TOWN OF STODDARD, NH
SELECTMENÕS MEETING
FEBRUARY 4, 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.
Hilary Harris, Building Committee Chairman with Michael Castagna & Ina
Castagna - Mr.
Castagna is president of Plan NH. The Castagnas also head up a consulting
group. At Ms. HarrisÕ request, they came in to talk to the Selectmen
about processes for holding charettes to assist in determining the TownÕs needs
for a Òtown centerÓ. Mr. Castagna said he can be proactive through
consensus building with the Planning, Zoning, Selectboard and townspeople to
get everyone on the same page. His job is to work as a facilitator and to
mediate. The presentation consisted of showing plans worked up via
charettes with some larger towns in NH, such as Hampton. Chairman Pratt
asked Mr. Castagna about the costs for holding a charette and/or serving as a
consultant for consensus building. For a charette, the professionals
brought in would offer their services on a pro bono basis, however, production
costs were estimated at $2,500 minimum. The consultant cost was estimated
at $28,000. The Selectmen thanked the Castagnas for coming in and asked
Ms. Harris to stay on to speak with the Board. She agreed to come back in
after sheÕd said good-bye to the Castagnas.
2.
Marilyn Chamberlain - wants to open a farm stand on Route 9 property owned by Rodney
Williams. The stand would be portable, but probably not moved
daily. Ms. Chamberlain was advised she should go to the Planning Board.
3.
Louis & Lynn Heck - need to get a health inspection for foster parenting. Fire
Chief Lamothe already performed a fire inspection. Chairman Pratt agreed
to conduct the inspection and fill out the form for the Hecks.
4.
Ed Saleski - representing
the Historical SocietyÕs POSH committee, he reports they will meet next Tuesday
and they will be looking at the Town Hall and what can and should be done to
preserve it. An architect will offer suggestions from a preservation
standpoint, and they should have something to present before Town Meeting.
5.
Hilary Harris, Building Committee Chairman - the Chairman Pratt said he and Selectman
GrandPreÕ had met with Aho Construction to see where things are at with the
building plans. Aho has done a lot, including preparing a contract and
some plans depicting the ÒCahill GiftÒ land with contour lines and a proposed
town office building and fire station sited on the lot. He asked if the
Building Committee has done anything with the contract or the plans. Ms.
Harris said they had not. Chairman Pratt said he is inclined to change
the membership of the building committee, not by eliminating any of the current
membership, but by adding the Selectboard Chair to the committee to serve as
chairman of the committee. He stressed that he really wants Ms. Harris to
remain on the committee. Chairman Pratt stated that the overwhelming
majority at the last Town Meeting voted to have the plans done, that the town
is five years into the process and no progress has been achieved since Town Meeting.
Ms. Harris said what we are after is very conceptual. Chairman Pratt said
the design-build people would have done the conceptual drawing, adding that the
job just isnÕt getting done and we need to move forward with something.
The consultants brought in tonight do major planning for cities, but that just
doesnÕt fit with Stoddard. He stressed that he wants to keep the building
committee membership and add to it, but no one with a negative attitude about
the proposed projects. Selectman Halter agrees we need to get something
done before Town Meeting, and he believes we need to build consensus.
Referencing the plans, Chairman Pratt said Aho has done all this for nothing,
and he offered praise for them as a company. It was noted that site
planning should be done in such a way so as not to preclude other buildings on
the property in the future. A work session was scheduled for next Monday
at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall, to work with Aho. It was noted that the
audience at a work session is not to speak and get involved. There will
be other meetings for audience participation, but work sessions are for the
purpose of making progress, which cannot effectively be done with constant
interruptions from the audience. Chairman Pratt also said he advocates for
two separate building committees, one for the town office building and the
other for the fire station building.
ITEMS
FOR SIGNATURE:
1.
Weekly manifest
2.
SelectmenÕs Minutes 1/28/08
3.
Letter to Planning Board re: Hayes complaint
4.
Supplemental tax warrant: $1,876.00
ITEMS
FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
1.
Letter from Fire Mutual Aid - a copy is to be sent to the Fire Chief.
2.
Follow-up on Ben WilderÕs complaints: Chairman Pratt has checked them out.
Mike HayesÕ tree farm and the lot across Route 9 could be a problem. A
letter should go out to Mr. Hayes. Pratt didnÕt see any unregistered
vehicles at David VaillancourtÕs property. As for the complaint about
Shannon SarcioneÕs property, Pratt is not so sure the property complained about
is owned by Mr. Sarcione. He will talk to Mr. Sarcione to find out.
3.
Fred Ward letter of complaint about a Planning Board member he chose not to
name. No action taken by the Board.
LEGAL
and NON-PUBLIC FOLDER:
1.
Stoddard vs. Holland latest
ITEMS
FOR INFORMATION/READING:
1.
Budget vs. Actual report
2.
TreasurerÕs proposed budget
3.
Prescott letter to BTLA asking for reconsideration on their appeal
4.
Abatement Application - Bryan & Pam Bruder
5.
Normandeau waste services - solicitation.
6.
Coalition CommunitiesÕ latest
7.
Executive Council - news release
8.
Miscellaneous bulletins, newsletters, etc.
ADJOURNMENT:
9:30 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Evelyn
Nadeau
Administrative Assistant