Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Minutes of 1/16/2024 Public Budget Hearing Second Session & Select Board Meeting

January 18th, 2024

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Public Budget Hearing Second Session
& Meeting of the Select Board
Meeting Minutes
January 16, 2024

“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: Meg Basnar
Board Members: Jules Marquis, John Greer, Bonnie Moroney

Members of the Public: Tadd Bailey, Ian Mac Millian, Imre Szauter, Chris Pappas, Jeff Duncan, Doug Chapman


Public Budget Hearing

The Public Budget Hearing was re-opened and called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairperson Marquis.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Select Board completed a review of two corrected Warrant Articles for 2024.

A correction to the wording of this article to include “to raise and appropriate”. Corrected article is written as follows:

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $63,402 (Sixty-Three Thousand Four Hundred and Two Dollars) for the purpose of replacing town street lights with energy efficient LED lights and to partially fund this appropriation with a rebate through Eversource in the amount of $6,250 (Six Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars). The net amount to be raised from taxes will be $57,153 (Fifty-Seven Thousand One Hundred and Fifty-Three Dollars). If approved, this installation will produce estimated savings that should result in a full payback within 4.2 years. Tax Impact: $0.09 (no change)

Selectperson Moroney motioned to approve this warrant article as changed, Selectman Greer seconded this motion, no further discussion, all in favor, motion to approve changes passed.
The Board of Selectmen recommends this appropriation (3-0)

The second article presented included a correction to the amount of the funds requested in this article. The original article requested “Nine Hundred Twenty-Two Dollars and Eight Cents ($922.08)”. There can be no cents in these articles and the article was corrected as follows:

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred Twenty-Three Dollars ($923) for the purpose of being the Town's contribution to the Northern Human Services - White Mountain Mental Health and Common Ground, a non-profit mental health and development service center. Tax Impact: $0.01 (no change)
Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve the changes to this warrant, Selectman Greer seconded the motion, no discussion, all in favor, motion to approve changes passed.
The Board of Selectmen recommends this appropriation (3-0)

The Select Board recognized that they have been presented with the Planning and Zoning articles.

Motion to close the Public Budget Hearing by Selectperson Moroney. Selectman Greer seconded this motion, Public Budget Hearing closed at 5:04 p.m. p.m.


Meeting of the Select Board called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Chairperson Marquis.

Signing of bills and manifests completed prior to this meeting.

Selectperson Moroney motioned to approve the minutes of 1/9/2024, Selectman Greer seconded this motion, all in favor none opposed, motion to approve minutes passed.

The Select Board was presented with a contract from Northpoint Engineering for professional engineering services. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve and have the contract signed by the Chairperson. Selectman Greer seconded this motion. All in favor, none opposed, contract signed by Chairperson Marquis.

Doug Chapman addressed the Select Board representing Jim Philips the owner of Boulder Motor Court. Chapman informed the Select Board they would like to install a dry well and a 4” pipe in the Town’s catch basin to allow water from the property to go under the road, not over the road. Selectman Greer expressed concerns regarding the possibility of the catch basin filling up and creating a snow and ice dam impacting route 302. Chairperson Marquis discussed his knowledge of dry wells in his previous experience. Selectman Greer recommended seeking an opinion from Northpoint Engineering as well as Scott Sonia the head of the Highway and Water Department. Chapman provided the Select Board with plans completed by Horizon’s Engineering. Selectperson Greer recommended Northpoint working for the Town to complete an assessment at the cost of the property owner. Plans from Chapman were left with Selectman Greer and it was determined that Scott Sonia would set up and evaluation through Northpoint Engineering. Selectman Greer will speak with Scott Sonia this week and follow up with Northpoint Engineering then get back to Chapman once a decision is reached.

FOLLOW UP:

No items for follow up currently.

OTHER:

Selectperson Moroney would like to express her gratitude to Scott Sonia, Andrew Shaheen and Jay Sawyer for all their hard work with the storms and wind.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion for the Select Board members to come in and sign the completed documents submitted to DRA as the Select Board has already voted on any and all changes made. Selectman Greer seconded that motion, all in favor, none opposed, motion passed.

Selectman Greer discussed Select Board members voting via zoom during Select Board meetings. Selectperson Moroney informed him that this began during covid and each Select Board member must vote as a verbal roll call. Selectman Greer stated he does not want to be present for the full 52 weeks of the year and would like to have the option to attend virtually when needed. Selectman Greer was informed that there must be a quorum to vote, so two out of three Select Board members must be present.

Imre Szauter, assistant moderator, reminded the Select Board that they or their designees must be present for the entirety of the election, and provided them with some additional ways to assist the election officials on the day of the election. Szauter clarified that voting for the Presidential Primary Election is January 23rd, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Carroll Town Office Community Room. Szauter also informed that the Deliberative Session is to be held Monday, February 5th, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office Community Room. Second Session/Town Vote will be held Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 in the Town Office Community Room, time to be set by Select Board and Moderator.

Szauter reminded that the informational session for the Energy Commission’s LED streetlight initiative will be held Wednesday, January 24th in the Town Office Community Room at 6 p.m.

The next meeting of the Select Board will be held Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

At 5:38 p.m. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to go into non-public for personnel. Selectperson Greer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

At 6:17 p.m. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to return to public session and seal the minutes. The motion was seconded by Selectman Greer, all were in favor. Motion to return to public session and seal non-public minutes passed unanimously.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:18 p.m. Selectman Greer seconded this motion and the motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned.