by admin | Sep 10, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
Meeting began at 6:03 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Stohl. Selectman Campbell was absent.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An e-mail was received from Amanda at the Vermont River Conservancy. Amanda had two requests:
1. They would like to install a sign/map at the Columbia Covered Bridge Site. After discussion, the Board instructed Marcia to e-mail her back and give our permission.
2. They are concerned about the traffic at the Lyman Falls site. The boulder that the Town had placed has been moved and people are driving in. The VRC would like to place a locked gate and the Town would be responsible for giving out the code to people. After discussion, the Board decided that they were not in favor of this idea. The Board will suggest to the VRC that we place “several” large boulders there and see if that solves the problem.
The contracts with NH Broadband were signed by Chairman Cloutier.
The Board asked Marcia if we had heard anything regarding the on-going legal matter. Marcia said that she had e-mailed Attorney Chris Hilson but had not heard back. The Board discussed writing a letter to the State Attorney General and see if he could help resolve this issue. Marcia will draft a letter for the Board to review.
The Board discussed and assessing situation. A letter was reviewed from Gary Fournier (Brett Purvis & Associates) and an e-mail from Chris Boldt. The Board discussed going ahead and having DRA do the 2025 pick-ups so we will be ready to have our tax rate set in the fall. Marcia will call Chris Boldt and Denice Roy (from DRA) to see what our next steps should be.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Aug 27, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Campbell. Selectman Stohl was absent.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the August 13, 2024 meeting.
The Board reviewed and signed the MS-535 for 2025.
The Board reviewed the MS60. Cohos Advisors has already submitted this report to DRA.
Marcia informed the Board that she had requested an extension on the MS-1 until November lst.
Selectman Campbell and Marcia reviewed for Selectman Cloutier the telephone conversation they had this morning with Attorney Chris Boldt regarding our assessing contracts and filing an extension with BTLA of our revaluation. Attorney Boldt had reviewed a draft letter that Marcia had prepared to send to Allison Purvis (Brett S. Purvis & Associates) regarding her company’s completing the contracts. The Board reviewed the letter and signed it. Marcia will send it (via e-mail) tomorrow with a copy to Attorney Boldt. We are asking for a response from Mrs. Purvis within seven business days.
The Board discussed road projects:
1. Paving was done on Wednesday.
2. Marcia passed along a complaint from a Bungy resident regarding ditching.
3. At the end of August, we have spent approximately $86,000 out of the summer road budget.
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Aug 13, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:04 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Mail was reviewed.
At 6:20 Craig Washburn entered the meeting. Mr. Washburn came to the meeting at the request of the Board to discuss the speed limit of ATVs on a portion of Bungy Road. Selectman Stohl noted that the trail is posted as 20 mph and that it was the intention of the Board when they granted permission for the trail that the speed limit would be 10 mph. Mr. Washburn stated that most all of the trails are posted at 20. The Board requested that as the landowners, they wished it to be posted as 10. Mr. Washburn said he would try to get some 10 mph signs from the State. Mr. Washburn left the meeting at 6:49.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the July 23, 2025 meeting.
Marcia informed the Board that Cohos Advisors would be at the office tomorrow doing the annual compilation for 2024.
Marcia told the Board that she had been contacted by a State Fish & Game officer regarding camping at Lyman Falls. The Board reviewed the Easement and noted that it does say that “primitive camping” is p
by admin | Jul 23, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Mail was reviewed.
An Intent to Cut form was approved for Leon Wentworth.
On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved the minutes of the July 9, 2025 meeting.
Marcia reviewed with the Board a recent telephone conversation she had with Sam Green from DRA. Mr. Green discussed with Marcia the Town’s ongoing assessing issues. The biggest concern is that the “pick-ups” for 2025 need to be completed before setting the tax rate. Mr. Green gave Marcia the name of a couple of assessors that we could reach out to. The Board discussed the current assessing contracts that we have with Brett S. Purvis & Associates and how the financial part of it should be handled. Marcia was instructed to contact the Town’s Attorney for guidance.
The Board discussed an e-mail received from Douglas Rybinski regarding the Board’s denial of his Abatement Application. The Board instructed Marcia to inform Mr. Rybinski that the Board stands by its original decision.
by admin | Jul 9, 2025 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl the Board approved the minutes of the June 25, 2025 meeting.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
At 6:30 pm. Jimmy Gilbert (Stewartstown Selectman) and Ben Champagne (Coos County) entered the meeting to discuss Transfer Station issues:
1. Price for passenger tires was raised from $4.00 to $6.00.
2. Mr. Champagne suggested that a committee should be formed to work on issues regarding the Transfer Station such as a policy manual for the employees, maintenance issues, etc. Selectman Stohl from Columbia and Selectman Gilbert from Stewartstown agreed to serve with Mr. Champagne to start addressing these issues. The first meeting will be held on August 5th at 4:00 in Stewartstown.
3. Household Hazardous Waste Day – should we have one and how can we lower the cost of it. This will be an issue that the new committee might deal with.
4. Stickers – should we use them or not. How to distribute them?
5. Lithium batteries – how do we store them and where can we get rid of them?
6. Fencing around the C & D container is being replaced.
Mr. Champagne left the meeting at 7:00. Other Transfer Station matters discussed included:
1. Letter received from Normandeau regarding switching to a 40 yard container. Normandeau agreed to keep the price the same ($218.50) for the remainder of this contract and for the next five year contract. Everyone was in agreement with this. Marcia will contact Normandeau.
2. With prices increasing all the time, it is necessary to put some extra “seed” money in the Transfer Station account. Marcia told the group that we usually start the month with about $12,000 in the account. This has been sufficient to pay the monthly bills, however, the last two months the bills have been $17,000+. Part of this is due to the fact that the account is now paying Mt. Carberry directly rather than each individual Town paying. Also, other expenses continue to increase. It was decided that we should add $8,000 to the account and each Town will pay according to the percentage. Stewartstown’s portion will be $5,596.00, Columbia’s – $1,936.00 and Lemington – $468.00. Marcia will send an e-mail to Stewartstown and Lemington informing them of this fact.
Mr. Gilbert left the meeting at 7:20 pm.
A Yield Tax Warrant and Certification were signed in the amount of $1,631.16.
The Board spent time discussing an on-going legal matter.
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
