Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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

In Attendance:   Selectman David Karrick, Jr. - Chairman

Selectman David E. Hartman

Selectman Clyde Carson

                        Town Administrator – Laura Buono

Absent:             None                  

Others present:

Jim McLaughlin, Ed Mical, Sue Hemingway, Peter Ladd, Varick Proper, Barbara Annis  

1. Odd Fellows Building (Community Development Block Grant)

Odd Fellows Building Committee member Jim McLaughlin advertised for the position of grant administrator for the CDB Grant that was awarded to the Town.  The grant will fund a feasibility study for the Odd Fellows Building .  A grant administrator will be funded through the grant proceeds.  One letter of interest has been received from Donna Lane who has 25 years of experience.  There is $1,500 budgeted; Ms. Lane bid $1,000.  Ms. Lane ’s role will be to oversee the feasibility study making sure everything is completed as well as making sure the CDBG regulations are followed by the Town and contractors.  Selectman Carson asked when Ms. Lane would begin.  Mr. McLaughlin explained the next step is to issue a Request for Qualification which Ms. Lane would assist with.  Selectman Carson recommends adding to the RFP what the expectation is for the end product.  Mr. McLaughlin felt the recommendation is a good point, which could be asked through obtaining additional information from the bidders.  

Selectman Karrick moved to accept the proposal submitted by Donna Lane to be the administrator of the CDBG Feasibility Study project on the Odd Fellows Building .  Selectman Carson seconded motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

2. Emergency Management – Ed Mical

Ed Mical is before the Board of Selectmen with three copies of a grant agreement between the Town of Warner and the State of NH for the installation of four dry hydrants under FEMA’s Pre-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.  The agreements were originally submitted with the State but they did not move forward.  Mr. Mical said the new agreements have a completion date of September 30, 2009 .  The grant amount is for $15,251.04 for the installation of 4 dry hydrants.  The installations will take place at Pleasant Pond, Waterloo Covered Bridge , Mason Hill Road and Poverty Plains Road .  The grant application was submitted under the 2007 Pre-disaster Mitigation Program.  The Town’s portion amounts to $2,127.09 which can be paid with in-kind services (labor).  Selectman Carson asked if the hydrants were part of the CIP, Mr. Mical said yes.  Mr. Mical said because this is associated with some of the events from 2007 and 2008 he will apply to Hazard Mitigation for more funding towards another 4 dry hydrants. The application deadline is April 3, 2009 .  In all there have been 50 sites identified for these hydrants.   

Selectman Karrick moved to approve the grant agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the construction of 4 dry hydrants paid for through FEMA grants.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Mr. Mical also reported that under the 2007 Hazard Mitigation Program projects for Horne Street and West Joppa Road (stone culvert); the application is in process and is time sensitive.  Selectman Hartman moved to approve and authorize the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to sign the grant agreement for the 2007 Hazard Mitigation Program projects for Horne Street and West Joppa Road .  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, motion carries.  

3. Energy Committee

Energy Committee member Sue Hemingway explained that the Energy Committee would like to propose that the Town of Warner submit a grant to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The grant will fund energy audits on all the municipal buildings.  Selectman Carson also explained that the Public Utilities Commission has a substantial amount of money available for energy saving projects. Deadline submission for the grant application is March 23.  The requested grant amount is approximately $11K; included will be the cost for data loggers.  Committee member Peter Ladd feels this grant will give a bench mark for data that can be used in the future and possibly target a larger project.  Selectman Carson moved to authorize the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to approve an application for an energy audit grant totaling up to $11K which will include audits and data loggers to be submitted no later than March 23, 2009 .  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion carriers.  

