Selectman O’Connor opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m., Selectman Mical was present, Chairman Brayshaw was absent due to a personal commitment. Members of the public were present. The recording secretary is Mary Whalen.

A Public Hearing was held for the laying out of lands for public use per RSA 43:1, for Map 31, Lot 31 on Kearsarge Mountain Road. The lot would be used for teacher parking at the Simonds School. The abutters were notified to attend the hearing to voice their concerns. Avis Hanson, Dory Henely, Matt Carr, Allan and Margi Lord, Kathy and Clyde Carson, Joe and Polly Dias, Judy Pelletierre, Allan Brown, William Chandler, Carol Burnetti, Chuck Goss, and Dick Petrin were some of the participants in the Public Hearing.

Question: Is the lot zoned for residential use?

Answer: Yes.

Question: If the area is zoned for residential use, and if I was to clear my property, could I put a parking lot in place of my home?

Answer: You would have to hold a public hearing, and a petition to the Selectmen.

Question: What requirements does the Selectmen have to follow for this process and where do the citizens fit in?

Answer: In the past, there were things done with Town property that citizens were not made aware of (i.e., the parking lot across from Warner Power). It was decided as a Board to hold this public hearing.

Question: There is an environmental concern, the slope of the land will be changed, and will that will affect the pond if a parking lot is put in. There is a process to be followed and does that process apply to the Selectmen?

Answer: I don’t believe we can bypass any process, but we do have our Public Works Director here to go over the proposed plan.

Allan Brown (Public Works Director) explained that there is adequate room to address the run off issue in regards to the pond. The proposed parking lot will hold about thirty cars, with head on parking in the center. The lot size was determined at one hundred fifty feet by seventy feet.

Question: Doesn’t the Town own land up by were the Kindergarten is situated?

Answer: Yes. There was blasting done to get the building in there, with the steep grade and ledge, your looking at drainage problems. The school is looking for a short-term solution with no money.

Question: What about the land that the Town owns, could that be used for the parking.

Answer: Foothills own the field. The stone wall is the boundary. You still need to generate thousands of dollars to build a parking area.

Statement: If it became a parking lot, it would be more than a school issue, it could be used for overflow parking in the Town.

Question: What was the original intent of Avis Nichols, who donated the property for Fall Foliage Festival. What about the depreciation in value to the homes that directly abut the parking area, and what is going to prevent children from skateboarding etc. in that parking area?

Answer: The parking area would not be paved.

Allan Brown commented that the abutters probably would not be happy with the dust and the erosion that will occur with rain. It is Mr. Brown’s policy, that when you complete a project it should be paved because it will save money in the long term. If you don’t pave it, you can’t control the parking with lines painted on.

Question: Do you have to raise any of the land?

Answer: Yes, about two and a half feet and sloped for a gradual drain.

Question: Does the Town pay for this? If the intent of Avis Nichols was to give the land for FFF, will the pavement affect the oxen?

Answer: The school will pay, and no, the pavement will not affect the animals.

Question: It was stated that this is a short-term solution, what was meant by that?

Answer: The school may not be big enough to house the children on five or ten years, but until then the teachers need a place to park.

Question: The slope to the pond is a concern if you raise the lot up.

Answer: There is plenty of room to make a gradual slope to the pond.

Question: If you put a parking lot in, what about the lighting?

Answer: You can restrict the hours for parking, also a light on a timer is another option.

Question: Will the Town plow the lot in the winter?

Answer: No, the school will pay for the plowing.

Question: Once it is plowed, will the lot still hold thirty cars?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How far back will the lot go?

Answer: One hundred seventy feet deep.

Comment: On the issue of lighting, if there is an activity at night at the school the cars can park at the upper parking lot.

Question: Knowing the Town needs more parking, would it be a consideration to talk to Foothills or who ever owns that area, to do a joint effort with the Town to create more parking that would also benefit business’s?

