TOWN OF STODDARD,  NH

SELECTMENÕS MEETING

JANUARY 28, 2008

7:00 PM @ TOWN HALL

 

 

ATTENDANCE:      Bradley C. Pratt, Jr., Chairman

                                    Louis E. GrandPreÕ

                                    John D. Halter

 

                                    Evelyn Nadeau, Administrative Assistant

 

PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE BOARD:

1.                  Patricia Putnam, Treasurer – reports she received a letter from CitizenÕs Bank wanting to meet with her to discuss opening a town account with them.  She thinks there is no reason to change from Bank of America or Ocean Bank.   Ocean Bank reports the interest income for the Town in 2007 was $23,452.81.  The Selectmen agreed no action need be taken.

2.                  Patricia J. Lamothe, Fire Chief – concerning the letter approving only one egress route at the school, she doesnÕt know who wrote it.  Ray Lagasse gave it to her saying it came from the School Board as a recommended letter for the Fire Chief to sign so the State of NH will allow an addition to the school.  Chairman Pratt remarked that it was unprofessional the way the School Board had Mr. Lagasse give it to her.  He then told Chief Lamothe she can sign it if she wants to, but it is not advisable.  Chief Lamothe said she is not interested in signing it.  It was remarked that the school should be trying to get the second egress road first instead of looking for a way around the StateÕs regulations.  The draft letter was given back to Chief Lamothe.

3.                  Robert & Lillian Collier – requested an extension on their building permit.  Their house is well underway at TM# 102-89, but they donÕt think it will be finished for another six months.    A MOTION was made by Chairman Pratt, seconded by Selectman Halter and approved by unanimous vote to extend the CollierÕs building permit for one year at no added cost.

4.                  Ken Holland & Ben Wilder – Mr. Wilder wanted to know what happened with the ClarkÕs land, also VaillancourtÕs and HayesÕ.  Chairman Pratt reminded Mr. Wilder that he had only complained about the logs on ClarkÕs property.  The Selectmen met with the Clarks on the property and there was only one unregistered vehicle, which is permissible.   The grader and/or construction equipment doesnÕt have to be registered unless it is taken on the road.   Mr. Wilder now voices a complaint about HayesÕ properties having way too many vehicles.  Selectman GrandPreÕ said he will talk with the State.  Chairman Pratt says Mike Hayes is a licensed, bonded dealer.  Mr. Wilder reports there is an uninspected truck on David VaillancourtÕs property.  Selectman GrandPreÕ says the State allows two.  Chairman Pratt says he believes there is only one allowed.   Mr. Wilder then reports there are unregistered trucks on Shannon SarcioneÕs property.   He shows the Selectmen numerous pictures of the properties he is complaining about, eight of which were given to the Board.    A MOTION was made by Chairman Pratt and seconded by Selectman GrandPreÕ to write a letter to the Planning Board about the Hayes complaint and possible non-compliance with Site Plan Review.

5.                  Hilary Harris – proposes to the Board that, in conjunction with Plan NH, the town hold a charette to work up plans for the town building(s).  Chairman Pratt asked if there is a cost to hold a charette.   Ms. Harris indicated there would be some costs, but doesnÕt know how much.  The Board suggested she could get a group together on her own, but not as the ÒBuilding CommitteeÓ.  There was discussion of a revised warrant article for the May 2008 Town Meeting for the town office building, as it has become apparent the work mandated by last yearÕs warrant article will not be done this year.  Chairman Pratt said he thinks we should all sit down and make sure the Warrant Article is what it should be, indicating he wants to start over.  Selectman GrandPreÕ asks whatÕs wrong with getting the Planning Board and Zoning Board and others together in a public  meeting to work up a decent proposal for this Town Meeting.  Chairman Pratt suggests having two building committees, one for the town office building and another for the fire station.  Pratt then asks Ms. Harris what the problem is with working with Aho Construction other than some vocal person thought there was graft simply because Aho was good enough to give the town some preliminary drawings at no cost.  Ms. Harris said she didnÕt have a problem with Aho, but thinks the process should be different from that stated in the Warrant Articles.

 

ITEMS FOR SIGNATURE:

1.                  Weekly manifest

2.                  SelectmenÕs Minutes 1/21/08

3.                  Letter to Dale Smith

4.                  Agreement with State for Town Clerk internet

5.                  Timber Tax Warrant:      $4,300.32

6.                  Timber Tax Certification

7.                  Memo to Department Heads re: Budgets

 

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:

1.                   A MOTION was made by Selectman Halter, seconded by Chairman Pratt and approved by unanimous vote to transfer $40,000 from savings to checking.

2.                  Chairman Pratt reports that the Cemetery Commission wants to put up a monument listing the names of those buried at the Center Pond Cemetery.  They wonder how to go about getting funding.  The Selectmen agreed they should present it as a separate warrant article stating the estimated cost when they come to present their annual budget request.

3.                  Chairman Pratt reports that the Granite Lake Association wants to put a link to the TownÕs website on their website.  The consensus of the Board was to have the Association people check with Amy Kraemer, the webmaster.

4.                  Chairman Pratt reports that Town Clerk Joan Read had come in the office and talked about not running again when her term is up in 2010.  She wants to know if she should hire somebody in advance to train for the position.  Her Deputy isnÕt interested taking the job over.

 

LEGAL and NON-PUBLIC FOLDER

1.                  Unemployment Compensation claim information

 

ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/READING:

 

1.                  DES wetlands letter – Rothman

2.                  Note from Marcia Kayser re: Trustees of Trust Funds

3.                  Information for disposal of TVÕs and/or Computer Monitors

4.                  NH Executive Council letter

5.                  PSNH rate information

 

ADJOURNMENT:   8:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Evelyn Nadeau

Administrative Assistant