MINUTES OF COLUMBIA TOWN MEETING MARCH 12, 2024
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