair sign. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to waive the fees. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

SUPPLEMENTAL WATER WARRANT (PINNEY, THE RIVER CABIN, LLC) – Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve and sign. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

ORDERING DOCUMENT – BMSI - Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve and have the Chair sign the document. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

POLICE BLDG SECURITY – Selectperson Greer stated there is a bulletproof window at the entrance and where it ends is just wallboard. Greer thinks we should protect that area with the way society is moving. Selectperson Greer stated that the Police Chief told him there is a film that would stop projectiles but would void the window warranty. Greer said blinds are currently closed and he sees this as a problem. Greer would like to see the windows have a film where you can see out but not see in. Chairperson Marquis said a film like that is not going to stop high powered rifle projectiles and will be very expensive. Selectperson Greer said maybe the Board could look to do it as a warrant article and also add Kevlar sheets to the wall. Chairperson Marquis said almost no police station has that. He said officers are more in danger at their own home or out on the street. Rena Vecchio told the Board she wanted them to remember the shootings that occurred in Colebrook and we can’t just say “it won’t happen here.” Brian Mycko said he’d be most concerned here for the tax collector in dealing with disgruntled people.
Selectperson Moroney asked Imre Szauter if he knows of modifications when the facility was built. Szauter said he believes there was an extra layer of ¾ plywood. He said he would have to pull the drawings. Szauter also said there are security cameras on the campus which may also act as a deterrent. Selectperson Greer said he would like to do the film this year. Szauter said it was discussed in the building process and he will try to pull the records. Imre also pointed out that each office in the police station has a monitor with a real time display of what is going on around the campus.

PAYROLL DEDUCTION ERROR – The Secretary advised that while making changes for new hires, she noticed an error in employee health insurance deductions where the employee share of dental coverage has not been taken out since January. She presented the Board with calculations showing the deductions and what they should have been. The Secretary advised she had spoken with the NH Department of Labor and provided a copy of the RSA dealing with employee overpayment. She was advised that the Town can make agreements with the employees for weekly payments or can take a one lump sum payment as long as the amount owed does not exceed 20% of the employee’s gross pay. The Secretary also advised that a few employees were also no longer employed by the Town. If they refused to repay, the remedy would be small claims court. The other option would be to waive repayment. The Board discussed that the total amount owed was very small and it would be a lot of work to set up repayment. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to waive the costs. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.


FOLLOW UP

PIKE ACCESS AGREEMENT – The Secretary advised that Greg Hogan, Public Works Supervisor, could not be present that evening but requested the Board speak to this topic again. The Secretary advised that Hogan thought this agreement was signed at the previous meeting. Without a signed agreement, Hogan did not know how the Board wanted him to proceed in getting winter sand. Prior conversations about a different type of sand meant more money and more trucking. He wanted to know what the Board wanted him to do. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve the agreement with Pike and have the Chair sign. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

1800 ROUTE 302 BLDG PERMIT – Selectperson Moroney said she did some research. She said when they first started building, they built on roughly three and a half acres of a thirty-two acre lot. There should be something in place in our zoning to address this. Selectperson Greer said there is but they went and got a waiver. This is one of the reasons to have a joint meeting with the other Boards. Greer said there also needs to be discussion of short-term rentals too.

Fire Chief Duncan suggested that the Boards come up with definitions of commercial, residential and garage. Duncan said they are not currently defined in the ordinance and would help with a lot of the loopholes.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to use the residential fees on the permit. Selectperson Greer seconded and all were in favor.

SCHEDULE MEETING WITH PLBD & ZBA – The Secretary advised that the date she was given by both Boards was August 2. Selectperson Moroney asked what will be spoken about. Chairperson Marquis stated Ken Mills is working on some things. Rena Vecchio asked why Mills is doing it. She said she feels the Planning Board should be doing it. Vecchio also stated that at the last workshop, too many people were involved. Chairperson Marquis said nobody is working around the Planning Board. He said Mills has prior experience and was helping to identify issues. With regards to the amount of people, the Chair said maybe the Boards can be broken into smaller groups and work on topics.

The Select Board decided the joint meeting would be held August 2, 2023 at 6 p.m. Rena Vecchio pointed out that the Historical Society meets that night in the Community Room. It was suggested maybe the Historical Society could use the Conference Room and Vecchio agreed that should work.


OTHER

Selectperson Moroney said there had been a request about changing the Employee Manual. Moroney told the Board that she would like to make a questionnaire to give to the department heads to identify any issues. She said once the questionnaire is made, she will present it to the Board. Chairman Marquis and Selectperson Greer agreed.

Chairman Marquis stated the agenda item of “other” is being used for things that should be put on the agenda. He said going forward, if something is brought up under “other” and should have been an agenda item, it will be pushed to the following meeting. Marquis said there should be very little that is considered “other.”

Rena Vecchio said the Historical Society is looking to build a pavilion at the top of the hill for events. She wanted the Board to know they will be coming to the Town at a later date for discussion. Chairperson Greer reminded her this would need to be on the agenda.

At 6:10 p.m. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to go into non-public for legal and personnel. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

At 7:15 p.m. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to return to public session and seal the minutes. The motion was seconded by Selectperson Greer and all were in favor. Motion passed unanimously.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Marquis declared the meeting ended at 7:15 p.m.