Town of Colebrook
Selectmen’s Meeting
June 13, 2007 – 3:00 pm
Members Present: Larry Rappaport. Frank Dumaine and Beno Lamontagne.
Others: Donna Caron, Gail Purrington, Chief Stephen Cass, Kevin McKinnon, Melissa Shaw, Claire Lynch (press).
Guests: Susan Nash, Jim Jeffers, David Belanger, Jeff and Denise Westover, Mark Hibbard
Selectmen signed all vouchers and manifests.
Town Manager Donna Caron swore in Garth Hurlbert as a part time Colebrook Police Officer with Garth’s wife Cassie and niece present. All welcomed Garth to the Police Department. Garth does not have a police background, but will be attending the Police Academy.
Susan Nash and Jim Jeffers met with the Selectmen in regard to the discharge of the Planning Board mortgage held by the Town on their property. A motion was made by Mr. Lamontagne and seconded by Mr. Dumaine to support the decision of the Planning Board, approving the mortgage discharge. All approved 3-0. Ms. Nash thanked the Board and left the meeting.
Several residents of Edward Street met with the Selectmen to discuss reducing the speed limit on Edwards Street from 35 mph to 15 mph. The Selectmen determined that 15 mph would be too slow, but would agree to 20 mph with signs posted saying “SLOW/CHILDREN”. Two signs will be posted. Mr. Dumaine made a motion to approve 20 mph and 2 signs. Mr. Lamontagne seconded the motion. All approved 3-0. Edwards Street was slated for paving, but the residents prefer to leave the road as is because it will also help to slow down the traffic.
Chief Cass met with the Board to discuss transferring money from the Teen Challenge and DARE programs into the C-PALS program. The total amount to be transferred is $5,277.08. The Teen Challenge program and the DARE program are no longer running. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve the transfer of funds to C-PALS. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
The Board, Mrs. Caron and Claire Lynch (press) met in Mrs. Caron’s office for a conference call with Bill Carpenter from the State of NH in regard to the Easement for the School. Mr. Carpenter answered the Board’s questions and was told by Board members that they would sign it at this meeting.
Dispatch radio frequencies were discussed. Chief Cass suggested a meeting with Craig Belcher to discuss new frequencies. Mr. Rappaport said that he has received some e-mails requesting the Town consider other frequencies. He said that this is a complex issue. Mrs. Caron asked if updating the frequencies need to go through the FCC. Mr. Rappaport said that updating does need to go through the FCC and would depend on the frequencies the Town used and for what purpose.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that there would be an AVER meeting Thursday June 14.
David Belanger from Kheops met with the Board to present an opportunity to use BIO-DIESEL for Town vehicles. BIO-DIESEL is recycled fuel mixed with methanol and then neutralized. BIO-DIESEL can be burned in the summer (warmer months) only, as it will freeze and gel in the winter. Mr. McKinnon said that he would be willing to give BIO-DIESEL a try in several of the older Town vehicles. Mr. Rappaport suggested trying it and to set up a 250 gallon above ground gravity fed tank. The Board agreed and Mr. McKinnon will keep the Board informed on how efficient it is.
Mrs. Caron reported to the Board that Mrs. Elaine Haynes would like the Town to put a Portable Toilet on Bouthillier’s lot for the Farmer’s Market which is held on Saturdays. The Selectmen said that they would not agree to put a Portable Toilet on Main Street or on property the Town does not own. The Board asked Mrs. Caron to inform Mrs. Haynes that she may not charge for tables used by other vendors.
The Board approved and signed a letter to the State informing them that the Town has appointed Dr. Bruce Latham as the new volunteer Deputy Emergency Management Director for Colebrook.
The Board also signed a letter that was composed by Cartographics that will be left at Town residents’ homes stating that the Town has approved Cartographics to review properties for mapping purposes. Mr. Dumaine asked if the maps would be available on CD’s to residents or others and if the Town would charge for these. The Board approved charging $25 for the CD’s. Mr. Dumaine also suggested that a list be kept of who requested a CD of the maps and update them yearly.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that Public Works employees wear uniforms which are paid for by those employees.
