UNAPPROVED SELECTBOARD MINUTES
MARCH 26, 2012
Present: Betty Whipple, Jay Grant, Ron Batchelder
Meeting called to order at 7:00
Minutes of March 19 Accepted as written. (Ron/Betty)
Old Business: Board Chair Betty Whipple reviewed the calendar.
3/27 – Area joint Selectboard Meeting, Alstead 7:00 p.m.; 3/28 – Joint meeting of Selectboard, Building inspector, planning board, ZBA, and Town Counsel 7:00 p.m.; 4/11 – Pre-construction meeting for state bridge painting, Charlestown Town Hall 11:00 a.m.; 4/25 – Monadnock Region Energy Rountable at Dublin Library 6 p.m.; 4/30 - Deadline for dog licenses; 5/28 – No Selectboard Meeting, Memorial Day; 9/29 – Langdon Fall Festival. (Andrea Cheeney added there will be an Easter Egg Hunt on April 7)
1. Discussion of Community Kitchen: Jay asked, where the Selectboard stands on allowing the community club to apply for a FEMA Grant for an emergency shelter? Jay will speak with HSEM to get details on running a shelter in the municipal building. Betty replied that we do not want to have a full-fledged community shelter, only a short-term shelter (one or two days). Jay asked, what does operating a short-term shelter entail? Betty said the committee has not looked into a lot of issues because the town just issued approval to seek the grants. Betty said give the Langdon Community Center Committee a chance to explore the grant requirements. Jay wants to know what the implications are with a shelter. Shelly Barnes said that if Jay is going to do research, the committee does not have to. Betty said that both the Committee and the Selectboard need to sit down with the field rep. from HSEM to discuss the shelter concept and the grant process. Jay also had questions about the plans, how does the Selectboard allow plans to be made for a space that is occupied now and may be occupied in the future by the food shelf? Betty replied that the town vote asked the committee to move forward.
Jay asked why the committee will spend money on plans. Betty replied that the town voted on the issue. Bob Fant spoke about town funds being voted on March 13 to move forward with the plans. Jay suggested putting the kitchen in the current service area, Betty said that is not what the town voted, but if Jay wants to develop an alternative plan that might be an option for the town. Rob Chamberlain said the food shelf has first use and probably an option to continue to use that space if the town so votes in 2013. Jay read the warrant article for the 2012 Town Meeting and said that it states the community area will be next to the food shelf. Also there was no mention of a shelter even though HSEM funds are being sought for that process.
Betty said let the committee have their meeting tomorrow night and see what they come up with. Everett said that if the plan should go through, the space would be available as an emergency center – that’s only common sense. He feels that 2/3 of the cost will be paid for by HSEM. Jay said the three middle schools are ready for use as shelters with special for HSEM Generators in place. Betty again stressed that what the committee is looking into a community center/kitchen – the shelter idea is secondary. Jay said that he still feels that the kitchen should be in this end of the building – not in the food shelf space. Jay also said Clarence Koss told him the Selectboard had said the voting area was off limits as a community center space. He wants to know where that idea came from. Jay says he sees a win-win situation if both sides sit down and compromise. Fred Roentsch said that the voters have made a decision. Shelly Barnes pointed out the plan is being developed by the Langdon Community Center Committee, not the Langdon Community Club. The Committee will meet tomorrow night (March 27) at 7 p.m.
2. The Board made the following appointments to Town Offices and Boards:
Helen Koss as Check List Supervisor (to March, 2013) Jay/Ron 3-0
George Whipple as Cemetery Trustee (to March 2013) Ron/Jay 2-0
Robert “Chops” Polcari to the planning board (to March 2015) Ron/Betty 2-1
Everett Adams to the planning board (to March 2015) Ron/Jay 3-0
Mary Henry to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (to March 2015) Ron/Jay 2-1
Greg Chaffee to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (to March 2015) Ron/Jay 3-0
3. Jay asked about if Town Records from the Board of Adjustment and Planning Board have been put in the storeroom. Board of Adjustment records will be stored on Wednesday. Bob will send Chops an email to remind him to bring his records
4. The Board signed a settlement agreement to be submitted to the Board of Tax and Land Appeal regarding the abatement of the Felecia Dupler Trust. The agreement, negotiated with the Duplers by town assessor John Hatfield, calls for the town to value the property for the 2010 tax year at $650,000 and refund $740 in taxes with interest at 6% from December 13, 2010. The Trust agrees to accept the 2011 evaluation and to withdraw their request for an abatement for that year.
