Selectmen's Minutes
October 1, 2007
Present: Steve Moscicki, Jim Trudell, Elaine Sherry, Donna Clark, Celine Presby, Tom Smith
Other Attendees: Lee Veilleux, Larry Hubbard, Don Crowe, Lisa Linowes
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 $87,498.08 in the checking account, $49,125.71 in the NHDIP fund, $24,104.74 in the Laconia Bank savings account and $175,000 in the TAN.
Committee Reports & Needs:
- The Selectmen reviewed the highway budget and anticipated expenses through year-end and are confident they will stay well within the budget and still get a huge amount of road work completed.
- Gravel crusher Don Beattie and pit owner Joe Aldrich were invited to this week's meeting to discuss their differing opinions of the gravel remaining in Mr. Aldrich's current pit. Mr. Beattie was unable to attend but he and Roger, the main man crushing at Joe's pit, spoke separately via telephone to Trudell and Moscicki during the week. The men confirmed that crushing was stopped when they ran out of good gravel. They tried mixing in other material but it was still too sandy. Don Beattie said he would not risk his reputation by producing unsuitable gravel for the Town's needs. He also indicated he had to build a road to get his crushing equipment into the new pit area, and that Mr. Aldrich was frequently onsite and was aware of the quality situation. Mr. Aldrich had indicated to Clark that he might attend this evening's meeting, but did not. He also suggested the Town have his gravel tested at some future date. Based on all of this information, Trudell made a motion to rescind the balance of the purchase order for gravel from Byron & Roberta Aldrich since they cannot supply gravel of the quality required for road repair and reconstruction as they have in the past, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
- Road agent Tom Smith advised the Board it would take approximately 3,500 yds of gravel to complete Ash Hill and Pettyboro Rds, and another 2,000 yds for the balance of Quebec Rd. After reviewing additional quotes from Littleton Gravel and Pike, the Board signed the purchase order that had been put on hold last week for up to 5,000 yds of 3/4" or 1-1/2" crushed gravel from William Presby. Smith and his crew will start hauling immediately in an effort to get the work done while the weather is still good. Once that amount is used, the Board will consider switching to Littleton Gravel for the balance of material needed for Quebec Rd as Wallie Berry's price is comparable and his pit is closer for hauling to the Lyman Rd area of Town.
- Clark reported that Construction Materials Testing, Inc in Whitefield evaluated the gravel at Joe Aldrich's original pit in 2006. They will most likely be hired to do any testing for 2008.
- An e-mail from John Simpson was read and discussed. He congratulated the Board on bringing Tom Smith in as road agent, expressed support for the Town's participation in the newly formed Grafton County Coalition, and requested some attention be given to a section of Under the Mountain Road. Clark will respond with the Selectmen's comments.
- Last year's agreement with Tom Fenoff to store sand for Mountain Meadows at the highway garage and use the loader on occasion was reviewed by the Board and Tom Smith. Clark will check with LGC legal inquiries about the possibility of selling sand to Mr. Fenoff as needed, rather than allowing him to bring in his own material which gets mixed in with the Town's sand to prevent it from freezing.
Permits and Applications:
The following were approved:
- Intent to Cut for Sylvia Smith Clark for Map 170 Lot 146D
Audience Participation:
- Larry Hubbard stopped in to discuss the possibility of the Town obtaining gravel from land on Moulton Hill Rd owned by him and his sister, Cheryl Wilkins. Mr. Hubbard gave verbal permission to have the Town test his gravel pit for next year's needs and asked to be included in the testing process. He also requested a 911 address be assigned to his son's mobile home on Moulton Hill.
- Donald Crowe would like to look at his existing septic system plan. Clark will let him know if she can locate it.
- Lisa Linowes stopped in to see if Mr. Aldrich had attended the meeting and left without any input.
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes for Sept 24th were reviewed. Trudell motioned to approve the minutes as written, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
Correspondence:
- The Sept 2007 Emergency Management News was distributed to the Board.
- There will be an Update Meeting for the Grafton County Correctional Facility on Oct 15th at 9:00 am in North Haverhill.
Old Business:
- The Board reviewed all the information received to date from the Grafton County Coalition. Trudell made a motion to sign one resolution to participate in the discussions of this group and another other asking Grafton County to impose a moratorium on the correctional facility project until more complete financial information is available for consideration by the citizens, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
- Clark may attend a welfare meeting sponsored by PSNH in Gorham on Oct 2nd.
- Moscicki has checked out the Town Hall generator and it is only putting out half power. The instruction manual has not been located so he will order a new one and try to repair the generator.
New Business:
- Trudell gave his resignation as ex-officio Planning Board member to PB chairman Al Gombas last week. After discussing the two possible replacements, Trudell made a motion for Moscicki to be the new ex-officio Planning Board member, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
- Clark received a complaint about roosters crowing constantly on Hurd Hill Rd near Dodge Pond. Two others attending the meeting spoke up and said other residents had also complained to them about the noise. Animal Control Officer Mike Slavtcheff will be asked to speak to the birds' owners.
- The Selectmen will not meet next week as Oct 8th is observed as Columbus Day.
Non-Public:
Trudell made a motion to enter non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II(e) to discuss threatened litigation taking Clark with them, 2nd by Moscicki, all in favor by roll call vote. Resumed public session. Trudell made a motion to seal the minutes of the non-public session, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
Trudell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 pm, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct 15th, at 6:00 pm.
