Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An e-mail from auditors Crane & Bell was reviewed. After discussion, the Board voted to go with the “compilation of financial statements and form MS-535 and completion of MS-60” for an amount of $8,100.00. Marcia will let Crane & Bell know which option we are doing.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the December 28th meeting.
An Abatement Application from Kenneth Jaworski was reviewed along with Assessor Steve Allen’s recommendations. The Board approved the abatement and a check in the amount of $1,694 was signed as a refund on his 2016 property taxes.
Budget items were discussed as follows:
1. School District Budget Hearing will be on February lst @ 4:30.
2. Town Budget Hearing will be on February 8 @ 7:00.
3. Deadline for petition warrant articles is Tuesday, February 7th.
4. Reviewed requests from outside agencies for appropriations. New requests received this year include:
a. Tri-County Transit $ 250.00
b. Colebrook Area Food Pantry $1,000.00
c. Tyler Blain Homeless Shelter $ 250.00
d. ServiceLink $ 550.00
After discussing the items, Selectman Stohl made a motion, which was seconded by Selectman Campbell that they include Tri-County Transit for $250.00 and the Colebrook Area Food Pantry for $500.00 on the 2017 Town Warrant. Motion passed.
5. Marcia will get all the budget figures ready for the Board to review at the January 25th meeting.
Marcia gave the Board members each a listing of unpaid taxes as of December 31, 2016. We have approximately the same percentage outstanding at the end of this year as last year (6% for 2015/5% for 2016).
Reminder that tomorrow night is the monthly Dispatch Meeting here at the Columbia Town Office.
Selectman Stohl informed the other Board members that he had been approached about writing a letter regarding HB145. He explained what the bill was about and read a letter that he had drafted to be sent to the committee members hearing the bill. After discussion, the Board members signed the letter.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen