Selectmen's Minutes
October 29, 2007
Present: Steve Moscicki, Jim Trudell, Elaine Sherry, Donna Clark, Celine Presby
5:30 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 $49,979.04 in the checking account, $49,340.40 in the NHDIP fund, $24,119.60 in the Laconia Bank savings account, and $100,000 in the TAN.
Committee Reports & Needs:
- Clark updated the Board on highway issues per road agent Tom Smith. With Juliet Green's permission, the loader was used to move a large rock on Under the Mountain Rd to another location on her property as it was too large to break up with a jackhammer as planned.
- Smith looked at the Hubbard pit on Moulton Hill Rd and will discuss gravel testing with the Selectmen next week.
- A culvert on Hunt's Mountain Rd was replaced.
- Smith will be grading roads this week, starting with Dodge Pond & Hurd Hill.
- Regarding maintenance issues - Scott Stuart will take the International to Liberty in Manchester to have the engine brake looked at, Smith and Stuart will replace the brakes on the Sterling soon, and Portland Glass will fix a broken window in the loader Thursday.
- Trudell would like Smith to start assessing road conditions to determine which ones should have attention next year.
- The Board signed a purchase order for $1,060 to McKenzie Auto for Sterling brake parts.
Permits and Applications:
The following were approved:
- Building Permit for Nancy Carbonneau & George Achilles for a horse barn on Map 172 Lot 153
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes for October 22nd were reviewed. Trudell motioned to approve the minutes as written, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
Correspondence:
- An update and public meeting notice on the Grafton County jail project were distributed to the Board.
- The Selectmen read and discussed an e-mail from John Simpson in which he offered suggestions for changing the state's current method of property taxation.
- A thank you note was received from Artie Wessels.
- North Country Council's quarterly meeting is scheduled for Nov 14th at 5:00 pm at the Rocks Estate. Clark and Sherry will attend.
- The NH Assoc of Conservation Commissions Annual Meeting will be held Nov 3rd in Concord.
- The NH Health Officers' Assn Conference is planned for Nov 15th.
Old Business:
- Clark discussed the How to Have a Successful Town Meeting workshop she and Carol Messner attended last Saturday.
- The Board reviewed Nightingale Hauling's quote to remove the old sheds on the Town Hall property.
- Clark gave an update on the Ogontz Hall project.
- Moscicki reported that parts to repair the Town Hall generator may cost about $200.
- Kim Brooks called to inquire about fireworks. He was told that the Board of Selectmen voted to repeal the existing fireworks ordinance and revert to the permitting requirements set by state law on July 23, 2007. He was also given the Division of Fire Safety rules for possession and display of permissible fireworks.
New Business:
- The Selectmen reviewed the 2007 tax rate and signed the property tax warrant. Bills should be in the mail by Nov 1st.
- Flu shots are available for Town of Lyman employees Nov 8th at the Lisbon Town Hall from 1-3 pm.
- Lisa Linowes suggested the Selectmen put an article on the 2008 warrant to define how the Planning Board has been operating for the past 10 years. It was changed from seven appointed members to five elected members in 1996, but there does not appear to have been a vote taken at the time to make such a change. The Board will look into the matter.
- The Town Offices will be closed Nov 12th to observe Veterans Day. The Selectmen will not meet that evening.
- A resident suggested NO DUMPING signs be posted across from Dodge Pond beach in light of recent dumping of furniture in that area. The items have since disappeared and the Board does not feel any action should be taken at this time.
- As the condition of Lyman's main roads have improved over the past couple of years, the incidence of speeding has increased. The Selectmen will discuss the possibility of asking the Lisbon Police Dept for help with traffic patrols at the 2008 town meeting.
- Sherry noted that in spite of all the work the state did on Clough Hill Rd, there is still water rising to the surface and turning to ice when the temperature drops.
Public Informational Meeting:
Jennifer Gilbert from the NH Office of Energy & Planning and Paul Hatch from the Bureau of Emergency Management made a presentation on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at 6:30 pm. Although the informational meeting was noticed, no members of the public were in attendance. Ms. Gilbert explained that the main benefit to participating in the program is that FEMA flood insurance is available to residents at reduced rates. Some people building in the flood plain may not be able to get insurance or will have to pay very high premiums for it. She also stated that Lyman did join the program at one point, but was suspended in 1986 for failure to adopt the necessary regulations. Ms. Gilbert left packets of information for each member and will forward copies of the original maps. The Board will pass this information along to the Planning Board for their consideration.
Trudell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 pm, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov 5th, at 6:00 pm.
