Select Board Meeting Minutes - February 26, 2007

Lincoln Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes February 26, 2007 5:04 pm Present: Chairman Deanna Huot, Selectman Patricia McTeague, Town Manager Ted Sutton, Recording Secretary Susan Chenard Woodstock Board of Selectmen: Joel Bourassa, Gil Rand, Jim Fadden Audience Members: Wilfred Bishop, Paul Beaudin Approval of public meeting minutes of February 12, 2007: A motion was made by Selectman McTeague, seconded by Chairman Huot, to approve the public meeting minutes of February 12, 2007, as amended. Routine Business ? Woodstock Board of Selectmen Joint Meeting - Chairman Huot welcomed the three members of the Woodstock Board of Selectmen. The first topic of discussion centered on the solid waste department and changes in pricing for new regulations requiring disposal of televisions and computer monitors, slated to start April 1st . Fees for their disposal will only cover part of our costs and the rest will be paid for in taxes from Lincoln and Woodstock. It was decided not to raise any other costs at this time. It was also suggested that we may wish to implement a recycling ordinance at this time. A motion was made by Selectman McTeague, seconded by Woodstock Selectman Fadden, to accept the new suggested fee schedule as presented. All Lincoln-Woodstock members were in favor. The recreation department was discussed next, with talk of the ski area and new sliding area looking very good and working out well. There was also a discussion of the Community Bldg update - past and future construction. This year the plan is to add a room so the daycare will be separated from the rest of the Father Roger Bilodeau Community Building, the seniors have their section, and the great room will be available for any functions. Lincoln has applied for a grant for a new furnace. A comment was made that it was nice to see the seniors using their area and enjoying some relations with the children from the daycare center. The ball field was also discussed. We're waiting for approval in the spring from our turf professional, as to when we can use the new field, with a dedication in May. Aerator equipment will be used to solve a minor drainage issue, we'll repair a dugout door damaged by vandals, and the Public Works Department has a new tractor with a mower attachment and wide tires to mow the new ballfield. The Woodstock Board of Selectmen thanked the Lincoln Selectmen and budget committee for making the process in Woodstock go so smoothly, due in part to a great presentation by Town Manager Sutton and Tara Tower, describing itemized billing, etc. They felt it was important to be involved, and working as partners. Chairman Huot thanked them for coming and looked forward to an annual joint meeting. ? Daycare funding - Town Manager Sutton will be meeting with the Lin-Wood Daycare Board Chairman and another person at 9am on Wednesday to discuss the daycare's financial difficulties. They have said they have a $14,000 shortfall. However, they did raise several thousand from the Common Man dinner, and Ted is helping them with a NH Charitable Trusts grant. ? Pleasant Street - We had 9 bids, with two under $300,000 and the rest over. Town Manager Sutton handed out a spreadsheet highlighting a $2018 difference between the two low bidders. We are in the process of reviewing the bids, but are somewhat concerned about the background of the low bidder, Nelson Communication Systems. We are seriously considering the next lowest bidder, J. Lyman Construction Co. We have checked with our lawyer that we could choose the next lowest bidder. Chairman Huot also asked about the timeline for the start of construction, and Town Manager Sutton reported that we hope to start as soon as the ground thaws. We will need to cross Main Street with a new sewer line which will run under that street. Main Street will be repaved in 2008, with a new traffic light coming in that spring, so the timing is good, and our new traffic plan will be painted and striped at this same time. ? Review of latest letter to Army Corps of Engineers - Town Manager Sutton mentioned that in the letter he explained the lack of time allotted to accomplish the Army Corps' timeline, and we are requesting an extension. Town Manager Sutton has contacted John Sununu's and Judd Gregg's offices, who are being very helpful, and he has set up a meeting for FEMA and us for March 28th, at 11:00 am. Friday afternoon, a Corps representative called, and he admitted our points were valid and they realized now that the timing made no sense. (It takes 6-12 months minimum just to get a dredge and fill permit.) Town Manager Sutton presented a letter to the Board of Selectmen that he had sent in response to their demands. The Rapids developers and the Fairways development have been notified of