NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2007 MEETING
Selectmen: Jim Powell, Richard, Wright, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Shelly Candidus, Admin. Assistant;
Public: Bob Stewart, Harlan and Sylvia Page, Jim & Jennifer Goin, Pat Sherman, Dave Fanning, Barbara & Ivor Freeman, Tom Vannatta
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. There was no public input.
APPOINTMENTS:
Bob Stewart of RCS Designs came before the Board to present the Pickman Field Stone Ridge Subdivision plans and state Dredge & Fill application for Board review prior to submitting these materials to the Planning Board. The plans contain a Wetlands Impact and Mitigation plan and road upgrade plan for the wetlands area at Old Sutton Road and Gillingham Drive (Map/lot # 052-607-064). He said the plans have been prepared to meet Army Corp. of Engineers specifications. He discussed these plans with the Board in detail. Copies will be available through the Planning Board.
Jim and Jennifer Goin and Harlan and Sylvia Page came before the Board to discuss access to Page’s boathouse over town property. Page has asked Goin to rebuild the boathouse, build a seasonal dock and improve access to the structure. Plans have been submitted to DES and the town to tear down the existing boathouse and rebuild in the same footprint. The Board agreed that they saw no problem with the owners and builder using town land for access. They suggested a formal agreement between the town and the Pages for use of the land for this purpose. Pavlicek will ask the town attorney to prepare a renewable ten-year agreement. Goin asked for a letter of permission from the town along with a copy of the agreement, when it is ready. At the Page’s
request, Pavlicek will ask the assessor to review the current assessment of this property.
Patricia Sherman, Barbara Freeman, and Dave Fanning came before the Board to review the presentation Sherman prepared for use at Town Meeting regarding the town center buildings and the Camacho property. Freeman asked if she might address a concern before Sherman presented her designs. Freeman said that while she has no problem with Sherman’s work, funds allocated for special projects such as this should come to the Planning Board and be expended under their control as part of the Planning Board efforts. She said the Planning Board needs to administer this project and her members would be upset and feel belittled if their board did not have control.
Wright said the selectmen initiated the project in tandem with their proposed purchase of the Camacho property. It was not their intention to exclude the Planning Board; rather, Sherman’s work represents an initial step to show people at Town Meeting what is being proposed. The selectmen felt it was important to justify this purchase and a visual presentation was the best medium. If the town votes to obtain the property, the Planning Board and the entire community would be involved in plans for its use.
Freeman said the Planning Board was not informed about this special project. She said they are involved in all planning expenditures. She said the Planning Board should administer the project, not just be involved. She wants it reflected that from this point on this project will be administered under the umbrella of the Master Plan.
Powell said the selectmen had never thought of this project as part of a larger Master Plan. It is expected to go on over a number of years and will involve community input. Wright added that the Board had to act quickly on this opportunity as it arose. Freeman repeated that she cares only that the money put aside for this project comes to the Planning Board for their administration.
Budd said the selectmen are the project initiators and leaders here. He does not understand why it is an issue. Powell agreed, saying he did not understand the problem. He said some of the RSAs spell out the authority of the Planning Board but he does not know of any RSAs which withhold authority from the Board of Selectmen to initiate a project and spend $10,000 to complete it. Freeman repeated that the Planning Board will be very upset if this project is not handled correctly, under their control.
Sherman said she hoped this issue would not cloud the larger issue of seeking public approval of the purchase of the property. She suggested that it be resolved now so all parties would be in agreement.
Ivor Freeman remarked that what Pat Sherman is doing is “planning,” so the project should go to the Planning Board. Vannatta suggested that the selectmen say this project will be turned over to the Planning Board as part of the discussion of the article at Town Meeting. Powell asked Pavlicek if $10,000 could be moved from Other General Government into the Planning Board budget. Pavlicek said this is a budget line item and the selectmen have the authority to transfer such funds at any time.
Freeman said the transfer would be symbolic -- a sign of respect for the Planning Board. She said she wants the Board’s word or a resolution that the Planning Board will run this project. Wright noted that other input beyond the Planning Board’s will be taken into consideration, including the Board of Selectmen’s input.
Powell made a motion to transfer the funds from Other General Government to the Planning Board, keeping the Board of Selectmen heavily involved in the project. The motion was seconded and passed.
Pat Sherman then presented her concept drawings to the Board. She included all town-owned property in the center of town, showed the use of each and its future capacity, as well as the increase in viable, buildable property if the Camacho parcel is acquired. She had also delineated the wetlands areas and buffer zone, showing the optimal site for the Velie playground. Fanning, as a representative from the Velie Fund, noted this location.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending March 10, 2007 approved.
MINUTES: Minutes of February 26, 2007 approved to file.
ABATEMENTS/REFUNDS/EXEMPTIONS: None.
INTENT TO CUT:
Charpentier, Patricia. Map/lot # 051-608-322. Approved.
Savage, John. Map/lot # 043-490--467. Approved.
SIGN PERMIT:
Lyons, John. Map/lot # 050-613-048. Approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board signed applications for aid for replacing two town bridges to be sent to the
state after Town Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board signed three pole permits for TDS for poles on Brown Road.
The Board signed a Purchase Order for sand from Willow Pond in the amount of $3,388.
The Board signed a Purchase Order for hardware and software for an upgraded server from Competitive Computer in the amount of $10,091, and for a Document Imaging System and with software and training from BMSI for $5,000. They also signed a P O. for two versatile scanners in the amount of $2,390. These expenditures will come from the town office equipment expendable trust fund.
The Board noted that there will be a Public Hearing on the Merrimack County budget on March 20th at 6 p.m. at the County Administration Building in Concord
The Board signed proclamations to be read at Town Meeting and made a slight revision to the script.
The Board reviewed and approved publicity information on the proposed Farmers’ Market.
The Board noted information from a resident wanting to volunteer for work on a town committee or board.
The Board reviewed a letter from a property owner on Great Island who was concerned that house numbering assigned by Sunapee and Newbury might not be consistent and would cause a problem in case emergency response was required. 911 will work with Sunapee to make sure the information is correct.
The Board reviewed a letter from a property owner who said her tax bill was sent to her under her maiden name and therefore was not delivered by the Post Office. She had notified the town of her name change. Records showed that the bill was sent to the first name on the deed, as is standard practice. However, the Board agreed to abate her late fee in the amount of $118..
The Board received notification from the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust that they will hold a summit conference on October 27, 2007. They asked for the town’s input on topics relevant to Newbury. The Board checked the appropriate topics for consideration.
Pavlicek reported that Newbury has been named a Tree City for the second consecutive year.
The Board noted that Focus Tamworth is urging support of SB190 on March 20th at a
legislative hearing to let towns control the impact of race tracks on their local environment.
Pavlicek reported that Kenyon HVAC says heating problems in the old portion of the
Town Office are related to an undersized boiler. Upgrading to a larger, commercial type boiler
would be very expensive. The Board agreed to hold off on any action on this matter for now.
The Board reviewed a letter of protest from a property owner regarding his assessment, despite a meeting with the assessor. He claims the assessed acreage is inaccurate. The Board recommended that the assessor review the property once again. If no agreement is reached, they ask that the property owner come in to discuss the situation.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:00 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, March 26, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
_______________________ _____________________ _______________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
sc/Mar12//07 NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
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