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MINUTES December 27, 2023

Meeting began at 6:00 pm.  Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell.  Selectman Cloutier was absent.

Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.

On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved the minutes of the December 13th meeting.

The Board reviewed a letter from Kevin McKinnon, who is the Chairman of the Headwaters Committee of the Connecticut River Joint Commission expressing his concern about the emergency procedures which are in place should there be a failure at Murphy Dam.

A serious discussion ensued regarding Columbia’s status in the North Country.

Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Donald Campbell

Selectman

MINUTES NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Meeting began at 6:00 pm.  Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.

Bob Baker entered the meeting at 6:00 pm to discuss his recent e-mail regarding the internet towers that have been constructed in Town by Netafy.  Mr. Baker expressed his concern that the Town did not comply with their Zoning Ordinances and that this could cause problems further down the road when another company wants to construct something similar.  He stated that it was his opinion that at this point we do whatever we have to do to rectify this situation.  Mr. Baker asked if the Board had received permission to accept these funds.  Marcia stated that the Town had adopted an article in 2010 giving the Selectmen permission to accept unanticipated funds and to spend them without additional action by the Town.  Also, the Town did hold a public hearing about receiving the funds and where they would be spending them on September 8, 2021.  Mr. Baker also stated that he had been in touch with Planning Board Chairman Scott DeBlois and that Mr. DeBlois was consulting with the NHMA about where the Town should go from here.  The Board stated that they would consult with Mr. DeBlois and continue to work on resolving the situation.  Mr. Baker left the meeting at 6:40 pm.

Mail was reviewed.

Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.

On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the November 8th meeting.

The Board reviewed the minutes of the recent Dispatch Center budget meeting.  Selectman Campbell gave the Board an updated and various issues regarding the Center.

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary

Board of Selectmen

 

MINUTES NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Meeting began at 6:00 pm.  Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.

At 6:05 Planning Board Chairman, Scott DeBlois, entered the meeting to discuss a recent e-mail sent from Bob Baker to him and the Board of Selectmen regarding the internet towers installed by Netafy in Town.  Mr. Baker is concerned because the Town didn’t follow the ordinance with regards to site plan review, public hearings, etc.  The Board reviewed the Town’s ordinance regarding “Personal Wireless Services Facilities” and questioned whether this applies to this situation.  Selectman Stohl said that he thought they had brought this question up to Don Dawson from Netafy and Don had said that it didn’t apply to what they were doing.  The Board instructed Marcia to contact Mr. Dawson to see what information he could provide and if he had applied to other Town’s Planning Boards for towers.  The Board decided to table any further action on this e-mail until they get more information.  Mr. DeBlois left the meeting at 6:30 pm.

Mail was reviewed.

Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.

Marcia reminded the Board that our next meeting will be held on Monday, November 20th, instead of Wednesday, November 22nd, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  Marcia has placed in ad in the newspaper, on the Town’s website and on the door of the office.

The Board reviewed a “Bounced Check Policy” prepared by Marcia.  On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the policy as written.

On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the October 25, 2023 meeting.

Marcia provided the Board members with reconciliation reports for each of the Town’s bank accounts.

Marcia provided the Board members with a breakdown of expenditures and revenue through October 31, 2023.

A Road Liability Waiver was signed for Kevin Stewart on Washburn Road.

Marcia told the Board she had received a phone call from Jean Vachon regarding an elm tree on Fish Pond Road near her home.  Mrs. Vachon said that a limb had recently come down and she was concerned with winter coming that more limbs might come down in the road.  The Board discussed whether the tree was in the Town’s right of way.  Selectman Stohl said he would look at it and see if he thinks there is a problem.

Marcia informed the Board that after the recent paving, we have approximately $9,000.00 left in the Summer Road budget.

The Board reviewed the preliminary 2023 tax rate received from DRA.  After discussion, Selectman Stohl made a motion which was seconded by Selectman Cloutier to use $150,000 .00 in fund balance to reduce taxes.  The motion passed.  Marcia said she would send the information to DRA tomorrow and would get the Warrant ready for the Board to sign over the weekend.  Tax bills will go out either Monday or Tuesday of next week with a due date of December 21, 2023.

The Board discussed the Dispatch Center meeting which will be held tomorrow night.

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary

Board of Selectmen

MINUTES OCTOBER 25, 2023

Meeting began at 6:00 pm.  Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell.  Selectman Cloutier was absent.

Mail was reviewed.

Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.

The Board signed an authorization form for the Trustees of the Trust Funds to withdraw $10,000 from the Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund for work being done at the Columbia Bridge Cemetery.  Selectman Campbell stated that he had stopped and everything looks really good.

