TOWN OF THORNTON Board of Selectmen Meeting Date: March 9, 2010 The Thornton Board of Selectmen met and held a meeting on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 9:00 AM at the Thornton Town Hall. Board of Selectmen present: Acting Chairman, Roy Sabourn, & Tim Tyler Public present: Town Administrator Tammie Beaulieu Staff: Mary Conn Signature File 03/05/10 Letter of approval for Chief Parent as an adjunct instructor for RAD Program at PSU. Application for Building Permit PID 16-3-5 Brad Trott approved Open meeting 9:07 am- BOS did mail & signature files 9:35 am Acting Chairman Sabourn moved to enter non-public under RSA 91-A: 3, II (a) Selectmen Tyler seconded. Roll Call was taken. Selectmen Sabourn: Yes, Selectmen Tyler: Yes, passed 2-0-0. Non-Public- Chief Parent BOS reviewed and discussed new hire contract Chief discussed personnel issue and the recommendation from Town Counsel-Mitchell that the PD needs to have separate counsel for personnel issues, as the BOS needs to be able to act as a member of the fair hearing if requested by a police officer in disciplinary actions. 10:30 am Non Public- Deputy TX/TC BOS reviewed applicant s resumes/applications for deputy tx/tc to replace the current Deputy as she takes over as Thornton TX/TC on 3/27/10. 12:00 pm Acting Chairman Sabourn moved to exit non-public under RSA91-A: 3 II (a), Selectmen Tyler seconded. Roll Call was taken. Selectmen Sabourn: Yes, Selectmen Tyler: Yes, passed 2-0-0. Discussion in non-public lead to the following: BOS moved to approve that Chief seek counsel for the PD but all contact due to budgetary restraints must be reported to TA. BOS motioned to hire Sean Smarz after successful completion of all required background check, polygraph, and all required tests for employment with the Town of Thornton PD. BOS signed and TA witnessed the PD FT contract with Patrol Officer- Sean Smarz to start employment with the Town on 3/15/10. Mr. Smarz will be able to complete ½ his field training before he starts the Police Academy in April. 030910 meeting minutes Page 1 of 5
12:00 pm Selectmen Sabourn moved to recess the meeting. Selectmen Tyler seconded. passed 2-0-0. The meeting will reconvene on March 9, 2010 at 2:00 pm. The recessed meeting reconvened at 2:00 pm. The BOS discussed with the Deputy Town Clerk & Tax Collector, Christy Gleeson the outline of expenses with the recent resignation of Susan Lyons, Town Clerk & Tax Collector. Susan Lyons will be staying on as Deputy Town Clerk & Tax Collector for approximately a month until the newly appointed Deputy is trained. The anticipated overage of expenses will be $2000. They also discussed the written request from Susan Lyons for the approval of a paid 2-week vacation upon her leaving the Town of Thornton. The BOS acknowledged they will also need to make changes to the Personnel Policy for elected officials. Selectmen Tyler motioned for the approval of payment for Susan Lyons, Town Clerk & Tax Collector for 2 weeks of vacation upon leaving her position. Acting Chairman Sabourn seconded. passed 2-0-0. Action Folder: Selectmen s Minutes Selectmen Tyler moved to accept as amended the public meeting minutes of 2/24/10. Acting Chairman Sabourn seconded. passed 2-0-0. Selectmen Tyler moved to accept as submitted the non-public meeting minutes of 2/24/10. Acting Chairman Sabourn seconded. passed 2-0-0. Local Government Center Seminar TA Beaulieu received a notice for a grant writing seminar to be held at the Local Government Center on Tuesday 5/4/10. The BOS feels this is a very good seminar for her to attend. Acting Selectmen Sabourn feels the town will benefit if TA Beaulieu is able to write grants. Selectmen Tyler agrees as long as TA is able to get out of the office. They both felt if she can delegate more of her clerical work to staff, she would be able to continue to save the town money. Current Use Application The BOS received a letter from the assessors, Avitar Associates of New England regarding the Piehn Current Use application, PID 15-3-1. Mr. Roberge, Sr. Assessor feels the property does not meet the Wetlands guidelines for current use. He feels the area is not saturated land as defined in the current use rules and although the wet soils and flood plain lands may not be suitable for future development; it is not wetlands for current use purposes. Acting Chairman Sabourn is not sure he agrees with Mr. Roberge s opinion and is willing to walk the property. The BOS will discuss the application at the next meeting. 030910 meeting minutes Page 2 of 5
Thornton Gore Property RA Dubey has posted road ban for all roads on 3/1/10 due to approximately 3 inches of rain received recently. He was informed on 3/2/10 a logging operation on the property formerly owned by Russ Gilman on Thornton Gore Road had driven two log trucks on the road. He visited the job site and the logger stated he was aware the road had been posted mid-morning on March 1 but he didn t want to send the trucks back to Manchester empty so he loaded them light. The logger contacted RA later and wanted to move his equipment out. RA Dubey told him if the temperature was 25 degrees or less he could move his equipment. He later called to see if it was cold enough to move the equipment because if he had to leave it there for a month or two he would stand to lose $20,000. RA told him it was too warm to cross the