Town of Colebrook
Selectmen’s Meeting
July 25, 2007 – 3:00 pm
Members Present: Larry Rappaport. Frank Dumaine and Beno Lamontagne.
Others: Donna Caron, Gail Purrington, Chief Stephen Cass, Kevin McKinnon, Claire Lynch (press).
Meeting called to order by Chairman Larry Rappaport.
Town Manager Donna Caron read a letter from Mrs. Daeron owner of the LE RENDEZ- VOUS Bakery on Main Street requesting 1 hour parking signs be placed on their side of the street. Mrs. Daeron said that cars park in the parking spot in front of their business all day long and it makes it hard for their customers to find a parking place. Mr. Lamontagne was not present at the meeting at this point but Mr. Rappaport, Mr. Dumaine and Chief Cass discussed parking on the West Side of Main Street. Frank Dumaine made a motion to install one hour parking signs on the West Side of Main Street from Lemieux’s Garage to the Big Apple. Larry Rappaport seconded the motion and it passed 2-0.
Mr. Lamontagne was able to join the meeting at this time. Chief Cass said he would like to discuss police personnel and other police issues. Benoit Lamontagne made a motion to enter executive session to discuss police personnel and other police issues. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion, it passed 3-0.
While in executive session the board and Chief Cass discussed police personnel and the board was brought up to date on other police issues. During this discussion Chief Cass informed the board that Officer Stevens had given a three week notice. Garth Hurlbert, who replaced Guthrie Peet, will attend the full-time Police Academy from August 1st until November. The next Police Academy starts in January of 2008; therefore, Chief Cass will start the hiring process to replace Officer Stevens during the fall and have someone in place to attend in January of 2008.
The Board members requested the Chief leave the executive session so they could continue to discuss the personnel issue. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to exit executive session, Mr. Dumaine seconded it and the motion passed 3-0.
The Board discussed hiring Thomas Yorke as a part-time prosecutor and investigator for the Town of Colebrook. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to support Chief Cass’s decision to hire Thomas York as a part-time prosecutor and investigator for the Town of Colebrook. Mr. Rappaport seconded the motion and it passed 2-1. The Board did decide to revisit this position again in December when making up the coming year’s budget. The Board will request a full report from the Chief as to results of the new position.
Selectmen signed all vouchers and manifests.
The Board signed the following documents:
: Abatements: Bouthillier, Habitat for Humanity
Intents to Cut: Forbes, Kopp, Boire, Lemieux
Abatements: Resident Taxes
Current Use Abatements: Thatcher, Keach
Yield Tax Warrants: Gray, Beloin, Hodge Weir
Doomage Letters: McAuley, Hodge, Cummings, Beloin, Baillergeon
Public Works Director, Kevin McKinnon met with the Board to discuss several needs of his department:
1. Mr. McKinnon asked for approval from the Board to send out requests for bid to have the wells drilled for the hydros. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve sending out the bid requests. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
2. Mr. McKinnon discussed the financing of the SolarBee project with PSNH. He told the Selectmen that the interest rate was a little higher with PSNH (5% vs. 4.25%). PSNH is very interested in financing this project because the electricity that the Town will not be utilizing could be sold off to someone else at a higher price than the Town is paying. Mr. Dumaine made a motion to finance the SolarBee project with PSNH as stated. Mr. Lamontagne seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
3. The purchase of a hydraulic hose set from Ideal was discussed and approved by the Board on a motion by Mr. Lamontagne and seconded by Mr. Dumaine. All approved 3-0. Mrs. Caron asked if there will be training on the use of the hose. Mr. McKinnon replied that the company will train the public works employees on how to use the hose.
4. The Selectmen requested a quarterly expense from Mr. McKinnon on his various departments. It was their hope that these quarterly expense reports would help save money and cut costs.
5. Mr. McKinnon informed the Selectmen that the State’s 10-year road improvement plan is really more like a 30-year plan. The Board said that they weren’t surprised. He also informed the Board that the North Country Council Transportation Committee does not have a representative from the Town of Colebrook on the Committee. He said that the Board of Selectmen would need to appoint someone to serve on the Committee. Mr. McKinnon said he would be willing to serve on the Committee, but wouldn’t always be able to attend the meetings. Mrs. Caron suggested appointing an alternate from one of Mr. McKinnon’s crew. He said that he will ask around and see who would be interested.
