by admin | Mar 6, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois, Tax Collector Garry Parkhurst and Noah Pollack (Vermont River Conservancy).
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois came to the meeting to discuss amendments to be voted on at Town Meeting.
Noah Pollack entered the meeting at 6:25 pm. Mr. Pollack presented the Board with a deed to the small piece of property next to the Columbia Covered Bridge. The Vermont River Conservancy will maintain an easement on the property. Mr. Pollack showed the Board members a sample of a poster which they wish to display at the site explaining the history of the bridge. The Board discussed with Mr. Pollack their intent to put an article on the warrant to rename the Lyman Falls site the “William Schomburg Memorial Recreation Site @ Lyman Falls.” Mr. Pollack suggested that he could have a sign made and that perhaps this summer we could have a ceremony unveiling the new sign. He said that the Schomburg family is interested in still being active in maintaining the Lyman Falls site since it was so important to Mr. Schomburg. Once, the sign is designed, Mr. Pollack will send a proof of it to the Board members for their input. Mr. Pollack left the meeting.
A contract with Cloutier Sand & Gravel, Inc. was signed for snowplowing for the next three years.
The Board instructed Marcia to send a copy of the snowplowing bill for the Transfer Station to the Stewartstown Selectboard.
A letter from Fairpoint Communications was reviewed. Marcia was instructed to forward the letter to George Sansoucy.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell the Board voted to approve the minutes of the January 24th meeting.
At 7:00 pm., the meeting was recessed in order for the Board to hold the annual budget hearing.
At 7:35 pm the regular meeting resumed.
Meeting adjourned at 7:38 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Feb 19, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Planning Board Chairman, Scott Deblois, Tax Collector, Garry Parkhurst, Brett Brooks, Bill Wilkins and Nathan Borland from the 45th Parallel EMS.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Mail was reviewed.
Scott DeBlois came to the Board to discuss the following zoning issues:
- After e-mails back and forth from NHMA (which Mr. DeBlois shared with the Select board) it has been determined that the Planning Board is the enforcement authority with regards to zoning violations.
- Bradys have the front of their store all sided and have started siding one of the ends.
- Selectman Stohl reviewed for the other Board members and Mr. DeBlois his conversation with Mrs. Lamontagne regarding her zoning violation. Mrs. Lamontagne has filled out the application but didn’t want her check cashed until she had proof that no one else was living in a camper. Mr. DeBlois stated that to his knowledge there wasn’t anyone doing that. Selectman Stohl recommended that the check be cashed and a permit issued to Mrs. Lamontange.
Mr. DeBlois left the meeting.
Brett Brooks, Bill Watkins and Nathan Borland from the 45th Parallel entered the meeting at 6:30 pm. Before discussing the ambulance budget, the Board asked Mr. Brooks why the Town has not been receiving bills on a monthly basis from the Fire Department. Mr. Brooks explained that the department has new a clerk and that we should be getting bills each month from now on.
The Board explained to the ambulance members that they were extremely concerned about how the budget was presented to them. Basically a one sentence letter, the Memo of Agreement and the breakdown of what each Town would be paying. Mr. Watkins explained that the budget doesn’t get finalized until around the second week in January and that it doesn’t really allow for much warning to the Towns before they have to get their budgets ready. Mr. Watkins went on to say that in his opinion the service would never be “self-sufficient” as the previous chief had promised. He stated that the realty of the situation is that what they bill and what they actually collect are very different numbers. In this area, there are a large number of people who are “self-pay”, but don’t. This along with the low numbers that Medicaid pays makes for a deficit. The Board requested that Mr. Watkins provide them with some “bullet” items that they could use to answer questions at Town Meeting. Mr. Watkins told the Board that his contract is up at the end of May and that the Deputy Chief (Nathan Borland) would be taking over. The Board thanked the gentlemen for attending. Mr. Brooks, Mr. Watkins and Mr. Borland left the meeting.
Chairman Cloutier signed the Memo of Understanding with the 45th Parallel EMS.
Bids for Winter Plowing were opened as follows:
Clark Jeffers, Jr.