Accepted Betty/Ron – Jay Grant recused himself because he has a business relationship with the Duplers.
5. Lease renewal meeting with Fall Mt. Physical Therapy.
Lisa Young asked the board if all town tenants are being charged the 2.9% CPI increase. She was told that other tenants will be assessed the same rate of increase and when they sign new leases.
Lisa told the Board she had to shovel her walks and parking spaces (November storm). She was told that Todd is plowing this building first since that storm.
Jay has been shoveling and salting Lisa’s sidewalk. Lisa asked about the heat failing twice this year. She was told that a new boiler is being installed. The new boiler will have an alarm system installed that calls the service technician in the event of failure.
Lisa asked about key to thermostat boxes? One was provided to her office when the lockboxes were installed.
Lisa pointed out that two ballasts are out in her lighting fixates, there are three mud wasp nests under the overhang by her door, and spider nests stuck to the windows.
Lisa will contact Peter Young to fix light ballasts in the Fall Mt. Therapy Area. Bob will clean the nests from the overhangs. Jay will fix Handicap parking sign outside of door.
The Board and Lisa young signed a lease for one year at an increase of 2.9%.
6. The board reviewed bids from Linda’s Landscape and Adams Landscape for the 2012 mowing of town lawns. The Board had opened the bids last week, thought the low bid was too low and wanted to make sure the low bidder understood the area to be mowed. Adams was $125 a week, Linda (after reviewing the area) $100 a week. It was noted that Linda is not licensed to spray chemicals. Jay asked Bob to get a price for spraying of poision ivy near the Prentiss Covered Bridge, on the lower part of the common, and in front of the municipal building. Linda’s Landscape was awarded the contract to mow the town lawns. (Jay/Ron)
Jay told the board that one of the trees near the town hall needs to be taken down when the cemetery does their tree work
7. The Board signed a current use application for Walter Sodano. (Land off the Green Road)
8. Board chair, Betty Whipple, has signed the request to place the town hall on the State Historic Register which opens the route to the national historic registry.
New Business:
1. The Board reviewed payroll.
2. The Board agreed to update the Town Tax Map this year.
3. The Board reviewed a proposal from Primex for the town’s liability and property insurance policy. A decision will be made once we receive a renewal proposal from the present carrier, LGC.
4. Betty proposed moving Selectboard members between town boards. (Board members serve as ex-officio members of the planning board, ZBA, and the Heritage Commission). She would like to serve on the planning board, have Ron serve with the ZBA and Jay with the Heritage Commission. Jay stated that he preferred to remain a member of the planning board.
Bob Fant, planning board member, asked that any changes be delayed until the end of June due to Jay’s involvement with the revised master plan. Betty agreed to delay the changes until the end of June. Everett said he favors changing each year. The past method of changing every year brought different perspectives to the Boards. The issue will come up again in June.
5. Andrea Cheeney discussed the school community garden at the school, asked about property lines and water from the old fire station.
Everett Adams will install a frost free faucet at the fire station for the school community garden. Marilyn Stuller told the board that postings at the Town Hall are blowing away because the doors on the bulletin board are gone. Bob Fant will install new doors on the town hall bulletin board.
The Heritage Commission asked about moving the Town Safe from the Town Hall to the Municipal Building. Jay suggested that Griffin Dussault had the necessary equipment to move the town safe (Bob Will contact him this week)
The Selectboard appointed Everett Adams as Building Inspector for one year. (Jay/Ron) 3-0
Betty administered the oath of office to Greg Chaffee (zba), Everett Adams (Planning Board), and Ron Batchelder, Selectboard.
Jay asked about the cemetery land donation, Andrea Cheeney told the board that it will be done on the final map to be made of the donors property. There was a question about the tables in the parish house, they belong to the community club, and chairs from the parish house belong to the church.
Everett Adams asked about the proposed septic system at the town hall, is the well on the plan?
It is.
Adjourned at 8:30p.m. Betty/Ron
Respectfully submitted by Robert Cunniff