by admin | Mar 13, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Town Clerk, Marcia Parkhurst, administered the Oath of Office to Selectman Stohl.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to nominate Selectman Cloutier as Chairman.
Michael Collins (Columbia’s representative to the 45th Parallel EMS Board) entered the meeting at 6:00 pm. Mr. Collins came to the meeting at the request of the Board to discuss several issues regarding the ambulance. The main question for Mr. Collins was about how the ambulance service plans to bill the “Unincorporated Towns & Gores” in Vermont. The Columbia Board feels strongly that the ambulance should treat these entities in the same manner that the dispatch center currently handles the “unincorporated towns” in New Hampshire. Mr. Collins agreed and said that he would check into it. Mr. Collins left the meeting at 6:30.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed.
The equalization ratio from DRA for this year was reviewed. It is currently at 58.8% but the Board noted that next year we will be completing our latest revaluation cycle.
An e-mail was received from Northern Human Services (Shallow River) regarding the Board’s request to increase their “payment in lieu of taxes”
by admin | Mar 12, 2024 | Annual Town Meetings
Moderator Stephen Brooks called the meeting to order at 8:25 pm and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The moderator announced the results of the election as follow:
Selectman – 3 year term – Eric Stohl
Supervisor of Checklist – 6 year term – Stacey Campbell
Trustee of Trust Funds – 3 year term – Isabelle Parkhurst
Moderator – 2 year term –Stephen Brooks
Planning Board – 3 year term – Carolyn Foss (write-in) 4 votes
Michael Sullivan (write-in) 3 votes
Bob Baker – (write-in) 1 vote
Jacob Brady – (write-in) 1 vote
Ms. Foss said she would accept the position.
The moderator read the results of the Zoning Amendments as follows:
Question # 1 – failed (12 yes/27 no)
Question #2 – Failed (14 yes/20 no)
Question #3 – Passed (30 yes/14 no)
(45 voters cast votes during the day. Approximately 55 people attended Town Meeting.)
Articles on the Warrant were voted on as follows:
ARTICLE #2: Motion made by Stacey Campbell and seconded by Jennifer Wells to instruct the Selectmen to appoint all other Town Officials as required. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #3: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $120,000.00 for Town Charges for the ensuing year. (Motion passed by voice vote).
ARTICLE #4: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for extinguishing fires in said Town. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #5: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,073.000 to help support the operations of the Northern Borders Dispatch Center. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #6: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $82,339.00 to help support the services of the 4t5th Parallel EMS Medical Services. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #7: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.0o to pay for police coverage from the Town of Colebrook. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #8: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,200.00 for the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital Association to cover medical emergencies. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #9: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for operating expenses of the North Country Home Health & Hospice. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #10: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $700.00 as a contribution for the support and services of Northern Human Services. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #11: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of$5,000.00 for the maintenance of the Town’s cemeteries. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #12: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $125.00 for the support of the Geo. L. O’Neil Post #62 American Legion. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #13: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the support of the Tri-County Community Action Program. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #14: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for support of the poor. (Motion passed by voice vote).
ARTICLE #15: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $200,000.00 for the maintenance of summer roads. Out of this amount, approximately $40,000.00 to be reimbursed by the State of New Hampshire Highway Block Grant monies. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #16 Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $120,000.00 for maintenance of winter roads. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #17: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to raise and appropriate the sum of $55,000.00 for solid waste disposal and recycling. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #18: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,332.00 for the Colebrook Public Library. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #19: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Jennifer Wells to raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000.00 for appraisal upkeep. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #20: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for maintenance of the tax maps. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTIICLE #21: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 for expenses of the Planning Board. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #22: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to raise and appropriate the sum of $768.00 to help support the services of the American Red Cross. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #23: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to help support the Colebrook Area Food Pantry. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #24: Motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to be added to the Road Improvement Expendable Trust Fund previously established (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #25: Motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to help support the services of Helping Hands North. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #26: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to help support the Kiwanis Club 4th of July fireworks display. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
ARTICLE #27: Motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier to transact any other business which may legally come before this meeting. (Motion passed by voice vote.)