On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the October 11, 2023 meeting.

The Board discussed the County Recycling Center Budget Hearing to be held tomorrow at 4:00 pm at the County Office Building.  Selectman Campbell said he planned on attending.

The Board discussed the Dispatch Center Budget.  The Budget Hearing will be held on Thursday, November 9th, in Colebrook.  This meeting is for all selectmen from the core towns.

The Board reviewed a new policy – “Safety Policy/Written Program”.  On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to approve this policy as written.  Marcia will send the necessary paperwork to the Department of Labor.

At 6:30 pm Don Dawson from Netafy entered the meeting.  He showed the Board a slide presentation of all the internet sites and the money spent on them to date.  The Board discussed having some sort of presentation at Town Meeting (slide show during the day) to show people what we have done with the monies we received.

Don Dawson left the meeting at 7:30 pm.

Marcia mentioned to the Board that our second meeting in November is scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving.  It was decided that we will re-schedule this meeting to Monday, November 20th.  Marcia will put a notice in the newspaper.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary

Board of Selectmen

 

 

MINUTES OCTOBER 11, 2023

Meeting began at 6:00 pm.  Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.

Ben Champagne entered the meeting at 6:00 to discuss an issue regarding the Coos County Recycling Center.  Ben explained that beginning January 1st, the Recycling Center will be asking residents to separate different types of “plastics” along with aluminum cans and metal cans.  Mr. Champagne explained that the reason for this is that the County does not have enough inmates to handle the recycling and that by doing this the County wouldn’t have to hire any additional help.  The Board and Mr. Champagne discussed how to get this information out to the public (Towns’ websites, fliers at Town Offices, fliers at the Transfer Stations themselves, etc.  Mr. Champagne explained that at our Transfer Station we will have a new container for the plastics and use the existing one for the two different types of metal along with glass.  Mr. Champagne told the Board that the annual Recycling Center Budget hearing will be held at 4:00 on October 26th, at the County office building.  He will be sending out the budget information within the next few days.  Mr. Champagne left the meeting at 6:35 pm.

The Board had a conference call with Shawn from Bianchi Memorials in Derby, Vermont.  Shawn explained that he had looked over the work to be done in the Columbia Bridge Cemetery.  He said that generally they work by the day.  He said that for $5,000.00 they would work for two days (2men) and one day (3 men).  They would accomplish what they could in that amount of time.  Shawn explained that he would need the Town to furnish a load of ledge pack for them to use.  Selectman Cloutier will look at where he could dump it.  Shawn stated that they are currently finishing up in Colebrook and could work in Columbia the last two weeks of October.  The Board thanked him and said we would get back to him.

After finishing the call, Marcia informed the Board that we have approximately $23,000 in the Cemetery Maintenance Fund.  The Board discussed spending $10,000 this year and see what we get done

Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.

On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the September 27th meeting.

The Board signed copies of the MS535 and the MS1.  Marcia will submit these to DRA.  Jamie Dow at DRA is already working on reviewing our paperwork for setting our tax rate.

Marcia gave the Board the monthly reconciliation reports for all the bank accounts.

Marcia gave the Board an up-to-date listing of unpaid taxes.

A permission form from the Colebrook Ski-Bees was signed by Selectman Cloutier for use of two portions of Town roads as part of the snowmobile trail.

Two Land Use Change Tax bills and warrants were signed for Mark McLaughlin and Marcia Parkhurst.

 

 

 

 

 

The Board reviewed an e-mail from George Sansoucy’s office with answers to Marcia’s inquiry as to why our utility values (especially the pipeline) decreased.  It was noted that our equalization ratio of 62% was applied and this amounted to the decrease.  This will continue to happen until we finish our revaluation in 2025.

Marcia informed the Board that she had spoken to Sally Zankowski on the phone regarding the Health Officer position.  Ms. Zankowski said that at this time she did not feel that she could accept the position due to her current full-time job.  However, she said that we should check back with her in two months and that things might change.  She said if that happens, she would be happy to be our Health Office.  She gave Marcia her cell phone number and Marcia will check back with her in a couple of months.

Marcia informed the Board that we still have approximately $70,000 in the summer road budget.  The following projects were discussed:

Gravel – Meridan Hill Road

Gravel – Stoddard Road

Gravel – Brown Road

Selectman Cloutier said that these projects would be approximately $15,000.00.  He will check on doing some more paving.

Selectman Campbell reminded the Board members that the annual Dispatch Center Budget Hearing will be held on October 19th.

Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary

Board of Selectmen