by admin | Dec 11, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the November 27, 2024 meeting.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
An e-mail was received from Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella regarding an on-going legal matter.
Intent to Cut forms were approved for Savannahwood and Megawood.
Marcia reminded the Board that there is a Dispatch Center meeting tomorrow night here in Columbia. Also, the next meeting will be held on Monday, December 23rd due to the holiday.
The Board signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the 45th Parallel for 2025. It was noted that there is a considerable increase in our contribution for 2025. Marcia was instructed to ask Michael Collins (Columbia’s representative to the 45th Board) to attend the first meeting in January to explain the increase.
The Appointment Form our new Health Officer was signed.
The Board signed a letter to the Colebrook Area Food Pantry in regards to their request for more funds in 2025.
The Board signed a letter to Mrs. Annie Didsbury in response to her correspondence about her recent tax bill.
Marcia gave the Board members the research that she had done regarding that portion of old US Route 3 which runs through property currently owned by Diane Hall. Marcia was instructed to send the information to Daniel Plourde.
The Board reviewed an e-mail from Groveton Town Manager, Tammy Letson, regarding the assessing issue that many Towns are experiencing. She requested some information from the Town regarding what we currently pay for assessing and how many parcels we currently have. The group is working on getting a RFP out.
The Board reviewed a letter from a management firm being used by the Town of Colebrook for their new water wells. The letter asked if the Town of Columbia wanted the water well on the Town Hall property to be monitored by any contamination. After discussion, the Board signed the letter giving permission.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Nov 25, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5.55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
At 6:00 pm. Jacqueline Thayer entered the meeting. Mrs. Thayer explained that she had recently been appointed as the Town of Colebrook’s Health Officer and that she was looking to offer her services to other Towns in the area. (Pittsburg, Errol and Stewartstown). She explained what her background was and what she thought the job would entail. After discussion, Selectman Stohl made a motion that was seconded by Selectman Cloutier to appoint Mrs. Thayer as the Town’s Health Officer beginning January 1st with a stipend of $500.00 per year. Mrs. Thayer will contact the State of NH (Department of Health and Human Services) and have then e-mail us the appropriate appointment forms. Mrs. Thayer left the meeting at 6:30 pm.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed.
An Authorization Form was signed by Chairman Cloutier to allow the Colebrook Ski-Bees to use portions of Gray road and Kelsea Notch as snowmobile trails.
A new Delegation of Deposit Authority was signed by the Board. This was at the suggestion of Cohos Advisors that we update our current form.
Selectman Cloutier informed the other Board members that he had received a phone call from Daniel Plourde regarding his Application for a Driveway Permit which the Board had denied at the last meeting. The Board reviewed the subdivision map that Mr. Plourde was referring to as well as the deeds for various properties that abut Mr. Plourde’s property. Marcia will do some more research to see if we can determine exactly when the State gave this road up.
At 6:45 pm the Board placed a phone call to Kevin Lufkin of Lufkin Security who had recently gave the Town a quote on updating our security system. After discussion, the Board approved two proposals.
The Board discussed the recent appropriation request received from the Colebrook Area Food Pantry. The requested donation has increased from $500 in 2024 to $2,000 in 2025. The Board instructed Marcia to draft a letter to the Director of the Food Pantry asking for financial information . It was noted that due to the large increase in the Town’s tax rate there probably would be a lot more questions about various appropriations and that we need to be prepared.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Nov 13, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:55 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Matthew Chapple entered the meeting at 6:00. Mr. Chapple had some questions about his property assessment. Selectman Cloutier reviewed for him his tax card and answered questions regarding Current Use. Marcia will send him a Current Use application tomorrow. Mr. Chapple left the meeting at 6:10 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 October 23, 2024 meeting.
The Board discussed an Application for a Driveway Permit for Daniel Plourde. The Board decided that they could not issue the permit because the lot does not have frontage on a Town road. Marcia will send Mr. Plourde a letter.
The Board decided to change their meeting dates due to the upcoming holidays as follows:
Wednesday, November 27th meeting changed to November 25th
Wednesday, December 25th meeting changed to December 23rd.
