NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
OF FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Selectmen: James Powell, Richard Wright, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Shelly Candidus, Admin. Assistant
Public: Bob Stewart (RCS), Robert Scott, Gerry Gold, Walter Goddard (LSPA) & June Fichter (SAWC), Karen Bonewald & Peter Scheiss (KARMA), Bob Deitrich
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT: Bob Stewart came before the Board to discuss a building permit application for a property owner wishing to build a new house at the intersection of Snow Road and Bay Point Road, with access from Snow Road. Paul LaCasse, Code Enforcement Officer, has questioned whether this is a private road or a right-of-way. If it is a road, the proposed building will not meet set back requirements. Stewart said that this is a lot of record and it must have a public right to pass, making it a right-of-way, not a road. Therefore, it should not be subject to set back restrictions. Pavlicek said he had discussed this with LaCasse, who is contacting the Snow Beach Association for further information. Stewart asked the Board to make a determination in this matter. Powell said this would not be appropriate and no
action will be taken without LaCasse’s input. He added that Pavlicek and LaCasse will follow up on this with no unnecessary delays.
Gerry Gold provided the Board with an update on the warrant article seeking to designate Gillingham Drive as a scenic road. Gold said this proposal is very popular with residents on the road and he has obtained 33 supporting signatures. Powell asked why the residents want this designation. Gold said they love the street the way it is and want to keep it that way. Powell noted that this designation would restrict the town from roadside tree cutting without a prior public hearing, but it would not stop developments such as Angel Hawk on Cheney Road, also a scenic road.
Peter Scheiss and Karen Bonewald, representing KARMA, presented the Board with their plan to construct a new Middle School in New London, as opposed to Sutton. Scheiss discussed the conceptual plan, showing that the design for the Sutton school fits the New London site. The building would be built on land adjoining the present Middle School, which would then be torn down to make way for playing fields. There would be three versatile playing fields. The SAU building would reamin as it is. This site would allow for expansion, when needed, by adding a second story, as opposed to the more costly creation of building additional space. The facility would have a capacity of 900 students.
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The proposed traffic flow would reduce congestion on Main Street in New London. There would be minimum Wetlands impact. Initial cost savings to taxpayers would be over $2 million, with added future savings. In addition, the cost to rehabilitate the old Middle School for any public use would in $4 million or more.
Powell asked how accurate the proposed costs were. Scheiss said they were as accurate as the plans for the Sutton costs, since the same people estimated construction costs. Powell asked why the group felt so strongly about the location of the new school. Bonewald said local students would benefit from staying in New London in order to participate in local community programs. Also, it is better to have a small, integrated facility rather than a large one. Also, safety services are in place in New London and would have to be replicated for Sutton, with possible delays in providing those services. Scheiss added that calling the Sutton site a “central location” is meaningless, since it will not mean shorter bus rides for students and will increase bus ridership.
Powell asked about the group’s reaction to the Board of Education’s decision not to support the New London location. Bonewald said if the voters choose New London, the group will reapply for the waiver to allow for state funding. Powell asked what should become of the land in Sutton, if New London is the new school site. Bonewald said it could be sold or used for an elementary school. She added that a Master Plan for the school system is badly needed.
Wright said his concern is that the site doesn’t meet the waiver requirements and eligibility for state aid. Otherwise, the plan is good and addresses the problem of what to do with the old school.
Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition (SAWC) member June Fichter updated the Board on their activities via a power point presentation. She also provided the latest SAWC newsletter which contains a survey designed to help formulate a long-term Watershed Management Plan to address growth and development with resulting water quality problems. Survey results will be tabulated by April. They will be used to work with DES to obtain a grant to address priority problems and long-term issues. The pilot grant for $35,000 with DES has been signed, with matching SAWC funding to be contributed.. They are also working with Granite State Rural Water Association on a watershed plan to protect drinking water. They are also doing some GIS mapping with the help of Colby-Sawyer. Fichter showed some slides of severe erosion
at a location in Sunapee Hills. She noted that there are about 50 undeveloped lots in Sunapee Hills and measures should be enforced to prevent future erosion damage.
Walt Goddard addressed the Board with information abut Fish & Games’s plans for developing the Wild Goose site as a public boat launch. He noted that George Bald has been re-instated as Commissioner of DRED. He said LSPA has sent a letter to the Commissioner pointing out that Lake Sunapee has more public access than other lakes of its size in the state. Wright noted that the Board wrote the Governor last summer outlining their position on Wild Goose and asking for a meeting with Fish and Game. There has been no response to that letter. Powell added that the town hired Pathways Engineering to do a preliminary assessment of Route 103 at the Birch Grove Road entrances/exits, while the state was doing their study. The Board has just heard from Lee Perry that the study is final, and he would
like to set up a meeting with the selectmen. Goddard said he believes the final study does not differ in any significant way from the preliminary recommendations. Powell said
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that as soon as the town has a hard copy of the final road study, it will be sent to Pathways for their analysis, before the Board meets with the Commissioner. He noted that the meeting would be open to the public, and LSPA will be informed as to the date and place. Wright noted that there are issues the town should raise with Fish and Game regarding driveway permits, road use, shoreland protection, etc. The question was raised: Is federal funding involved? If not, the site would not be required to be open 24 hours per day.
