Selectmen’s Minutes
Selectmen’s Meeting
November 7, 2005
Members Present: Greg Placy, Frank Dumaine, and Larry Rappaport.
Others: Donna Caron, Heidi Lawton, Donna Jordan, Claire Knapper, Kevin McKinnon, and Debbie Berry.
Selectmen signed all vouchers and manifests.
Mrs. Caron told the Selectmen and the press about the new tax rate, they are as follows:
In Precinct: 24.11
Out of Precinct: 22.91
Mrs. Caron went to a Coos County meeting last week. Mrs. Caron explained they made new budgets. They took money out of savings to buy a Bobcat loader.
Debbie Berry from the North Country Community Rec Center came in to talk to the Selectmen about their tax bill. She brought a letter in to the Selectmen saying that they are a non-profit agency. Mrs. Caron said Ms. Berry would need to bring in paperwork proving they are non-profit. Mr. Rappaport said he thinks the law states they can abate the building but not the land. Mrs. Caron will check into this.
Mrs. Berry also wanted to talk about the water bill. She wanted to know if the Rec Center could get an abatement for water. Kevin McKinnon explained that the water company is losing money and they cannot afford to give away water at this time. It was mentioned that the Town had filled the pool at no charge. Mr. Rappaport made a motion to deny an abatement for the water bill on the North Country Community Rec Center, Mr. Dumaine seconded, Mr. Placy agreed.
Mrs. Berry also talked about maybe seeing if businesses, towns, or people could sponsor the pool for a month. The pool people would put up banners saying this month’s expenses sponsored by whatever organization or person is sponsoring. Mr. Rappaport suggested they give the Town people a discount if they give a donation. He feels since the Selectmen have given them a tax-free status, they should be given some kind of discount.
Kevin McKinnon came in to talk with the Selectmen about a generator for the sewer department. He received a quote from Rodney Smith last year. There is no back-up power source for the Main Street Pump Station. Rodney’s quote was for $27,000.00. The Selectmen asked Mr. McKinnon about the tank. Is it underground or not? Mr. McKinnon said it is a self-enclosed unit with that the fuel tank under the motor and the fuel is heated before it goes into the motor. Mr. McKinnon will check with Rodney Smith on a new bid. Mr. McKinnon updated the Selectmen on the Landfill. Mr. McKinnon said the design was done for flat land and the land is on a hill so the cost is going to be more than expected. Mr. Rappaport made the comment that if it was an engineering miscalculation, then the Town
should not be liable.
Mr. McKinnon said he talked to Mike Sills and he would like Colebrook to be a Host Community for the flood debris from Alstead, New Hampshire. Mr. Sills will write an emergency permit for Colebrook to take in this debris. Mr. McKinnon said they would be pre-sorting the debris before it comes up here. Mr. McKinnon said that if any debris arrives that is not acceptable to dump here it would go to Bethlehem, but Bethlehem is getting full. Mr. Rappaport said we would be charging a fee and Mr. McKinnon agreed.
Mr. Placy said there would be lead in the paint, waste, and other things that we do not want. Mr. McKinnon wants to take tests on this debris when it comes in. Casella is the contractor hired to take card of Alstead debris. It was also mentioned, that accepting this “flood” debris would count against our Landfill capacity.
Mr. McKinnon said the town is limited to what debris they can accept because of their permit. He said he would monitor the debris being delivered and decide what kind of soil testing would be required. Mr. McKinnon said Mike Sills and Rick Barthlemes would like to know tomorrow if the town is going to agree to accept debris from Alstead so they can work on the permit. Kevin suggested Colebrook ask for a host fee on the debris because this is not part of the current contract or permits. The Selectmen suggested Colebrook ask for $10.00 per ton because the town and Casella have a partnership and Colebrook should benefit monetarily if Casella does. Mr. Rappaport wondered if a bond should be posted for the new debris. Mr. Placy asked how soon Alstead wanted to send up the debris and Kevin thought as soon as
possible. Mr. McKinnon said the waste is currently being taken to Bethlehem and if they continue to accept waste at the current rate they could be full by January 1st.
Mr. McKinnon would like all of the Selectmen to go to Bethlehem to watch the garbage compactor work. He does not feel it is safe for a man to be on the ground around the machine as the operator would not be able to see them and someone could get killed very easily.
Mr. Dumaine suggested getting the wording for the contract and the indemnity wording to Bernie Waugh to look over. Donna said at the last meeting they agreed on a price for the water remediation contract at the amount of ($596,477.18).
Mr. Rappaport made a motion to have Mr. Placy sign the water remediation project, Mr. Dumaine seconded, motion passed.
Mrs. Caron showed the Selectmen Rick’s September 8, 2005 contract for groundwater remediation monitoring/sampling for $58,000.00 for the year. Mr. Rappaport made a motion for Mrs. Caron to sign the contract for the Groundwater Monitoring Program, Mr. Dumaine seconded, Mr. Placy agreed. Motion passed.
The Selectmen signed a water and sewer application for D & E Machine Shop.
The Selectmen reviewed a Bridge Inspection Report.
Gibb Dodge would like $35.00 an hour for the work he did this summer. He is currently making $30.00 an hour. The Selectmen decided on $30.00 this year due to 2004 budget and will budget $35.00 an hour for next year.
Robert Shaw has applied to the Board of Tax & Land appeals on two properties. Avitar will handle the hearing for the town
The morning of the snowstorm, one of the Town trucks got stuck in a ditch. The Weir boys were called and so was Scott Nash. The Weirs submitted a bill for $150.00 and the Nash bill was for $3,852.00. Camilla has called Susie Nash for the backup on this bill.
Mrs. Caron explained the cobra insurance to the Selectmen and asked them to sign the contract; they made a motion in October to do this. The Selectmen asked about House Bill 125. Mrs. Caron will talk to the insurance company about House Bill 125.
Mrs. Caron explained to the Selectmen that Melissa Shaw would like to take $2,200.00 out of the Revolving Fund for basketball hoops for the Paul Hogan camp. All the Selectmen agreed to let Mrs. Shaw do this and coordinate with Mr. Trask.
Mr. Rappaport made a motion to accept the October 17 minutes; Mr. Dumaine seconded, Mr. Placy agreed, motion passed.
Mr. Rappaport made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Mr. Dumaine seconded, Mr. Placy agreed. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi Lawton
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