Motion made by Carolyn Foss and seconded by Selectman Stohl to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed by voice vote. Moderator Stephen Brooks declared the meeting adjourned at 9:09 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia L. Parkhurst
Town Clerk
by admin | Feb 28, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
The meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell. Selectman Cloutier was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
At 6:05 pm Fred Smith entered the meeting. Mr. Smith wanted to talk to the Selectmen about the notice he just received regarding an impending tax deed. The Board gave Mr. Smith a print-out of the total amount that he owes in back taxes. Mr. Smith told the Board that he would try to have the 2021 taxes paid by the deadline of March 5th. The Board instructed Mr. Smith that if he wasn’t able to pay by that date, then he should contact Tax Collector, Debra DeBlois, about making a payment arrangement. Mr. Smith left the meeting at 6:15 pm.
At 6:16 State Representative Michael Ouellet entered the meeting. Mr. Ouellet explained to the Board about a bill he has been working on (which has passed the House) regarding carbon credits. He explained the basics of the bill and what the implications might be. Mr. Ouellet left the meeting at 6:28 after assuring the Board that he would keep them informed of future developments.
Marcia informed the Board that the 2024 Town Report has been added to the Town’s website and that we now have ten years of reports on the site.
Marcia reviewed for the Board the taxpayers still owing their 2021 taxes which will be due for deeding on March 5th.
The Board reviewed the warrant for Town Meeting and decided who would be speaking for each article.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Feb 14, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Stohl. Selectman Campbell was absent.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Marcia gave each Board member the bank reconciliations for the month of January.
Two Intent to Cut forms were approved for Barbara Schomburg and Allen Beloin.
A Current Use Application was approved for Stewart Sweatt, Jr.
The Board reviewed and signed the Town Meeting Warrant and Budget for 2024. Marcia will post both of these tomorrow.
Marcia informed the Board that she will be taking the Town Report to the printers tomorrow.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Jan 24, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Campbell. Selectman Stohl was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
The Board opened the bids received for the new three-year plowing contract. Bids were received as follows:
Clark Jeffers, Jr. $115,000.00 – lst year
$118,000.00 – 2nd year
$121,000.00 – 3rd year
Dominic Westover $115,000.00 – lst year
$117,000.00 – 2nd year
$119,000.00 – 3rd year
Selectman Cloutier stated that he wished to excuse himself from voting on this since he and Mr. Westover have a business relationship. Since the Board needed to make a decision tonight in order to continue with the Budget Hearing later in the meeting, a phone call was placed to Selectman Stohl. Selectman Campbell explained the situation and read the bids to Selectman Stohl. Selectman Campbell made a motion, which was seconded by Selectman Stohl to accept the bid from Mr. Westover. Motion passed by voice vote. (Selectman Cloutier abstained.)
A letter was signed to be sent to Northern Human Services regarding their payment in lieu of taxes for the Shallow River property.
Stacey Campbell entered the meeting at 6:30 pm. Mrs. Campbell explained that the Historical Group would like to have a fundraiser to raise money for the museum. She showed the Board a T-shirt that belonged to William Schomburg that they wish to re-create. The Board discussed what could be changed and gave their permission for Mrs. Campbell to explore this project further.
Marcia gave the Board members a list of taxpayers that Tax Collector, Debbie DeBlois, had sent Notices of Impending Tax Deed to.
The Board discussed a couple of maintenance issues regarding the Town Hall:
- How best to replace the bathroom floor.
- Instructed Marcia to order some “runners” for the stage floor.
At 7:00 pm. Selectman Cloutier called the annual Budget Hearing to order. Members of the public: Michael Collins. Mr. Collins informed the Board that he had come to the meeting to make sure that the Board didn’t have any questions regarding the ambulance budget. (Mr. Collins is Columbia’s representative to the ambulance Board of Directors.) The Board said they had no questions and Mr. Collins left the meeting. The Board continued reviewing the Budget. Selectman Cloutier declared the Budget Hearing adjourned at 7:10 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
