Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
July 18, 2005
7:00 pm Meeting Opened
Selectmen: Present: R. Pride and J. Hite. Absent: J. Northrop
Media: Josh Knox, Littleton Courier
Clerk: W. Johnson
Bills and manifest for the week were approved.
Minutes of the 7/11/05 meeting were approved.
Board discussed the progress on the railroad station and park projects, both are looking great and coming along well. WJ reported the roof shingling is the final part of phase I of the RR station project and should be completed by the end of July. Board members will tour the railroad station project on Wednesday, July 20 at noon with WJ. The park project has had some issues involving conflict with the DPW including the relocation of the crosswalk at the beginning of School Street and the location of the new brick walk. K. Clement recommends for all future projects a definite plan be approved by the DPW and the Board before starting construction. This would help to avoid conflicts and delays in the project.
WJ reviewed with the Board the appeal to the BTLA on the Clough gravel pit decision prepared by Joe Nyberg and him. The Board approved the response to the BTLA on the matter.
Barbara Baines of School Street addressed the Board regarding the pending deeding to the Town of her property for unpaid taxes and utility bills. Ms. Baines reported she has applied for a reverse mortgage on her property that would provide her funds to payoff her outstanding property taxes and utility bills and provide funds for her future bills as well. She anticipates it will take approximately six weeks to complete the process. Ms. Baines also noted it is a condition of the loan she obtain homeowner’s insurance and one condition of the insurance company is cleaning up the property. The Board agreed to look into some assistance to help in the clean up with a dumpster or volunteer labor from the Lions Club or community service individuals. WJ will look into the availability of assistance. JH moved and RP 2nd to ask the tax collector to delay action on deeding the property until after August 8, when Ms. Baines must provide an update report to the Board on the status of her reverse
mortgage. So voted all.
Ray Lobdell addressed the Board regarding the efforts of the Ammonoosuc River Corridor study. Grant funds have been obtained to continue research on the river including purchasing monitoring equipment and doing the actual reporting of the results. Local volunteers are being sought to do the monitoring and Graham Perham’s name is a suggestion. Mr. Lobdell has left Graham a message on the matter already. Also, an application is being prepared to have a portion of the Ammonoosuc River designated for the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program. Mr. Lobdell provided information sheets on the classifications and restrictions under this program. WJ has represented the Town on the committee for the past year and will need to be replaced when he leaves his position at the end of July. Perhaps Mr. Perham would
consider sitting on the committee. Letters of support will be needed from the Board as well as other community groups to be submitted with the application. Mr. Lobdell will contact the Board when the letters are needed.
TA Report.
· Railroad station project phase I still on schedule. The addition of constructing the new chimney to phase I is being considered in the amount of $3500. Private funds collected through Lisbon Main Street may be used for this expense. Phase I should be completed in early August and then volunteers and donations will be used to continue until new funding can be secured for the project through grants and private donations.
· WJ presented information on the backup procedures and policies for the Town’s different departments. RP will review the information and evaluate the equipment and procedures. A new computer for bookkeeping/accounting will be delivered next week with the assistant Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s computer going to the Highway Dept.
· RP inquired about the use of e-mail for internal messaging. WJ noted that only he and Donna currently use e-mail for sending information back and forth. The PD and FD both have e-mail accounts with Adelphia but are not used for internal communications. WJ noted the highway has cable in the building but not Internet connection, only TV. Also, in the past, communicating with e-mail was not a regular process for some departments therefore, not all messages were being received on a timely basis. WJ will get more information on the status of all e-mail accounts.
· WJ presented a copy of the proposed amended by-laws for the Lisbon Fire Department drafted by the department’s by-law committee. A copy of the existing by-laws was also attached so the changes could be identified. Some of the changes address the department personnel requirements concerning minimum training requirements to allow more opportunities for new members to join and meet the department requirements.
· Regarding the NH Attorney General’s comments on the approved inter-municipal agreement with Littleton and Bethlehem for industrial development, WJ will inquire if the questions raised by the AG’s office will be addressed by amending the agreement or not.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
July 11, 2005
Page 3
· WJ reported a previous request from PSNH for pole licenses for new poles on Sanborn Lane should be reconsidered for approval as the Verizon representative has indicated a deadline for moving the telephone lines and poles would be acceptable. JH moved and RP 2nd to approve the license with the amendment stating the telephone lines and poles will be removed within 30 days of the electric and cable TV, if applicable, being removed. So voted all.
JH moved and RP 2nd to move to non-public session per RSA 91-A: 3II (b) to discuss a personnel matter. So voted all.
RESUMED PUBLIC SESSION
It was voted to have WJ prepare an ad for the Town Administrator’s position along with a proposed job description to be reviewed at next week’s meeting. Ads will be placed in the Union Leader and on the LGC web site and Town and City Magazine.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:45 pm.
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