1st year – $110,000
2nd year – $115,000
3rd year – $120,000
Cloutier Sand & Gravel
lst year – $ 98,000
2nd year – $100,000
3rd year – $102,000
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman
Campbell, the Board voted to award the bid to Cloutier Sand & Gravel. Selectman Cloutier excused himself from the vote.
The following items were discussed regarding the budget/Town Meeting:
- Budget Hearing is scheduled for February 14th. The School Budget Hearing has already been schedule for that night at 6:00. We will do ours immediately after. An advertisement will appear in next week’s and the following week’s newspaper.
- Marcia gave the Board copies of the final budget numbers along with a draft copy of the Warrant. Wording was discussed for the last article regarding naming the Lyman Falls site after Bill Schomburg.
- Marcia gave the Board members a copy of an e-mail from Jamie Dow at DRA regarding how to account for the extra Block Grant money the Town received this year. It was decided to put a paragraph in the Selectmen’s Report explaining that we received this money and how we spent it.
- Marcia will have the Budget and Warrant ready for the Board’s signature once the Budget Hearing is over.
- Marcia reminded the Board members that according to the auditors we must deduct taxes from our election workers and provide them with a W-2 at the end of the year. Currently the workers get $65.00 per day. Once taxes are taken out, they will make $60.02. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to increase the daily rate for the election workers to $75.00 per day.
Selectman Campbell reviewed for the other Board members e-mails regarding the Dispatch Center. Selectman Stohl asked if there was a
breakdown of the 2018 Dispatch Budget available. Selectman Campbell said he would have Becky Robinson send one out.
Meeting adjourned at 8:36 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Feb 15, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois and Tax Collector Garry Parkhurst.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois came to the meeting to discuss the following subjects:
- Kathleen Lamontagne – camper situation. The Board and Mr. DeBlois reviewed a letter received from Mrs. Lamontagne. After discussion, Selectman Stohl volunteered to stop by Mrs. Lamontagne’s house to see if he could speak with her and have her complete her application for the location of a camper. On the issue of her unfinished shed, the Board will revisit this issue when the weather improves.
- Christopher and Joyce Brady – the Board reviewed a letter received from Mrs. Brady regarding the unfinished siding on their store. After discussion, the Board placed a phone call to the Bradys and informed them that the front of the store must be finished by the end of January (2018) or the Town will take further action.
- Site Plan Regulations were discussed. Selectman Stohl stated that after reading them, he feels that enforcement of these regulations falls to the Planning Board not the Board of Selectmen. Mr. DeBlois said he had spoken with a lawyer from the NHMA and that he said it falls to the Board of Selectmen. It was noted that on the Town’s website, you can’t “print-out” copies of the site Plan Regulations. Marcia will contact Roxanne Herres to see if we can fix this problem.
Mr. DeBlois left the meeting.
Selectman Campbell reminded the Board that the Dispatch Center meeting is tomorrow night at 5:30 in Canaan. The Board signed a statement stating that they are in favor of changing the name of the Dispatch Center to the “Northern Borders Dispatch Center”. Budget numbers for 2018 will be presented at the meeting.
An Agreement with George Sanscouy to provide appraisal numbers in the tax cases against the Town by Fairpoint and Eversource was signed.
The MS60W (Audit Waiver Request) was signed for the 2017 fiscal year. Marcia will send it to DRA.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved a $.50 per hour raise for both the Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk retroactive to January lst.
Town Treasurer Jennifer Wells and Crystal Ouimette entered the meeting. Mrs. Wells informed the Board that she would like to appoint Mrs. Ouimette as her Deputy. Town Clerk Marcia Parkhurst issued the oath of office to Mrs. Ouimette. Mrs. Wells presented the Board with her monthly report for December, 2017. Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Ouimette left the meeting.
The Board reviewed the Town Formula numbers from the 45th Parallel. It was noted that Columbia’s appropriate has increased approximately 38%. The Board expressed concern that no back-up or documentation was received. The Board instructed Marcia to contact Ambulance Director Bill Watkins and ask him to attend the next meeting. Signing the annual agreement was postponed until the next meeting.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the December 27, 2017 meeting.
