Selectmen’s Minutes
September 19, 2005
Members Present: Greg Placy, Frank Dumaine, and Larry Rappaport.
Others: Donna Caron, Heidi Lawton, Claire Knapper, Bill Brooks, David Brooks, Albion Lyons, Ron Cote, Alberta Beausolel, Marsha Biron, Mike Biron, Paul Fournier, Rosemary Mulliken, Tracey Wright, Curtis Klebe, Chester Wentworth, April Hyde, and Phil Monson.
Bill Brooks came in to ask the Selectmen to put up a speed limit sign. He would also like a “Blind Driveway” sign by the trailer that he rents to Gary Gilbert. Gary Gilbert also came in earlier today to talk with Donna to tell her that he almost was hit by a vehicle coming out of his driveway today. Bill and Gary both agree that it will only get worse once the trucks start going up and down all winter.
Greg said that maybe we could measure the road and possibly stripe it. Larry did not think the road was wide enough. Greg said “Truckers Low Gear” is a sign that is still in the manual.
Larry made a motion to buy two 35 mph signs and put them up, Frank seconded it, motion approved.
The Selectmen agreed that if Mr. Brooks wanted to buy his own sign and put it up he could. Mr. Brooks said that he would like us to order the sign.
Albion Lyons was sworn in for the Zoning Board of Adjustment. April Hyde was sworn in to be on the Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Ron Cote talked about how the Department of Revenue did an assessment of the Town. Ron said that Concord would like an answer in 30 days, so he would like to go over this tonight and get it signed by the Selectmen. Ron explained that the data was put into a computer in Concord and the samples were processed from that. They looked at all the elderly exemptions. Ron said that all Concord is looking for is a response from the Town. Ron said there were only three cards that had problems on them. Ron will supply copies of the three corrected cards for the Town. Ron thanked the Town for having him and told them if they had any questions to call him.
Chester Wentworth came in to talk about his road and how it was in such terrible condition from four-wheelers riding over it. He said that the next good rain would wash the road away. He mentioned that the residents of Harry’s Way and Hazen Drive were trying to form an association to fix the road. Mr. Wentworth had a brochure from Fish & Game with information in it pertaining to this problem. The Selectmen told Mr. Wentworth that this was a civil issue.
Donna explained that there are problems with the yield sign at the intersection of Spring Street and Titus Hill. She said that some people have called today with their comments. She welcomed everybody and asked for comments.
Greg explained that he came up with the one-way street idea so that people would not have to look up the hill.
Mike: would a stop sign be better?
Greg: if it is enforced.
Larry: it is becoming more dangerous and this will not be a permanent solution.
Mike: the corner by Brungot’s is bad in the winter even when they sand it.
Greg: What about a “Resident’s only” sign?
Tracey: There is a sign like that in Hillsborough.
Donna: What about people that are not residents?
Rosey: I would like to see a stop sign rather than a yield sign.
Mike: What about George Heald?
Donna: I wrote him a letter this year and he registered one of the vans, so there was nothing that the town could do.
Tracey: I would rather see a stop sign at the bottom of Titus Hill road, then a yield sign.
Larry: I would have a problem with that. That would be a dangerous place to stop for trucks.
Larry: Even if you put a sign there, they will roll through it.
Tracey: There should be two because you slide out on Main Street at the end of Spring Street.
Greg: Then the question becomes are you making it better for some and not for others? At least the road is flat near Main Street.
Mike: There is not much traffic during the day; it is before school and after school.
Greg: Let me ask you another question, is there a lot of traffic in the morning with parents dropping there kids off at AB’s lot? The school principal was supposed to tell people to drop kids off on Dumont Street.
Mike: Many parents drop their kids off in AB’s lot still.
Larry: So you are opposed to a one-way street.
Everyone: Yes
Rosey: Their should be a stop sign to stop from one street to the other anyway.
Tracey: I would also like a strip down the road.
Donna: Donny Knapp would like a strip down the road also.
Marsha: We do have more traffic now than ever.
Mike: Everything boils down to the Route 26 intersection; traffic goes up Spring Street to avoid that intersection.
Donna: People try to avoid most intersections anyway, I have done it myself.
Larry made a motion to change the Yield Signs to Stop Signs at the intersection of Spring Street and Titus Hill, Frank seconded the motion, Greg agreed, motion passed.
Tracey: What are the hours of operation for the Landfill going to be?
Donna: We think the trucks will start rolling at 7:00, but the hours are Monday-Friday from 6:00-6:00 and Saturday from 6:00-2:00. They have to shut the trucks off to cover the garbage daily so they should be done by 6:00 every night.
Greg: We know there are issues that might come up with this.
Donna: Call Chief Steve Cass or me with any concerns that you have.
Marsha: Is anything else going to be done to the road?
Larry: We will pave it once everything is done at the Landfill.
Donna: There is an area by Parker Hick’s house that will be paved, there is a tree near Goober’s trailer where the trucks keep hitting branches and Casella have offered to put up a guardrail there.
Tracey: What about Jake brakes? Do we want something done about this?
Greg: They only have something set up for that in Berlin. The State Attorney General does not recommend it. They should be shifted down low enough to not have to use them.
Greg: The trucks being used for the Landfill project should not be using their Jake brakes, but they might.
The Selectmen thanked all of the Spring Street residents for coming.
The Selectmen signed all vouchers and manifests.
Phil Monson told the Selectmen about the Grass Drags that the Colebrook Ski-Bees were having this year. They will be down in George Hodge’s field on Bridge Street. They will be held Saturday and Sunday, the 24th and 25th.
Donna gave the Selectmen a copy of the Humane Society contract to review. They are going to talk about it and decide on it later.
The Red Cross is asking the Town for money again this year. The Selectmen decided that they do not want to do this.
Portland Natural Gas is having a dinner at the Colebrook Country Club on November 2nd. Larry, Donna, and Frank want to go, Greg is unsure.
Larry said the funds for the broadband project have now come available.
Donna showed the Selectmen an invoice from Lynnfield Engineering that now has to be paid. Donna has signed one contract with Lynnfield and up until September 1st Casella has paid Rick Barthelmess’s salary. It is time now that the Town pays those wages. Larry would like to see the contract that was signed previously. Larry would like to see a profit for the town.
Donna talked to the Department of Environmental Services again about the Beecher Project. They are going to talk to her and try to get on her property.
The Selectmen reviewed a copy of the conservation easement for the landfill.
Donna read a letter to the Selectmen from the State regarding the driver’s education classes and what a good job Chief Steve Cass is doing to help with that.
Donna read a letter from the Pinckney’s that was in the town suggestion box. They would like to have taxes lowered for anyone over 65.
The Selectmen made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a tax issue. Frank made a motion to go into Executive Session, Larry seconded it, motion approved.
Larry made a motion to come out of Executive Session with the minutes sealed due to the fact that it would likely affect adversely the reputation of a person other than a member of the Board of Selectmen, Frank seconded the motion, Greg agreed, motion approved.
John Strickland called Donna to complain about Rick Nadig’s signs on Main Street. He has two signs on the telephone poles and a sandwich sign out on the sidewalk. Larry made a motion to have the State Police fine Mr. Nadig for having signs on telephone poles, Frank seconded it, motion approved. Donna will talk with a State Police officer about the issue.
The sandwich sign out in front of the building should be taken in every night and it has not been. Larry made a motion for the sandwich sign to be taken in every night and if it is not, then he would like a Colebrook Police Officer to take the sign off of the street, Frank seconded the motion, motion approved.
Larry made a motion to adjourn, Frank seconded it, Greg agreed, motion approved, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi Lawton
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