Selectmen's Minutes
June 1, 2009
Present: Jim Trudell, Elaine Sherry, Steve Moscicki, Donna Clark, Celine Presby, Tom Smith
6:00 pm Chairman Trudell called the meeting to order.
Manifests & Invoices:
The manifest for June 1st 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 $145,460.15 in the WGSB checking account, $29,155.88 in the NHPDIP fund, $6,287.91 in the Laconia Bank savings account and $200,000.00 in the TAN. Moscicki motioned to approve the treasurer's report as written, 2nd by Trudell, so voted all.
Committee/Department Reports & Needs:
- Road Agent Tom Smith updated the Board on highway department issues including his meeting with FairPoint Communications regarding Skinny Ridge Rd utility pole replacements and relocating one pole on Bobbin Mill Rd, repairs made to the cement wall and catwalk at Dodge Pond dam, and plans for screening and stockpiling winter sand in mid-June. Most roads have been graded once and will continue to be graded and sprayed as necessary throughout the summer. Brush will be removed from around Dodge Pond Dam, several culverts will be replaced on Brook Rd and gravel crushing will take place in August to complete this year's planned road work. The Pettyboro Rd culvert replacement project is on hold pending required engineering and wetlands permitting. Purchase orders for $8,750 for Byron & Roberta Aldrich for up to 2500 yds of winter sand and $6,000 for Beattie Crushing & Screening for screening and loading the sand were approved. Smith's request for a personal day was granted.
- A team of people did long-overdue landscaping at the highway garage over the weekend. Thanks to Brett & Celine Presby, Cathy Bisson, Tim Hunt and Donna & Jim Trudell for a great job.
- The Selectmen signed a Timber Tax Warrant and Certification.
- A list of pending deeds provided by Tax Collector Carol Messner was reviewed. The Board also signed directives authorizing her to research mortgages on pending deeds and to hire Lear Hill Title Service to research lien mortgages.
Permits and Applications:
The following were approved:
- Building Permit for Siegfried Schulze & Cynthia Smith for shed/coop for Map 172 Lot 14-2
- Building Permit for Brian & Jodi Wohlleb for addition for Map 49 Lot 6-1
- Intent to Cut for Frederick Tilton for Map 170 Lot 166
One other Intent to Cut received will require a bond before the Board approves it.
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes for May 18th were reviewed. Moscicki motioned to approve the minutes as written, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
Correspondence:
- Legislative Bulletins #21 & #22 and three LGC Action Bulletins were reviewed. Sherry will contact Senator John Gallus to express the Board's support of the House-passed gas tax plan versus the Senate's plan.
- The May 2009 Emergency Management News, a thank you letter from the American Red Cross for the Town's 2009 appropriation, a status report on Ogontz Hall from Scott Baker, an update on the mapping project from Cartographic Associates, and announcements for a Dept of Labor training session June 5th in Waterville Valley and the 2009 Welfare Administrators Workshop June 25th in Laconia were also received.
- Trudell will respond to a letter from NH DOT Commissioner Campbell denying Ray Burton's request on behalf of the Town of Lyman that a street light remain at the Lyman Rd/Route 302 intersection after construction on Salmon Hole Bridge is completed. They claim the sight distance at the intersection is good and that there is no crash history that would indicate safety problems with the intersection. They are willing, however, to light the intersection if the Town is willing to pay for the permanent installation and ongoing utility costs.
Non-Public:
Moscicki made a motion to enter non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II(d) to discuss real estate, 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.
Old Business:
- Clark reported on the recent Local Officials Workshop Part II and North Country Council Quarterly Reps Meeting she attended.
- Trudell and Sherry reported on information they learned at the North Country Council Shoreland Protection Meeting they attended.
- Follow-up zoning letters were sent to Moulton Hill Rd and Pettyboro Rd property owners as discussed last week.
- The Town was advised that work was completed on an emergency culvert replacement off Brook Rd as authorized by NH DES.
New Business:
- LGC's 2009 Knowing the Territory books were distributed to the Selectmen.
- The Board reviewed the current travel meal allowance of $5 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $15 for dinner. Noting that reimbursements for meals while traveling on Town business are uncommon, Sherry made a motion to increase the travel meal allowance to $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch and $20 for dinner, 2nd by Trudell, so voted all.
- Sue Grugnale's request for use of the Town Hall June 14th was approved.
- Chairman Trudell reviewed and signed the LGC 2009 Wage, Salary & Benefits Survey.
- The Dept of Revenue's report on Lyman's 2008 Assessment Review indicates that the Town met most of the guidelines as recommended by the Assessing Standards Board (ASB), with two exceptions. (1) The Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) is out of range, meaning a valuation update needs to be done in 2010. DRA also recommends that the Town request the year of the next Assessment Review be changed from 2013 to 2010 to coincide with the year of the update. (2) Original recorded applications and accurate site maps are lacking in many of the older current use property files. In most cases the taxpayer needs to be contacted to provide the missing information. Ron Cote and JoJo Bellville from DRA will meet with Clark June 4th regarding these issues.
Trudell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm, 2nd by Sherry, so voted all.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15th, at 6:00 pm.
