Town of Colebrook
Selectmen’s Meeting
August 22, 2007 – 4:30 pm
Members Present: Larry Rappaport. Frank Dumaine and Beno Lamontagne.
Others: Donna Caron, Gail Purrington.
Meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Rappaport.
Selectmen signed all vouchers and manifests.
Recreation Director, Melissa Shaw, presented her quarterly report to the Selectmen. Her report was lengthy and detailed and outlined all the activities the Recreation Department has done this past quarter. The Selectmen complimented Mrs. Shaw on her success with the programs and her initiative to seek out grants and donations. Mr. Lamontagne said he would like to see this information put on the website. Mrs. Caron will talk to Camilla in regard to including this item on the Town’s website. Mrs. Shaw talked to the Selectmen about the After School program. She said she would like to oversee the program, hire staff and make sure the program utilizes the grant money properly. She feels that she can handle this additional responsibility. The Selectmen supported Mrs. Shaw to oversee the program
on the premise that it does not conflict with her Recreation Director responsibilities.
Mrs. Caron and the Board discussed the 1999 Ford 450 truck that had only received one bid of $1800 last month. She said that she received a call from David McLean from Lewis Ford with an offer to purchase the truck for $4,155. Mr. Rappaport asked if this price included the hydraulics and plow. Mrs. Caron said that she was not sure, but would check with Kevin McKinnon. The Selectmen chose to postpone any decision on the truck pending further information.
Mrs. Caron reported that she had filed a claim form with the Local Government Center for repairs to the damage done to the stone wall at the First Colebrook Bank. The damage was caused by the Town’s sidewalk plow this past winter. Mr. McKinnon went to survey the damage and reported to Mrs. Caron that he could see where damage had occurred. Mrs. Caron told the Board that the insurance adjuster would be coming to check out the wall. One bid for repair has come in at approximately $5,000. The Town has a $1,000 deductible on damage claims.
Mrs. Caron presented her quarterly report to the Selectmen. She said that the Town Offices do their best at saving on heating costs and office supplies. The activity in the Offices is fairly consistent and costs are kept to a minimum.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the Mitigation Plan was discussed briefly. Mr. Rappaport asked to have more time to review the MOU before making any comments.
Mrs. Caron asked for a vote from the Selectmen in regard to the administrative grant portion of the River Wall repair project. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve the grant. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Mrs. Caron gave the Board a letter for their signature that will be sent to the Registry of Deeds to release an old Housing Assistance lien on the Lena Berry property.
The North Country Council will be holding their quarterly Broadband Meeting. Mrs. Caron gave the Selectmen information for their review about this meeting.
Mrs. Caron and the Board discussed the SPOTS terminal bill. The Board is in agreement that the State should compensate the Town by not billing for the SPOTS terminal in lieu of the services, court space and office space the Town provides to the State Police and the Court System. The Selectmen asked Mrs. Caron to write a letter to Commissioner Barthelmes asking for his consideration to the Town in this matter. They asked that Mrs. Caron send a copy of the letter to them before she sends it out to the Commissioner.
The Board discussed the Town’s website and improvements and additional information they would like to have on the site. Mrs. Caron will discuss this with Camilla who updates the information on the website.
Mrs. Caron discussed issues with Tim Woods from Casella and April Hyde one of the Public Works crew who works up at the Landfill. April reported to Mrs. Caron that Mr. Woods was very disrespectful to her and wasn’t working with her.
Mrs. Caron reported that a preliminary meeting with John Schwabbe from Casella was set for Thursday, August 23, 2007. Mr. Lamontagne said that he probably would not be able to attend this meeting.
A meeting with Mark Popham has been set up for August 31 at noon over lunch at Howard’s Restaurant. The meeting is to discuss energy alternatives at the landfill.
Fuel Bids were open and the Board voted to award the bid to Lewis Oil for fuel oil in the amount of $2.329 per gallon. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve the bids. It was seconded by Mr. Dumaine. All approved 3-0. Propane gas was awarded to Rymes, Inc. in the amount of $1.469 and to Nugent Oil Co., for the kerosene at the going rate.
The only bid received on the Washburn Bridge repair was from Winterset in the amount of $65,471. The Town had only appropriated $40,000 for the repairs in this year’s budget. The bid could not be accepted at this time because it was over the appropriated amount. Mr. Lamontagne asked if the bridge could make it through the winter. Mrs. Caron said that is something that the Town cannot be sure of. She will discuss the status of the bridge with Mr. McKinnon. The Board had concerns about any bridge repair encroaching on the wetlands (riverbank). Mrs. Caron will contact the DES to see if any permits would be needed.
Mrs. Caron reported to the Selectmen that LUCA/Census Bureau is working at making their information as accurate as possible and would like the Town Office to review all the census information from them and update it based on the information with the Town. Mrs. Beauchemin, Town Clerk, has offered to take on the project with the Selectmen’s approval. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to approve Mrs. Beauchemin doing this project for the Town. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that the annual fall Planning and Zoning Conference will be held this year on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Loon Mountain. If any of the Board would like to attend, Mrs. Caron asked that they please let her know and she will register them.
Mrs. Caron discussed the Town of Colebrook’s Conservation Commission. She said that the Commission is not active and would like to see a new Commission appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Mrs. Caron said she is planning to send letter to the existing Commission along with a copy of the RSA explaining how the Commission should function and that quarterly meetings should be held.
A meeting with the Energy Commission will be set up in September.
The Board signed the following documents that were requested including abatements, Intents to Cut, Current Use Abatements, Yield Tax Warrants, Doomage letters, and the Water and Sewer warrants.
The Board approved the minutes of the July 25, 2007 and August 8, 2007 Selectmen’s meetings based on the changes made. Mr. Lamontagne made a motion to accept the minutes as changed. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Mr. Dumaine said he had several things to discuss, one being an unregistered truck his neighbor has in the road on his property. He also asked if the trailer that Suzie Nash rents on Cascaden was still there. He said that there was a State truck parked in the front and that there were weeks or months of trash at that location. He was concerned as to whether the Town could do something about these issues. No conclusion was reached by the Board.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm on a motion by Mr. Lamontagne and seconded by Mr. Dumaine. All approved 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail A. Purrington
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