Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Chairman Hartman opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

In Attendance: Selectman David E. Hartman – Chairman, David Karrick, Jr. – Selectman, Clyde Carson – Selectman, 
Laura Buono – Town Administrator  

Others present: Matt Waite, Allan N. Brown, Dan Watts, Ray Martin, Marianne Howlett  

1. 2010 Annual Report Dedication

Chairman Hartman presented the 2010 Annual Report which has been dedicated to Allan N. Brown in recognition for his 34-years of dedicated service to the Town of Warner .   

2. 2011 Road Projects

Chairman Hartman asked Matt Waite, Director of Public Works, if he has a prioritized project list for 2011.   Some of the projects that have been discussed so far are replacing the North Village Road culvert and rebuilding a section of Pumpkin Hill Road .  

For the North Village project State Bridge Aid still needs to be determined, it is unclear when or if Warner will receive this aid.  It was suggested to meet with Nancy Mayville from the State for clarification.  Without State Aid, money from the Bridge Repair and Construction Reserves could complete this project this year.   

The Safe Routes to School sidewalk project; it was learned that the sidewalks need to be engineered which is an added cost that will need to be addressed.   

Waldron Hill Road was another suggested project but falling lower on the priority list because the road dead ends.  The price tag for this project is high, (estimated $600K +) because the road needs to be totally reconstructed.  There are frost heaves, plowing and ditching issues combined with the steepness of the road.  This road will also need a catch basin system.  

There are culverts that need to be replaced on both Bartlett Loop and North Road .   

Funding available at this time amounts to $125K in the Bridge Construction Fund with another potential $50K on the 2011 warrant as well as another $225K on the warrant for Road Construction (there is currently no balance in this fund).   

Chairman Hartman recommends that Matt have a ready reference to the priority list during Town Meeting in a way that the list commits to an undertaking of the projects as soon as appropriate.  Selectman Carson asked if it could be likely that there is not enough money to complete any project this year.   Chairman Hartman said the Highway Department will at the very least have time to complete non-contractual work such as the Bartlett Loop and North Road (French’s Brook).  The larger jobs that require a contractor will need to be determined by the dollar figure for the project.   

Matt will be available at Town Meeting to speak about the Highway Departments warrant articles (bridge, construction & equipment).  

Selectman Carson said that he sent out information regarding Moose Grant opportunities for projects. Deadline is March 31^st for a $10K maximum grant that could be used for preserving significant structures.  His thought is if there is any work that needs to be completed on the covered bridges this grant could be utilized.  Mr. Brown said the stone structure on Gore Road would probably qualify for such a grant opportunity.  The Town Administrator will work with Matt Waite to identify an appropriate project and submit a grant application by the end of March.  

3. Website

The Town Administrator has had some discussion with Dan Watts who is the Town’s Information Technician about creating a Town website that allows the ability to grow, have staff interaction and is easy to navigate.  It was agreed that the home page of the website should be a draw for wanting to see more about the town as well as a communication tool.  Selectman Carson agreed that the goal should be to have a great home page, a window to the Town, to encourage further exploration of the site.  If the Board decides to make a change then it was agreed a discussion will need to take place with the current webmaster of www.warner.nh.us.    Chairman Hartman asked the Board members how they wish to act.  Selectman Karrick made a motion to move forward and pursue Mr. Watts’s proposal.  Selectman Carson recommended a time-frame.  The Town Administrator recommends by the end of the year.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.

4. Moderator – Election & Town Meeting

Ray Martin, Moderator for Town Meeting met with the Board of Selectmen in preparation for Election & Town Meeting.  Selectman Karrick asked what his role will be during the election because he is an acting Selectmen running for re-election.  Mr. Martin said that he cannot count ballots or campaign within the Town Hall.   