roads. The logger offered to post a bond to protect the roadway because if he left his equipment there he would lose a lot of money. In the end the logger was allowed to move his equipment in the early morning hours. The RA feels a written policy is needed regarding road bans, which will be discussed with the BOS at a future meeting. David & Beverly Chappell letter A complaint letter was received from David & Beverly Chappell in reference to the Benton s events. The BOS asked TA Beaulieu to research minutes and formulate an outline of dates/times of action and forward to counsel to respond to the Chappell s at a later date. Highway Safety Committee A letter was received from Chief Aimee Parent concerning a Highway Safety Committee to be formed for the purpose of being eligible for grant money. Chief Parent suggests utilizing the members of the Joint Loss Safety Committee to also serve as the Highway Safety Committee. Selectmen Tyler moved to establish a Highway Safety Committee, which will have the same members as the Joint Loss Safety Committee members. Acting Selectmen Sabourn seconded. passed 2-0-0. KAD Realty Trust letter A letter was received from KAD Realty Trust to waive/refund the $51.00 interest/penalty for PID 17-14-394A. He stated in the letter he never received a property tax bill and has paid all his previous bills on time. Tax Collector confirmed that he has always paid his taxes on time. Selectmen Tyler motioned to waive/refund the $51.00 to KAD Realty Trust and process and sign abatement at the next BOS meeting. Acting Chairman Sabourn seconded. passed 2-0-0. TA Beaulieu presents RA Dubey delivered requests and quotes for the BOS relative to the new Ford 550 Highway truck, which has been ordered. The quotes are for the purchase of a platform body, plow fixtures and hydraulics. RA Dubey feels the town should contract with the lowest bid of $17,498.00 from Howard P. Fairfield, LLC. 030910 meeting minutes Page 3 of 5
Acting Chairman Sabourn motioned to take funding from the Highway Capital Reserve Fund for the purchase of the body, hydraulics and plow from Fairfield per quote of $17,498.00. Selectmen Tyler seconded. passed 2-0-0. NH Broadband Data Survey TA Beaulieu received a NH Broadband Data Survey to complete from North Country Council, Inc. regarding a program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand broadband access. The BOS felt it was good idea to complete the survey. Power Outage TA Beaulieu shared with the BOS that there was to a little bit of confusion during the latest power outage with the procedure of the emergency situation. The thought is to visit this process and hold a joint meeting with CERT, BOS, Fire Department, and Police Department in the near future. Campton-Thornton Municipal Landfill Annual Cap Inspection Form TA Beaulieu received a notice from the State regarding an annual form that has not been completed since 2006 pertaining to the Transfer Station. Acting Chairman Sabourn reviewed the form and confirmed this form requires info that the company doing testing each year is the correct way to complete this annual report and asked the TA to research to see if the town has a contract with ChemServe to complete this form. Signature File 03/12/10 Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber PID 10-3-4701, 10-3-4701, Richard & Hilda Duffy Approved Land Use Change Tax Donald Berwick, Upper Mad River Road, PID 18-1-102, $12,620 Veterans Credit Qualification - Approved PID Raymond Holbrook, 1783 NH Rt 175, 16-1-01 Raymond Bandi, 184 Mad River Road, 16-6-01 Charles Gridley, 44 Mirror Lake Road, 6-6-02 Thomas Anderson, 5 Upper Mad River Road, 16-7-24 Howard Beaudry, 27 Upper Mad River Road, 16-7-59 David Bradley, 2825 NH Rt 175, 2-5-6 Todd Baldwin, 36 Chickenboro Road, 17-11-4 Robert Day, 14 Waterthorn Road, 6-11-12 Robert Dunlap, 41 Waterthorn Road, 6-12-4 William Fraser, 56 Blake Mt. Road, 15-4-13 John Gaites, 93 Banjo Drive, 15-1-24 Roland Gooch, 2265 NH Rt 175, 10-5-8-01 William Grady, 133 Tamarack Road, 2-8-7 Wayland Harris, 825 Upper Mad River Road 13-9-3 Ely Hiram, 156 Tamarack Road 12-6-5 Neil Keller, 6 Tree Line Drive 12-5-1 William Lane, 51 Mt. Woodlands Road, 6-11-4 Louis Marcotte, 12 Anderson Hill Road, 16-7-15 Philip McCuin, 7 Andys Drive, 17-11-02 Jane Mills, 419 Upper Mad River Road, 17-4-14 030910 meeting minutes Page 4 of 5
Veterans Credit Qualification - Does not qualify Denied - Dennis Fort 48 Mirror Lake Rd. PID 6-6-1 Annual Meeting The BOS prepared for the annual meeting. They also discussed the presentation of plaques. Acting Chairman Sabourn said he received a concern from a resident that the town may be in violation of printing the health benefits paid to employees. TA Beaulieu will research this concern. Millbrook Bridge Acting Chairman Sabourn feels the Millbrook Bridge needs to be revisited before a final decision is made as to what to do. For the record, it is agreed to keep the bridge grant in place for the Millbrook bridge until the BOS can investigate the structure with a qualified engineer to see the actual necessary repair to the bridge but not to go forward with hiring contractors under the state requirements until further discussion. 5:10 pm Acting Chairman Sabourn motioned to adjourn the meeting. Selectmen Tyler seconded. passed 2-0-0. Respectively Submitted, Mary Conn 030910 meeting minutes Page 5 of 5