Building Committee, Town of Stoddard
Minutes for Meeting Convened December 4, 2008
Stoddard Town Hall
7:00 PM
Members Attending: Chairman Dick Briere, Vice Chair Amy Rokoszak, Penny Betz, Harry Power, Alan Rumrill, Sandy Holland, David Vaillancourt, and George Preston
Members Absent: Arnie Stymest, PJ Lamothe
The meeting convened at 7 PM. Initial discussion focused on the plans Meridien has provided for the layout of the parking at the Gould House and Town Hall. Amy Rokoszak stated that she felt we should proceed with having the pipe/sleeve installed which will be needed if/when the two septic systems are tied together. David Vaillancourt noted that the current plans do not show the correct location of the leach field behind Town Hall. Harry Power phoned Paul Dionne (PJD Septic) for verification, which he received verbally, as well as a roughed in faxed drawing. It was determined that this error would have an affect on the layout of the parking spaces and that the plans would require revision. Sandy Holland left a message at the Keene Sentinel asking them to pull the bid advertisement until further notice. Amy Rokoszak will go to Meridien on December 5, 2008 to request the plans be corrected. Once received, the Committee will proceed with the advertisement.
George Preston recommended that instead of doing this work piecemeal, we put together our holistic concept of what the Gould House and Town Hall could be as a Town Center in time for the Town Meeting, letting advocates of creating a Town Center on the Cahill donated property do the same. Amy Rokoszak and others countered that the services of the Keene State architectural students will provide that, and that process will commence in mid- to late-January. It was also noted that many Town residents are highly in favor of creating the parking for Town Hall as a safety measure and that we have the money to do that now. With today’s economy, it is unsure when funds to begin actual renovations and improvements to the Gould House could be made available.
George Preston continued that he felt the Building Committee was established, at least in part, to prioritize the projects represented in the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) and working in conjunction with the Master Plan, stating we need to look carefully at both and present the basis points upon which our decisions have been made. We need to look beyond the Gould House and Town Hall to the Police Station, Fire Station, and Library.
Dick Briere noted that the Gould House is separate from the CIP and Master Plan. The money we have goes back to the general fund if it is not used for the Gould House, and it has already been determined that parking is the number one priority. This year’s tax increase is on everyone’s mind, but voters felt we needed to spend this money on this project. We hope to have a comprehensive presentation on the Gould House, as well as other Town buildings, by Town Meeting, but it may be a year or two before people will look favorably at any proposed improvements. It is a great bonus that we are getting the architectural services free from KSC.
George Preston has done a great amount of work researching Town maps, ferreting out Town-owned properties. According to the records he has reviewed the Town may own as many as 40 properties including some waterfront. However, in mentioning several properties – the Recycling Center, the Highland Lake Boat Launch, land next to the Congregational Church and the Historical Society, it was noted that there are differing opinions who owns what and where the property lines are. The Recycling Center is represented as a Town-owned property, but it is reported that Arnie Stymest has in his deed a notation that if the Town ever ceases to use that property as a Recycling Center, the property reverts to him. Likewise, there may be a dispute at this time regarding the property lines at the Boat Launch. The land next to the Church is shown as a Town property but belongs to the Church. The Historical Society is also shown as Town-owned, but belongs to the Historical Society. This strengthens the argument that a number of these properties must be further researched and surveyed, in prioritized sequence, to correct the records to eliminate future confusion.
Sandy Holland will request from the Administrative Assistant to the Selectmen a listing of properties the Town is holding for three years under tax defaults for comparison with the list George has compiled.
At this time, the six cemeteries are not being considered as priorities for surveying. It was determined that the properties to be surveyed first are: Davis Public Library, Police Department, the Fire & Rescue Building # 2 (985 Rte 123 N), the Island Pond Boat Launch, Highland Lake Boat Launch, Highland Lake Launch at the Marina, Shedd Hill Road. George Preston has prepared comprehensive bid documents and will provide an electronic copy to the Admin Assistant when revised to include recommendations made during this meeting.
We have a meeting tentatively scheduled for December 11, 2008 depending whether the revised plans have been received from Meridien. We will meet to review them again and reestablish the details of the bidding. A meeting is possible on December 30th if we have bids to open. January 9, 2009 will be a firm meeting date if we do not conflict with the Rockhoppers. It is proposed to resume twice monthly meetings after the first of the Year.
This meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
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Sandy Holland, Secretary