February 2010 Select Board Minutes

Select Board Minutes February 1, 2010

  Present: Dan Kinson, Bob Allen, Mark Lanier and Jacqui Faye  

Ø  Tom Dunn from the Local Govement Ctr

o   Discussed recent court case involving the LGC.

o   Discussed insurance options

o   Discussed the equalization ratio

o   Discussed right to know regulations

Ø  Signed check register for $70,461.98

Ø  Michael Bell,Dave Eisenberg & Dan Stearns

o   Dave has spoken to City Voice and Radius north no Grants have been given out yet.

o   Raduis North has 15 towers with two more soon

o   Dave looking for quick resolution

Ø  Joe Feuer stopped in t discuss the transfer station

o   Training budget for transfer station

o   Transfer station rules pamphlet.

o   In terms of the permits, Joe’s preference is to hand them out as no cost.

Ø  NRRA comments reviewed.

Ø  Petitioned warrant article for the community kitchen received.

Ø  Withdrawal signed in the amount of $60,000.

Ø  Signed a transfer of funds in the amount of $137,628.86.

Ø  Withdrawal signed in the amount of $25,000.

Ø  Transfer signed in the amount of $200,000.

Ø  Water Resources e-mail reviewed.

Ø  Land in Trust sent to the conservation commission.

Ø  Letter reviewed from Unisom.

Ø  Legislative bulletin reviewed and filed.

Ø  P.O signed in the amount of $1,617.80.

Ø  Boundary Survey signed.

Ø  Abatement signed for Map 408 lot 15.

Ø  NH the beautiful has free signs for the Transfer Station.

Ø  Gravel Tax Levy signed for Doc Cohen.

Ø  Letter received from Mary Blank, Chairman of the Cemetery Trustees. Mary felt that the she and Patty Little were blind sided by the selectmen at the budget hearing when the selectmen told them that they wished to take over the mowings. Mary felt that the proper procedure would have been that the selectmen recommend that they reduce their budget by an amount or a percentage and then the Trustess would look carefully at their budget to determine where or if they could make the cuts. In addition they would look at whether other departments were asked to make cuts to their budgets as well.

Selectmen were looking to make savings. They brought up the issue for discussion at the budget meeting. During the meeting they told the cemetery trustees that they would like to see the highway department take over the mowings as the Town could realize some savings rather than paying out to a contracted agency. The Cemetery trustees appeared supportive at the time of cost savings but wanted to verify that Tony could meet the requirements and expectations. It is the Selectmen’s hope that the Cemetery Trustees would put the mowings out to a competitive bid process by developing an RFP to make sure that the Town is receiving the best deal possible rather than simply resigning a contract with the same company.

Ø  Mileage approved for Jacqui.

Ø  Argent communications will be at the next selectmen’s meeting.

Ø  Selectmen reviewed and signed the personnel policy.

Ø  Meeting adjourned.



Select Board Minutes February 8, 2010

Present:  Dan Kinson, Bob Allen, Mark Lanier and Jacqui Faye

Ø  Meeting started at 6:30 for a meeting with NHDOEM.  This meeting is to discuss the requirements for a tabletop exercise.  This exercise will be fully reimbursed by the State.  Will let the Town know that status of the grant for the Fire Hydrant Grant.  There is also a training on long-term recovery in Keene and Peterborough .  Web EOC training can be scheduled locally if 12 people can be found to attend.

Ø  Argent Communications Rep., Andrew Bauer, came to introduce himself.  In later meetings they will be looking at pursuing a franchise in town.  They may be looking to expand but not sure, may be looking to bring high speed internet but are not sure of a timeframe or feasibility.  If they are able to come to town the cost for high speed internet would be around $40 per month for 1.5mg download and 256kb upload.  Higher speeds are available for more money.  They will come in and fix the infrastructure and then look at expansion.  Argent felt that this year is stabilization and attempting to add internet to some locations.  They will pull together a proposal, inventory of infrastructure and a draft of a franchise agreement.  

Ø  Minutes signed from 2/1/10

Ø  Check Manifest signed in the amount of $12,044.38.

Ø  NRRA newsletter reviewed.

Ø  SWRPC newsletter reviewed.

Ø  Email from Anne Marie French reviewed.

Ø  Executive Council news release reviewed and filed.

Ø  Email re: legalizing gambling to be posted.

Ø  Email reviewed from Dave Eisenberg, Jacqui to request a copy of the grant application from the State that was filed by the three companies.

