by admin | May 8, 2024 | Upcoming Meetings
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An Intent to Excavate was signed for Norman Cloutier.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the April 24. 2024 meeting. (Selectman Campbell abstained.)
Town Treasurer, Carrie Klebe, entered the meeting at 6:10. Ms. Klebe informed the Board that she had recently gone to Concord to testify before the Finance Committee. There is currently a bill in the Senate to eliminate the NH Public Deposit Pool. Ms. Klebe had testified against this bill. Ms. Klebe left the meeting at 6:20 pm.
The Board reviewed the monthly bank reconciliations for all the Town’s bank accounts. Marcia also shared with the Board a new spreadsheet that she and Town Treasurer, Carrie Klebe, are using monthly to make end-of-the reconciling easier.
A Driveway Permit was received for Maurice Harriman. Selectman Cloutier will share it with the Road Agent, Domenic Westover.
Mail was reviewed.
A letter from Attorney Jon Frizzell was received. Since Attorney Frizzell has been appointed as a Court Judge, he will no longer be able to represent the Town. Mr. Frizzell has recommended Chris Boldt of Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella. Mr. Boldt has already been approached by Mr. Frizzell and has agreed. The Board instructed Marcia to contact Mr. Boldt to introduce us. (We have had some dealings with this firm through the PSNH case.)
Selectman Campbell reminded the Board that there will be a dispatch center meeting tomorrow night (May 9th).
The Board discussed the a couple of delinquent tax issues. The Board instructed Marcia to mention this matter to Attorney Chris Boldt when she speaks with him and get his thoughts about how we should proceed with these two matters.
The Board discussed the Town cemeteries. Last year, the Town spent $10,000 repairing stones in the Columbia Bridge Cemetery. There is still approximately $13,000 remaining in the Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund. Selectman Campbell said that he had been in the Columbia Bridge Cemetery and that there were still a few stones that needed repair. We need to check on the Lyman Cemetery and the two on Keach Road to see what needs to be done there.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Apr 24, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Stohl. Selectman Campbell was absent.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier the Board approved the minutes of the April 10, 2024 meeting.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Mal was reviewed.
An Intent to Cut was approved for Barbara Schomburg.
An Excavation Warrant and Tax Bill were signed in the amount of $3.60.
Bids for mowing were opened as follows:
Town Buildings – Samuel Jeffers – $8,350.00
Yetti Yard Man – $1.800.00
Cemeteries – Samuel Jeffers – $13,500.00
Yetti Yard Man – $3,600.00
On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board voted to award both bids to Yetti Yard Man.
A letter was received from Robert Gooch offering to mow the cemetery next to his home for $125.00 (each time) in preparation for Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to have Mr. Gooch do this mowing.
The Board discussed the recent news that NH Central Railroad is being purchased. Selectman Stohl volunteered to contact the NH Bureau of Rails to see how this purchase will affect the Town.
An e-mail was received from a person interested in purchasing property off Route 3 which appears to be “landlocked”. The Board reiterated that this issue has been brought up before by the current owner. Marcia was instructed to e-mail the person back and explain that it is a civil matter and has nothing to do with the Town.
Letters requesting information were signed (at the request of utility appraiser, George Sansoucy) to be sent to the utility companies, internet companies and cell tower companies who have equipment in Town. Marcia will send all nineteen letters out tomorrow with copies to be sent to Mr. Sansoucy.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Apr 10, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:02 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Mail was reviewed.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the March 27, 2024 meeting.
Selectman Campbell reminded the other Board members that there will be a Dispatch Center meeting tomorrow night. He briefly reviewed for the other members what they will be discussing.
Letters were reviewed and signed for Paul Tessier and Gilles DeBlois regarding their 2021 property taxes. Marcia will contact the Coos County Sheriff’s Department to have these letters served “in hand”.
A Land Use Tax bill and warrant were signed in the amount of $420.00 for Walter Chapple.
The Emergency Operations Plan for the Columbia House was reviewed and signed by the Board. Marcia will contact Dennis Johnson to come pick it up.
Marcia said she has tried contacting David Lawton about removing the oak tree on Fish Pond Road near Michael Vachon’s house. Marcia will try calling again tomorrow.
Marcia informed the Board that she will be placing ads in next week’s newspaper soliciting bids for mowing the cemeteries and the town buildings. Bids will be opened at the next meeting on April 24th.
Intent to Excavate forms were signed for Pike Industries (4).
The County Broadband Committee had requested that the Board send a letter to the State of New Hampshire Emergency Communications requesting that they release Columbia’s E911 data to the Committee to be used in mapping future broadband work. The letter, addressed to Matt Doyle” was signed.
The Board reviewed information received from the County Broadband Committee. (Bob Baker is Columbia’s representative to that Committee.)
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Mar 27, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:59 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed. It was noted that the Town has received a check for $3,000.00 from Shallow River Properties for their “PILOT” payment for 2024. This is an increase from the $1,500.00 paid in the past years.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the March 13, 2024 meeting.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Appointment forms were signed for the following:
Scott DeBlois – Board of Adjustment member
Dominic Westover – Road Agent
Marcia informed the Board that she did receive a quote from Brad’s Tree Service of $3,800.00 for removing a tree on Fish Pond Road by Mike Vachon’s house. Marcia said she had spoken to David Lawton but hadn’t received a quote. Selectman Campbell tried calling Mr. Lawton but there was no answer. Marcia will follow up with Mr. Lawton tomorrow.
The Board discussed the two taxpayers that have still not paid their 2021 property taxes. The Board is still holding the Tax Collector’s Deeds. The Board instructed Marcia to contact Town attorney Jon Frizzell to see if he had any suggestions how to handle this matter.
by admin | Mar 13, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Town Clerk, Marcia Parkhurst, administered the Oath of Office to Selectman Stohl.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to nominate Selectman Cloutier as Chairman.
Michael Collins (Columbia’s representative to the 45th Parallel EMS Board) entered the meeting at 6:00 pm. Mr. Collins came to the meeting at the request of the Board to discuss several issues regarding the ambulance. The main question for Mr. Collins was about how the ambulance service plans to bill the “Unincorporated Towns & Gores” in Vermont. The Columbia Board feels strongly that the ambulance should treat these entities in the same manner that the dispatch center currently handles the “unincorporated towns” in New Hampshire. Mr. Collins agreed and said that he would check into it. Mr. Collins left the meeting at 6:30.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed.
The equalization ratio from DRA for this year was reviewed. It is currently at 58.8% but the Board noted that next year we will be completing our latest revaluation cycle.
An e-mail was received from Northern Human Services (Shallow River) regarding the Board’s request to increase their “payment in lieu of taxes”
