by admin | Apr 10, 2020 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl, and Campbell.
The mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An Intent to Cut was approved for Chris Nelson.
An Agreement with Ainsworth Land Management was signed for perambulating the town line with North Stratford.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the March 13th meeting.
Marcia informed the Board that the April 14th meeting with Vicky Ayers from DRA has been canceled. She will contact us (and assessor Steve Allen) by phone to review how the revaluation process will take place.
Appointment Forms were signed appointing Marcia Parkhurst as Deputy Tax Collector and Debra DeBlois as Deputy Town Clerk.
The Board discussed other appointments as follows:
Bob Baker – as Zoning Board Chairman and Conservation Commission
Kenneth Grimes – as Zoning Board Member
Sheila Parkhurst – as Cemetery Sexton
Clark Jeffers, Jr. – as Road Agent
Marcia will send letters asking if they are still interested in serving.
Marcia informed the Board that she had written to the owners who still owe 2017 taxes. The Board instructed Marcia to write to them again and ask them to come to the next meeting.
Newly elected Treasurer, Carrie Klebe, and previous Treasurer, Jennifer Wells, are going to get together and transfer records.
The Board reviewed the yearly “Nodal Map” received from the State of NH, DOT and noted that no changes needed to be made.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Mar 17, 2020 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Campbell. Selectman Stohl was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed.
The Board approved an Abatement for Jennifer Wells for her 2017 property taxes.
The Board reviewed a list of properties which are due to be tax deeded on March 2nd. Marcia reviewed for the Board members anyone who has called or made partial payments. The Board discussed which properties they would accept and which ones they might not. It was decided to wait until the next meeting and reviewed where we stand at that point.
An e-mail was received from Donna Jordan regarding the GNWCA grant application to the USDA Rural Development for monies to complete upgrades to the buildings. Mrs. Jordan is looking for a “letter of support” from the Board. Marcia was instructed to type up a letter using the form that Mrs. Jordan supplied to us.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the February 12th meeting.
An e-mail was received from Vicki Ayer at DRA regarding scheduling a meeting with the Board and Steve Allen regarding the upcoming revaluation. The meeting has been scheduled for April 14th at 2:00 here at the Town Office.
The contract with CAI Technologies for the tax maps was signed.
Marcia explained to the Board that she had been contacted by a woman named Linda Brown who was interested in burying her father in the Columbia Bridge Cemetery. Marcia had explained to her that the cemetery is closed as far as selling lots are concerned; Ms. Brown then asked if it would be possible to “scatter” her father’s ashes on the “Cone” lot in the cemetery. The Board discussed this and decided to wait until spring so they could actually view where she talking about. Marcia will get back to her.
Selectman Campbell reviewed for the Board his recent conversation with Laura Cardinal from the Manchester Motorcycle. They discussed the motorcycle blessing and Ms. Cardinal followed up their conversation with an e-mail detailing what was discussed. At this time, there is nothing that the Town needs to take care of.
Marcia told the Board that Melissa Elander from Clean Energy had been in the office. Eversource feels that the quotes for replacing the lights was not “an apples to apples” comparison and therefore they really aren’t interested and putting any money into the project. Ms. Elander said our only other option would be to apply a USDA grant, which is according to her “a lot of work”. The Board discussed it and felt that if we decide to change the lighting then we will take care of it ourselves.
The Board reviewed the articles on the 2020 Town Warrant and decided who would speak to each article.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Jan 30, 2020 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:52 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Craig Washburn entered the meeting at 6:10 pm. with an Intent to Cut he wanted the Board to sign. Mr. Washburn left the meeting at 6:13 pm.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to enter non-public session at 6:15 pm per RSA-A:3, paragraph (c).
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to return to public session at 6:50 pm.
At 6:59 Charlie Jordan (Great North Woods Center for the Arts) entered the meeting. The Board had asked Mr. Jordan to attend to discuss the tax exemption application submitted by the GNWCA. The Board informed Mr. Jordan that they had previously taken a vote to not grant the Center tax exempt status for 2018 and therefore would not be refunding the 2018 taxes. The Board also requested that proof of tax exempt status for the Carriage Lane Players and the Connecticut River Arts Group be furnished to the Town. Mr. Jordan left the meeting at 8:00 pm.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, The Board voted to award the Center tax exemption status for 2019 and to review the status on a yearly basis.
It was noted that there will be a Dispatch Center meeting tomorrow night, January 9th, beginning at 5:30 pm at the Columbia Town Office.
Marcia informed the Board that the Town Treasurer, Jennifer Wells, would not be available to come to the meeting tonight. Marcia reviewed for the Board the information that Mrs. Wells had left regarding current monies on hand.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Dec 16, 2019 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifest were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the November 13, 2019 meeting.
An Intent to Cut was signed for Renaud Grandmaison.
An e-mail was read from Bob Baker regarding the Rails to Trails project.
E-mails from Donahue, Tucker and Ciandella were reviewed regarding the PSNH case.
Marcia informed the Board that Noah Pollack from the Vermont River Conservancy will attend the next Board meeting.
Final budget figures for the Northern Borders Dispatch were reviewed. It was noted that the spreadsheet was a little confusing as to what each Town’s contribution will be for next year. Marcia will e-mail Becky Robinson and see if we can get some more information. The Board decided against signing the Agreement regarding the budget until we get more information.
It was noted that Columbia’s portion of the 2020 Recycling Center budget will go down $174.00 for 2020.
At 6:30 pm. Charlie and Donna Jordan entered the meeting to discuss the GNWCA. Mrs. Jordan presented the Board with the IRS Form 990 which the Board had requested. Discussion was held on various activities going on at the center. Mrs. Jordan also gave the Board a preliminary copy of the ALBA engineering study that had been done.
At 7:00 pm. Selectman Stohl left the meeting.
Discussion continued regarding the Arts Center. At 7:30 pm. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan left the meeting.
At 7:30 Treasurer Jennifer Wells entered the meeting and gave the Board members an up-to-date report regarding the Town’s finances. Mrs. Wells stated that she had transferred $300,000 from the NHPDIP account to cover the recent school tuition check. She stated once more tax money comes in, she will transfer that amount back to the NHPDIP account. Mrs. Wells left the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:36 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Dec 4, 2019 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:58 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the October 23, 2019 meeting.
The MS-60W (Audit Waiver) and the MS-60A (Auditor Option and Schedule) were signed.
Intent to Cut forms were signed for Betsy Foss and Richard Johnsen.
The Board members reviewed the Transfer Station budget received from Ben Champagne (Coos County) and the current contract with the County to run the Station. The Board members will check with the Stewartstown Board to see what their feelings are on re-negotiating with the County.
It was noted that there is a Dispatch Center meeting tomorrow night at 5:30 in Pittsburg. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the budget for the upcoming year.
Marcia informed the Board that she was still waiting for paperwork from the GNWCA before the Board can discuss their tax exemption application.
The Board reviewed budget figures Marcia had prepared showing revenues and expenditures through November 13th. Selectman Cloutier explained to the other Board members that the summer road budget will be over what was appropriated but several other accounts are under.
The Board reviewed information that Marcia had researched regarding the proposed “Event Policy”.
Treasurer Jennifer Wells entered the meeting and presented the Board with her reports on the NHPDIP account, the Citizens Bank account and the Transfer Station account as of October 31, 2019. The Board and Mrs. Wells discussed transferring $300,000 from the NHPDIP account into the Citizens Bank checking account in order to cover the first school tuition payment for this year.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
