DUNBARTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MEETING
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 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. It was noted that the meeting was called 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 signed checks prior to the Public Meeting was called to order.
1. Presented Acceptance Certificate for Fire Truck Annual Payment of $54,000 for Chairman Charles (Chuck) Graybill to sign. (Chuck Graybill signed as Chairman) Discussion ensued regarding amount, etc. Janice will check with Fire Chief as to details.
2. Nancy Lang, Old Home Day Committee, has requested a letter signed by the Selectmen authorizing her to transfer funds to the Recreation Commission from the Old Home Day Committee. The two committees have been combined.
Selectmen requested Janice VandeBogart to check with the Auditor to make sure there is no preferred way of transferring the funds.
Alan Rockenbach
1. Stated that Woody (Patrick) Bowne had gone before the judge and pleaded Nolo on charges brought by Lori Davis. Lori Davis received a letter from Woody’s Attorney requesting that there be no further contact with him by Lori Davis.
a. Stated that recent events at the dump are a matter of concern. Various other people/employees are around. Woody has sent them back to the shed and this leaves Woody there. This is manipulation, etc. Would like to see that Lori is treated the same as any other individual, helped and treated equally with other individuals. This should be all business.
The Selectmen stated there is no written policy that employees must help unload vehicles at the Transfer Station. In addition, what questions need to be answered?
2. Lori Davis stated that she is a resident of this Town. I have made a point of staying out of Woody’s face. When I have questions, I expect them to be addressed, and I do not expect to see the employees running back into the shed. I have other people who will attest to this fact. It won’t be Herlihy and Brian either.
3. Alan Rockenback stated that all he wanted is that there will be no special treatment or ignoring, etc. Woody wanted minimum interaction at the dump. It is fact that everyone was pulled out of the area. The concern is that we have been notified by an Attorney that Patrick wants minimum contact, and rather than avoid all contact, the situation is set up that she would have to interact with Woody.
The Selectmen asked exactly what questions are needed to be answered at the Transfer Station. People unload their dump and leave. A. Rockenbach stated that he has asked questions about measuring brush, etc. in the past.
Charles (Chuck) Graybill stated he will speak with Woody to find out what the situation is.
Brett St. Claire:
To Discuss Recent Appointments
1. Stated his reason for being here is to express his concern regarding George Holt not being reappointed to the Dunbarton Planning Board. George Holt is viewed as a person that represents the point of view of a lot of people in Town and this is not to say that the other members of the Planning Board don’t do a good job, but George Holt represents the opinion of a lot of people in the community. The Board is not balanced when you take him off the Board. When you take a look at the composition of the Board, you tend to see things from a different viewpoint. George tries to make the Planning Board follow its own rules.
When you take a look at the Master Plan Survey, George Holt has the feelings of the residents of the Town.
Les Hammond, Selectman, pointed out that the Planning Board has rules and regulations they have to follow. People in this Town do have a right to subdivide their land. You can’t have a hidden agenda.
The Selectmen pointed out that you must go by the rules. Behind the scenes dealings could get us in trouble.
Les Hammond pointed out that the recent decision (Gile Hill Road) by the Conservation Commission to allow development on a Class VI road with only a 18 foot wide road is only inviting developers to develop more. This is an open invitation to developers.
Brett St. Claire stated that the Conservation Commission felt that 18 feet was wide enough to maintain the character of the Town.
The Selectmen noted that the rules and regulations are established by the Planning Board. The Planning Board takes into consideration the Master Plan on its decisions.
Brett St. Claire stated that the Planning Board is viewed as a very important group of public officials within the Town. Just asking the Selectmen to reconsider their decision. George Holt is still willing to do it. He is willing to put in the time.
Charles (Chuck) Graybill
stated he personally would not reconsider and put George Holt back on the
Planning Board.
Les Hammond stated he would
not agree with putting George Holt back on the Planning Board.
Mert Mann stated he would not
reconsider and put George Holt back on the Planning Board.
Les Hammond stated that you cannot wait until the last minute and come up with a problem with a subdivision, and then abstain from the final vote on a regular basis.
Matt Lavey, member of Conservation Commission, stated that the Conservation Commission is concerned that because George Holt is no longer on the Planning Board, we will have no knowledge of what is going on with wetlands, etc. George Holt always wanted to take a closer look at developments instead of giving “carte blanche” approvals.
Les Hammond asked both Matt Lavey and Brett St. Claire if they were interested in having another member, other than George Holt, placed on the Planning Board.
Matt Lavey stated that he did not think he could answer that question at this time.
At this point in the discussion, Alison Vallieres stated that she is listed on the sheet of Planning Board members which Brett St. Claire presented only as retired. She stated that this is true but she also worked for forty-two years in the natural resources field in the Division of Forestry, State Parks, etc. She stated she is well aware of conservation issues and makes her own decisions without being swayed by any one else. She felt she was a contributing member to the Planning Board and did not represent developer’s interests.
