TOWN OF STODDARD,  NH

SELECTMENÕS MEETING

FEBRUARY 11, 2008

7:00 PM @ TOWN HALL

 

ATTENDANCE:      Bradley C. Pratt, Jr., Chairman

                                    Louis E. GrandPreÕ

 

                                    Evelyn Nadeau, Admin. Assistant

 

PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE BOARD:

1.                  P.J. Lamothe, Fire Chief – informed the Board that the boat landing at Highland Lake needs to be plowed so that the snow is pushed toward the house, rather than toward the landing.

2.                  Mary Lou Stymest – reported on the resignation of Arlene DiCorcia from the Supervisors of the Checklist and requested Ken Hill be appointed to fill the position until the next election. 

3.                  John Noonan from SVE – spoke with the Board regarding the culvert and drainage issues at Granite Lake.  He agreed to develop an estimate on doing the engineering so the Board can go out to bid on the work.  Mr. Noonan said he could prepare a survey and plan for the bid set.  Selectman GrandPreÕ asked that he check the size of the culverts and the drainage needs, asking for the information before the Budget Public Hearing on April 14th.  Chairman Pratt asks Mr. Noonan if he could prepare a site analysis for the ÒCahill GiftÓ property and asked if either he or Rob Hitchcock would come in next Monday at 5:00 p.m. for the Building Committee meeting.  The site analysis should include septic information, extending the existing roadway and determining the most feasible locations for a town office building and a fire station.  A rough design was requested for the May Town Meeting.  Mr. Noonan suggested that maybe he could have the Granite Lake proposal ready for next MondayÕs SelectmenÕs meeting, too, but he may have to wait for the snot to melt before doing the work.

4.                  Joan Read, Town Clerk – budget proposal for Election & Registration which includes all expenses of Town ClerkÕs office, Supervisors of the Checklist and Moderator, Ballot Clerks and Ballot Counters.  Total request = $45,252.00.  Following Chairman PrattÕs suggestion, it was the consensus of the Selectmen to increase the rent amount paid for use of Mrs. ReadÕs office from $100/month to $200/month and to increase the Town ClerkÕs salary line from $13,000 to $14,000 and increase the Town ClerkÕs Deputy and assistant hourly rates by $1.00.   Mrs. Read asked that a notice about the Dog Clinic be sent with the Inventory forms.  Mrs. Read suggested holding elections up at the school.  After Town Meeting she wants to draw up a job description and get someone in to train for Town Clerk.  Papers for the Maap program for sending vehicle registration information directly the Concord were signed by Chairman Pratt.  Mrs. Read thinks there may be a problem with the connection because the office is in her home, but she will work out the details with Concord.

5.                  David Vaillancourt, Chief of Police – Budget proposal submitted totaling $39,400.00 down from $41,600.00 last year.  The officersÕ hours are down.  A new line for the Animal Control Officer was added at $1,200.00.  Chairman Pratt relayed Fire Chief LamotheÕs concern about the plowing of the boat landing.  Selectman GrandPreÕ inquired about the North Shore Road bridge and the potholes.  Mr. Vaillancourt said he would keep an eye on it.

6.                  Beverly Power, Cemetery Commissioner and ZBA Chairman – CEMETERY BUDGET:  Requests $1,000.00 for the Cemetery budget, which is level funded from last year.  Submitted lists of burial records for the Dow Hill Cemetery and pamphlets with Cemetery By Laws.  Copies of Cemetery Commission meeting minutes were turned in.  Regarding the Jefts Cemetery, Andorra ForestÕs Paul Crosby has agreed to do minimal maintenance.  Chairman Pratt noted that the Jefts Cemetery should be taken care of as well as the other cemeteries in town.  A separate warrant article requests for $363. to install a memorial plaque on a boulder in Dow Hill Cemetery to acknowledge the earliest settlers who were buried but whose grave markers have not survived.             ZBA BUDGET:  $2,000.00.

7.                  George Preston – picked up pistol permit applications

8.                  Joe Sarcione, Fire Warden – budget request of $4,200.00, up from last yearÕs $3,000.00.  It was questioned if the town has a say in charging $3.00 for fir permits.  Mr. Sarcione will check with the state about permit charges and get it in writing for the Board.   Chairman Pratt explains there was a complaint about too much stuff at Lewis ClarkÕs property, but one car complained about was gone when the property was checked.  Two unregistered trucks were reported to be across the road from Shannon SarcioneÕs.  Mr. Sarcione said there is only one truck there, a blue one, and it is registered, but not inspected.   Mr. Sarcione then expressed his frustration with people complaining as well as the people observing and disrupting the meetings of boards and committees, saying it is just dividing the town again.

 

ITEMS FOR SIGNATURE:

1.                  Weekly manifest

2.                  SelectmenÕs Minutes 2/4/08

3.                  Intent to Cut – Nicholas & Jane Healy – TM# 424-06 & 07

4.                  Letter to Michael & Susan Hayes re:  Holland/Wilder complaint

 

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:

.

1.                  A MOTION was made by Louis GrandPreÕ, seconded by Chet Pratt and voted in the affirmative to transfer $100,000.00 from the savings to the checking account.

2.                  A MOTION was made by Chet Pratt, seconded by Lou GrandPreÕ and approved by affirmative vote to give the Town Clerk a $1,000.00 raise.

3.                  A MOTION was made by Chet Pratt, seconded by Lou GrandPreÕ and voted in the affirmative to give all our clerks a $1.00 per hour raise, including the Deputy Treasurer.

4.                  Sound equipment for town meeting – Chairman Pratt will look into this

5.                  Salt for roads more costly, as it is coming out of Portsmouth.

 

ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/READING:

 

1.                  DES permit – Rothman – TM# 137-24

2.                  Planning Board Sub-Committee on Junkyard Study – minutes of 1/31/08

3.                  John Halter emails re:  Granite Lake Dam & sinkholes

4.                  Fax request from DES for information on Island Pond Beach

5.                  Notice of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale – TM# 411-07 to 09

6.                  OEP memo re: Housing & Conservation Planning Program Grant applications

7.                  Legislative Bulletin #8

8.                  Miscellaneous bulletins, newsletters, etc.

 

ADJOURNMENT:     8:56 pm

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Evelyn Nadeau

Administrative Assistant