4. Transfer Station – Out of Town Request

Transfer Station Foreman Varick Proper explained the out-of-town request is from a business located in Hampton , NH asking to dispose of #4 plastics at the Warner Transfer Station.  The requester has purchased an out-of-town permit for $180.  Mr. Proper explained that #4 plastic is not very valuable at this time.  The quantity that would be received from Hampton , NH is not a huge benefit to the Town.  There are the issues that if this permit is granted, will the Town be obligated to accept other material from the requester.  Selectman Karrick asked if the permit is issued is there is no limitation on what could be brought into the Transfer Station as long as it is not hazardous material.  Mr. Proper is wondering the same thing, if the Town issues a permit is he entitled to full use of the facility or can limits be placed on the permit.  Selectman Hartman recommended referring the requestor to North East Recovery Association.  Mr. Proper said NRRA is working toward developing a market for 3-7 plastics.  Selectman Carson asked if a similar request has ever been granted for anyone else.  Out-of-Town permits are granted to out-of-town residents who find it easier to use the Warner Transfer Station which the permit is geared for.  The requestor has never paid a fee in the past, but at that time recyclables were valuable.  

Martha Mical spoke against the request because the Town does not have the ability to detect any hazardous material.  Varick Proper said projects of minimal value can be justified by cost avoidance.  But this product is generated out of town; it is not the Town’s problem.  Selectman Carson also feels the Transfer Station is for the Town of Warner and feels it is not the purpose of the Transfer Station to accept material from out-of-town entities.  

Selectman Carson moved not to accept the proposal for depositing #4 plastic from Hampton , NH at the Warner Transfer Station.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion carries.  

5. Chairman Vote

Selectman Hartman moved to nominate David Karrick as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.   Selectman Carson asked if there is a tradition to Chair on the senior year.   Selectman Hartman said there is no tradition.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

6. Martha Mical – Signatures

Martha Mical presented Intents-to-Cut and one Intent-to-Excavate; she also explained the process for Selectman Carson.  The Chairman signed Notices to Tax Real Property on Land of Another as well as Notices to Tax Personal Property on Land of Another; these notices need to be mailed by April 1, 22 notices were signed.  An Elderly Exemption request was also presented to the Board.   

7. Class V Roads – Motion to Post

Selectman Hartman moved to post Class V roads immediately restricted to maximum of 6 tons total weight of vehicle and load.  Special permits can be obtained from the Director of Public Works per order of the Board of Selectmen pursuant to RSA 47:17 & RSA 231:191.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

8. Sign Permit

Selectman Hartman moved to approve a Sign Permit for Donald & Barbara Lassonde.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion. The sign in size is 24x18 advertising the sale of maple syrup.  Barbara Annis asked if this is a home business and if so they may need to meet with the Planning Board.  The Selectmen’s office will check to see if a Home Occupation Permit was previously granted.  Chairman Karrick called for a vote; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

9. Bartlett Fund Request

Simonds School submitted a request to the Bartlett Fund totaling $1,246 for students K-5 to view the performance of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter being performed at the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord , NH .   Chairman Karrick moved to approve the submitted Bartlett Fund request.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

10. Kearsarge Elderly Housing

Chairman Karrick moved to sign the agreed payment in lieu of taxes amounting to $15,814.82 for 2009 tax year.   Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

11. Connors Mill Bridge

Ms. Buono explained there is a change in the form liners from rounded stone to square stone.  The change is due to the lack of availability of the round stone.  

Also, the Director of Public Works along with Selectman Hartman met with TDS and Public Service regarding the electric and phone lines which have been laid out.  Chairman Karrick moved to approve the change in the form liners from round to square stone on the Connors Mill Bridge replacement.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Varick Proper asked if there are arrangements made for mutual aid and fire response for the area beyond the bridge.  Ms. Buono said at this time it is not known when the bridge will be removed, once the date is learned she will make sure the information is passed on.  

12. Town Administrator’s Report

Warner Business Association – The Warner Business Association (WBA) voted to move forward and become a Chamber of Commerce with the goal being to encompass the Kearsarge Area.  A subcommittee was formed and will be moving forward with the information found for this change to take place.  

