DUNBARTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES OF MEETING

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005

TOWN OFFICES – 7:00 P.M.

The regularly scheduled weekly meeting of the Dunbarton Board of Selectmen was held at the above time, date and place with Chairman Charles Graybill presiding. Charles (Chuck) Graybill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following were present:

Charles (Chuck) Graybill, Chairman

Mert Mann

Les Hammond

Janice VandeBogart, Town Administrator

The Selectmen reviewed correspondence and signed checks prior to the Public Meeting was called to order. The Selectmen also signed the minutes from the previous Selectmen’s Meeting of October 13, 2005.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

Janice VandeBogart, Town Administrator, presented the following items for discussion, etc.:

Letter of Resignation – Judy Petersen, Co-Chairman, Town Common Project:

1. Letter of resignation received from Judy Petersen, as Co-Chairman of the Town Common Project.

The Selectmen thanked her for her hard work and efforts along with her long time service and dedication to the program.

Janice VandeBogart will write a letter from the Selectmen to Judy Petersen expressing their thanks.

Perambulation of Dunbarton/Weare Town Line:

1. Letter received from the Town of Weare requesting scheduling the perambulation of the Weare/Dunbarton Town Line in accordance with RSA 51:2. In the past, Fred Mullen has coordinated the perambulation of the Weare/Dunbarton Town Line with Margo McLeod of Weare. Fred Mullen has agreed to do the perambulation again.

1940’s 1950’s Town Reports:

1. Reported that a box of 1940-50 Town Reports has been misplaced from the Town Vault. Will continue to try to locate them.

Board of Assessors-Elderly Exemption:

1. Board of Assessors has followed up on the request to check into the Elderly Exemption Requirements. Will consider restructuring the guidelines with regard to the revaluation figures. (At this point, because of revaluation figures which value homes greater, the elderly applicants are having to pay more for taxes if the same formula is used after the revaluation.)

Dedication of a Memorial Plaque across from Fogg Property:

1. Charles (Chuck) Graybill noted that all residents of the Town were invited to attend the dedication of a Memorial Plaque across from the Fogg Property on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a lunch after the ceremony at Vera Fogg’s home.

New Co-Chairman of Town Common Project:

1. Charles (Chuck) Graybill reported that Donna Dunn is looking for suggestions for a new Co-Chairman for the Town Common Project. Would like to have someone with an engineering or building background because the project is getting very close to the end because the money goal has almost been met. (Goal was $50,000 and they have $44,000) The Committee is considering making some sort of pictorial presentation at Town Meeting.

7:30 P.M. - PUBLIC HEARING – BOARD OF SELECTMEN PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE 2005 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

Stephanie Alexander, Coordinator, representing the Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission was present to explain details of the plan.

Charles (Chuck) Graybill read the Public Notice as follows for the public:

DUNBARTON: Public Notice

Board of Selectmen Public Hearing

To adopt the 2005 Hazard Mitigation Plan

“Notice is hereby given to all residents of the Town of Dunbarton, the public, and interested individuals that a public hearing will be held by the Dunbarton Board of Selectmen in the Dunbarton Town Office, 1011 School Street, Dunbarton, NH, on October 20, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. to adopt the 2005 Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Copies of the Hazard Mitigation Plan and its associated maps will be available at the meeting or can be viewed at the Town Offices on or before October 7, 2005.”

Charles (Chuck) Graybill stated that the Public Notice had been posted in the Bow Times, Goffstown News, Manchester Union Leader and Concord Monitor in accordance with State Law. The Public Notice had also been posted on the Dunbarton Web Site and the Town Offices.

Mert Mann stated the following residents participated in the development of the plan and that meetings had been held from October 2004 until February 2005:

Mert Mann, Selectman

Jeff Nelson, Police Chief

Ken Swayze, Planning and Zoning Officer

J. R. Swindlehurst, Selectman

Jan VandeBogart, Road Agent

Janice VandeBogart, Town Administrator

Jon Wiggin, Fire Chief/Emergency Management Officer

Other residents of the Town contributed to the plan as follows:

Harlan (Bud) Noyes, Historian

Les Hammond, Historian

The only member of the public present was Jeff Crosby, Road Agent.

Charles (Chuck) Graybill turned the Public Hearing over to Mert Mann who was the Selectmen’s Representative on the Committee.

Mert Mann explained that the main reason for the development of the plan was that if the Town did not have a plan in place, the Town of Dunbarton would not be eligible for FEMA monies if there was a natural disaster.

Les Hammond stated he felt the plan was a very complete document and a lot of effort had gone into the development of the plan.

Mert Mann noted that the plan has been reviewed by the Selectmen and FEMA. This is the reason for the Public Hearing is to accept the final plan.

Jeff Crosby, Road Agent, asked if the plan had been reviewed by Ken Swayze.

It was noted that Ken Swayze was one of the participants in the development of the plan and he has reviewed the plan.

There were no other comments from the public.

MOTION:

Mert Mann made a motion that the Dunbarton Board of Selectmen adopt the Dunbarton Hazard Mitigation Plan as presented on this date, October 20, 2005. The motion was seconded by Les Hammond. The motion passed unanimously.

The Selectmen signed the Certificate of Adoption on behalf of the Town of Dunbarton effective October 20, 2005.

