DUNBARTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MEETING
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 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 reviewed correspondence and signed
checks prior to the Public Meeting was called to order.
7:00
p.m. – KEN KOZYRA, US CELLULAR
Ken Kozyra, U. S. Cellular, gave the Town of Dunbarton a check in the amount of $1,620.which represented the certified mailings and public notices cost for the Dunbarton Zoning Board of Adjustment Public Hearings.
Ken Kozyra, U. S. Cellular, appeared before the Board of Selectmen with a plan showing the proposed location of the U. S. Cellular Tower off Powell Lane. He said the access would be just after the driveway of Richard/Nicolette Hecker (the owners of the property) on the Class VI portion of the road. (The Class V status stops at the Hecker’s property) The Cell Tower will be located about 250 feet in from the Class VI road. Access will be along the wall/tree line. There will be a gate at the entrance, and they will try to use any existing boulders etc. along the sides of the gate. There are no plans to do anything to the Class VI Road other than replacing the existing crushed culvert. That will be done after the construction is completed because they do not want to damage a new culvert during construction of the cell tower.
K. Kozyra stated they may have to do some minor
branch cutting. Don’t want to cut trees
unless it is absolutely necessary.
Selectmen stated that the Town snow plow stops at
the Hecker’s residence.
K. Kozyra stated they had spoken with the Heckers
regarding U. S. Cellular vehicle parking in their driveway for maintenance,
etc. Heckers have agreed with U. S.
Cellular parking in their driveway.
K. Kozyra stated that U. S. Cellular accesses their
sites five times a year, quarterly and one annual site inspection. They will be accessing via either
snowmobiles, snowshoes or an ATV if necessary in the winter months. They don’t plan on doing any plowing for
access. There is no reason to bring in
heavy equipment. The access will be 12
feet wide and a gravel access road. Will
take out small brush by the rock wall to get in.
Charles (Chuck) Graybill asked when do you plan on starting
constructions?
K. Kozyra stated if they are approved by the
Planning Board at the September 21 meeting, they would start construction on
October 15 and be completed by Christmas 2005.
He stated it only takes one day to build the tower. The site work takes longer. The longest part of the process is getting
the utility company and the telephone company arrangements.
Selectmen will make a recommendation to the
Dunbarton Planning Board regarding the use of the Class VI portion of the road
for access for the U. S. Cellular Tower.
DUNBARTON
DISASTER RELIEF COALITION:
Les Hammond reported on the Dunbarton Disaster Relief Coalition. He stated that there had been a meeting at the Vestry. He noted this was not an official Town Committee. This is just an “Outreach Program”. Suggestions are that there be a connection between the Dunbarton School and a School in Biloxi, Mississippi or Louisiana and/or a Church in Dunbarton coordinating with a Church in either Mississippi or Louisiana to work together for Hurricane victim relief. At this point, there are no families that would be coming to Dunbarton.
Les Hammond stated this Disaster Relief Coalition
Program would be also in place for any future disasters.
BOSTON
POST CANE:
Mert Mann reported that he had been in contact with Wendy Dailey, President of the Dunbarton Historical Society, regarding the Historical Society administering the Boston Post Cane Program for Dunbarton. The Historical Society is very interested in participating and needs to be involved.
JANICE
VANDEBOGART, TOWN ADMINISTRATOR:
Janice VandeBogart, Town
Administrator, reported the following:
1. Town has received
notification from FEMA and the Hazard Mitigation Plan has been accepted.
a.
Next step is to have a Public Hearing.
