by Super User | Apr 7, 2023 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell. Selectman Cloutier was absent.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the October 26, 2022 meeting.
Mail was reviewed.
The monthly reconciliations for the Northway and NHPDIP accounts were reviewed.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to appoint Dr. Robert Soucy as the Town’s Health Officer and to pay him a $400.00 per year stipend.
The Board discussed the wages paid to the Election Workers. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board approved the following salaries for election workers:
Ballot Clerks and Supervisors of the Checklist – $125.00 per day
Town Moderator – $150.00 per day.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by Super User | Apr 7, 2023 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present were Paul Carter, Treasurer Carrie Klebe and Don Dawson (Netafy).
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 October 12, 2022 meeting.
Paul Carter entered the meeting to discuss a discrepancy in the Town’s Tax Map. After reviewing it, the Board informed Mr. Carter that it was really a civil matter between him and the abutting landowner and suggested that he either do some research on his own at the Registry of Deeds or hire the services of a surveyor. Mr. Carter left the meeting.
Town Treasurer Carrie Klebe entered the meeting and gave each Board member a reconciliation of the Town’s current finances as of September 30th. Ms. Klebe left the meeting.
The Board approved and signed a Petition to place a utility pole submitted by Eversource.
The Board reviewed and granted permission for the Colebrook Ski-Bees to continue to use a portion of Kelsea Notch Road and Gray Road as part of the snowmachine trail.
The Board signed Form MS-60W requesting a waiver of the state requirement for a complete audit for the 2022 fiscal year.
Marcia reminded the Board about the State General Election on November 8th. Selectman Campbell stated that he planned to be at the polls most of the day.
Selectman Cloutier stated that he had reviewed the site for a new driveway proposed by Albion Herres on Harvey Brook Road and that it was okay. Marcia will notify Mr. Herres.
The Board discussed a request from the Planning Board to look into the septic system situation at the St Pierre property on Gray Road. The Board feels that this is a Planning Board issue.
The Board reviewed the 2023 budget for the Recycling Center as prepared by the County. The budget meeting will be held at the Coos County Nursing Home on Friday, October 28th. Selectman Campbell said he planned to attend.
Don Dawson (Netafy) entered the meeting at 7; 02 to discuss the broadband project. Mr. Dawson shared with the Board the five sites that they are proposing to build along with maps showing what the coverage area would be. Mr. Dawson had previously provided by e-mail a draft copy of the agreement to be signed between Netafy and the Town. Marcia explained that she had forwarded it to the Town’s attorney, Jon Frizzell, for review along with the Town’s auditing firm, Cohos Advisors. The Board asked a couple of general questions regarding the agreement. Mr. Dawson stated that they are ready to begin the project and indicated that he could go ahead and start ordering supplies before the agreement gets signed. Mr. Dawson left the meeting at 7:50 pm.
Marcia gave the Board members copies of the proposed 2022 tax rate as set by DRA. After discussion, the Board voted to use $130,000 from fund balance to lower the tax rate. Marcia will submit this to DRA and once approved by them, we can go ahead and send out the tax bills.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by Super User | Apr 7, 2023 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the September 14, 2022 meeting.
Marcia told the Board that she had received a complaint about brush hanging down in the Lyman Cemetery. Selectman Campbell said he would take a look at it.
Marcia informed the Board that she had placed an ad in the newspaper for the weeks of October 5th & 12th advertising for bids for snowplowing the Town Office and Town Hall. Bids need to be received by Wednesday, October 12th and the Board can open them that night.
The Board reviewed and signed the MS-535 prepared by Cohos Advisors.
The Board reviewed and signed the MS-1. Marcia told the Board that this is the last form to be submitted for this year. Probably by the end of the month, the State will be ready to set our tax rate.
Marcia asked if anyone had viewed the location for a proposed driveway for Albion Herres. Selectman Cloutier said he would take a look at it.
The Board reviewed draft paperwork prepared by Attorney Frizzell in order to file an “interpleader” in the property that the Town sold last year to Duncan Cullman. The Board instructed Marcia to tell Attorney Frizzell to go forward with it.
The Board discussed the Summer Road budget. As of tonight, we have spent approximately $77,000 out of the total amount of $205,000.00. Selectman Cloutier said that the paving should be done shortly and that will be approximately $100,000.00.
At the next meeting (October 12th) a woman named Sue Ford will be coming to the meeting to present the Board with a Civil War chest which belonged to her Great Great Grandfather who was originally from Columbia. Marcia informed the Board that she had notified both newspapers and that it looks like they will both be attending to take pictures.
Marcia reminded the Board that she will be out of the office on October 17th through 21st. A notice will be in the newspaper for the next couple of weeks and letters will be sent to all of the people who have October registrations.