Ø  A quote was received to replace the Tinshop Pond fence in the amount of $9,400.  The quote was obtained by Mary Blank, at the selectmen’s request, after she brought up replacing the fence at the budget meeting.  At this time the selectmen consider this to be a large expenditure of money and will not place this on the warrant until further quotes and investigation can be made into the matter.

Ø  Marc Spinale called to ask where he stood with his letter from last week.  Selectmen are looking into the matter further.

Ø  Hearing for Transfer Station land purchase to be held February 22, 2009 at 7pm.

Ø  Legislative Bulletin reviewed and filed.

Ø  Warrant articles were reviewed and discussed.

 


Select Board Minutes February 16, 2010

Present:  

Dan Kinson, Bob Allen, Mark Lanier and Jacqui Faye

Ø  Check manifest signed in the amount of $5,264.40.

Ø  Minutes signed from 2/8.

Ø  January Bank reconciliation reviewed.

Ø  Reviewed and approved invoice from Bradley & Faulkner.

Ø  John Asseng came to make sure that the warrant article to donate money to the Sand Pond Association for the Lake Host Program.  Selectmen stated that it was on the warrant, but that the board was not recommending the article.

Ø  The Coalition communities letter was reviewed, this was in reference to a bill to delay the new education funding formula.

Ø  Tony came in to ask about the old fire truck, selectmen are in favor of selling it and will check with LGC to make sure all of the proper procedures are followed.

Ø  Selectmen will contact LGC re: request from Kristne and Alan Chichester.

Ø  LGC medical plan options reviewed. Selectmen still need to know how much they would loose in bundle discounts if the board decided to switch from LGC to Primex for health insurance.

Ø  Rural Fire Resource Plan reviewed.

Ø  NRRA newsletter reviewed.

Ø  P.O. signed in the amount of $500 for ambulance supplies.

Ø  Intent to cut signed for map 402 lot 39.

Ø  Trustee of the Trust Funds articles to be added to the warrant.

Ø  Unisom is a company that gives a lump sum cash payment for cell tower leases, at this time the board is not interested in pursuing this option.

Ø  News release from executive council.

Ø  The intent to excavate signed.

Ø  Selectmen’s report completed

Ø  Meeting adjourned 9:30pm.



Select Board Minutes February 22, 2010

Present:  Dan Kinson, Bob Allen, Mark Lanier and Jacqui Faye

Ø  Check manifest signed in the amount of $2,172.23.

Ø  Minutes signed from 2/16.

Ø  Hearing on the Transfer Station purchase was begun at 7pm.  See sign-in sheet for those who were present.  Harland again expressed his interest in purchasing the land.  Al Blank brought up the provisions of RSA 41:14-a, the selectmen had checked with DRA and LGC who both confirmed that since the land sale being placed on the warrant made the provisions of RSA 41:14-a not applicable.  Lyle and Al felt that selling the lot to an abutter and having the lot annexed by the abutter.  Al asked if the Planning Board has made comment.  They have made comment but have not been requested to do so on an official basis.  The Planning Boards recommendation was that the lot be annexed by an abutter. 

Ø  Jim Beard came from the Sand Pond Lake Association.  They wanted to talk about the Lake Host Program that they are involved in.  A short presentation was made in regards to the Lake Host Program.  If they were to cover all summer they would reach 1344 hours totaling $7,776 dollars.  They are hoping to utilize and local students to fill the time.  As a Lake Host they educate people in people on the Lake and exotic aquatic plants.  They completed 1163 inspections.  Inspections can be counted when a boat enters and leaves the water.  They have asked Lempster for support as well.  Last year they received $2,000 in funding from the state, this year they will receive $1,200.  In another lake that became infested property values decreased by 16%.  Marlow properties on Sand Pond contribute 10% of taxable value.  DES pays for the first year for management of an invasive species, after which municipalities and residents end up paying for management and or apply for grants.  The conservation commission in Lempster has made a donation to the association last year.  They are trying to prevent a spread of exotic species. 

Ø  Has been keeping bees for years. Once the cell tower went up his bees started dieing.  He has researched the topic.  He has bees in Alstead and they haven’t died.  He has spent over $1,000 in bees because of the die off.  He also went down to the extension service and received information as well.  Selectmen will contact US Cellular for information.

Ø  Mike Bell came to find out a status on RadiusNorth.  Selectmen updated him on the progress that the board had received a copy of the grant application to review, but at this time RadiusNorth looked like it was the most promising to come into to Town in the shortest time frames.

Ø  Legislative bulletin reviewed.

Ø  CityVoice did not receive grant funding for round one, they will be applying for the second round of funding.

Ø  Adopted the rural fire water resource plan.

Ø  Town report reviewed. 

Ø  Meeting adjourned 9:35pm.