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Warner Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes Tuesday, Meeting opened at In Attendance:
Selectman Richard A. Cook – Chairman Selectman
David E. Hartman Selectman
David Karrick Jr. Laura
Buono – Town Administrator Absent:
None Others present: Jeanne Hand
Jim McLaughlin Doug Allen
Judith Rogers Mimi Wiggin
Peg McLaughlin 1. Public Hearing – Community Development Block Grant Chairman Cook opened the public hearing
and introduced “Community Development Block Grant funds
are available to municipalities through the NH Community Development
Finance Authority. Up to
$500,000 annually is available on a competitive basis for economic
development, public facility and housing projects and emergency
activities that directly benefit low and moderate income persons.
Up to $12,000 is available for feasibility study grants. “Purpose of Community Development Block
Grant funding request: A proposed application to the Community
Development Finance Authority has been submitted for up to $12,000 in
Community Development Block Grant feasibility funds.
The funds will finance an engineering/architectural review of the
“This project conforms to Warner’s
Housing and Community Development Plan.
Goals encourage affordable housing by either facilitating the
construction of low-moderate income housing or encouraging developers to
pursue such housing in Warner. “Funding request: up
to $12,000.” Jim McLaughlin, member
of the Odd Fellows Building Committee explained that the Committee has
worked with Christopher Closs (private developer) for the last 5 years
trying to find a use for the building.
Office, commercial, as well as housing was researched; the result
is Mr. Closs was not successful in matching the cost to rehabilitate the
building with what the market would return.
The OFBC hopes to salvage the building and find a productive use
that would meet the needs of the Warner Community. The OFBC is seeking a
feasibility grant from CDBG to look at in more depth the drainage
issues, parking and uses for the building.
Chairman Cook asked
for Public Comments: Martha Mical said one of the stipulations
in the agreement with Mr. Closs was that he would turn over any studies
that he completed to the Town if he decided not to continue with the Martha Mical clarified her question by
asking why another feasibility study if one has been completed.
Chairman Cook said a different use is being looked at, affordable
housing. Martha said Mr.
Closs did look at affordable housing.
Jim McLaughlin said one of the points is if the Town qualifies
for the grant and is successful an implementation grant can then be
applied for up to $500,000. Chairman
Cook added that it has been no ones priority to actually finish
researching the different aspects of the drainage and parking problem,
this information is needed so that it may be presented to the Town for a
decision on the building. Jeanne Hand asked if the need of the Town
is to have low income people living in the Martha Mical asked if the study shows that
work force housing is the way to go, who becomes the landlord.
Jim McLaughlin explained that too would be part of the study, how
does it work and how would the Town structure the ownership.
Chairman Cook closed the Public Hearing 2. Public Hearing – Discussion on the Proposed Housing and
Community Development Plan (CDBG Funds) Chairman Cook opened the Public Hearing Chairman Cook asked for public comment: Jeanne Hand said she is opposed to Federal
government based grants, she feels there could be too many
“strings”. Chairman Cook closed the Public Hearing. 3. Public Hearing – Residential Antidisplacement and Relocation
Assistance Plan Chairman Cook opened the Public Hearing Chairman Cook
explained another reason why the Selectmen would like to continue to
look into this beyond the historical value is if the building is torn
down and the space is used for parking the Town will not receive any
money in taxes. If the
building is rehabilitated for housing taxes will be received.
Chairman Cook asked
for public comment: Jeanne Hand asked if
the building houses families with children and if they don’t pay
taxes, won’t that be a further burden on the school system?
Martha Mical said for one, the building is not that large there
may be the possibility of six units.
Selectman Hartman
asked if there is a way to target the elderly population in this
project. Chairman Cook closed the Public Hearing. Selectman Karrick moved to
adopt the Housing and Community Development Plan.
Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion passed. Selectman Karrick moved to
adopt the Residential Antidisplacement and Relocation Assistance Plan.
Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion passed. Selectman Hartman moved
to approve the submittal of the application and
vote to authorize the Chairman to sign and submit the application, and
upon approval of the CDBG application authorize the Chairman to execute
any documents which may be necessary to effectuate the CDBG contract.
Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion passed. 4. Martha Mical – Pick-Up Contract Martha Mical presented the current cost
for pick-ups (homes with significant improvements) which is $39 per
parcel, $69 per man hour for work that is not pick-up related, $86 per
hour for appeals. Selectman
Hartman moved to hire Commerford,
Nieder & Perkins to complete the 2009 pick-ups. Selectman
Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed. Martha then presented a form for the
Selectmen to sign from the Department of Revenue Administration, the
form acknowledges the Selectmen’s receipt and acceptance of the 2008
property tax rate in the amount of $25.73 (includes the Precinct).
Martha Mical is requesting the Selectmen
to abate $796.75 for a building that has been removed and $838.58 that
the Town has already received in taxes when Map 7 Lot 70-4 was sold.
Selectman Hartman moved to
abate $796.75 on Map 7 Martha Mical presented the Warrant for the
Collection of Taxes amounting to $3,817,205.71.
Martha posed the question to the Selectmen asking them if this
amount is enough to pay for all debts up to June 2009.