6. The Board approved Mr. McKinnon’s request to ship out a load of tires on a motion by Mr. Lamontagne and seconded by Mr. Dumaine. All approved 3-0.
Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to accept the Selectmen’s Meeting minutes of June 27, 2007. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
7. Mr. McKinnon asked for approval from the Board to purchase road fabric to repair some of the roads including Bear Rock Road in East Colebrook. He told the Board that he had gotten prices from 4 different companies and the best price was from Ferguson at $318 per roll. Each roll is 309 feet. The total price is $9,562.50 for a total of 30 rolls. On one of the roads to be repaired there is an issue with a property owner’s culvert which needs to be installed. Mr. Dumaine suggested that Mrs. Caron write a letter to the property owner explaining the Town will be working on the road and maybe the owner will install his culvert. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve the purchase of the road material at a cost of $9,562.50 for 30
rolls. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
8. A new program for the Transfer Station was discussed. The program entails that residents purchase trash bags with the Town’s name on it at a charge per bag. The Transfer Station would only accept those bags with “Town of Colebrook” on them. All agreed that for a program such as this to work a great deal of time would be needed to educate the public. One of the biggest benefits of this program is that it encourages recycling. Mr. Dumaine asked Mr. McKinnon if there would be any distinction between residential and commercial. Mr. McKinnon wasn’t sure and Mr. Dumaine asked him to please look into this matter. The Board suggested that Mrs. Caron write letters to JK Lynch and Earley Disposal Services explaining
the program and to get their feedback. Mr. McKinnon will report back to the Board any information he finds out about the program. Further discussion will be held at subsequent meetings.
9. Mr. McKinnon informed the Board that one of his employees, David Begin, had terminated his employment with the Town. Mr. McKinnon asked for the Board’s approval to hire James Gates, who is presently working part time at the Colebrook Landfill, to become a full time employee in the Water & Sewer Department. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve hiring Mr. Gates as a full time employee in the Water & Sewer Department. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
10. Mr. McKinnon asked for the Board’s approval to purchase a chop saw for the Transfer Operator’s use. The cost is approximately $250.00. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve the purchase of the chop saw. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Mrs. Caron gave the Board the Town’s request for the supply of the Inventory of Taxable Property forms for 2008. The State requires the Selectmen’s signatures on the request forms.
Mrs. Caron discussed the extension of the Court’s lease for another 10 months. The contract would be for the 10 months billed at $7.20 per square foot. The Town does not charge the Court for water and sewer usage. The current contract ends in December of this year. Mrs. Caron needs the Board’s approval to sign the contract. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve Mrs. Caron to sign the contract. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0. Mr. Dumaine asked how long of a notice that the Court had to give the Town should they decide to move. Mrs. Caron said that the contract stipulates a 30-day notice be given.
Mrs. Caron reviewed the North Country Council/Wildlife Mitigation Plan with the Board, which outlined the Town of Colebrook’s responsibilities.
The Board and Mrs. Caron discussed the North Country Council MOU/contract in regard to the repair of the wall on the Mohawk River on Academy Street. It was discussed that if the whole $40,000 was not utilized on engineering costs could any balance remaining be put toward construction costs. Mrs. Caron will write a letter of request asking if this could be done. Mr. Rappaport discussed the time phase of this project looking at a completion date of next year. He and Mrs. Caron stated that the Town could try to obtain additional grant funding for this project after the first of the year. The Board signed the MOU for the Mohawk River Engineering study.
Mrs. Caron and the Board discussed the sale of the Town property Leigh Lane. It is a 6.5 acre parcel valued at $18,000. It was determined that the starting bid should be $15,000 and reserve the right to reject bids that would come in lower. Mr. Lamontagne suggested contacting Ray Davis Realty for any specs on land sales comparable to this parcel on Leigh Lane. Mrs. Caron will contact Ray Davis to obtain that information.
Mrs. Caron reported that although the Washburn Bridge repair bids were due today, she had sent out new bid letters today that contained a more comprehensive list of specs that she had worked on with Ed Bergeron.
Next Wednesday, August 1, 2007 there will be a construction meeting at the Landfill.
Mr. Dumaine made a motion to accept the Selectmen’s Meeting minutes of July 11, 2007. Mr. Lamontagne seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 6:05 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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