Select Board Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Roll Call – Andrew Pinard (Chair), Marlene Freyler, Mel Pfeifle and Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, were in attendance.
Appearances:
Erica Gross was sworn in as Town Clerk/Tax Collector by Chair, Andrew Pinard.
The appointment of a Trustee of the Trust Funds has been postponed due to possible conflicts of interest.
Marilyn Goldberg gave a report about communications with Bar Harbor Bank. The bank would like to switch from security pledges to a letter of credit as a form of securing out deposits. After numerous communications with Bar Harbor Bank, Marilyn called the NH Municipal Association, and they said the Town cannot do this because Bar Harbor Bank is not a NH based bank.
Andrew thanked Marilyn for bringing this to the Board’s attention.
Public Input:
Devin Pendleton wanted to update the Board of Selectmen on the fireworks rain date. Andrew asked if they could make this as an agenda item for next week’s BOS meeting.
Regular and Old Business
- The Board reviewed the minutes of the March 22nd meeting.
Motion: Mel Pfeifle motioned to accept the minutes.
Second: Marlene Freyler
Decision: 3-0
- The Accounts Payable and Payroll Manifest were reviewed and signed.
- The “Meet the Selectmen” Meeting will take place on April 14th at 7:00 p.m. This will be a Zoom only event with no agenda. Andrew asked each Select Board member to prepare to introduce themselves in a five-minute intro.
New Business:
- Andrew reminded everyone that the Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 10th at the Kearsarge Regional Middle School. The Board reviewed the warrant. Chris Frey told the Board that if everything passed on the warrant, the voted appropriations would fall subject to the 10% rule. Chris said that he and Karen had looked at the warrant and concluded that if the residents vote down the fire truck warrant article, the Town will not exceed the 10% rule. This will allow the Town to appropriate additional money for the Bement Bridge project (the bids came in higher-than-expected last summer). Andrew thanked Chris, Karen and Brackett and asked them to explain this at Town Meeting. There was a discussion regarding the discrepancy in the warrant article approvals between the Select Board and the Budget Committee. Andrew suggested looking at the warrant articles that were approved by the Select Board but not approved by the Budget Committee. Warrant Article #10 (Main Street Improvement Capital Reserve) – Andrew said he would like the Budget Committee to speak to this. Marlene and Mel agreed. Warrant Article #14 (Appropriation for Town Hall Restoration and Repair Fund) – It was decided that the Budget Committee will discuss this at the Town Meeting. Warrant Article #29 – #30 (Pierce Road) – Andrew does not think anyone necessarily will need to speak to these two articles.
- Town email addresses will be established for all Select Board members moving forward. Andrew said it can forward emails from the town email address to a personal email. This will be for distribution only.
- Mel brought up the Masonic building update. Karen said the Fire Chief would like to see a parking lot in this area. Mel would like to have future meetings discussing this building. Andrew suggested putting this on the April 26th Select Board meeting.
- The Board reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the rail trail/snowmobile project. Andrew pointed out the Memorandum had been signed by the NH Department of Transportation. The Board members will take a look more closely at the document on April 26th.
- Andrew thinks there should be a solid proposal for a Building Inspector type position and before a search is started. Karen has contacted local communities to see what they have in place. Karen thinks they need to look at the overall needs which will include Code Enforcement duties. Mel thinks they should ask for the input of the Planning and Zoning Boards. Andrew said this is about enforcement, and Planning Board is strictly responsible for making the regulations. He suggested creating a small committee to take a look at this that would include representatives from the different boards. Marlene will be the Select Board representative. Mel will ask the Planning Board if they want to have a representative on this committee. The Board will revisit on April 26th.
- There was a discussion about having a scheduled to hear reports from department heads. The Police Department, Fire Department, Roads, Transfer Station will all be scheduled for meetings. Andrew would also like joint meetings with the Budget Committee and possibly Planning Board too. There are several committees that should be looked at as well. Karen suggested having some communication with the Library trustees. The Board members discussed how often each department, committee and board should report to the Select Board. Karen will create the schedule. The intent of these proposed meetings will be to increase communication.
- The Board members signed an Intent to Excavate for Map 7 Lot 26.
- The Board members signed the Tax Recommittal. There is currently $168,173.50 in tax liens from 2012-2019. There is $202,948.24 in unpaid property taxes for 2020; $2,542.34 in timber taxes for 2020 and $221.25 in land use taxes. These property owners will be contacted by the tax collector.
- The Board members signed three Current Use Applications. One Board member recused herself due to conflict of interest.
- The Board members signed the Assessing Contract for 2021.
- The Board members signed a Personnel Action Form.
- The Board members signed the appointments for Parks and Recreation (Devin Pendleton, Bruce Edwards, Katie Olohan, Joel Banaszak and Jonathan Roy) and the Roads and Bridges Committee (Gary Perkins). These people will be sworn in at the Town Office.
- The Select Board accepted Unanticipated Revenue from LCHIP in the amount of $200.00.
Motion: Marlene Freyler made a motion to accept the unanticipated revenue from LCHIP in the amount of $200.00
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Motion: Marlene Freyler made a motion to place the LCHIP funds into the Town Hall fund.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
- Andrew will review the building permit applications for Map 5 Lot 7-1, Map 3 Lot 52-2A, Map 3 Lot 30 and Map 3 Lot 52A and sign at a later date.
Upcoming Meetings:
- April 12th
- April 14th – Meet the Selectmen via ZOOM
Pending Issues and Topics for Future Meetings:
Andrew would like to review the purchasing policy at a future meeting.
Motion: Marlene Freylermotioned to change the time of the Select Board meetings from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless there are special meetings needed.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Motion: Marlene Freylermotioned to adjourn to non-public session per RSA 91-A:3II (c) at 7:43 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to return to public session at 7:52 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to adjourn to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Vote: 3-0 in favor
Minutes submitted by Donna Long, Recording Secretary.
Minor edit under Public Input made in April 12th meeting.