Public Hearing needs to be posted twelve days prior to the meeting. Stephanie Alexander, Central Regional
Planning Commission, has suggested a date of Thursday, October 20, 2005 in
the evening. The following
Department Heads need to be present at the Public Hearing:
Police Chief
Fire Chief
Selectmen
Transfer Station Manager
Stephanie Alexander, Central Regional Planning
Janice VandeBogart, Town Administrator
2. Elderly Tax Exemptions
Janice VandeBogart reported that because the new revaluation of property in Dunbarton has more than doubled for most homeowners, the Elderly Tax Exemption has become less effective. Presently, there is an instance of an elderly exemption for a person between 75 and 80 whose home was previously valued at $56,000 and now it is valued at $106,000. In the past, he has not had to pay any taxes, now he will be responsible for $50,000 valuation for taxes. The present formula is as follows:
Age 65
– 74 Valuation
Exemption - $45,000
Age 75
– 80 Valuation Exemption - $50,000
Age 80
and over Valuation Exemption
- $100,000
In
addition, there are other qualifications to meet such as value of assets,
etc. Presently assets cannot exceed
$50,000 not including your home.
The revaluation increased the total town valuation
including utilities to $309,000,000 from $166,000,000.
She stated that she has spoken with Department of
Revenue, and they had said that other towns has increased the Valuation
Exemption to equal it out. In other
words, the $45,000 could be doubled to possibly $90,000 or $100,000 and so
forth.
Selectmen noted this should be discussed with the
Board of Assessors, and it will require a Warrant Article for Town Meeting if
it is decided to change the formula.
Charles (Chuck) Graybill noted that there had
recently been an Editorial in the Manchester Union regarding Elderly Exemptions
and how it was possible that in the future, the Town coffers could be affected
by so many elderly exemptions draining the system. There will be more and more elderly moving
into towns with elderly exemptions, etc.
3. Handicapped Bathroom Project
in Town Offices
Janice VandeBogart reported that the contractor stated he was finishing up another job and would be back in Dunbarton this Friday.
CIP
PROGRAM:
Les Hammond reported that he had attended the CIP
Meeting held on Tuesday, September 13, 2005.
At the September 13 meeting,
the following applications were reviewed.
1.
Bud Noyes, Historic Awareness Committee, attended and filed two
applications for Public Records to be micro-fiched and the purchase of a Climate Controlled
Vault for Town Records.
2.
Jeff Crosby, Road Agent, filed
applications for six road projects, a used road grader and truck.
RECLAMATION
PROJECT FOR GRAVEL – TOWN FOREST
Selectmen noted that the Town Forest Committee would
be the ones to set up the Committee for the Reclamation of the Gravel Pit at
the Town Forest. Jacques Belanger has
stated he would be willing to work on the Management Plan.
COMMENTS
FROM THE PUBLIC:
Lori Davis stated the following:
1.
There will be a Helicopter Demonstration on September 26, 2005 put on
by Dartmouth-Hitchcock at the School.
The Fire Department has asked permission of the School Board for Medi-Vac Training. She stated that when you are dealing with
helicopters, you need a space on each side because of the wind and flying dust,
etc. There is an amount of dust or rocks
that could fly and cause us to be liable.
Any trees that are not trimmed will be a problem. etc. Who is going to be doing the cleanup? Helicopter people are not liable for the
damage. Jon Wiggin would be responsible. He is the Department Head. Have spoke with both John Herlihy and Betty
Ann Noyes. There is nothing in writing.
You are still impacting people around that area. Could it be moved to a field, etc.? You should check with the abutters.
Selectmen noted the School Board had given
permission.
Lori stated because the liability comes under the
Town, no one department head can make that decision. It should be moved into a different area so
it would be safer for everyone. It is a
wonderful idea but a little bit of caution should be used.
2.
Stated that Jeff Crosby and Allan Sheldon have been doing a wonderful
job on the Town Roads.
There
being no further business, the following motion was made:
MOTION:
Mert
Mann made a motion that the Dunbarton Board of Selectmen adjourn the meeting at
8:08 p.m. Les Hammond seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Recording Secretary
______________________________________
Charles
(Chuck) Graybill, Chairman
_______________________________________
Mert
Mann, Selectman
_______________________________________
Les
Hammond, Selectman