At this point in the Public Hearing, Stephanie Alexander, Principal Planner for Central New Hampshire, stated that this plan needs to be updated on a yearly basis or at least every five years and submitted to FEMA every five years to be active. She stated Central New Hampshire Regional Planning will provide a CD copy plus a PDF version to FEMA on behalf of the Town along with printed copies. They will also provide additional copies to the Town of Dunbarton.

The Selectmen expressed their appreciation to all who participated in this task.

The Public Hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m.

JEFF CROSBY, ROAD AGENT

1. Stated that he has been requested by Brett St. Claire, Conservation Commission, to help with the erecting of the gates on Rangeway Road. He noted that Stanley Sowle had been able to obtain the gates at no cost through Public Service Company.

2. Reported the Highway Department is in the process of mowing sides of roads, etc. Many of the newer roads in Town have small bushes and shrubs which have been planted by homeowners within the Town right of way. Jeff Crosby will contact home owners to discuss moving the shrubs before they get mowed down. They presently are in the way of snowplowing, etc.

7:50 P.M. – BRETT ST. CLAIRE, CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1. Reported that he had contacted Jeff Crosby, Road Agent, regarding assistance in installing the gates on Lower Rangeway Road. He reported Stanley Sowle had been able to obtain the gates through Public Service Company at no cost to the Town. He stated the gates are about 15 feet wide. They will plan to leave a 3 foot gap so people can walk through the side, etc.

2. There will be another gate installed just in on the Town’s boundary, etc. Brett St. Claire pointed out on the map exactly where the gates will be installed.

Stanley Sowle will call the Road Agent to set up time and date for installation. Road Agent will provide assistance with digging (five foot hole) along with help from the Conservation Commission members.

JON WIGGIN, FIRE CHIEF:

1. Les Hammond requested what the protocol was for the helicopter drill. Stated he has spoken with Betty Ann Noyes and the School Board would like a copy of what the protocol is.

Jon Wiggin reported that there was recently a drill on Wednesday of last week and it involved the Fire Department and Police Department. He had spoken with the Principal of the School at that time. He had also sent a letter which satisfied Superintendent Lockwood.

Les Hammond stated that the School Board wants to know who calls it in, who makes sure everything is clear that it doesn’t land on kids, etc.

Jon Wiggin stated there is a list of requirements that have to be met before the Dartmouth Helicopter will land. He will submit the list to the School Board. This is a state standard and not particular to just Dunbarton.

WENDY DAILEY, DIRECTORS OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF DUNBARTON:

Wendy Dailey, President, Dunbarton Historical Society

Jean Hodgman, Board of Directors, Dunbarton Historical Society

Gertrude Dulude, “ “ “ “ “ “

Peggy Slocum, “ “ “ “ “ “

1. Robert Rogers Homesite:

Wendy Dailey, President, reported that the Dunbarton Historical Society has been researching the Robert Rogers Homesite right of way situation for some time. After considerable legal investigation, it has been determined that the Historical Society only has a 99 year lease which already is 44 years old, leaving only 55 more years to go.

There is considerable interest in having the Robert Rogers Homesite placed on either the National Historic Register or the State Historic Site list. Based on the information on the status of the right of way, it would be difficult to approach either the State or Federal Register with only 55 years remaining on the easement and not owning either the Site or parking area (30’ x 30’).

Wendy Dailey stated that the Town owns the Robert Rogers Homesite along with a small area for parking on Robert Rogers Road (deeded by Lindl in 1979 as part of a subdivision). The Historical Society only owns the right to walk to the site. She stated that possibly the two abutters, Amarosa and Leo, could be approached to deed land to the Historical Society to widen the access. If this were to happen and the Town of Dunbarton could deed both the parking area and the Homesite to the Historical Society, then they would be able to apply to have the site on either the National Register or State Historic Site.

The Selectmen noted they would agree to deed both the Historic Site and the small parking area to the Historical Society.

The Selectmen agreed to have Les Hammond approach the abutters along with members of the Historical Society with regard to granting an easement to the Historical Society for access to the Site. The Attorneys will draft a deed of what the Town will deed to the Historical Society.

2. Historical Society Proposed Carriage Shed:

Wendy Dailey explained the long term plans of the Historical Society were to build an additional building. The building will be a carriage shed with three bays. The building is proposed to be located on the south side facing the Blacksmith Shop.

She stated they have been looking into hiring logging companies for tree removal. John Brown has offered to take the trees down and chip them up. There is a “blow down” factor to be considered. This would affect the abutting landowner’s trees. The Historical Society needs to speak with the abutters. The next step will be to mark the trees that will be affected by the “blowdown factor”. Will look for people to do volunteer work. Once we get the trees down, we will get some publicity. Have been working with Rick Antonia. She stated they had gotten another estimate from a logger, and they wanted cash. John Brown will do the work for the chips. He also might be able to donate some lumber.

Comments from the Public:

None

MOTION:

Les Hammond made a motion that the Dunbarton Board of Selectmen adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. Mert Mann seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Alison R. Vallieres

Recording Secretary

_______________________________________

Charles (Chuck) Graybill, Chairman

_______________________________________

Mert Mann, Selectman

_________________________________

Les Hammond, Selectman