An Intent to Cut was approved for Martin Zarli.
The Board spent the remainder of the meeting discussing the 2018 budget. Marcia will have final numbers ready for the next meeting.
Selectman Stohl informed the other Board members that he had received a phone call from Dale McCoy regarding towing services initiated through the Dispatch Center. Mr. McCoy was concerned because he had been told by a customer that one of the dispatchers refused to give out his number. Mr. McCoy is also concerned about the “rotation schedule” regarding which towing companies are sent out. Mr. McCoy plans to attend tomorrow night’s dispatch meeting to discuss his concerns.
Meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Feb 15, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Tax Collector Garry Parkhurst, Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois, Charlie Jordan and Tom Jordan.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois came to the meeting to discuss a zoning violation issue regarding Kathleen Lamontagne. The Board of Selectmen signed a letter asking Mrs. Lamontagne to attend the next meeting on Wednesday, January 10th. Mr. DeBlois left the meeting.
Intent to Cut forms were approved for Charles White and Paul Carter.
A contract for Tax Map Maintenance for 2018 was signed for CAI Technologies. The contract price is $1,300.
A Letter of Engagement was signed with Crane and Bell to do the compilation for 2017 and the MS535. Field work will be performed on July 9 through 11th.
On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the November 8, 2017 meeting.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the December 13, 2017 meeting.
The Board reviewed and signed the Quitclaim Deed transferring the former Miles property (which was taken by Tax Deed) to Molly Campbell and Bradley Woodard. The new owners will take care of having the deed recorded.
A letter was reviewed and signed to be sent to Mrs. Linda Miles along with a check. This check represents the bid price of $11,008 minus taxes, interest and costs due to the Town.
At 6:50 Charlie Jordan and Tom Jordan entered the meeting. Mr. Jordan explained that the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts has a Purchase and Sale Agreement on the Shrine Property. Mr. Jordan explained what had been taking place regarding the property and the committee’s tentative “vision” for it. Mr. Jordan further explained that one of the questions the committee members would ask is if there would be a property tax bill and how much the bill would be. The Board explained to Mr. Jordan that the Oblates have paid the 2017 property tax bill but they had asked to have an Abatement Form sent to them, which was done. Once they return the completed Abatement Form, then the assessor will make an appointment to view the entire property and make his recommendation as to whether the assessment should be reduced. The Board informed Mr. Jordan that they really couldn’t make a decision until they learn more about what the property might be used for. The Board asked Mr. Jordan to provide them with a basic “business plan” outlining exactly what their plans are. Mr. Jordan promised to send this to the Town. Mr. Charlies Jordan and Mr. Tom Jordan left the meeting at 7:45.
The Board discussed items regarding the 2018 budget. The Budget Hearing has been tentatively set for February 14th. Petition warrant articles must be in by February 6th.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Jan 4, 2018 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:48 pm. Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell. Selectman Cloutier was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An Intent to Cut was approved for Daniel Klebe.
A Land Use Change Tax form and Warrant were signed for Robert Anderson.
A Current Use Application was signed for Arlene Mills.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl the Board approved the minutes of the November 22, 2017 meeting.
A letter was received and read from Craig Bishop regarding his zoning violation. According to the letter, Mr. Bishop is sending out the required fee.
It was noted the Ryan Ouimette has finished paying his zoning fees.
Town Treasurer Jennifer Wells came into the meeting to present the Board with her report for November, 2017. Mrs. Wells informed the Board that she had spoken to Crystal Ouimette who is interested in being her Deputy. Training would start after January 1st.
The Board discussed the former Miles property which was recently sold by sealed bid to Stacey Campbell. Mrs. Campbell has requested that the deed be made out to her daughter. She will provide us with a letter stating exactly how she wants the deed made out. Marcia will have the paperwork ready for the Board to sign at the next meeting.
The Board discussed the public hearing held by the Planning Board at their meeting regarding changing the size requirements for a permit.
It was noted that Planning Board secretary, Stacey Campbell, submitted her resignation to the Planning Board.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
