Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Tax Collector Debra DeBlois, Town Treasurer Jennifer Wells, Sandra Tremblay, Allen Coats (Stewartstown Board of Selectmen) and Amy Savard.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were signed.
An Intent to Cut for Carolyn Foss was approved.
Mrs. Sandra Tremblay entered the meeting at 6:05 pm. Mrs. Tremblay had many questions regarding the tax lien/tax deed process, etc. Selectman Stohl explained that the assessment of properties in the State are based on “market value”. Mrs. Tremblay was concerned that her tax bill said “6 Marshall Hill Road” but that her deed didn’t indicate that. Selectman Campbell explained that the “911” address had nothing to do with the tax bill and/or assessment. At 6:43 the Board asked Mrs. Tremblay if she could leave the meeting and return in a few minutes as they had other people to speak with. Mrs. Tremblay left the meeting and waited in the lobby area.
At 6:45 Amy Savard and Allen Coats entered the meeting. Ms. Savard and her husband have a trash business. They pick up trash for approximately 85 – 90 customers in Stewartstown, Lemington and Columbia. In the past few months, the Transfer Station has left the gate unlocked and they were able to enter after hours to dump and then locked the gate when they left. Recently, they spoke with Ben Champagne and Mr. Champagne indicated that they would no longer have access after hours. This is creating a hardship for their business because if they don’t make it to the Transfer Station before they close, they have to take the truckload of trash home and keep it until the next morning or until Monday morning. They are
requesting to have access after hours. After discussion, Selectman Stohl made a motion, which was seconded by Selectman Cloutier, to award them access. Mr. Coats indicated that Ms. Savard will be attending Monday night’s Stewartstown Selectboard Meeting and that he believes that they will vote to grant them access also. After that happens, one representative from the Columbia Board and one representative from the Stewartstown Board will meet with Ben Champagne and get the matter straightened out. The Board informed Ms. Savard that they will get back to her after they meet with Mr. Champagne. Ms. Savard and Mr. Coats left the meeting.
At 7:10 Town Treasurer Jennifer Wells entered the meeting to present the Board will a report of monies on hand as of June 30, 2019. Now that the majority of the tax money has been received, monies have been transferred from the regular checking account to the NHPDIP account in order to receive a better interest rate. Mrs. Wells left the meeting.
At 7:39 pm, Mrs. Tremblay re-entered the meeting and continued her discussion with the Board. She requested a print-out of what is owed by her for property taxes and stated she would pick it up tomorrow. Mrs. Tremblay indicated that she planned on making a payment on her taxes and would like to attend the next meeting to ask some more questions. Mrs. Tremblay left the meeting at 8:00 pm.
The PA28 form was signed by the Board. This form indicates that the Town will not be using the State inventory forms this year.
A Supplemental Property Tax Warrant was signed in the amount of $1,288.00 along with a refund check in that same amount for Norman Cloutier. Mr. Cloutier’s tax bill included the cell tower which is on his property which should have been billed to Wireless Partners. Marcia indicated that she had contacted DRA about to handle this matter.
A Supplemental Yield Tax Warrant in the amount of $3,310.58 was signed by the Board.
A Supplmental Land Use Change Tax Warrant was signed in the amount of $3,530.00.
A Road Liability Form was signed for Jeremy Lambert.
Marcia informed the Board that she had received an e-mail from SDI Signs in Jefferson and they have started work on our Town line signs.
Marcia informed the Board that she had received a request from a Gray Road resident to have a “speed limit” sign placed on the road. The Board discussed it and decided to not install a sign since there is no way to enforce it.
Marcia told the Board that she had been corresponding with Melissa Elander from Clean Energy. The person who will be doing the energy audit on the Bovill building won’t be available until October or November. The person doing the LED lighting audit for the Town Office has not contacted us yet.
A deed was signed transferring the former “Stanton Heirs” property to the Sweatt family as per the winning bid that they had placed for the property. Marcia said she had contacted them and told them the deed was ready as soon as they pay the remainder of the bid price. An Abatement Form was signed by the Board abating the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 taxes.
A quote was received from No Sweatt Mowing (Dwane Sweatt) for mowing the cemeteries for the remainder of the year. The Board discussed it and on a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to have Mr. Sweatt do the job. Marcia will send a letter to Mr. Sweatt informing him of the Board’s decision.
An e-mail was received from CAI Technologies informing the Board that while updating the Town’s maps that the “town line” had been moved slightly. Marcia will contact CAI and see where the documentation came from and if they would be willing to meet with the Board to discuss this change.
The former Falcucci property was discussed. Marcia informed the Board that per the Board’s discussion at the last meeting, she had written to the
person who had held a mortgage at the time the Town took possession of the property. This individual had asked that he be notified if the Town decided to sell it. The letter that was sent was returned by the Post Office as “undeliverable”. The Board instructed Marcia to contact Mr. & Mrs. Archambault and informed them that the Board would be willing to sell the property for $20,000.00.
The Board discussed the recent meeting that was held with the Deputy State Fire Marshal and representatives of the GNWCA. No written report has been received from the Fire Marshal’s office.
Meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm.
Respectefully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen