Selectmen's Minutes
TOWN OF LYMAN 2011 TOWN MEETING - MARCH 8, 2011
Minutes prepared by Town Clerk Carol Messner
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Lyman, in the County of Grafton, and the State of New Hampshire, qualified to vote in the Town affairs:
You are hereby notified to meet at the Town Hall in said Town on TUESDAY, the EIGHTH day of MARCH 2011; polls to open at ELEVEN O'CLOCK in the morning and will not close before SIX O'CLOCK in the evening in said Town Hall, to act on Article 1, the remaining Articles to be considered at SEVEN O'CLOCK in the evening.
Article 1. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year.
Article 1 was acted upon during the hours of 11:00 am when Moderator Phil Clark opened the polls until the polls were declared closed at 6:00 pm in said Town Hall.
Present were Moderator: Phil Clark, Selectmen Chairman: Jim Trudell, Selectman: Bruce Beane, Administrative Assistant (AA): Donna Clark and Town Clerk/Tax Collector (TC/TX): Carol Messner. At 7:00 pm Moderator Clark called the meeting to order, welcomed all, reviewed procedures of order and thanked all for coming. He read the results of Article 1.
The following were chosen as Town Officers for the ensuing year:
Selectman (three year term): Stephen Moscicki - 60 votes
Selectman (two year term): Bruce E. Beane - 65 votes
Planning Board (three year term): Rosemary Colombi - 52 votes
Planning Board (three year term): Kathy Wohlleb - 54 votes
Board of Adjustment (three year term): Robert Chenevert - 56 votes
Board of Adjustment (three year term): Stephen Moscicki - 54 votes
Trustee of the Trust Fund (three year term): Beth Hubbard - 9 votes
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Forty-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Dollars ($347,490) to defray Town charges for the ensuing year. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by the Selectmen)
Article 2 was read aloud by Moderator Clark. The Article was moved by Nancy Labbay and was seconded by Mark Chain. Trudell began by explaining that absent Selectman, Steve Moscicki was trying to get out through the snow in his driveway after the recent storm. He introduced himself, the other Selectman, the AA and the TC/TX. He thanked former Selectman Elaine Sherry for her work & efforts for the past 4 years saying it was very appreciated. He said the Selectmen were glad to have newly elected Selectman Beane aboard. The audience viewed a summary of the Articles with their appropriations on the overhead projector. The total 2011 proposed budget of $675,815 was $4,170 less than the 2010 proposed budget of $679,985. The audience then viewed "The 2011 Budget Summary - Proposed". Trudell explained that their goal is a zero increase in taxes. Revenues are down a bit so they arrived at an educated estimation of a $16,977 tax increase. The audience in attendance of approximately 35 people then viewed the "2010 Net Appropriation - Actual versus the 2011 Budget Summary - Proposed". Trudell went line by line down through the figures. Any discussion of merit is as follows:
Education for new Selectman Beane and continuing education for the other Selectmen will be sought. They are proposing a 3% increase based on the current 32 hr week for Administration. This category is up by $908. Money that is not expended goes back into the general fund and into the fund balance and can help offset taxes. Per a Local Government Center (LGC) report the TC/TX salary was deemed low so they are proposing a 5% increase instead of the 3% proposed for others. Deputy Clerk Cindy Schieman also does a great job and steps in when needed. This category is down by $945. The Auditing budget is down and the Bookkeeping budget is up as AA Clark begins to take over more of the auditing functions, adds one hour per week plus the proposed 3%. A 3% increase is also proposed for Celine Presby, Treasurer. She also does a great job. Trudell said he really means it about all the town workers. They all love the town and they work very hard for us. Legal expenses in 2010 were mainly spent on the forest deal. Health insurance goes thru LGC and was reduced for 2011. Our premium is probably as low as possible since we are part of a huge pool. Increased cost sharing is on the agenda to be looked at if insurance costs keep rising. Per LGC, Lyman is comparable to other towns of similar situation as far as wages and benefits offered. Resident Mark Chain questioned the Planning Board's Professional Services expense and Planning Board Ex Officio Beane responded the budgeted amount was to cover areas free legal through LGC might not cover. Trudell praised the Planning Board work on rules of procedure to promote consistency as membership changes. The Zoning Board proposed $500 increase is for secretarial work. The General Government Building expense category is reduced by $20,000 as the money to cover the new generator has been encumbered. Also proposed are vinyl siding the front of the building and adding outdoor lights to the parking lot. Last year the roof and the water tank were replaced. The cemetery maintenance contract will be continued as other bids were extremely high. They plan to begin repairing some grave stones this year. Unemployment benefits were increased from 26 weeks to 99 weeks thus explaining our increase of $360. A property taken by tax deed needs repairs. Deeded Property is a new line item in the budget. The town will likely put this property up for sale. Responding to a Budget Hearing inquiry Trudell said the average response time for Ross Ambulance is 22 minutes and for Lisbon Life Squad is 11 minutes. The Lisbon Life Squad will begin by transporting Lisbon residents only and expand when possible. Michael O'Brien, a Lyman resident, has been hired as our Emergency Management Director. He will be trained by Homeland Security and work on a plan for Lyman. He will be paid quarterly. Lyman received back $25,000 from recycling in 2010. The more we recycle the more we make. Lyman's Health Officer position was filled by the contracted services of Stan Borkowski who also services Lisbon. A new Health Agency that the Selectmen deemed appropriate to support this year is the Burch House which provides shelter and services for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Loans are for the grader, the dam and the 10-wheeler. This is the last year for grader payments. Trudell added a mention to the school board members of Lyman that when the school bond ends in 2013 the hope is a reduction in our school tax payments. The Article 2 budget totals $20,273 less than the budgeted amount for Article 2 in 2010.
Moderator Clark opened the floor for discussion. He recognized resident Bryson Yawger who wanted to "congratulate our Selectpersons and our town employees for the good job that they do". He asked for and received a round of applause. Trudell said we all work together. We have a great town, residents, workers and a common goal of keeping taxes down and also keeping the services.
Clark re-read the Article and called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 2 passed.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Sixty-Seven Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($267,125) for maintenance, expenses, salaries, supplies, equipment and street lighting for the Highway Department for the ensuing year. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by Selectmen)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Annie Baker. Trudell began by saying the Road Agent and Crew do a great job. They work hard. They are never sitting around. Grading roads is an art. We couldn't ask for better guys. All applauded.
Proposed is a 3% increase for each. They are entertaining putting ledge pack on a couple roads this year along with calcium chloride to test that. They will continue to grade, gravel, ditch, calcium chloride and roadside mow. They have a good price on sand now so will try to increase their current 1 year supply to a 2 year supply. Diesel prices are still a worry but otherwise things are in good shape. A large culvert was replaced on Pettyboro Rd with a large expensive box culvert and it came out great.
The new streetlight at the end of Lyman Road at Rte 302 cost a bit more than estimated. Resident, Annie Baker said it is absolutely fabulous. All applauded.
Moderator Clark opened the Article for discussion. Being none he called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 3 passed.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to be placed in the existing Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by the Selectmen)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Annie Baker. Last year this fund was used to purchase a $75,000 2010 CAT backhoe with thumb. This left $55,000 in the fund for future highway equipment purchases. By adding to this fund annually the town should be able to maintain good equipment without needing to borrow. Trudell displayed the list of current equipment and the possible replacement plan for the future. The plan is fluid and adaptable.
Clark opened the floor to discussion. Being none he re-read the Article and called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 4 passed.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) to be placed in the existing Property Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by the Selectmen)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Rosemary Colombi. Trudell said the State requires a valuation update every 5 years and 2010 was that year for Lyman. We used $27,000 of the fund for this update leaving a balance of $32,000. By adding $8,000 each year we should be ready for our full revaluation in 2015 which is twice the cost of an update. Resident Marie Smith asked what the difference is between the two and AA Clark answered that sales figures are used for the update and the assessors actually go house to house for the full revaluation.
Moderator Clark opened the floor to discussion. Being none he re-read the Article and called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 5 passed.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) to be placed in the existing Building Repair & Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by the Selectmen)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Rosemary Colombi. Trudell noted that we want to maintain our Town building. The Grange building will have to wait for now. Building up a fund is a good idea. This isn't much but it is a start.
