by admin | May 22, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the May 8, 2024 meeting.
Selectman Campbell reviewed for the other Board members on his trip to Concord to take part in mediation with PSNH regarding their tax case. No settlement was reached.
A Letter of Engagement was signed with Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella by Chairman Cloutier for on-going legal services.
The Property Tax Warrant for the first installment for the 2024 taxes was signed in the amount of $734,503.00. The tax bills will be mailed out tomorrow morning.
The Board reviewed a contact from Coos County for the Recycling Center. The Board instructed Marcia to contact Ben Champagne to see if there were any changes from the previous contract and what Columbia’s share would be, The Board signed the contact and Marcia will mail it out after talking with Mr. Champagne.
Marcia informed the Board that she had spoken with Sally Zankowski and that she is not interested in serving as the Town’s Health Officer at this time.
An e-mail was received from a resident regarding the “trash” on a neighbor’s property. The Board discussed that there was really nothing they could do as it is private property.
A Veteran’s Tax Credit was approved for John Fallick, Jr.
The Board again reviewed an e-mail from Bob Benson, manager of Megwood and Savanhwood. Both companies plan on cutting some timber this winter and had questioned the yield tax on “blow downs”. Marcia shared with the Board an e-mail she had received from Rick Evans from DRA regarding “blow downs”. Marcia was instructed to forward this information to Mr. Benson.
The Board reviewed an e-mail from the Vermont River Conservancy regarding the Lyman Falls site. Apparently, people have been parking vehicles on the beach and this is not allowed. They are suggesting place some boulders (or a barricade) to prevent this. The Board discussed it but made no decision.
The Board reviewed the Reports of Wood Cut and assigned percentages to each operation.
The Board instructed Marcia to contact Town Attorney, Chris Boldt, to get his thoughts on what the next steps should be with respect to the two Tax Deeds that the Town is still holding.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | May 8, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
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.
