Selectmen's Minutes
February 25, 2008
Present: Steve Moscicki, Jim Trudell, Elaine Sherry, Donna Clark, Celine Presby, Carol Messner
6:05 pm Chairman Moscicki called the meeting to order.
Manifests & Invoices:
The manifests for Feb 18th and Feb 25th were authorized and new invoices for future payment were reviewed and initialed.
Treasurer's Report:
- The Treasurer's Report was read showing a balance of $52,523.86 in the checking account, $110,873.49 in the NHDIP fund and $46,205.26 in the Laconia Bank savings account.
- Presby is checking into options to collateralize funds over $100,000 at Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank which would reduce the number of transfers she has to make between banks.
Committee Reports & Needs:
- Carol Messner presented an employment application from Cindy Schieman for the part time position of Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector. Mrs. Schieman is well qualified and currently serves as the Chairman of Lyman's Trustees of Trust Funds. The Board agreed she would make an excellent deputy, and will prepare an offer for next week. The wage budgeted for that position for 2008 is $3,700.
- Moscicki reported that the Planning Board did not hold their Feb 20th work session meeting as there were not enough members available.
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes for Feb 11th were reviewed. Trudell motioned to approve the minutes as written, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
Correspondence:
- Legislative Bulletins #9 and #10 were distributed to the Board.
- A Grant Proposal Writing Workshop is being held in Lancaster on a series of four Saturdays in March. At this time, no one can commit to attending all four sessions.
- Another e-mail from John Simpson regarding his thoughts on the Town website and other matters was read. He will be invited to speak to the Board in person.
- The Selectmen reviewed highway-related training opportunities that may be of interest and will make final decisions about attending at next week's meeting.
- Local Government Center is supporting NH Public Radio's efforts to develop an interactive map on the www.nhpr.org website to promote awareness of local issues and increase participation in town meeting. Towns are asked to submit basic information about their budget, warrant articles and town meeting schedule.
Old Business:
- Plodzik & Sanderson completed their audit field work last week. Auditor Mike Campo gave Trudell positive feedback about the professional manner in which all the Town's financial records are handled and the checks and balances that are in place to prevent fraud. The Town will create some additional financial policies in 2008. The basic financial statements for the Town Report were prepared but the usual auditor's letters will not be presented until the audit review work is completed in early summer 2008. The auditor also confirmed that a healthy fund balance (surplus) existed at the end of 2007.
- The 2007 Annual Report will be available Tuesday, March 4th.
- Assessor Phil Bodwell spoke with Dept of Revenue Supervisor Mike Martell about the possible need for a 2008 statistical update and will share that information with the Selectmen at their Mar 24th assessment review meeting.
- The Board approved the purchase of a rescue ladder for the Town Offices. If an emergency prevented exiting from the front of the building, it is a two story drop out the back or side office windows.
- Trudell reminded the Selectmen that Saturday, March 1st, is Dodge Pond Penguin Plunge Day.
New Business:
- The Selectmen approved a letter to an Under the Mountain Road resident regarding an Intent to Cut.
- Now that the audit is over, Clark will start working on the 2008 assessment review process of reviewing all existing exemption, credit and current applications for completeness.
- The 2008 Commerford Nieder Perkins contact for annual assessing services was signed.
- A proposal for rebuilding the Town Hall's handicapped ramp was reviewed. A number of people have offered suggestions for replacing the plastic siding on the building and upgrading the ramp. A formal bid process will take place in the spring, once the Selectmen determine the scope of the work that can be done within the 2008 budget.
- North Country Council is requesting Lyman to appoint two representatives to the North Country Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) by March 30th. Moscicki will ask the Planning Board if one of their members would like to participate before making a decision.
- A Local Health Officer nomination form was completed, naming the Board of Selectmen to that position for a five year term.
- Sherry will attend a NH Dept of Transportation public hearing in Lisbon tomorrow night regarding repair work to be done on Salmon Hole bridge. She will ask that Lyman's long-standing request for a flashing yellow light at the intersection of Lyman Road and Route 302 be reconsidered as part of this project.
Non Public:
At Clark's request, Trudell made a motion to enter non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II(c) to discuss a welfare decision taking Clark with them, 2nd by Sherry, 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 8:30 pm, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Mar 3rd, at 6:00 pm.
