CHINA PLANNING BOARD

MEETING of JANUARY 10, 2012

Approved Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Planning Board Member Dudley at 7:00 PM as Chairman Breton was unable to attend the meeting. Planning Board Members present were Milton Dudley, Toni Wall, Kyle Pierce, James Wilkens and Frank Soares.

Others present: CEO Scott Pierz, Planning Board Secretary Martha Wentworth, Mary Grow, Mary Margo Allen and Tom Whittaker.

Acting Chairman Dudley appointed Planning Board Member Soares to voting capacity.

China Planning Board Minutes:

On a motion by Planning Board Member Wall and a second by Planning Board Member Wilkens the minutes of September 13, 2011 were approved by a vote of 5-0. On a motion by Planning Board Member Wall and a second by Planning Board Member Wilkens the minutes with two (2) grammatical corrections to page three (3) and page six (6) were approved by a vote 5-0.

Discussions:

CEO Pierz provided Planning Board Members a copy of the Shoreland Septic System Compliance Program (SSSCP) for a review of the ordinance. The ordinance was included in the February 2009 ballot and approved with an effective date of July 1, 2009. The Select Board has received a petition to repeal the ordinance with approximately two hundred twenty five (225) signatures. Acting Chairman Dudley read the petition into record.

Public Comment – Mr. Whittaker asked if the handout was the proposed new language and CEO Pierz declared it was the current ordinance.

The Select Board has asked the Planning Board to prepare an alternative ordinance for the June 2012 ballot in the event the current ordinance is repealed. The discussion focused around ideas to pull together in order to make an alternative proposal for the ballot.

Public Comment – Ms. Allen shared that she had to have the 3 outgoing pipes replaced at her septic system’s distribution box and the inspector confirmed the system would pass inspection but she needed to know what the town would require for proof that her septic system passes inspection. CEO Pierz stated the inspector would provide the needed information to the town.

CEO Pierz proclaimed the revision would need to be received by the town clerk no later than April 28, 2012. CEO Pierz suggested the need for a public forum or notification to the petitioners for educational purposes.

Public Comment: Ms. Allen asked if this Program was just in regards to shore land property at this time. Planning Board Member Wilkens confirmed yes. Mr. Whittaker made comment that the current ordinance goes too far. When asked by CEO Pierz why, Mr. Whittaker thinks the maintenance of the tank should be the primary focus as the re-inspection time frame is too strict.

The Planning Board seemed to be in agreement that the ordinance cannot be written as a one size fits all. Planning Board Member Pierce asked that the presentation to the public include a piece to explain how a septic system works. CEO Pierz offered that the septic systems installed prior to 1974 should have more scrutiny due to their old technology. In addition, the tanks prior to 1974 are mostly on non-conforming properties so the systems are very close to the water.

Acting Chairman Dudley asked for any further public comments and CEO Pierz shared that the board may want to invite site evaluators to talk about the site evaluation process and explain the limiting factor and how it is derived. Planning Board Member Dudley asked CEO Pierz to make contact with some evaluators and see if they could come in and speak to the Planning Board.

Acting Chairman Dudley moved to home occupations. CEO Pierz provided a revised Level One (1) and Level Two (2) home occupation draft that included the wording about current home occupations and how they would not be required to apply for a permit. Additional clarification was included about a current Level One (1) wanting to move to Level Two (2) would require the needed permit. Planning Board Member Pierce wanted Level Two (2) to allow for more than one home occupation in a single household as you may have an occupant selling on eBay and the other occupant baking cookies for wholesale. CEO Pierz is going to revise the document and send a copy via email to the Planning Board Members. On a motion by Planning Board Member Soares and a second by Planning Board Member Wall, motion to revise and forward to the Select Board passed 5-0.

Communications:

1.  Implementation Committee meeting is being held January 11, 2012 at 6:30 in the Town Office meeting room

2.  Ms. LaMarr Clannon of Non-Point Source Profit Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) sent email to CEO Pierz mentioning the China Lake water shed base plan. Ms. Lemar is looking for some funding to continue NEMO. Ms. Clannon wants to know if there is anything she can do for the China Planning Board in regards to the base plan since part of her funding could assist the Town.

3.  The Planning Board may see certificate of abandonment on a previously approved sub division prior to April 1, 2012 and CEO Pierz just wanted to inform the Planning Board of this possibility.

4.  The annual report, drafted by the Chairman, will be due soon.

5.  April 28, 2012 will be the final day for items for the June 2012 ballot.

Additional Business:

1.  CEO Pierz wanted the Planning Board to be thinking about a possible parking ordinance. If the home occupation proposal passes we would only have parking regulations on home business.

2.  Visioning Session will be scheduled at later date due to the absence of Chairman Breton. Acting Chair Dudley recommend the Planning Board considers an additional meeting instead of a regularly scheduled meeting with the upcoming work needed on the SSSCP.

3.  CEO Pierz provided copy of the 2012 Planning and Land Use Laws Handbook to all Planning Board members.

4.  Bill Laflamme was the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesman that sponsored erosion control training for contractors. The China Transfer station was the site for China employees and S.D. Childs & Sons, LLC and so CEO Pierz provided copy of the results to the Planning Board Members.

5.  The Planning Board needs to upgrade their Kaspersky Anti Virus software for their laptops.

Acting Chairman Dudley asked if there was any additional business and with no further discussion on a motion by Planning Board Member Wilkens and a second by Planning Board Member Wall the meeting adjourned at 8:28 PM with the next meeting scheduled for January 24, 2012. The board voted 5-0 to accept the motion.

*For a complete review of the discussions, findings, motions and votes of this meeting please refer to the audio tape for January 10, 2012.

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China Planning Board Minutes of January 10, 2012