Select Board Meeting Minutes - August 20, 2007

Lincoln Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes August 20, 2007 5:06 pm Present: Chair Deanna Huot, Selectman Peter Moore, Selectman Patricia McTeague, Town Manager Ted Sutton, Recording Secretary Susan Chenard Audience members: Wilfred Bishop, Charlie Cook, Voices against Violence, Ted Smith Approval of public meeting minutes of August 13, 2007: A motion was made by Selectman Moore, seconded by Chairman Huot, to approve the public meeting minutes of August 13, 2007, as amended. The motion passed with Selectman McTeague abstaining as she was not present. Routine Business ? Community Center Update - Town Manager Sutton reported that the parking lot is almost done. We are still looking at better paving prices, but should be done in the next week. Chairman Huot wondered if the new pavement might be damaged by the equipment necessary for the upcoming projects, like the ADA walkway, but the Town Manager reassured her that it should be cured by that time, and he would keep it in mind. Town Manager Sutton also reported that he would be meeting with LeFebvre and the daycare center on Wednesday to discuss coordination between construction and the day care. Finally, he reported that the heating system project was slated to start on the 21st, with the first phase to be the removal of the old heating system. The current hot water heater, only about three years old should be sold or sent to another department within town. ? Fire Department Grant Update - The Town Manager agreed with the emails from Pat Garvin of the North Country Council and Charlie Cook, Trustee of Trust Funds. Ms. Garvin suggested using the coming year to answer the questions the Board and Mr. Cook have posed, as the grant has been and should continue to be offered annually. ? Welsh Elderly Exemption - This past spring, Ms. Welsh had applied for and been granted an elderly exemption for her new home. However, this home is located on her son's land, so the exemption cannot be applied. We have written to her to explain the situation, and will be speaking with her and her son this week as well to explain they should speak with a lawyer so Mrs. Welsh can best take advantage of this exemption. Other Business ? The Town has received another check from FEMA, this time $780 for administrative costs for the storm damage in April. ? Two new crossing signs have been added on Main Street near the Citizens bank. ? Bill Willey and his Public Works crew are building a cold storage shed near the garage. They have been able to do so at a very small cost, rather than paying an estimated $20,000. They were able to get 15,000 board feet of lumber from the trees the department cut down on Cemetery Road, free telephone poles from the Electric Cooperative, free paint from Aubuchon Hardware and all the labor being done by the Public Works crew. ? The North Country Center for the Arts (NCCA), who will be buying the White Water Treatment Plant lot, and the Town Manager have found Brownfield's money that could be used to do the environmental Phase 1 and 2 testing, as well as some site clean-up, if necessary, if the sale could be postponed till after the studies are done. (The funds are only available to municipalities.) The testing would be done this fall, with results coming in through the early winter and demolition of the plant scheduled for the spring of 2008. ? Pleasant Street homeowners want to have a party and ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 8th at 5:30pm, with Carol Riley of the Lincoln Library heading this up and sending out invitations, etc. ? Chairman Huot presented two abatements that needed to be signed regarding Franconia Investment Company's sale of land to Lincoln South Mountain Partners. It was due to a glitch in our transfers. ? Selectman Moore asked Town Manager Sutton about complaints the solid waste facility had received when burning brush this past week. The Town Manager described that he had received two calls, so went to look at the fire, which was a big pile of brush burning rapidly. Unfortunately, the wind was coming from the west, blowing the smoke into town. The Town Manager requested that they start with a smaller fire and to check the prevailing winds before starting the next burn. Selectman McTeague asked about the audit, which is scheduled to start October 1st. Also, Town Manager Sutton investigated an issue where the Whale's Tale had said that their trash was refused at the transfer station. When it was explained that it was due to too many recyclables mixed in, Jeb said he would solve the issue. ? Selectman Moore also mentioned that he had heard that we had had a few offers on the business park land and wondered if we should change our formula. This led to a discussion on whether the Town's focus was to sell the land or promote business and jobs. ? Selectman Moore next mentioned that he would like to see crossing lights at the school, bank and transfer station intersections he felt that we should think about this when the Village Core group next met, and take it into consideration during the Main Street re-striping project scheduled for next year. Town Manager Sutton reported that he had spoken with Brian Shutts and Greg Placey to start the process of installing a traffic light at the school intersection and is in the process of working with the local developers on that. There was some discussion of illegal parking on the corner of Church and Main Street as well. The Town Manager asked the Police Department to look into the issue. ? Chairman Huot reported that the second CIP meeting had gone well, with much progress made. It was exciting to see projects drop off, like Pleasant Street and Liberty Road. ? All three Board of Selectmen members plan to attend the Budget Workshop scheduled for the September 27th here in Lincoln. All three board members and the Town Manger plan to attend the North Country Council's annual meeting at the Common Man in Plymouth on October 17th. ? The bidding has closed on the Town's old police cruiser. There were two bidders, with $600 being the highest bid. Public Participation Two members of Voices Against Violence spoke with the Board and thanked them for the annual donation to their cause. They wanted to come in person to show their appreciation as funds from towns become more important due to state and federal funds becoming less available. They are very active in the area, working with 600 people in 18 communities, including about a dozen here in Lincoln, of varying age and sex. They left information to be distributed as needed, and reminded that the board that though their four employees have a varied background and can help anyone in secrecy, their actual function is to link up victims with the right resources. Charlie Cook asked for clarification on the Brownfield's money. He also reiterated his comments from his email, regarding the type and size of the fire department, fire station and planning for the costs after the grant funds are used up. He felt expert knowledge could be useful and the Town Manager said that we have two recent studies to help in making these decisions, but welcomed Mr. Cook's assistance in this project. Wilfred Bishop distributed copies of the EPA Local Landscape newsletter to the Board members and suggested the Town use the North Country Council to study full build-out. He also mentioned that Ray Burton had been at Lincoln Green this afternoon and had suggested the Town look into buying the building when it comes up for sale in 2012 for further use as elderly and disabled housing. At 6:11pm, the Public left and a motion was made by Selectman McTeague, seconded by Selectman Moore, to enter into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II(e). The Vote was unanimous. The Board discussed upcoming police contract negotiations. No decisions were made. At 6:50pm, the board returned to public session, and a motion was made by Selectman Moore, seconded by Selectman McTeague, to enter into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II(a). The vote was unanimous. The Board conducted an employee evaluation. No decisions were made. At 7:15 pm, Town Manager Sutton left, the meeting was adjourned and the Selectboard reviewed payroll and accounts payable check registers for the week ending August 19, 2007. Approved by: Chairman Deanna L. Huot, Selectman Peter E. Moore, Selectman R. Patricia McTeague