Town of Colebrook
Selectmen’s Meeting
March 26, 2008 5:30 pm
Members Present: Frank Dumaine, Beno Lamontagne, and Roland Cotnoir
Others: Gail Purrington, Donna Caron, Chief Steve Cass and Claire Lynch.
Meeting was called to order by Chairman Beno Lamontagne at 5:35 pm.
Selectmen signed all vouchers and manifests. Abatement approvals and current use applications were also signed.
Chief Cass presented his quarterly statistics in regards to arrests, details and programs through the Police Department. Mr. Dumaine asked how this quarter’s figures compared to the same quarter for 2007. Chief Cass did not have the 2007 figures with him, but will bring them to the next Selectmen’s meeting. The Chief discussed several programs that his department will be and have participated in such as the Seat Belt Challenge with the Colebrook Academy Key Club. Chief Cass was involved with the Kiwanis Spelling Bee and said he had a great time and would like to participate again next year. He has recently participated in an Intel Meeting which Colebrook hosted. Other participants in the meeting were from Vermont law enforcement, Border Patrol and other area town law enforcement officials. The Chief said that this meeting was a great exchange of information. Chief Cass stated that C-Pal softball/baseball will be starting soon. New uniforms will be needed. He said that
Officers Hurlbert and Lord will be coaching the boys’ team. Utilizing man power from the State prison was discussed. Chief Cass told Mrs. Caron that he will contact Warden Blaisdell to have a group of inmates brought to Colebrook for a work detail. Mrs. Caron said that she would like to have street sweeping, clean up on Titus Hill and painting of the Town Hall done. Chief Cass also told the Board that he has given Claude Ladd the specifications for the new cruiser, but has not yet received a price. Another program that the Chief stated was very good was the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), which he and Tom Yorke have become involved with. Mr. Dumaine asked if there are enough funds for video in the cruiser. The Chief is looking into that at this time and will inform the Selectmen when he has further information. Mr. Lamontagne also wanted to let the Chief know of a bank card scam that is going on in Town in regard to Citizen Bank
cards. He said that he had received a call and reported it to Citizen’s Bank. The Board thanked the Chief for meeting with them and Chief Cass left the meeting.
Mr. Lamontagne asked Mrs. Caron to please have all department heads attend the next Selectmen’s meeting to present their quarterly reports.
Mrs. Caron gave Mr. Cotnoir a brochure on a “New Selectperson” workshop being held by the Local Government Center that she thought he might like to attend. He said that he will plan on attending.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that she will be attending a DRA mini course on May 8th in Concord dealing with Exemptions and Credits.
NCRRA is sponsoring a sale of composters and composting pails this year. Mr. McKinnon thought this would be a good program and would like the Board’s approval to purchase 20 composters and 50 pails to sell to any interested residents. The cost for the composters is around $40 each and the composting pails are $8 each. They will be sold to residents for $50 and $10 respectively. Mr. Cotnoir made a motion to approve the purchase of the composters and composting pails. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0. As a side note, Claire Lynch from the News and Sentinel will do a story on this program. Mrs. Caron said that she will provide any additional information that Ms. Lynch would need for her story.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that she had received a letter from Avitar in regard to the 2007 ratio study from the Town of Colebrook sales. There are 5 that Avitar (Connie) feels should be disqualified. Also Mrs. Caron will have Connie review the Weare property issue. Also discussed were the ramifications of posting property for recreation usage with “landowner’s permission”. There is an issue with a property owner not wanting her land used for recreation. Mrs. Caron said that she would contact this property owner and explain that she would lose her recreational discount of 20% on her taxes by not allowing her land to be used for recreational purposes.
Ms. Caron told the Board that she had received a letter from Carroll Jackson in regard to the Library accounts. Apparently there were funds drawn from a particular account that should not have had money withdrawn from it. Ms. Caron informed him that he would need to contact the Library Board of Trustees.
The 1st Colebrook Bank is holding a Cancer Drive on Friday, April 4th. The Town has been invited to participate. The program includes the day being a “dress down” day, sports oriented outfits, or a Hawaiian luau. Ms. Caron said that the office staff will be donating $5 each towards the benefit, but would probably not do any of the activities.
Mrs. Caron said that she has been contacted by an agency out of Berlin that has a gentleman who lives in Pittsburg who receives funding from them but needs to work providing free labor to continue to receive this funding. The agency asked Ms. Caron if the Town of Colebrook could use the free labor. Mr. Cotnoir asked if the Town had any obligation in the way of insurance or worker’s comp for this person. Mrs. Caron said the Town did not. Also, the Board wanted to know if this person could be fired if need be and Mrs. Caron said that the Town could do so.
With the repairs for the Washburn Bridge voted down at Town Meeting, Mrs. Caron was concerned about fire services and would the bridge, in its present state, be able to handle the weight of fire vehicles. She said that she would contact Bob Lawton at the Fire Department to see if services could be provided. It was discussed that the ambulance would be able to cross the bridge. Ms. Caron said that she contacted the Town attorney who informed her that the Town would not be liable for any damaged property that could occur if the bridge should fail.
Mrs. Caron informed the Board that she had received an application from Greg Placy to be the Town’s representative to the new ambulance board. The Board was concerned if this would be a conflict of interest. Mr. Dumaine made a motion to table any decision on this matter pending further discussion. Mr. Cotnoir seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Ms. Lynch asked Mrs. Caron and the Board about tax exempt properties in Colebrook and if there were many. Mrs. Caron ran down a list of tax exempt properties, as well as there is a payment in lieu of tax that the North Country Recreation Center pays.
Before Mr. Lamontagne can officially be the Chairman of the Board a vote needs to be taken. Mr. Cotnoir made a motion to name Mr. Lamontagne as Chairman. Mr. Dumaine seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm on a motion by Mr. Cotnoir and seconded by Mr. Dumaine to go into the Public Hearing. All approved 3-0.
Public Hearing: 7:00 pm.
The Public Hearing with Mr. Lamontagne asking Rick Barthelmes from Lynnfield Engineering to explain to the public Casella’s request for an extension of usage of the landfill for an additional six months. Mr. Barthelmes said that because the original permitting back in 2005 was held up at the State level, Casella did not start using the landfill until December 2005 instead of the contracted July 2005. He also explained that there was significant volume at the landfill and that Casella was still within the contract limits for tonnage. Mr. Robert Shaw, a member of the public, asked a series of questions of Mr. Barthelmes about options of the Town closing the landfill and substituting soil and gravel for waste, the present volume of waste already at the landfill, his concerns about the footprint of the landfill
changing from 12 acres to 13 acres. Mr. Barthelmes answered Mr. Shaw’s questions by giving the present tonnage of 700,000, the high cost to the Town should the town close the landfill and use soil and gravel, and that the footprint has not changed and is still in agreement with the contract. Mr. Shaw also explained his concerns about ground water contamination. Again, Mr. Barthelmes explained Casella’s process for testing the ground water. At this point, Mr. Shaw stated that he did not feel it was in the Town’s best interest to extend the contract with Casella. Mr. Lamontagne reminded the public that this hearing was just informative to the public and that the Selectmen had yet to agree to the extension.
Public Hearing closed at 8:00 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Lamontagne and seconded by Mr. Cotnoir all approved 3-0.
Mr. Dumaine made a motion to approve the Casella MOU and their request for extension and to authorize Mr. Lamontagne to sign these agreements. Mr. Cotnoir seconded the motion. All approved 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail A. Purrington
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