Clark opened the Article for discussion. Being none he called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 6 passed.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200) to support Lisbon Main Street, Inc. (Majority vote required) (Recommended by the Selectmen)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Rosemary Colombi. Trudell explained that we have a lot of ties with Lisbon such as the fire department, the Fast Squad, the recycling center, the library and that many Lyman residents work in Lisbon. B. Yawger said he and resident, Rena Woods are on the Board of Lisbon Main Street, Inc. It has been in existence for 10 years. Lyman benefits from Lisbon gas stations, stores, banks and churches. They aim to make Main Street attractive so customers will stop in.
(Selectman Moscicki arrived at this point in the meeting. He was accompanied by Al Gombas who had departed earlier from working the election polls to try to help dig him out of the heavy snow. Their success brought applause from all).
Clark opened the floor to discussion. Being none he called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 7 passed.
Article 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to enter into a lease of access way with Northern Community Investment Corporation for a period of 5 years, with 5 potential extensions of 5 years each, for a total possible lease term across and through property owned by the Town on the northwesterly side of Dodge Pond Road (Tax Map 210, Lot 6) for the purpose of providing ingress and egress by vehicle or on foot to access lands and premises leased by Northern Community Investment Corporation from James M. Trudell and Donna M.L. Trudell for the purpose of the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, improvement, upgrade, or replacement of radio transmission equipment located upon the Trudell property for the transmission and reception of broadband signals. (Majority vote required)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Rosemary Colombi. Trudell said he heard of the broadband offer at a meeting and thought this might be Lyman's only option. When NCIC came to Lyman to see about where to place their antennas which could receive a signal from Dalton 4 possible sites were found. After a sighting was taken NCIC said the best signal was found on Trudell's land. Trudell will receive free internet which he uses sporadically but he had hoped the other residents could benefit from connecting at the high speed. He said there is understandable frustration from those unable to receive a signal but NCIC has said they will try to work on weak connections after those with a good signal are installed. Resident Ray Emerson asked what NCIC is paying to lease the land and was told they are not paying. B. Yawger asked the condition of the land being leased and was told it is a slight hill which will be travelled by four wheelers for needed adjustments and upgrades. AA Clark volunteered that the original lease approval was granted by the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board and the Town's legal council. Public meetings were held in 2010 which hashed all details out and a one year lease with insurance requirements is in effect. This warrant Article merely seeks approval for its continuation for 5 years at a time. Beane explained that NCIC has a big investment in this town and needs some assurance that they will be allowed access to their property. If technology changes and this technology becomes obsolete NCIC will want to come collect their property. They have the machinery to correct any possible damage to the land that they may create. They have 3 antennas in this town and another down near Lisbon. Resident Brian Santy asked why they did not seek this lease before now and was answered that they needed to go to Town Meeting. Various questions were asked about internet companies, connections experienced, telephone numbers to call to get on installation waiting lists.
Clark called for a vote and all voted aye. Article 8 passed.
Article 9. Polling hours in the Town of Lyman are now 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Shall we place a question on the state election ballot to change polling hours so that polls shall open at 11:00 am and close at 7:00 pm for all regular state elections beginning September 9, 2014? (Majority vote required)
Clark read the Article which was moved by Nancy Labbay and seconded by Rosemary Colombi. Resident Nancy Labbay was recognized to speak on this matter. She said that we have a hard time finding poll workers and that we don't have enough voters at the polls between 8am and 11am to justify paying all the poll worker salaries. The town election would remain 11am-6pm and the presidential elections would remain 8am-7pm. This would only affect the state elections.
Clark re-read the Article and called for a vote. All voted aye. Article 9 passed.
Article 10. To transact any other business that may legally come before the Meeting.
Trudell announced that the School Meeting is to be held March 16 at 7pm. There will be no Dodge Pond Day this year. There is a lot of water on the ice under the snow and the crew needs a bit of a break. Annie Baker wanted to thank Jim Madru for his many, many years of good service as Supervisor of the Checklist and he received applause from all. Nancy Labbay made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Many seconds were received and Clark declared the meeting of 2011 adjourned at 8:35pm.
