by admin | Feb 27, 2019 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05pm. Present were Selectmen Eric Stohl, Norman Cloutier, and Donald Campbell.
Mail was reviewed and checks were signed. Minutes from the December 12th meeting were accepted.
The Board signed the 2018 Equalization/Municipal Assessment Data Certificate that Steve Allen presented.
The Board also signed an engagement letter from Crane & Bell.
The agreement contract with 45th Parallel EMS was signed by the Board.
There was a discussion on the new Coos County Transfer Station stickers. It was made clear that new stickers would be bought every year in a different color. New stickers for Columbia residents will be mailed out yearly.
An Intent to Cut was signed for Jack Riendeau/Sandra Davis.
Donald Campbell would like it listed in the Columbia Town Report that he is our representative for the Northern Borders Dispatch.
There was a discussion on Summer Roads. Selectman Eric Stohl made a motion to encumber $27,000 from the 2018 Summer Roads account to be spent in 2019 for paving. Selectman Norman Cloutier seconded it. All in favor, so moved.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie DeBlois
by admin | Oct 17, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:30 pm. Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell. Selectman Cloutier was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
A Private Road Liability Waiver was signed for Robert Turco.
A letter from George Sansoucy with the 2018 utility values was reviewed. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved using the values provided.
Marcia informed the Board that assessor Steve Allen had requested an extension on our MS-1 until the Board could approve the utility values. Mr. Allen will complete and file the MS-1 when he is in the office on September 19th.
A Veteran’s Tax Credit was approved from Thomas Faucher.
At 6:50 pm Deputy Sheriff Wayne Saunders entered the meeting. Mr. Saunders explained that he was working with the Sheriff’s Department and the Trails Bureau to come with standard regulations to be used for OHRVs. He is meeting with each Town to see what their concerns are and what policies/procedures they already have in place. Some of the items discussed included:
- Hours of operation
- Dates the trails open close
- Age restrictions
- Open containers
- Use of Town roads
Mr. Saunders will e-mail a summary of Town’s discussion to the Board for review and any additional concerns/questions they might have. Mr. Saunders left the meeting.
The Board reviewed paperwork received from Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella filed with the BTLA in the PSNH case.
It was noted that there is a Dispatch Center meeting tomorrow night beginning at 5:30 at the Columbia Town Hall.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the August 8th and August 22nd meetings.
A Yield Tax Warrant in the amount of $6,641.05 was signed.
The Board updated revenue numbers in preparation for submitting the MS-434.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Oct 17, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present were: Jason Rella, Ronald Estabrooks, Allan Coats, James Gilbert and Town Treasurer Jennifer Wells.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were signed and reviewed.
Ronald Estabrooks came into the meeting to ask the Board for permission to trap on the Town’s land. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board gave their permission to Mr. Estabrooks and Selectman Cloutier signed the permit. Mr. Estabrooks left the meeting.
An e-mail was received from Wayne Saunders regarding the items discussed at the last meeting. The Board instructed Marcia to send Mr. Saunders an e-mail stating that they were in agreement with the items he listed.
At 6:15 pm, Allan Coats and James Gilbert (Stewartstown Selectmen) entered the meeting to discuss the following Transfer Station issues:
- Plowing. Should we put it out for bid? Who calls to have the snowplow person come out and how many times a day do they do it. Does the Transfer Station attendant call or does Ben Champagne? After discussion, the two Boards agreed it should be put out for bid. Marcia will prepare an ad for the newspaper. Bid opening will be held on October 24th at the Columbia Town Office.
- Scrap metal area. Beecher Falls Redemption needs to pick it up more often. Some other Towns are having trouble with people dumping regular household trash in the metal container. People need to be told that they need to speak with the Transfer Station attendant first before dumping.
- Fencing. The Boards decided that we need to install a fence. Selectman Coats said Tractor Supply is where we should get the wire. Costs approximately $199.00 for a 100 foot roll. Selectman Campbell said that they have the fence posts at Hicks. This will help ensure people aren’t dumping when the Station is not open.
- Cameras – discussed installing cameras. Selectman Campbell will contact Kevin Lufkin (Lufkin Security) to give us a price on what would work for us.
- Transfer Station stickers – all agree that it is time to have stickers that are actually attached to the vehicles so that by looking at the car the Station Attendants will know that they should be dumping. Marcia will work on finding a place to purchase them.
- Who exactly has keys to the gate? Question for Ben Champagne. Is it time that we changed the lock?
Selectman Coats said he would speak with Ben Champagne about the first two items and the last item. Selectman Coats and Gilbert left the meeting at 7:00 pm.
At 7:05 pm Jason Rella entered the meeting. Mr. Rella explained that he had finished the painting (interior and exterior) of the Town Office. He has not yet completed the molding, etc. that the Board requested he do. He will be completing that as soon as he can. Mr. Rella left the meeting at 7:15 pm.
The MS434 (Revised Estimated Revenues) and the MS1 – (Total Valuation) forms were signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the September 12th meeting.
Road items were discussed as follows:
- No “town line” at the Stratford/Columbia town line. Marcia will contact DOT.
- Discussed mowing – some areas were not mowed because the power company was spraying.