A Yield Tax Warrant was signed for Allen Beloin.
The MS60W (Audit Waiver Request) for 2024 was signed.
Intent to Cut forms were approved for David Brunault and B and B Springwater Management.
Marcia informed the Board that she had received a “Letter of Engagement” from Cohos Advisors for doing our annual compilation for 2024.
Marcia informed the Board that the former Pilbro property (now owned by Landon Placey) has sold and that the lawyers doing the closing had found an error in the Map & Lot number on the deed from the Town to Mr. Placey. They are requesting that the Board sign a Corrective Deed and have it recorded. The Board signed the deed.
The Board reviewed 3 proposals from Lufkin Security for repairs and/or updates to the Town’s security system. The Board asked Marcia to contact Mr. Lufkin to see if he could attend the next meeting and explain the different proposals to them.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Oct 23, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 5:59 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell. Members of the public present: Brian Burrill, Karl Ruel and Alan Hansom from NH DOT.
The representatives from NH DOT came to the meeting to discuss with the Board the possibility of the Town of Columbia taking ownership of Columbia Bridge Road. Mr. Hansom briefly described the process involved which included:
1. The Town asking the Commissioner of DOT to take over the road.
2. A vote at Town Meeting where the voters accept the road.
3. Must go before the Legislature.
The Board stated that they would like to see the railroad tracks removed so that it would be easier to plow for the Town’s contractor. Mr. Hansom said that he would contact the Bureau of Rails to see if they would approve the removal. Also, the Town would like to see it re-paved. (It was last paved in 2019.) The Board said that they would plan to place an article on the 2025 Town Meeting Warrant. Mr. Burrill, Mr. Ruel and Mr. Hansom left the meeting at 7:00 pm.
Mail was reviewed.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
The Warrant for the November 5th General Election was signed by the Board.
Marcia reminded the Board members that they are presenting the Town’s Boston Post Cane to Ruth Whitehill on Saturday, October 26th, at 11:00.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Cloutier, the Board approved the minutes of the September 9, 2024 meeting.
Marcia gave the Board members a breakdown of the revenue and appropriations through September 30, 2024.
A complaint was received from Amber Dodge regarding Fish Pond Road in front of her house. Selectman Cloutier said he would have Road Agent, Dominic Westover, check it out.
The Board discussed money left in the Summer Road budget and what still needed to be done.
The preliminary tax rate for 2024 was reviewed. After discussion, the Board voted to use any remaining fund balance to offset the Town’s portion of the tax rate. Marcia will enter the numbers and send it to DRA for approval tomorrow.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Oct 9, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present were Selectmen Cloutier, Stohl and Campbell.
Town Treasurer, Carrie Klebe, entered the meeting and gave the Board members a summary of monies currently on hand.
Mrs. Klebe also inquired about a road near her property that shows up on the on-line Tax Maps. She was interested to know if it was still a Town road. The Board said they would do some research on it and let her know. Mrs. Klebe left the meeting at 6:15 pm.
A contract was signed with C.N. Brown to pre-buy oil for the Town at $2.999 per gallon by Chairman Cloutier.
The MS-1 was signed by the Board members. Marcia informed them that this is the last form that needs to be submitted to DRA in preparation for setting our tax rate.
An Intent to Cut was signed for Jeremy Lambert.
The presentation of the Boston Post Cane to Ruth Whitehill was discussed. Selectman Stohl has checked with the family and they would like to do it on October 26th at 11:00 at Mrs. Whitehill’s home. Marcia will contact the newspaper.
Selectman Campbell told the other Board members that he had looked at the condition of the Town Office outside cellar door and that the entire door and frame need to be replaced. He said he would continue to look into it.
Selectman Campbell also informed the Board that he had gone down to the Lyman Falls site and that the large rocks that we placed there had already been moved. Selectman Cloutier said he would locate some more and place them at the site to keep people from parking on the beach.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
The 2024 utility values were received from Sansoucy Associates and reviewed by the Board.
