Meeting began at 5:59 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Peter & Gail Hanson.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Mail was reviewed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the November 11, 2020 meeting.
At 6:24 pm Peter & Gail Hanson entered the meeting. Mr. Hanson is the Trail Master for the Colebrook Ski-Bees and was looking for permission to use Jackson Road as part of the snowmachine trail. After reviewing the tax map and a map that Mr. Hanson brought with him, the Board informed Mr. Hanson that the Town’s road ends at the field. The Board suggested that he contact the Town of Colebrook and see what their recommendations were. Mr. Hanson explained that there is only a short distance where they don’t have landowner permission. Mr. & Mrs. Hanson left the meeting at 6:45 pm.
At 6:46 Chairman Cloutier called the public hearing to order regarding the adoption of the new Right of Way Regulation. No members of the public were present. Chairman Cloutier asked if there was any discuss on the regulation. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved the Right of Way Regulation. Selectman Cloutier declared the hearing closed.
A Current Use Application for the Nature Conservancy was approved and signed.
A letter was received from assessor, Steve Allen, informing the Board that he will be retiring as of December 31, 2020. Mr. Allen has suggested that the Town retain Brett S. Purvis & Associates. Marcia was instructed to contact the company and set up a meeting. Marcia will also contact No. Stratford and Colebrook to see if they were satisfied with Purvis.
A letter was received from the Coos County Commissioners regarding the formation of a Coos Broadband Committee to investigate broadband expansion in the North Country. On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board decided to appoint someone to the Committee to represent Columbia. Selectman Cloutier offered to be Columbia’s representative to the Committee with Selectman Stohl the alternate.
Selectman Campbell stated that Nancy Biron is again this year making and putting up Christmas wreaths at the Town Hall. Marcia will prepare a thank you letter for the Board to sign for Mrs. Biron.
Selectman Campbell informed the Board that Joan Dickson has approached him about donating some historical paperwork to the Town that she currently has. Marcia will prepare a thank you letter for the Board to sign for Mrs. Dickson.
Abatement Applications for Randall Olson and Ralph Fellbaum were reviewed and signed. Refund checks were also signed.
A clerical error was discovered which resulted in a refund check being issued for Douglas Gay.
A Supplemental Property Tax Warrant in the amount of $116.00 was signed for Rickey Gamache due to the same clerical error.
Town Treasurer Carrie Klebe left reports for the Board members regarding monies currently on hand.
Selectman Stohl told the Board that he had been contacted by Russell Johnson who lives on Perry Road regarding concerns that he had brought up earlier in the year regarding water from the road draining into his barn. Selectman Cloutier placed a phone call to Mr. Johnson but there was no answer. Selectman Cloutier said he would continue to try and contact him.
Marcia gave the Board members a breakdown on what has been spent so in appropriations through tonight’s meeting. It was noted that the Summer Road line item is over budget by approximately $30,000.00.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen