Selectmen's Minutes
February 22, 2010
Present: Jim Trudell, Elaine Sherry, Steve Moscicki, Donna Clark, Tom Smith
6:00pm Chairman Trudell called the meeting to order.
Manifests & Invoices:
The manifests for Feb 15th, Feb 17th and Feb 22nd were authorized and new invoices for future payment were reviewed and initialed.
Committee Reports & Needs:
- Road Agent Tom Smith updated the Board on highway department issues. Insurance will cover the cost of replacing the 10-wheeler's motor less the $1,000 deductible. There is plenty of salt and sand on-hand for the rest of the winter and 2,000 yards of gravel are stockpiled for road repairs. Smith was asked to start investigating future sources of gravel as the material in Aldrich's pit will run out at some point. He has already spoken to Pike and Chief about testing some crushed ledge in certain areas this year. Tom was also asked to confirm pricing and availability of the CAT backhoe that will be purchased with money in the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.
- Tax Collector Carol Messner processed one 2009 tax lien for an outstanding current use penalty and provided the Board with a Lien Execution Report in the amount of $1,942.20.
- Trudell signed the state portion of all town vehicle registrations.
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes for the Feb 8th Selectmen's Meeting and the Feb 9th Budget Hearing were reviewed. Trudell motioned to approve both sets of minutes as written, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
Correspondence:
- The Feb 2010 Town & City Magazine and Legislative Bulletins #8 and #9 were distributed to the Board.
- New e-mails from John Simpson regarding the proposed Town Forest purchase were reviewed.
- Raymond Burton's Executive Council Report #3 focusing on the NH Dept of Corrections annual report was read.
Old Business:
- Trudell reported on North Country Council's Feb 10th Broadband Meeting. Presenters included Jon Freeman of Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC) and Carol Miller, the state's Director of Broadband Technology. It was explained that through Wireless LINC, a partnership of NCIC and Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, areas of northern NH will receive broadband from a series of towers that beam the signals. The network is currently under construction in the Lancaster-Whitefield-Dalton area and Trudell was told that Lyman will have broadband capability by the end of 2010. More information and links can be found on the www.ncic.org website.
- Trudell advised the Selectmen that Lyman's school budget increase for the 2010-2011 fiscal year will be over $48,000 or about $.82/1000 on the tax rate.
- Clark reported that the auditors were very pleased with the fieldwork portion of the 2009 audit and the fund balance as of 12/31/09 is $186,000.
- It was confirmed by Chris Hadsel of Curtains Without Borders that the painted curtain the Lisbon Area Historical Society is asking to have donated needs approximately $10,000 worth of restoration work and, as auctioneer Archie Steenburgh advised, its value is only to those who have a connection to it.
- Trudell will not be available for the March 1st and 8th Selectmen's Meetings, but expects to back from vacation in time for Town Meeting.
New Business:
- 2009 Annual Reports will be here Thursday.
- The Board approved Clark's request to take a day off in place of the Presidents Day holiday which she worked as the auditors were here.
- Dept of Revenue field monitor Ron Cote will meet with Clark Feb 24th to set a schedule for this year's assessment review.
- Clark will be taking LGC Academy's Financial Reporting & Accountability course in Mar, Apr and May.
- The Selectmen were disappointed to learn that RJ's Beer & Bait will be closing at end of Feb due to lack of business.
- The Board reviewed and Trudell signed an Amendment to the Flexible Benefits Plan.
- The Town has been advised that a state-mandated Plumbing Inspection Request form must be included with all new dwelling building permit packets.
- A flyer containing basic information about the proposed Town Forest was approved by the Board of Selectmen. No Town funds are being used for this or the previous mailing.
Audience Participation:
The Selectmen welcomed the public to a 6:00 pm session with J.T. Horn of Trust for Public Lands (TPL) and Rebecca Brown of Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) to answer any remaining questions on the proposed Town Forest. There were ten residents in attendance plus Town staff and the people who have been actively involved in the project. Trudell gave a brief overview of the Town's current financial position which the Board feels is very healthy. Although the school tax rate will be higher, fund balance is available to lower the town rate in hopes of keeping total taxes level for 2010. He also gave answers to insurance questions that had been asked at previous meetings and read from the State's Recreational Use Statutes that govern landowner liability when members of the public are allowed to use municipal lands free of charge.
Ms. Brown, Mr. Horn and Lisa Linowes answered questions relative to the easement including protecting the mine entrances, the lengthy process involved in preparing the easement and the parties that would be involved, the ability to reverse the easement in the future (only by Superior Court), and who would be responsible for removing items "dumped" on the property (the Town). The topic of future alternative energy on the site was brought up, but it would have to be determined if that use is consistent with the goals of the other funders and the Town before it could be part of the easement.
Mr. Horn confirmed that all financial risk is borne by TPL until the closing in 2011. An affirmative vote for the bond at Town Meeting gives his organization approval to put down a significant deposit on the property, and only problems with a lack of other funding, environmental issues or legal issues (such as mineral rights) would allow the Town to back out of the deal. Since the closing would be in 2011, the Town won't feel any financial impact until the first loan payment is due in 2012.
On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, Trudell thanked everyone for coming. Sherry motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm, 2nd by Moscicki, so voted all.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Mar 1st, at 6:00 pm.
