TOWN
OF STODDARD, NH
SELECTMEN'S
MEETING
MARCH 3, 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 - asked
if the Selectmen have ever personally inspected any town buildings.
Ans: not personally. Asked what the procedure is to get up to par
on mileage reimbursement and what support is offered to the ACO for
training. Chairman Pratt noted that our reimbursement rate is $0.35 per
mile. Mr. Champney asked if the Board is open to raising it, then asked
what the last ACO got paid per hour. Mr. Champney then questioned why he
was given the dog warrant when it attending to it wasn't his job. Mr.
Champney then raised questions about the road contract, saying he doesn't
understand why the Selectmen didn't check David Vaillancourt's equipment.
Mr. Champney then says there are seven people with unregistered commercial
vehicles in town that travel on the roads, and the Selectmen can create an
investigation. Mr. Champney then questions again why David Vaillancourt
can plug in his backhoe at the Police Station. Selectman GrandPre' says
David Vaillancourt came in when Dennis Marquis, John Halter and himself were on
the Board and got verbal permission for that. Mr. Champney again raised
the point about the number of unregistered vehicles in town and on the
highways. Chairman Pratt explained that he is not the authority to do
anything about that, and it is way out of the scope of a Selectman's
position. Mr. Champney said to call the State Police to have it
investigated. Both Selectmen GrandPre' and Pratt indicated they would
call the State Police to let them know it was brought to our attention.
Mr. Champney said he wants an answer in writing and wants it found in the
minutes that David Vaillancourt was given permission to plug in his backhoe at
the Police Station. David Vaillancourt, Chief of
Police – joined
the meeting at this point and Mr. Champney turned his questioning to direct it
at Chief Vaillancourt pertaining to the Chief's job and the ACO's job.
Mr. Champney asked how many animal related calls the Chief had responded
to. Chief Vaillancourt responded that his position is mostly
administrative and Roger Turcotte handled those calls when he was here.
Mr. Champney complained that he wasn't given the forms for issuing fines.
Chief Vaillancourt indicated that the ACO's job description does not
allow for giving fines and he had previously explained to Mr. Champney that he
would take care of fines. When asked how many fines had been issued,
Chief Vaillancourt explained he feels that educating the public is sometimes
more important than issuing fines. Mr. Champney remarked that the
town job description is not the ACO description, then he left the meeting.
2.
Randy Weaver – requested the Selectmen's signature on a
GIS Data Release Form so Cartographic Associates can release data to Fire
Mutual Aid. Signed by Chairman Pratt.
3.
Nancy Chagnon
– obtained her
approved pistol permit.
4.
David Vaillancourt,
Chief of Police & Contracted Road Agent – noted it is time to post the roads to
prohibit travel by vehicles of six tons or more, effective until May 15,
2008.
A MOTION was made by John Halter, seconded by Chet Pratt and approved by
unanimous vote to enter non-public session to discuss a personnel matter [RSA
91-A:3 II(a) & (c)]. A MOTION was made by John
Halter, seconded by Chet Pratt and approved by unanimous vote to come out of
non-public session and to seal the minutes.
5.
Lorraine Joslyn – disputes the claim posed by Mike Hayes
in a recent letter to the Selectmen that Ken Holland is operating a business at
her property.
ITEMS
FOR SIGNATURE:
1.
Weekly manifest
2.
Selectmen's Minutes 2/25/08
3.
Oath of Office – Ruth
Ward – ZBA alternate
4.
Oath of Office – Nancy
Robinson - ZBA
ITEMS
FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
1.
Chairman Pratt indicated
that the Stoddard Alliance website has problems with the truth, adding that if
their mission statement is to keep the town informed, the information they put
on the website should at least be truthful. 1.) The Selectmen have not
advocated for the new fire station. 2.) The website says the
Selectmen disbanded the Junkyard Committee. That committee was formed by
the Planning Board, which is the board that disbanded them. He asked the
S.A. members present and observing the meeting ( Arnold Stymest, Amy Rokoszak,
Sandra Holland) to change the website to reflect the truth.
2.
A MOTION was made by Lou
GrandPre', seconded by Chet Pratt and approved by unanimous vote to allow
David Vaillancourt to plug his equipment in at the Police Dept. outlet through
the end of his road contract, with that permission to be negotiable with the
next contracted Road Agent.
3.
Chairman Pratt said that
last week he talked about disbanding the Building Committee, but now wants to
keep it going to work up some answers as to how much space (square footage) is
needed.
4.
Selectman GrandPre' will
notify State Police Troop C about Mr. Champney's vehicle complaint.
5.
A written response to Mr. Champneys
unanswered questions from the last two weeks will be drafted for next Monday.
6. Request from
Jean Kelly to use the Town Hall for Friendly Meals on the 4th Tues. of each month
continuously. A MOTION was made by Chet Pratt, seconded by Lou
GrandPre' and approved by unanimous vote to approve the use of Town Hall for
Friendly Meals indefinitely.
7.
Reviewed email from Ken Holland's Attorney to the Town Attorney. Chairman
Pratt stated he is not willing to make a decision with three to four feet of
snow on the ground. A MOTION was made by Chet Pratt, seconded by
Lou GrandPre' and voted unanimously in the affirmative to grant Mr. Holland
until 6/1/08 to abide by his attorney's proposal.
ITEMS
FOR INFORMATION/READING:
1.
Petition for Home
Healthcare, Hospice & Community Svcs. $800.00
2.
Petition for Senior
Citizen's "AGE IN MOTION" program $1,200.00
3.
Miscellaneous bulletins,
newsletters, etc.
ADJOURNMENT:
8:54 PM
Respectfully
submitted,
Evelyn Nadeau,
Administrative Assistant