Answer: Your looking at a serious engineering task due to the drainage and terraced parking, which is a long term solution. We are looking for a short-term solution due to the kindergarten starting in three weeks.

Question: How do the teachers feel about the proposed parking?

Answer: Judy Pelletierri who is the Simonds School Principal commented that not all the teachers are aware of the parking situation due to the summer schedule. But the staff does have a concern for the safety of the children due to vehicles fighting for space. Different options were looked at:

1. To cut into the top of Church Street using the playground, but the buses would still extend down Church Street.
2. A road through the playground. It was not well received due to the impact on the playground and physical education.
3. Additional parking along the fence.

Allan Brown commented that when the red lights are flashing no cars are to pass in any direction even on Kearsarge Mountain Road when the buses are parked on Church Street. Chief Chandler confirmed what Mr. Brown said but noted that the cars traveling on Kearsarge Mountain Road cannot see the flashing lights. Also Chief Chandler commented that there would be a heavier presence of police patrol the first few weeks to monitor the traffic at Simonds School.

Question: Is it possible to use the Town property to make a larger playground?

Answer: The Town land is to far away.

Question: Is there going to be time lapses between when Kindergarten starts and the buses arriving?

Answer: Kindergarten will open and close the same as the elementary school.

Question: This has been an on going problem. Why all of a sudden is there such a concern because of Kindergarten?

Answer: This solution was offered to the school district five years ago. The Principal and School Superintendent at that time turned it down.

Comment: It is up to the school to find a solution not the Town.

Comment: Two property owner’s home values will be affected by this parking lot. The clarity for the use of the land that was deeded to the Town is unclear. The legal ramifications of putting a parking area in a residential zone, and the salt and oil possibly leaking into the pond. These issues need to be looked at more closely.

Carol Burnetti who is a fourth grade teacher commented that the teachers feel very strongly for the children’s safety and would do whatever needs to be done to assure that.

The Public Hearing was concluded and a decision by the Board will be met at the August 28, 2001 Selectmen’s meeting.

The playground at the Old Graded School was discussed. Allan Brown will look at the situation and return to the Board with his recommendations at the August 28, 2001 Selectmen’s meeting.

There is an employment position available at the Highway Department. Posting of the position will take place immediately.

The Selectmen discussed the serving of hot dogs at the Transfer Station, which is up coming in September.

Selectman Mical reminded the Board to keep liaison’s advised of work being done.

Police detail at the Hopkinton Fair was discussed.

The budget process was discussed. A work session is scheduled for August 25, 2001 at 7:30 a.m.

A permit to bait wildlife on Town property was discussed.

Allan Brown informed the Board that he will be researching a Class VI road that abuts Webster, and also Hartshorne Lane in regards to boundaries, and a request to have a section of a road paved, Allan is not sure if it is a Town road. Allan also requested to have a section cleared by the salt shed to stockpile material (asphalt, stumps, etc.) Discussion followed. Selectman Mical made the motion to have an area by the salt shed cleaned out, at no cost to the Town, in order to stock pile material. Selectman O’Connor seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Mr. Klinedinst asked about the policy in regards to taking down a dead birch tree on a stone wall that is also owned by the Town. The Selectmen approved the removal of the tree at no cost to the Town. Mr. Klindinst also presented a request to view public records.

Barbara Annis informed the Selectmen that a grant was given to Celebrate NH, and Jeff Taylor is the contact person. Also the Planning Board has a subcommittee set up for architechtual design for certain areas of the Town.

The paving of roads was further discussed.

Barbara Proper suggested to begin looking for an auditor for next year.

The Selectmen signed the following:

MS-1 and MS-5 audit forms

3 building permits

Selectmen O’Connor made a motion to accept the August 14, 2001 minutes with grammar changes. Selectman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Mical made a motion to adjourn. Selectman O’Connor seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

John C. Brayshaw – Chairman

Robert C. O’Connor

Edward F. Mical