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MINUTES October 24, 2018

Meeting began at 6:00 pm.  Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.  Members of the public present:  Tax Collector Garry Parkhurst and Stewartstown Selectman Allan Coats.

Mr. Coats came to the meeting to open bids for plowing at the Transfer Station.  Bids were received from the following:

  1. Belknap Septic, LLC (James Belknap)
  2. Piper Notch Farm (Rocky Heath)
  3. Corey Rancloes

After reviewing the three bids, a motion was made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to award the bid to Belknap Septic, LLC.  Mr. Coats will informed the County (Ben Champagne) of this.  Marcia will send letters to all the bidders.

Marcia showed the Board and Mr. Coats sample “transfer station stickers” that she got from Colebrook Copy Center.  The price for 2,000 stickers will be $790.00.  On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the stickers and decided that they would say “Coos County Transfer Station” along with the numbers 1 – 2000.  It was decided to change “colors” each year to make it easier for the attendants to verify who is entering the station.

Mr. Coats suggested to the Board that both Boards should meet with Ben Champagne to discuss items such as fencing, security, etc.  Mr. Coats will contact him to set up the meeting.  Mr. Coats left the meeting.

The Board reviewed the preliminary tax rate for 2018 received from the State.  On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to use $88,100 in fund balance to lower the tax rate.  Marcia will send the rate back to DRA for final approval.  The Warrant was signed by the Board.

The Board opened bids received for plowing the Town Hall and the Town Office for the upcoming year.  Bids were received from:

  1. Corey Rancloes
  2. Sheldon Gray
  3. Piper Notch Farm (Rocky Heath)
  4. Wells Excavators, Inc. (James Wells)

On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to award the bid to James Wells.  Marcia will write letters to each bidder.

On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved the minutes of the October 10, 2018 meeting.

Mail was reviewed.

Checks and manifests were signed.

The MS60W (Audit Wavier Request) for fiscal year 2018 was signed.

Marcia reminded the Board that the Recycling Center Budget meeting will be held on November 2, 2018 @ 10:00.  Copies of the proposed budget were given to each Board member.

On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved an amendment to the Town’s ATV policy making the closing date of the trails as “dusk on Columbus Day”.

The Board reviewed information received from Becky Robinson, Administrator of the Dispatch Center.  This included a sample letter and agreement to be signed by the various towns.

Marcia reminded the Board that the State General Election is on Tuesday, November 6th, and that she will need them available to seal the ballot boxes once the polls close.

The Board reviewed proposed road maintenance on both Bungy Road and Fish Pond Road.  Marcia will contact DRA about encumbering monies from 2018 to complete projects in 2019.

Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary

Board of Selectmen

MINUTES November 14, 2018

Meeting began at 6:05 pm.  Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Stohl.  Selectman Campbell was absent.

Mail was reviewed.

Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.

On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the October 24th meeting.

Marcia reminded the Board members that there will be a Dispatch Center meeting on November 20th in Colebrook.

A Veteran’s Tax Credit in the amount of $700.00 was approved for James Elliott.

The Board signed a refund check for Fairpoint (Consolidated Communications).  This refund is a result of their assessment going down along with the tax rate.

Marcia told the Board members that she was still waiting to hear back from the Town of Stewartstown before ordering the Transfer Station stickers.

The Board voted to pay both Stephen Brooks and Jane McCoy for the time they spent helping on the State General Election.

The Board reviewed a letter from Ben Champagne (Coos County) regarding the Recycling Center Budget meeting.

Marcia informed the Board that she had received an e-mail from Jamie Dow at DRA regarding the procedure to be used when encumbering funds from 2018 to be used in 2019.

Marcia told the Board that she had spoken to SDI Signs in Jefferson regarding “Town” signs.  They are going to work up some designs for us to review along with an estimate.

The Board discussed the Planning Board policy regarding “permitting” camper trailers.

Road issues were discussed as follows:

  1. So. Jordan Hill Road – new owners have purchased camp just past Paul Tessier.  They are concerned because the plow turns around right there and continually fills in their driveway.  Selectman Cloutier will look into the situation.
  1. Stoddard Road – Dennis Cloud is concerned about poaching on his property.  Wants to know if he can put up a gate.  He wanted to attend the meeting and discuss this issue but has to be out of Town.  He did place a call to Selectman Stohl.  After discussing the issue, Selectman Stohl said he would get back to Mr. Cloud regarding a gate, etc,

Cemetery Sexton, Sheila Parkhurst, had left for the Board some pictures and a list of stones that need repairing.  After reviewing the information, the Board instructed Marcia to ask Sheila to attend a meeting so they can discuss this in person.

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary

Board of Selectmen

MINUTES November 28, 2018

Meeting began at 6:05pm.  Present were Selectmen Eric Stohl, Norman Cloutier, and Donald Campbell. 

Mail was reviewed

Checks and manifest were reviewed and signed.

The minutes from November 14, 2018, were approved by Selectman Stohl, and seconded by Selectman Cloutier.

Cemetery Sexton, Sheila Parkhurst, entered meeting at 6:10pm to discuss issues at the Columbia Bridge Cemetery concerning many of the headstones.  Selectman Stohl made a motion to appropriate $2250.00 for Sheila Parkhurst to do the repairs mentioned in her estimate.  Selectman Cloutier seconded it, and all approved.  Sheila Parkhurst left meeting at 6:35pm.

Treasurer Jennifer Wells entered meeting at 6:40pm and reported her statements to the Selectmen.  Wells left the meeting at 7:00pm.

A Veteran’s Tax Credit was approved for Richard Zuk.

Selectman Campbell reminded the Board that the next Dispatch meeting was on December 13 in Pittsburg, at 5:30.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:20pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra DeBlois

MINUTES December 12, 2018

Meeting began at 6:05pm.  Present were Selectmen Eric Stohl, Norman Cloutier, and Donald Campbell.

Mail was reviewed, checks were signed, and the minutes from November 28 were accepted.

The Selectmen reviewed the new stickers for the Coos County Transfer Station, that the towns will begin using in January.  They agreed letters should be sent out to the town’s residents along with their new sticker.

A letter was reviewed from the Town of Stewartstown regarding using the former Superintendent’s house for the nursing home administrative offices.  All were in favor of presenting letter along with the other towns.

Selectman Cloutier signed Municipal Work Zone Agreement with NH DOT involving sign projects.

A Thank-You note was mailed in for Selectman Cloutier from Linda Zarli, for doing a nice job on Bungy Road.

Intents to Cut were signed for Justin Frizzell, Tony Hibbard, and Jeremy Moren.

Purple Heart/POW plates were discussed, regarding having the town charging no fee as the State does not.  It will have to be brought to town meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra DeBlois

MINUTES December 26, 2018

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