Selectman Campbell discussed maintenance issues to be taken care of at the Transfer Station.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Sep 30, 2022 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began a 5:58 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier and Campbell. Selectman Stohl was absent. Members of the public included: Norma Jean DeLong, Patrick and Molly Carr, Gary Whitehill, Craig Washburn and Ted Burns.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
Ted Burns and Craig Washburn came to the meeting at the request of the Selectmen. Selectman Campbell explained that the Board was concerned about where the ATV trails are crossing the Town’s roads and the damage that is being done. Discussion continued about what could be done to fix this problem. Materials discussed included asphalt, concrete, etc. Both Mr. Burns and Mr. Washburn stated they would look into it and try to do something before another riding season. Mr. Burns and Mr. Washburn left the meeting.
The Board opened bids received for the former Pearson property as advertised in the newspaper. Bids were open as follows:
Samuel Jeffers $7,000.00
Tala Silver $14,800.00
Norma Jean DeLong $12,500.00
Tyler Barrows $15,500.00
Landon Placey $31,100.00
Michael Collins $21,000.00
Patrick & Molly Carr $29,817.00
On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to award the bid to Landon Placey. The Board instructed Marcia to continue Jon Frizzell with a couple of questions and to return the deposit checks to the people who didn’t get the bid. Norma Jean DeLong, Patrick and Molly Carr left the meeting. (Norma Jean DeLong took her deposit along with her son, Tyler Barrows” with her.)
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the August 24, 2022 meeting.
The Board reviewed end of the month reconciliations for the Citizens Bank, Transfer Station and Northway bank accounts.
The Board signed a letter appointing Selectman Cloutier as Columbia’s representative to the Nash Stream Citizen Advisory Committee.
The MS535 and MS60 were reviewed. Marcia will take care of submitting these to DRA.
A Driveway Permit Application was received from Albion Herres for North Jordan Hill Road. Selectman Cloutier said he would view the proposed site.
Marcia informed the Board that she had received a phone call from the engineer in charge of the Lyman Falls project. He stated that the project should be completed this week and wanted to make sure that the Town was happy with the road. Selectman Campbell said the road was in very good condition. Marcia said she had spoken with Barbara Schomburg who claimed the road was the best it had ever been.
Selectman Campbell informed the Board that he had recently spoken with Gerard Gray regarding Mr. Gray’s concerns about the Columbia Covered Bridge. The Board discussed ways to fix the problem. Selectman Campbell is going to go and take some measurements for further discussion.
At 6:53 pm Chairman Cloutier declared the public hearing on unanticipated funds from the State of New Hampshire open. There were no members of the public The Board discussed using the unanticipated funds for additional paving on Marshall Hill, Meridan Hill and perhaps replacing a couple of culverts on Meridan Hill. On a motion made by Selectman Cloutier and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to accept the funds and spend it on the projects discussed. Chairman Cloutier declared the meeting ended at 7:10 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Sep 30, 2022 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Gary Whitehill.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectmen Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the August 10, 2022 meeting.
The Board reviewed a letter received from the State of New Hampshire DOT informing the Town that they had issued a check in the amount of $35,681.04 to the Town. These funds are considered “unanticipated funds” per RSA 31:95-b and require a public hearing. Marcia informed the Board that she had scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, September 14th, at 7:00 pm. The Board instructed Marcia to check with DRA as to whether these funds can only be spent on “road projects” or on something else.
The Board discussed road projects and upcoming paving.
Selectman Campbell gave the other Board members an update on renovations at the Town Hall.
The Board opened bids received for fuel oil for the upcoming winter as follows:
- Bean Transport – $4.249
C.N. Brown – $3.939
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to award the contract to C.N. Brown.
On a request from Cemetery Sexton Sheila Parkhurst, the Board voted to make a change to the Cemetery Policy in regards to the fee charged to open a cremation lot to $150.00. These figures now are the same as Colebrook’s.
The Board discussed the former Pearson property and when the Town could put it out for bids. Marcia will double-check with Attorney Frizzell regarding our next step.
Selectman Campbell expressed concern about the condition of certain Town roads where the ATV trail crosses. Marcia was instructed to write to both the Metallak ATV Club (Craig Washburn) and the North Country ATV Club (Ted Burns) and have them attend the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Sep 30, 2022 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
A Land Use Change bill and Warrant for signed in the amount of $1,428.50.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the July 27, 2022 meeting.
Marcia informed the Board that the second installment of the ARPA funds has been received.
The Board reviewed reconciliation reports for the Citizens Bank, Bangor Savings Bank and NHPDIP accounts.
Marcia informed the Board that she had sent out requests to receive bids for heating oil for the upcoming winter season to C.N. Brown and C. Bean Transport.
The Board reviewed a “Right to Know” policy that was drafted by Attorney Jon Frizzell. After discussion, Selectman Stohl made a motion which was seconded by Selectman Campbell to accept the policy as written.
The Board discussed putting a separate article on the Town Meeting Warrant to deal with on-going requests for “Right to Know” information. At the present time, we have one taxpayer who has cost the Town around $750.00 in legal fees with regards to her requests.
Quotes for paving were reviewed from Central Paving. Selectman Cloutier explained the quotes to the other Board members. On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the quotes. Chairman Cloutier signed on behalf of the Town and Marcia will forward them to Central Paving.
Selectman Campbell bought the other Board members up to date on the construction being done at the Town Hall.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
