Town of Stoddard, NH

TOWN OF STODDARD

PLANNING BOARD

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD December 15, 2009

MEETING CONVENED AT 7:00 PM

Members attending included: Ruth Ward, Terry McMahon, George Preston, Dale Smith, Sandy Holland, Robert Fee and Harry Power.  Excused was Beverly Gay.

Correspondence: Email from Robert Fee confirming Joni Doherty’s attendance.

Minutes of previous meeting:  None

Public rudimentary questions: None

General business: 7:15 PM – presentation by Joni Doherty, Director of the New England Center for Civic Life at Franklin Pierce University, on Deliberative Democracy.  Ms. Doherty explained the entire process of Deliberative Democracy where professionally trained facilitators work through focus groups to bring together various groups from town, enabling townspeople with differing views to meet to create deliberative dialogue forums.  She passed out a publication, which had been produced after Rindge went through this process.  She outlined the costs for a Deliberative Forum Project, as might be established for Stoddard, to be around $3075.00.  Ms. Doherty also revealed that there are several foundations that offer grants for civic life projects.  She felt that this project would hold strong appeal for financing through such a grant.  Sandy Holland announced that there is a new grant writer working for Stoddard and that George Preston is also a grant writer. 

Subdivision applications:  None

Site Plan Review: The secretary reported that she had a telephone message from Lee, at Hayes Car and Truck, indicating that the required tree planted has been completed.  Several members indicated that they would check the trees, to see their locations.

Other business:  Budget:  The board addressed the revised draft budget for 2010-2011.  Reflecting on the itemized list left by Ms. Doherty, George Preston suggested the board add 2 more focus groups to make the budget for the Deliberative Forum $4000.00 as there would be additional costs for the added group meetings.

Patricia Putnam suggested that the university apply for the grant and then provide the project at no cost to the town.  The other option would be for the town to apply for the grant and add the $4000.00 to the Planning Board budget.  Robert Fee agreed with the grant going to the university and the town receiving the project at no charge.  He offered to follow up with Joni Doherty to have the grant go to the university and the board agreed to that approach.

Harry Power suggested a separate warrant article for the project.

Secretary’s Cumulative Hours: 10.5

Adjourned:  Terry McMahon moved and Robert Fee seconded to adjourn at 8:46 PM, the board agreed.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia E. Putnam

Secretary

TOWN OF STODDARD

PLANNING BOARD

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD December 1, 2009

MEETING CONVENED AT 7:00 PM

Members attending included: Ruth Ward, Terry McMahon, George Preston, Robert Fee, Sandy Holland, Dale Smith and alternates Margo Santoro and Harry Power.  Excused was Beverly Gay.  Harry Power was invited to fill Mrs. Gay’s chair until her return in the spring.

Correspondence: Important Dates for Town Meeting deadlines; emails from Robert Fee re:  Joni Doherty presentation; Budget information from Selectmen re:  George Preston request for budget basis; Terry McMahon Board training draft; email for Ruth Ward on recording Site Plans

Minutes of previous meeting:  Sandy Holland moved and George Preston seconded to accept the minutes of the November 3 and 17, 2009 meetings as presented, the board approved.

Public rudimentary questions: None

General business: A draft 2010-2011 budget, prepared by George Preston, was reviewed.

Several items are new to the budget and careful consideration was given to each.  The newsletter line was limited to $500.00 to hold its place (the vote was 5 for and 2 against).  Terry McMahon has volunteered to create a newsletter, to be disseminated via Email and the Town Web site, with a few copies made available at local establishments at no expense to the board or town.  The board agreed to have Terry continue on in the endeavor to find out feed back from the first issue.  This issue is slated to be available early next year.  George Preston suggested that the board initiate a Community Ascertainment Survey.  After extensive discussion it was decided to wait for the Deliberative Democracy presentation on December 15^th to see what Joni Doherty would suggest before placing the survey in the budget.

After discussion on each line in the budget, preliminary bottom line amount is $11,390.00.  The board will revisit the budget after the Deliberative Democracy process is explained.

Subdivision applications: None

Site Plan Review: Hayes Car and Truck – are the trees planted?  The board noticed that the trees appear not to have been planted.  The board decided to await the deadline of December 15, 2009 to consider further action.  Sandy Holland reported that Mr. Hayes had visited the Selectmen last week stating that the Planning Board could not give him a list of Site Plans in town.  The secretary was directed to email him the list.

Other business:  George Preston suggested that the board write a letter to the Record Retention Committee bringing old records, residing on the Stage in the Town Hall.  No action was taken.

Secretary’s Cumulative Hours:  3.5 (11/23-11/30/2009)

Adjourned:  Robert Fee moved and Terry McMahon seconded to adjourn at 8:55 PM, the board agreed.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia E. Putnam, Secretary