this situation. Other business: Drainage issues - Town Manager Sutton mentioned that the work done by our public works crew on Pollard Road, Louanne Lane and Mansion Hill repairing past problem drainage areas is holding very well. (Our public works crew had done most of the work with the help of contracted equipment.) All contractors are done and paid: Mansion Hill by Conn Brothers, Route 3 by J. Lyman, Pollard Road and Louanne Lane by Caulder Construction, and Lin-Wood ball fields by Donahue Construction. Chairman Huot asked which portion of Pollard Road would be paved next and was told it will be from School Street to Dodge Place. Mapping - Town Manager Sutton met with Stacy and Cartographics a few days ago. We developed a plan to rename the map and lots to 911, though they couldn't match exactly, as we had hoped. Snow removal - Town Manager Sutton mentioned he had received some complaints and some compliments about snow pile removal from this last 2-foot snow storm on the 14th. We have worked with the state to make the corners safer. Paul McGinley from 15 Bog Brook Road also asked if the town would consider plowing elderly people's driveways, but the Board of Selectmen states that this issue was decided some years ago and that plowing private roads or driveways was not allowed by our insurance company. West Street lot - There is a lot on West Street that is un-owned. Town Manager Sutton is working with Attorney Conklin to discover the true owner, and thinks it may be a Clark. If no ownership can be found, the town may auction it off. Pleasant Street Easement - Town Manager Sutton is also working with Attorney Conklin to have an easement drawn up with the school regarding the turn-around on school property at the end of Pleasant Street. Town Manager Sutton will meet with the school board and present a letter requesting an easement. New Welcome sign is done - As soon as it thaws, we'll put it up. Warrant Article review - Town Manager Sutton has invited OJ Robinson, our Town Moderator, to come to the March 5th meeting, to review the warrant and assign articles to members of the Board of Selectmen. Sutton will also ask Budget Committee Chairman Chester Kahn to present the budget committee warrant articles. Town report progress - The report is now about 120 pages and will need different binding than anticipated. Town Manager Sutton and Chairman Huot will review the Draft Town Report on Tuesday. Insurance contract - Town Manager Sutton will be meeting with Local Government Center regarding insurance plans for the Town. We are starting to compare pricing as the current contracts lapse in July. Cafeteria-style health insurance plans as an option regarding deductibles and included services will be discussed as well. Adequacy in schools meeting - Selectman McTeague reviewed the legislative task force on school funding meeting of the previous Monday. Various viewpoints were presented, shortening the focus to 1-8th grade versus lengthening it to pre-kindergarten through post high school. Committee members had little to contribute, but were there more to listen. No reference was made to donor towns. Selectman McTeague was disappointed in the attendance, and felt that all towns had a vested interest, and should have attended. Zoning Board resignation - Chairman Huot received Denise Drapeau's resignation from the zoning board, as she is moving to Easton. Denise Drapeau requested us to continue to follow up on her concerns that she made regarding Route 3. Selectman McTeague commended Ms. Drapeau for her dedicated service. Grant-writing Class - Chairman Huot received a letter regarding a grant-writing class from North Country Council. Wilfred Bishop, Lincoln's representative, will go on 2/28/07 at 5:30pm, to the Annual Meeting of Town Representatives, at the Rocks Estate, in Bethlehem. Carbon Coalition extra materials - Town Manager Sutton has been in touch with the Carbon Coalition and is working on getting some hand-outs for Town Meeting. Elderly exemption - It was requested to delay this decision until next week as there is a question regarding the amount to be exempted based on percentage of ownership of the property. Audience Participation Wilfred Bishop mentioned that the Historical Society will hold a version of the Antiques Road Show this summer. He will get us information as soon as he gets more details. Also, he brought up a presentation that will be held on the plane crash on Mount Waternomee soon as well. There will be a kiosk at Beaver Pond parking lot regarding that crash too. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm and Town Manager Sutton left. The Selectmen then reviewed payroll and accounts payable check registers for the week ending February 11, 2007. Approved By: Chairman Deanna Huot, Selectman Peter Moore, Selectman R. Patricia McTeague