Other Conservation Commission Issues:
1. Brett St. Claire stated there will be another Public Hearing on Gile Hill Road and a Public
Hearing is scheduled for putting up a gate on Legache Hill Road.
2. In addition, there will be a gate at Kimball Pond Road to try to control vandalism. Scott Warriner, tenant, has noted there are less problems from vandalism lately.
Les Hammond noted that the more parking space is available, the more room there seems to be to dump trash.
3. Charles (Chuck) Graybill noted that the Highway Budget had purchased the gates, but the Conservation Commission will be responsible for putting them up.
Jeff Crosby, Road Agent: To Discuss Road Hearing Scheduled for Next Week
Gile
Hill Road Improvements:
Selectmen asked what the Road Agent’s recommendations would be for the estimated $25,000 Road Improvement Work to be done at Gile Hill Road which he presented to the Selectmen several weeks ago. Chan’s are willing to pay towards the cost of upgrading the road.
Selectmen noted the only thing the Planning Board could do regarding Gile Hill Road was to change the width of the road . The Selectmen stated they need to know what the recommended road improvements for Gile Hill Road should be before the regular Planning Board meeting to be held on May 18, 2005. It was noted the road is a Class V road up until Brennan’s. It then becomes a Class VI Road. The Chan’s would be improving the road from Brennan’s up.
It was noted there is a new statute on the books that allows Towns to charge developers an “Exaction Fee” for fixing roads that are directly connected to proposed subdivisions, etc. The fee can be determined by the Planning Board or the Board of Selectmen.
Selectmen advised Janice VandeBogart, Town Administrator, to investigate the details and how the Exaction Fee would work. She will check with New Hampshire Municipal Association and/or Town Attorney. It was noted we have to be sure we can enact this.
Items to be brought up at the
Road Hearing to be held on Thursday, April 28, 2005 as follows:
1. Twist Hill Road – Grind tree
2. Second Coat of paving – Gorham Pond Road (Jeff Crosby indicated he would like to pave this road from the Goffstown line to Route 13 if possible)
3. Would like to straighten out the water runoff situation coming off the bank by Tim Jarvis/Dave Willis Property on Gorham Pond Road
4. Second Coat of paving – Transfer Station (Need to make sure all electrical lines/septic lines are taken care of before paving)
5. Second Coat of paving – Town Garage
6. Ordway Road – Culvert needs to be replaced
7. Long Pond Road – Culvert near Cohen’s
8. Road Agent noted he would like to improve the road where the former Simon Audet Subdivision was. The Town was given an easement for road improvements along this section. Will have to move the stone wall back. Burchell is now the owner of all four lots. It would make sense to do the road improvements now before the lots are sold and the Town would have to deal with four separate owners.
Charles (Chuck) Graybill
indicated he would be in favor of moving the stone wall back now. The other Selectmen concurred.
9. Road Agent noted that Rick Martin gave the Town two culverts. Rick Martin keeps asking why aren’t they in place yet. It was noted the permits are in.
10. Rick Antonia culvert on Rangeway Road. Will Rick install it or the Town? Selectmen checked the minutes of the July 25, 2002 meeting. Rick has not installed the culvert yet. Charles Graybill was of the opinion that the Town should just go ahead and put the culvert in and not wait any longer for Rick to do it.
It was noted that the paving contract expires on July 1, 2005. We will take advantage of the bid price for all possible paving prior to this date. Jeff Crosby has already met with Brox to make sure they are able to fit the Town of Dunbarton into the paving schedule. The new paving bid will be considerably higher because of oil prices, etc.
Other Road Agent
Business/Comments:
1. Jeff Crosby stated he had met with Jamie O’Rourke, New England Power, and he confirmed that work will be completed by July 15, 2005. Stan Sowle, Conservation Commission, was also present and this was acceptable.
2. Alan Sheldon, Town Employee, will be clearing up brush along the sides of the roads. Will be using the chipper. Talked about have someone work with him to help and also because of safety issues. Asked about possibility of getting someone from the Transfer Station. Will only be able to utilize Transfer Station employee for ten hours a week because of overtime, etc. Jeff also has someone he feels might be able to work a couple of days, etc. Jeff was instructed to make sure the potential employee has a physical and completes a job application prior to working.
3. Noted there is still more work to be done on Jacqueline Drive. Referred to letter from Don Mayo. Need work on shoulders, etc. Talked about moving the rock which creates a sight issue, etc. Selectmen were in agreement on moving the rock. Need work on catch basins also from fire pond. Culvert should be replaced as part of this project. He is debating about possibly cleaning the culvert. Also needs to stripe the road. There are still funds available for necessary road improvements on Jacqueline Drive.
There being no further business, Mert Mann made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m. Les Hammond seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Recording Secretary
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Charles
(Chuck) Graybill, Chairman
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Mert
Mann, Selectman
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Les
Hammond, Selectman