5. Tax Lien Research & Deputy Tax Collector

Tax Collector, Marianne Howlett requested the Board of Selectmen to reappoint Janice Cutting as Deputy Tax Collector for another 3-year term.  Selectman Karrick moved to re-appoint Janice Cutting as Deputy Tax Collector for a 3-year term ending on April 8, 2014 .  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Marianne presented two abatement requests for the Selectmen to consider, one for accrued interest and the other for accrued interest and taxable inventory penalty fee.  Marianne commented on one of the requests from a person who had an address change.  Marianne said she feels the taxpayer was properly noticed because she sent tax bills to both addresses, the one in Warner and the other in Dover .  The second request for abatement; the taxpayer feels the interest should be waived because they have never been late in the past.  Marianne added that both are paid in full; any abatement would be a credit on the next tax bill.  

Selectman Karrick moved to abatement the interest charge in the amount of $99.27 for Map 12 Lot 17-3 on their 2010 tax bill.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Selectman Carson moved to deny waiving the penalty charge in the amount of $16.63 and the interest charge in the amount of $85.21 for Map 7 Lot 20-2.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Marianne then presented to the Selectmen a proposal for mortgagee research from Jane Sanders.  The price per parcel from Jane Sanders is $12.75 compared to current researcher Dan Goulet of Computer Consultants which charges $13.00.  The difference that Marianne likes between the two is Sanders will make sure when a bank goes out of business to find the correct party to send a notice to; she said in the past Goulet still generates notices to banks that have gone out of business.  Marianne is asking the Board to decide which researcher they would like to go with.  Selectman Karrick moved to have the Tax Collector to retain Jane Sanders Searchers for mortgagee searches for the tax liens.   Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.   

6. Manifest

Selectman Karrick moved to authorize the Selectmen to sign manifests and order the Treasurer to sign Payroll  check numbers 1111 - 1138 in the amount of $31,243.99 (which includes 11 direct deposit stubs), and Accounts Payable check numbers 45560 -45600 in the amount of $188,350.09. Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

7. Consent Agenda

Selectman Carson moved to approve the consent agenda for March 1, 2011 which includes:

•                   Intent-to-Cut on Map 15 Lot 37-4

•                   Timber Tax Warrant in the amount of $1,730.89

•                   Building Permits:

•        Map 20 Lot 005-1-8

•       Map 28 Lot 19

•       Map 15 Lot 37-4
  

•                  Veterans Exemptions for:

•       Map 11 Lot 33-6

•       Map 34 Lot 12
  

•                  Current Use Application for Map 12 Lot 53

•                  Blind Exemption for Map 32 Lot 27

Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Chairman Hartman also signed the annual “intent to tax personal property on land of another” letter that will be sent out to those properties that have personal property on another’s land.    

8. Furnace

The Selectmen reviewed two proposals for furnace replacement at the Town Hall.  Selectman Carson said he was asked by someone who is knowledgeable in furnaces if the Town has looked into replacing parts in the existing furnace, this would allow time to look at other heating options.  The Town Administrator said she spoke with the Maintenance Technician who feels that replacing parts is not an option at this point. 

The Selectmen discussed different options that are available, such as a pellet furnace.  At this time, Chairman Hartman is not in favor of heating the Town Hall with any type of wood.  The Selectmen have received a quote from Fred Fuller; the current furnace will be replaced with two new oil furnaces.   

Selectman Carson recommends that the Building Technician obtain more information regarding wood pellets as well as other quotes for oil/propane furnaces.  

9. Fee Schedule

The Town Administrator presented a revised Town Hall fee schedule.  Selectman Carson is not in favor of charging fees to those entities that raise money and give back to the Town.   Selectman Karrick feels the fees are reasonable.  The Town Administrator has spoken with the Historical Society which uses the Town Hall frequently and the Society did not have a problem with the fee structure.  The Selectmen did not reach a decision on the rental rates.  

10. Other Business

The Town Administrator presented for the Selectmen’s approval a change to the taxable value for Magdalen College .  

11. Meeting Minutes

Selectman Carson moved to approve meeting minutes dated January 20 & February 3, 2011 .  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

12. Adjournment

At 9:08 p.m. a motion was made to adjourn.  

Board of Selectmen  

David E. Hartman - Chairman
David Karrick, Jr.
Clyde Carson

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen

Recording Secretary