Legal Issues – The Town of Warner was in court on March 3^rd for two cases, one involving an employee and the other with regard to petition warrant articles which were deemed ineligible to be placed on the Warrant. Later that same week the Town received news that in both instances the Town prevailed.  There were also a couple of complaints filed by a resident with the Attorney General’s Office and after the allegations were investigated by the AG’s Office which included interviews with officials of the Town and documents being forwarded from the Selectmen’s office as backup; the Town was copied on the response letter to this individual reporting that there was no basis for any charges as was requested.  

Bookkeeper Position – The Town Administrator received seven resumes/applications for the Bookkeeper position that is open and has set up interviews for next week.  The file of applicants is available for the Selectmen to review.  There is a training session scheduled to take place in June (dates to be announced) on the financial software which will be a good opportunity for the new hire and Mary Whalen to receive training so that Mary can continue as backup in that department.   

Connors Mill – Allan Brown reported that the electric & phone lines are laid out for the Connors Mill project and Weaver Brother’s will be taking a look at them soon.  Mr. Brown has also placed a call into NHDOT to find out when they want to remove the bridge and this will have to be coordinated with Weaver Brothers as well.  

Transfer Station – The Transfer Station was broken into last evening and the copper, brass and aluminum was stolen.  This also happened about a year ago and at that time, Paul Fouliard reported that the copper was stolen.  The police have been notified and an investigation will take place.  

NRRA – Right to Know Request – A Right to Know Request was received today concerning Northeast Resource Recovery Association and the resident requesting the information was informed that the files are available during regular business hours for his review.  

Merrimack County Public Hearing – The Merrimack County Delegation will be holding a Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 @ 6 p.m. with a meeting directly following for the purpose of Withdrawing Funds from the Capital Reserve Account and Approval of the 2009 Merrimack County Proposed Budget.  The meeting will be held in the Lower Level Conference Room of 4 Court Street, Concord , NH .  

13. Manifest

Selectman Hartman moved to authorize the Selectmen to sign manifests and order the Treasurer to sign payroll check numbers 1638 -1671 (includes 10 direct deposit stubs) in the amount of $34,514.49 and accounts payable check numbers 42836-42895 in the amount of $141,223.41.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion carries.  

14. Selectmen’s Other Business

Selectman Hartman asked for approval to attend the annual Northeast Resource Recovery Association Conference being held on June 8 & 9, 2009; the cost for the two day conference is $170.00 (cost does not include any lodging).  There has been public concern in the past regarding Selectman Hartman attending this conference.  Selectman Carson asked what is the direct impact to Warner.  Selectman Hartman explained the direct impact has to do with working with the Transfer Station Foreman and dealing with the marketing of recyclable material on a continuous basis.  It expands Selectman Hartman’s knowledge about the recycling business; it also supports Selectman Hartman’s position of being a board member of NRRA.   Mr. Proper will also attend the conference at a discount for being a second member.   Chairman Karrick said the Board supports Selectman Hartman’s attendance.  

Chairman Karrick reported that he attended a meeting of the NH Municipal Association on March 11 at which time the NH Municipal Association voted on several State budget revenue items.  During the meeting a vote was taken to support the Rooms and Meals Tax as long as it is shared with municipalities in the same way as it is under the existing statute; and increase in the tax was not supported.  There was a proposal for a local option Rooms & Meals Tax but the motion was tabled. There was a proposal for an increase in the communication services tax; the increase was from 7% to 8% the proposal was voted down because it was felt that senior citizens would be impacted.  An amendment was passed to increase municipal employee’s contribution for retirement.  No position was taken on gambling.  The stimulus money that will become available to municipalities for specific projects, this money does not replace revenue.  A list of projects was generated and passed on to the State in January.  

Board appointments will be addressed on March 31, 2009.  A list of vacancies will be provided for the Selectmen.  The Selectmen will also review volunteers that sit on Selectmen’s committees.   

15. Meeting Minutes

Selectman Hartman moved to approve meeting minutes dated February 17, 2009 and March 3, 2009.  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

16. Motion to Adjourn

Selectman Hartman moved to adjourn at 8:01 p.m.  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Board of Selectmen    

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

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen

Recording secretary