Robert Scott and Bob Stewart came before the Board to discuss the status of a Wetland’s Permit required for the box culvert on Cheney Road. Stewart said the Wetlands Board did not approve the plan as submitted and cited issues with the design of the culvert and size of the opening which would influence the flow of water. Wetlands recommended eliminating the existing box culvert and putting in a steel bridge. Stewart said that was a departure from the plan, which was to widen and extend the culvert to meet the needs of increased road width in that area..
Powell said a resolution was needed on this matter. The town wants Bell Engineering to do the culvert work as agreed or go back to the Planning Board or the state to come up with an alternative plan. Wright suggested that Stewart call the state and ask someone from Wetlands to come inspect the site and make specific recommendations. Powell asked Scott how this project could be moved forward. Scott said Bell Engineering agreed to the construction of a box culvert after the town obtained the necessary permit. Before he goes back to the Planning Board, he needs specific input on the permit. The Board asked Stewart how he planned to proceed. He replied that he is concerned with the overall impact of the project – upstream and downstream – on the existing habitat. Wright asked again if Stewart could
contact the appropriate people at the state and arrange a site inspection. He repeated that action was needed. Stewart said he had contacted Fish & Game and they were not willing to offer definitive information. He will, however, set up a meeting with them and the selectmen on site so all parties can be clear on their recommendations. He will call the state tomorrow and let Pavlicek know the date and time of the meeting. Wright and Powell will attend.
Stewart asked if there were historical records on the existing culvert. The Board agreed that it was probably installed in the late 1940s. Powell again asked for an early resolution to this issue and advised Scott to delay going to the Planning Board until more information is in hand.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board signed the Winter parking Ordinance.
The Board signed a letter to Harry Seidel accepting his resignation with regret as director of Parks and Recreation.
The Board signed a second copy of the contract with New London Dispatch.
Pavlicek presented the Board with descriptions and details about four lots in Park 10 that the owner wishes to give to the town. Wright suggested that if they are accepted, for the immediate future they should be kept as open space. The Board agreed and asked Pavlicek to respond to the owner saying the town would take the lots for open space, for no payment, and would abate any 2006 property taxes on the parcels if the transfer takes place after the first billing..
Pavlicek reported that MRI will have a final report of their assessment of the Fire Department in late March. The Board decided to sit in on their presentation to the department. Pavlicek mentioned that for a fee of $1,000, MRI would help the Fire Department with grant applications.
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Pavlicek reported that cost estimates for engineering from Provan and Lorber regarding the flow of Andrew Brook at Sutton Road are in hand. Also, the Wetlands permit for the South Road culvert is proceeding well under their direction.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending February 18, 2006 approved.
MINUTES: Minutes of January 23, 2006 approved to file.
INTENT TO EXCAVATE:
Kinsman, David. Map/lot# 044-666-156. Approved.
SIGN PERMIT:
Los Cuatros Amigos. Map/lot# 020-059-155. Approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board signed two Veterans’ Exemptions.
The Board signed a warrant to collect Excavation Taxes in the amount of $170.
The Board signed an abatement of property taxes in the amount of $241.30.
The Board signed a contract with Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission to participate in Hazardous Waste Day on August 26, 2006 in New London.
The Board voted to accept funds designated as the “Elsie G. Perkins Library Trust Fund” to be delivered to the Trustee of the Trust Funds.
The Board signed a Master Plan Update Agreement in the amount of $18,000 over a two-year period to pay the Planning Board contractor for his work.
The Board signed appointment letters for William Hardy, Jr. as a new full-time police officer, Gary Daniels as resident member of the Tri-town assessor’s board, and Suzanne Levine and Doris Newell as Inspectors of Election.
The Board signed the Warrant and Budget for 2006. These will be posted.
The Board reviewed and approved a Police Department pay scale plan prepared by Chief Lee.
The Board reviewed and approved a Provisional Agreement for Employment prepared by Chief Lee for prospective Police Department employees. The Board asked Pavlicek to prepare a similar plan for the Highway Administrator.
The Board agreed that Pavlicek should follow up with information/proposals from a mosquito control vendor.
Pavlicek reported that assessor Norm Bernaiche suggested hiring an expert to do measurements and evaluations of Newbury utility installations, as this is a specialized type of assessment. The cost would be $5,000. The Board agreed to this with funds to come from the reserve fund for revaluation.
The Board noted that Health Officer Scott Nelson has resigned. This position will revert to the Board of Selectmen. Gary Budd was named acting Health Officer.
Pavlicek showed the Board an article and picture in Kearsarge Magazine featuring the Newbury Beautification Committee.
Wright requested that Cal Prussman talk to Paul Parker regarding reducing the use of salt on the roads. He suggested that stone dust, such as Parker uses, is preferable. Wright also said that gravel from our current supplier is inferior to that from Henniker Crushed Stone, which has more binder. He would like Prussman to investigate.
Powell requested that Prussman provide the Board with a list of projects and a timetable for
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completing them for the remainder of 2006. Prussman will work with Pavlicek on this project, to be ready for review by the Board at their meeting of March 20th.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
The Board voted to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II, a-e at 9:25 p.m. to discuss a performance evaluation. Action was taken under advisement. The Board came out of non-public session at 9:30 p.m.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:50 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, March 6, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
________________________ ______________________ ________________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
2/.21/06 NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
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