TOWN OF STODDARD, NH

SELECTMEN'S MEETING

FEBRUARY 25, 2008

7:00 PM @ TOWN HALL

 

ATTENDANCE:      Bradley C. Pratt, Jr., Chairman

                                    Louis E. GrandPre'

                                    John D. Halter

 

                                    Evelyn Nadeau, A.A.

 

PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE THE BOARD:

1.         Alan Champney, Animal Control Officer – (1) suggested to the Board that he wants to plug his diesel backhoe in at the Fire Station or the Town Hall and asked if this has ever been done before and if it has ever been put in writing.  Mr. Champney then goes on to say that on 2/7/08 he saw a backhoe plugged in to the Police Station and he wants to know why and asks to have the electrical box removed. He then identified the backhoe as belonging to David Vaillancourt, the town's contracted road agent.  Mr. Vaillancourt is also the town's Chief of Police and Mr. Champneys supervisor.  Mr. Champney submitted a written complaint and pictures.  (2) Mr. Champney then asks why Mr. Vaillancourt has a wood chipper and other private equipment stored at the Police Station property.  (3)  Mr. Champney then asked why Mr. Vaillancourt can run his grader & backhoe on Route 9 and Route 123 unregistered, giving the Selectmen a copy of RSA 261:75, II.  Mr. Champney then said he wants restitution to the town for money lost on past years' registrations.  (4)    Mr. Champney then submitted another written complaint that Mr. Vaillancourt had approached him while he was at Mr. Mikes and asked him what his budget for the coming year would be.  Mr. Champney feels that was an inappropriate place to ask him for his budget.  Mr. Champney says he asked Mr. Vaillancourt about the mileage reimbursement amount being increased and was told to add one to two hours to his work to cover it.  (5) Mr. Champney then complained that he was not given the forms he had requested for his Animal Control job.  He says he made up his own forms, but they are not legal.  (6)  Mr. Champney wants an answer within five working days as to why he cannot go to the Police Academy.  He also wants an answer from David Vaillancourt as to why he does not keep a log book.  Mr. Champney will be back next Monday.

2.                  Arnold Stymest – says he heard a rumor about a transfer of money for fuel.  The Board said it was proposed within the Tax Collector's budget to help pay for fuel for the Library in compensation for using the Library building on Thursdays.

3.                  Amy Rokoszak – asks if the town has a set of bylaws?  Selectmen say there are no bylaws specific to Stoddard, but must act in accordance with State Statute.

4.                  Joseph Sarcione, Fire Warden – (1) provided the Board with a copy of the RSA relative to reimbursement for services, adding most towns charge $2 per fire permit.   If an inspection and a re-inspection are needed an hourly rate plus mileage could be charged.  Ultimately it was decided that an amount would be added to the Fire Warden's budget to cover these charges.  This will be explained in the Town Report narrative and at the budget public hearing and town meeting if questions are asked.  (2)  Mr. Sarcione asked if Ben Wilder has the right to make a complaint if he is not a resident of town.  Chairman Pratt noted that Mr. Wilder is a landowner.

5.                  Shannon Sarcione – inquired on when the road contract will go out to bid.  The ads are to run from 3/5/08 with bids due 3/24

6.                  Fred Ward – dropped off a pistol permit application.

 

ITEMS FOR SIGNATURE:

1.         Weekly manifest

2.            Selectmen's Minutes 2/18/08

3.            Selectmen's Minutes 2/11/08 (For Lou to review)

4.            Veteran's Credit & H-cap improvements Exemption – Mark Krider

 

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:

1.                  Chairman Pratt discussed the possibility of disbanding the Building Committee because he feels it's not possible at this point to get enough information together for Town Meeting.  He notes there is talk around town about buying the building next door again.

2.                  Regarding David Vaillancourt, Selectman GrandPre' says he is an employee of the town on call 24 hours a day and needs to get his snow removal equipment going.   Evelyn Nadeau noted that Mr. Vaillancourt had told her he had verbal authorization from a previous Board of Selectmen.  It was suggested that the cost for electricity could be negotiated, but no consensus was reached.  The Animal Control Officer forms have been created and are on file, but were never authorized for Mr. Champney to use.  Mr. Vaillancourt will be asked to come in next Monday to meet with the Board.

 

 

ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/READING:

1.      Building Committee memo from Terry McMahon

2.      Another Granite Lake Association email

3.      Planning Board preliminary minutes 2/6/08

4.         NH-DES wetlands permit – Lull Road Corp.  TM# 134-07

5.                              NH-DES letter to Jane Healy

6.                              Cheshire County Commissioners minutes 2/14/08

7.                              Training information

8.                              Coalition Communities' latest

 

ADJOURNMENT:   8:48 pm

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Evelyn Nadeau

Administrative Assistan