Selectmen's Minutes
July 2, 2007
Present: Steve Moscicki, Elaine Sherry, Donna Clark, Celine Presby
Absent: Jim Trudell
6:00 pm Chairman Moscicki called the meeting to order.
Manifests & Invoices:
The manifest was authorized and new invoices for future payment were reviewed and initialed.
Treasurer's Report:
The Treasurer's Report was read showing a balance of $181,271.02 in the checking account, $48,510.28 in the NHDIP fund, $24,059.24 in the Laconia Bank savings account, $473.79 in the Dodge Pond Dam Preservation fund and $150,000 in the TAN.
Committee Reports & Needs:
- The road agent job description currently on file was reviewed and found to be accurate for the upcoming hiring process.
- Clark reported that the road agent ad appeared in last week's Caledonian-Record and two people have stopped in to pick up applications. The ad will appear in the July 4th Courier and again in this week's Caledonian. Completed applications will be reviewed at next week's Selectmen's meeting and interviews will be scheduled after that.
- A help wanted ad was also sent to the two newspapers for an assistant secretary to take minutes for Planning Board meetings.
- Additional calls by Moscicki to two individuals regarding grader training where not returned. Trudell will be asked to follow up with River Bend Technical School regarding price and availability of onsite training.
- The Board reviewed the work accomplished last week according to the road crew's time sheets. Moscicki is in regular contact with George Tucker and feels things are moving forward and the road crew has work planned for this week.
- A decision on crushing gravel needs to be made soon.
- No additional road materials were requested this week.
- A quote from Milton CAT to repair a worn turntable gear on the grader came in at almost $8,600. Moscicki will check with some other vendors as this price seems very high. The repair should be done this year, but does not require immediate action.
Permits and Applications:
The following was approved:
- Intent to Cut for Byron & Roberta Aldrich for Map 170-176.
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes for June 25th were reviewed. Moscicki motioned to approve the minutes as written, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
Correspondence:
- A Safer Road to Tomorrow was distributed to the Board.
- Clark will attend a Primex FLMA & FLSA workshop on July 17th in Concord.
- A copy of LGC's How to Regulate Junk and Junkyards - A Guide for Local Officials was received.
- Lincoln Town Manager Ted Sutton sent an e-mail suggesting that an organization known as the Grafton County Municipal Association should be formed to help find better ways to manage county government. The County Commissioners are proposing a 22% increase for 2008 while town's do everything possible to keep budget increases at a minimum. Moscicki and Sherry agree and asked Clark to respond to the e-mail on their behalf.
- NH DOT has approved three new driveways on Tinkerville Road for the Brooks' subdivision.
Old Business:
- Clark reminded the Board that Commissioner Raymond Burton, State Representative Rusty Bulis and Greg Placy of NH DOT will attend next week's meeting. She will confirm the date and time with each of them.
- There has been no response to the second zoning violation letter sent to a Lyman Road resident. Taking further action will be discussed next week when the full Board is present.
- Clark will contact Phil Bodwell of CNP regarding outstanding assessing issues. Someone will be coming this month to do data input of the 2007 property changes and Mr. Bodwell planned to be here at least one more time before valuations are finalized for tax rate setting purposes.
- Matt Murawski, Water Resources Dept Manager of Dubois & King, sent a report on the safety evaluation of the spillway access at the Dodge Pond Dam. Although there are buoys and signs warning swimmers and boaters to stay away from the dam, people have still been seen climbing on and jumping from the concrete spillway. DuBois & King was asked to again consider options for limiting access to the spillway. Senior Engineer Dan Moss visited the site with Selectman Trudell in February, and Jeff Blaney of the NHDES Dam Safety Bureau was also consulted. Mr. Murawski's report confirms that placing a railing or fence on the spillway would have unacceptable hydraulic implications and may, in fact, attract more people to the spillway as it would create an elevated surface above the pond from which people could leap into the water. Mr. Blaney indicated that our situation is not unique and the placement of buoys and signs prohibiting access to the structure is consistent with the standard care he has seen on similar dams. The only alternative would be a fence running parallel to the road and into the water approximately 20 ft from the spillway for some distance, but this would only eliminate access from the land side, not from the water side. A locked gate would be required to provide authorized access to the spillway. There are also installation, maintenance and aesthetic costs to consider with this option which is only a way to discourage, not prevent, access.
New Business:
The Board discussed purchasing options for heating fuel for 2007-2008 and decided to go with wholesale pricing, which worked in the Town's favor last year, rather than a pre-buy or budget plan.
Sherry motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 pm, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 9th, at 6:00 pm.