- Do work on Bungy Road by Kelsea Notch Road
- Do work on Fish Pond Road
- Check with No. Stratford about who painted their new “Town” sign. Marcia will see about getting some quotes.
Treasurer Jennifer Wells entered the meeting to present the Board will her report of current money on hand.
Selectman Campbell reviewed for the other Boards what had happened at last week’s Dispatch Center meeting. After discussion, on a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to sign the lease agreement for equipment for the Dispatch Center.
Meeting adjourned at 8:21 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Sep 17, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Walter Laro.
Checks and manifest were reviewed and signed.
Mail was reviewed.
Walter Laro entered the meeting at 6:12 pm. Mr. Laro felt that he was overcharged on his recent yield tax bill. Mr. Laro provided the Board members with check stubs and scale slips which documented how much he had been paid by the logger. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to abate the amount of $92.81 off Mr. Laro’s bill. An Abatement Form in that amount was signed by the Board. Mr. Laro left the meeting.
Marcia told the Board that at their last meeting they had voted to abate an amount off the Yield Tax bill for Renaud Grandmaison but didn’t actually sign the abatement form. An Abatement Form was signed for Mr. Grandmaison in the amount of $2,317.50.
A contract with Coos County for running the Transfer Station was reviewed and signed. Marcia will contact Ben Champagne about the error in the “monthly” figure on the contract.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to enter non-public session at 6:41 pm as per RSA 91-A:3, paragraph (c). On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to return to public session at 7:10 pm.
A Road Liability Waiver was signed for David Andrew for property on Coos Road.
A bid for roadside mowing was received from David White in the amount of $6,000.00. On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Campbell the Board awarded the job to Mr. White.
The Board opened bids received for winter fuel oil as follows:
CN Brown $2.349
C.Bean $2.579
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to award the bid to C.N. Brown. Marcia will send letters to both bidders.
Road projects were discussed as follows:
- Appointment Form was signed appointing Clark Jeffers, Jr. as Road Agent for a one-year term.
- Pot Hole on Bungy Road. (Mr. Laro had previously mentioned this to the Board when he was in.)
- Road signs – Marcia has had some complaints about signs missing. We need to check and see what ones need to be ordered and put them up. Titus Hill is missing along with Cooke Road.
- Selectman Campbell mentioned that it would be a nice gesture if the Town were to pay a small stipend to the three people who had volunteered to put chloride down on the roads. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to write checks to all three people in the amount of $30.00.
Marcia informed the Board that she had received an e-mail from someone named Mat Glover who owns a bookstore in Lincoln. He is interested in purchasing some copies of the Town History for his store and was wondering if he purchased multiple copies that the Town could give him a reduced price. After discussion, the Board voted to sell the books to Mr. Glover at $23.75 which is what it actually cost the Town to print them, if he purchased 10 or more copies. Marcia will e-mail Mr. Glover.
An e-mail was received from Donna Jordan regarding the former Shrine property which was recently purchased by the Great North Woods Center for the Arts. The group is looking for tax-exempt status as far as property taxes are concerned. Marcia informed the Board that she had spoken with the NHMA to see if they had any guidelines for dealing with tax exempt properties. They don’t. The Board instructed Marcia to e-mail Mrs. Jordan back and explain that you must file for tax exempt status by April 1st of year tax year. Also, the Board is still waiting for a Business Plan that they can review before discussing the matter further.
At 7:54 Town Treasurer Jennifer Wells entered the meeting to give the Board members a report on monies currently on hand. Mrs. Wells left the meeting at 8:10 pm.
The Board briefly discussed Dispatch Center issues regarding a funding formula.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Sep 17, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00pm. Present were Selectmen Eric Stohl, Norman Cloutier, and Donald Campbell. Public present was Renaud Grandmaison.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed. Mail was reviewed.
Minutes from July 25th meeting were reviewed, Selectmen Stohl made a motion to accept the minutes, Selectmen Campbell seconded, all in favor, so approved.
Renaud Grandmaison brought it to Marcia’s attention that he had entered the wrong amount on his Report of Wood. Marcia corrected the problem, and the Selectmen were all in agreement. Grandmaison left the meeting at 6:10pm.
The Auditors will be coming on August 13-15 for the Town’s annual audit.
The MS60A form was reviewed and signed by the Selectmen.
The Federal Forest Reimbursement form was reviewed and signed as well.
Jason Rella entered meeting at 6:15pm to review and sign his painting contract. Rella discussed that he would not be doing the painting alone, and that he would be overseeing all work done on the building. Selectmen were in agreement with this change to the contract. Rella agreed that all work would be completed in 45 days. Both the Selectmen and Rella signed, and each received a copy. Rella was given a key to start his work anytime. Rella left the meeting at 6:40pm.
There was a discussion on bill from Colebrook Fire Dept., questioning who to send bill to on “blue trailer”. Selectman Campbell said to send it to Laurence Poindexter.
Selectmen were in agreement to send bids out for oil.
Selectmen discussed the “Returned Check Policy” and Selectmen Stohl motioned to accept the corrected policy, Selectmen Campbell seconded, all in favor, so moved.
Selectmen Cloutier requested we send Road Liability Waiver’s to both Dave Andrew, and Mark McLauglin to be signed.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm by Selectmen Cloutier, seconded by Selectmen Campbell.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie DeBlois