The Board received an e-mail from Tammy Letson (Town Administrator for Groveton) regarding the meeting she wants to set up for the northern towns to discuss the on-going assessing issue. The meeting has been set up for Thursday, October 24th, at 1:00 in Groveton. Selectman Campbell and Stohl both indicated that they would try to attend. Marcia said that she had spoken with Gary Fournier (our current assessor). Mr. Fournier indicated that he would complete his contract (which ends on 12/31/2026) but would be retiring after that time.
Two e-mails from NH DOT-Bridge Department were reviewed regarding a bridge on Meridan Hill Road and on Bungy Road that don’t have the appropriate signs posted. Selectman Cloutier said he would look into that and correct the issue. He will take pictures which Marcia will send to DOT to assure them that we have corrected the issue.
The Board asked Marcia to contact the Town’s attorney to get an updated on a continuing legal issue.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
by admin | Sep 25, 2024 | Board of Selectmen Minutes
Meeting began at 6:05 pm. Present were Selectmen Stohl and Campbell. Selectman Cloutier was absent.
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board approved the minutes of the September 11, 2024 meeting.
Checks and manifests were reviewed and signed.
The next recipient for the Town’s Boston Post Cane was discussed. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell the Board decided that the next recipient will be Ruth Whitehill. Selectman Stohl will contact the Mrs. Whitehill’s family regarding setting up a time to present it to her.
It was noted that there are a couple of upcoming meetings that members of the Board will be attending:
1. Dispatch Center – Thursday, September 26th, in Pittsburg
2. County Recycling Center – October 18th, in Stewartstown
An e-mail was received from Tammy Letson, Town Administrator in Groveton. Ms. Letson is trying to get the “northern” towns together to address the problem of getting an assessing firm to come up this far north. Ms. Letson gave three different dates that she is proposing. Selectman Stohl and Selectman Campbell with check their schedules and get back to Marcia.
The Board discussed a property that was recently deeded to the Town for non-payment of taxes. An e-mail was received from Chris Hilson (Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella) outlining what the next steps should be in
the process. On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to proceed with Attorney Hilson’s recommendations.
The MS535 (Financial Report of the Town) was signed by the Board.
Marcia mentioned a few repair items that need to be taken care of it the Town Office. Selectman Campbell said he would try to take care of them.
Marcia asked the Board if they would like to have the generator serviced before winter and they agreed.
The recent roadwork on Bunnell Road was discussed. Road Agent Dominic Westover has started fixing the area in question. The Board instructed Marcia to contact Dana Masson about replacing the property pin between Ronny Rainville and Raymond Bell.
Two bids were received for fuel oil for the 2024-2025 season as follows:
C.B. Transport – $3.32 per gallon
C.N. Brown – $2.99 per gallon
On a motion made by Selectman Campbell and seconded by Selectman Stohl, the Board voted to award the bid to C.N. Brown. Marcia will send letters to both companies.
Two bids were received for snowplowing the Town Office and the Town Hall for the 2024-2025 season as follows:
Sheldon Gray – $45.00 – Town Office
$45.00 – Town Hall
Jason Rella – $105.00 – Town Office
$ 90.00 – Town Hall
On a motion made by Selectman Stohl and seconded by Selectman Campbell, the Board voted to award the plowing bid to Sheldon Gray. Marcia will write letters to both bidders.
The Board reviewed revenue numbers for 2024 in order for Marcia to prepare the MS434.
Marcia informed the Board that we are still waiting for utility values from George Sansoucy in order to submit our MS1.
Selectman Campbell informed the Board that he had recently met with Brian Burrill from NH DOT regarding the possibility of the Town of Columbia taking over maintenance of Columbia Bridge Road. The Board discussed the situation and came up with some things that they would require before accepting it:
1. Having it repaved.
2. Getting accurate information on the width of the road and the ROW.
3. Status of the turnaround.
4. How would that affect the railroad crossing
5. How would it affect the river access site which is owned by the Town but that the VT River Conservancy has an easement on.
Selectman Campbell stated that he thought he had some DOT maps showing US Route 3 and maybe they would include Columbia Bridge Road. Marcia will look up the status of the ownership of the river access site. This matter will be discussed further at the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Parkhurst, Secretary
Board of Selectmen
