Selectmen’s Meeting
December 8, 2003
4:00 PM
Selectmen Present: Sally S. Wentzell, Laurence Rappaport and Greg Placy
Others Present: Claire Knapper, Susan Burchard, Bruce Fowler, Donna Caron
Portland Natural Gas Line Representative Chris Wilbur and John Jolles
Sally brought the meeting to order and questioned whether items in previous minutes had been attended to. Greg said the town would install a square top instead of a round riser at the storm drain by Donald Frizzell’s driveway next spring.
Donna is to write a letter to Clem Berry at the hospital requesting permission to set up an alternate emergency dispatch center.
Bruce Fowler told the board that the highway crew had not installed the bulbs in the bridge lights and Greg said the crew would do them tomorrow, other board members agreed.
Sally told other board members that she was at a meeting where Senator Green from Rochester explained how Public Service pays taxes on one half of the poles and that the telephone company is exempt from paying taxes on the other half. She is going to talk to other senators and representatives to see if this situation can be corrected.
Larry explained broadband’s status. He said that Verizon owns 20% of the poles in Colebrook and that his organization would ask Public Service for room on their poles. He said his group is also talking to Third Rail.
Chris Wilbur said Portland Natural Gas has new guidelines for high-risk areas such as schools, day cares and elderly facilities. He said that fire-fighting training is available and that they will come to Colebrook to conduct it. He also stated that the pipeline is now 100% Canadian owned. The two schools, two daycare centers and two elderly housing facilities were identified for Mr. Wilbur.
Bruce Fowler again asked the board if they would take the trash from the Williams Building and waive the charges. Larry said he felt the board needed an idea of what was in the building before making that decision, for instance the number of tires or refrigerators. Donna asked about the stack of asbestos siding in the basement and Bruce had not seen it but said he would look for it.
Bruce also asked about the Main Street request of $7,500.00 for 2003 and Larry explained the payment process.
Larry thought Donna advertised for the master plan meetings and she misunderstood thinking he requested the town pay for all ads. Sheila will post the notices for master plan meetings.
Larry said that Robert Martin, a new ham radio operator, is willing to work on emergency management and has a tower on Ben Young Hill.
John Jolles met with the board as a representative of Habitat for Humanities and explained that next summer the group hopes to be able to build a home for one family, not as a welfare gesture but as assistance to a family that needs and deserves a helping hand. He explained how the process works and asked if the town owned a parcel of land they would donate. The town discussed the five-acre parcel off East Colebrook road, down on Leigh Lane that was taken by a tax deed several years ago. He said the organization prefers property on a main road so their work is visible to residents. Any parcel they build on would be placed back on the tax roles with a building on it adding to the tax base. Mr. Yolles will research lots from other towns as they are working from Norton to Stratford.
He explained the organization has three main criteria for a family they assist in providing them with a home. They are as follows:
1. Ability to pay the mortgage with no interest, cost of home is price of material and property.
2. Family has to contribute about 500 hours of their own labor.
3. Clear need of a home.
Larry explained that electricity and plumbing has to be installed by electricians and plumbers holding master licenses.
Mr. Jolles will look at the lot off East Colebrook Road and get back to the board as to the viability of it.
Greg made a motion to enter executive session at 5:16 PM for a personnel issue, Larry seconded it and it passed with full board approval. At 5:40 PM Larry made a motion to exit executive session with the minutes sealed as no decision was made, Greg seconded the motion, which passed with full board approval.
The board agreed to advertise for older adults to become members of the recreation committee because recreation is for all people from birth to elderly and mostly parents with children in the sports program have volunteered.
Donna explained to the board that health insurance was increasing for the coming year and asked if the town would continue to pay 80% and the employee 20%. If the town switched to paying 70% and the employee 30%, a person receiving a 3% raise and having the family plan would lose .50 per hour. Larry made a motion for the town to continue paying 80%, Greg seconded the motion and it passed with full board approval.
Greg made a motion to adjourn, Larry seconded it and motion passed with full board approval.
Respectfully submitted:
Donna J. Caron
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