The Board reviewed the bids for crushed gravel. The lowest bid was Norman Cloutier at $3.50/yd. for a total of $17,500. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to accept Mr. Cloutier’s bid for $17,500. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that the Mitigation grant for Roaring Brook Road was denied.
The Board was informed by Mrs. Caron that she had received a letter from the Town of Stratford stating that they did not have any money approved for dispatch services.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that the Annual CEDC meeting will be held Tuesday June 26, 2007at the Cabot Motor Inn. She also said that the North Country Council’s next meeting will be Thursday June 21, 2007. This will be a meeting of the Community Planning Committee.
The Board signed the following documents:
Intents to Cut: M. Gray, R. Beloin, D. Call
Current Use Application: J. Weir
Current Use Penalty Warrants: Garceau, McKinley, Riendeau, Crawford
Excavation Tax Warrant: D. Little
Abatements/Avitar: Nash
Sewer Rental Warrant: McKeage
Abatements: Landry, Parkhurst, Hodge
Kevin McKinnon met with the Board to discuss the following:
1. The Town will be shipping electronic items through Northeast Recycling at 12 cents a pound plus trucking. Mr. McKinnon said that this was the best price.
2. Mr. Dumaine suggested the Town send a thank you note to Mr. Pulsifer who is in charge of the demolition of the new Rite Aid site in regard to passing salvaged materials to the Town for its use.
3. Mr. McKinnon informed the Board that a sewer pump had burned up and the replacement cost for a new one was $5,000. The pump has been purchased and installed.
4. Mr. McKinnon discussed with the Board Solarbee (solar powered aerators) for the lagoons. He said that electrical costs are very high and that by using solar powered aerators costs could be cut by as much as two thirds. Mr. McKinnon said that he would be budgeting to replace the present aerators next year. He estimated the cost to change to solar power aerators to be approximately $208,748 with 10-15 year guarantee. Mr. McKinnon said that he has talked to his counterparts in Rochester, Pittsfield and Exeter who have switched to solar powered aerators through Solarbee and all are very pleased. The Board asked if these aerators would work well in keeping down the
odor. Mr. McKinnon said that they would. He recommended to the Board that Solarbee come and do a presentation for the Board. Mrs. Caron will invite the Solarbee representative to attend an upcoming Selectmen’s meeting.
5. Drilling Town wells were discussed. Mr. McKinnon recommended drilling the wells then having the engineer draw up plans. Then if the Town is able to obtain more funding then lay the pipes. Mr. Lamontagne asked if the Town received any funds from Casella if some of these funds could be used for updating the Town’s water system. Lengthy discussion was held on the uses for any funds received from Casella. The Board would like a meeting set up with Jim Bohlig from Casella to discuss any funding that they would be providing to the Town.
6. Mr. McKinnon reported to the Board that Issacsson Steel would be willing to put in the steel and do the cement work for Washburn Bridge. Mrs. Caron said that this work should go out to bid. The Board agreed and Mrs. Caron will put in a request for bid advertisement in the newspapers.
Mrs. Caron reported to the Board that Audie Covell’s spring has been contaminated by her neighbors. The spring is on the neighbor’s property but she has rights to the spring. Dr. Soucy has been very busy and took a while to check into this matter. The Board suggested that maybe Dr. Latham would be willing to act as Dr. Soucy’s backup on these health safety matters. Mrs. Caron will check with Dr. Soucy and Dr. Latham.
The Clark property and the material on the property were discussed. No conclusions were determined as to what to do about this issue.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that she talked to White Mountain Cablevision and they told her that they installed the fiber optic line. They have nothing ready at the head end to cover games or other town events for broadcasting over the local channel.
Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to accept the Selectmen’s Meeting minutes of May 23, 2007. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm on a motion by Mr. Dumaine and seconded by Mr. Lamontagne. All approved 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail A. Purrington
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