Selectman Hartman moved to
authorize the Tax Collector to collect $3,817,205.71, 12% interest after
5. Doug Allen – Conservation Commission Membership Interest Mr. Allen’s interest lies in the
importance of natural resources to the Town and he would like to become
more involved in the community. Mr.
Allen keeps current by reading the Conservation Commission meeting
minutes and has begun attending the meetings.
Sarah Allen, a former member of the Conservation Commission
recommended Mr. Allen. Selectman
Hartman commented on the importance of the work the Conservation
Commission has completed over the years.
Selectman Hartman moved to appoint Doug Allen as a full member to the Conservation
Commission until March 2010. Selectman
Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed. 6. Judith Rogers – Presidential Election Ms. Rogers explained the set-up for the
Presidential election which will be configured differently.
Six people will be checking in and 6 will be checking out.
There will be additional tables available for those who wish to
register to vote. There will
be additional privacy screens set up for voting capacity above and
beyond the usual voting booths. There
will also be a table from the Energy Committee set up in the hallway and
flu shots available in the lower meeting room.
Ms. Rogers asked the Selectmen if they would be available to fill
in for breaks, lunch and dinner. 7. Mimi Wiggin – Conservation Commission Membership Interest Ms. Wiggin strongly feels the unique
features of Warner should be honored; she has recently contributed 85
acres into a conservation easement as part of a project to preserve the
Mink Hills. Selectman
Hartman moved to appoint Mimi
Wiggin as an alternate member to the Conservation Commission expiring
March 2011. Selectman
Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed. 8. National Incident Management System Resolution Selectman Hartman moved
to adopt the National Incident Management System as a basis for incident
management in the Town of 9. Tax Rate - 2008 The tax rate for the Town of Property Redemption – The previous owners of the two homes
that the Town deeded in lieu of taxes have come forward and expressed
interested in redeeming the properties.
One owner paid all of the back taxes, penalties & interest
with the exception of just under $600 and the second has called me and
has all the funds necessary to redeem the property.
Connors Mill – A letter was received from DOT which found
the final plans from Provan & Lorber for Highway Department – The Town Administrator received news
today that the 1986 Dump Truck which is one of the plow trucks, has a
blown engine. The estimated
cost to repair the truck is $8,000 - $12,000.
In light of this, the Town Administrator asked Allan Brown to
meet with her on Monday to go over expense figures.
Mr. Brown has also asked the Selectmen to
advise him on whether or not they would like him to repair the sidewalk
snow removal machine (estimated cost of $2,500) or if they are prepared
to authorize the replacement of the machine. The machine was scheduled
in the Capital Improvements Plan to be replaced in 2009.
At the end of September 2008, there was a balance of $81,022.16
in the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.
The cost for the machine with the trade in is about $21K.
Selectman Hartman feels a better strategy is needed when the
machine plows the sidewalks. Martha
Mical requested of the Selectmen to make sure the machine is able to
scrape down close to the surface, Martha feels the sidewalks were in
horrible condition last winter. The
Town Administrator said between the frequency of the storms and the
problems with the current machine resulted in the poor condition of the
sidewalks. Jeanne Hand asked
if the businesses have any responsibility toward cleaning or repairing
the sidewalks, could the businesses by charged for the plowing.
Chairman Cook feels a letter asking the businesses to help
maintain the sidewalks once they are cleared could be considered.
The Town Administrator will arrange the Selectmen to meet with
the Director of Public Works in order to further discuss the sidewalk
plowing. Health Insurance – There is an additional change in the
employee health insurance that is available this year which changes the
co-pay on the prescription portion of the plans.
There is a cost savings, information has been supplied to the
Selectmen. This may be an
option to save additional money if necessary on the bottom line or as a
target in the 2010 budget process since the Board has already made a
change to save money this year and the actual cost of the plans went
down by .8%. Zoning Board – Martha Thoits would like the Selectmen to
consider adding Steve Daigle as an alternate so that the Zoning Board
can have an additional alternate to be used when needed.
The Selectmen’s office will schedule an appointment with Mr.
Daigle. 11. Manifest Selectman Hartman moved
to authorize the Selectmen to sign manifests and order the Treasurer to
sign payroll check numbers 1304-1568 in the amount of $33,879.00
(includes 10 direct deposit stubs) and accounts payable check numbers
42289-42337 in the amount of $200,792.67.
Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion passed. 12. Other Selectmen’s Business Single Stream Selectman Hartman received word from the
Regional Co-op; Mr. Presher would like to meet with the Selectmen to
present a single-stream proposal. Chairman
Cook recommended inviting Hopkinton and Webster Selectmen to listen to
why they are opposed to single-steam.
The Co-op will be looking for a commitment letter from the member
towns by Judith Rogers asked why the Board of
Directors of the Co-op is changing from what currently exists.
Selectman Hartman explained the Co-op does not currently have a
recycling program. Ms.
Rogers confirmed that the Co-op is not doing away with the incinerator;
single-stream would be an addition.
Selectman Hartman will contact the Co-op
and confirm a 13. Meeting Minutes Selectman Hartman moved
to approve meeting minutes dated Selectman Karrick moved
to approve non public meeting minutes dated September 2 & 4, 2008 as
well as September 2, 2008 public meeting minutes.
Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion passed. Selectman Hartman moved to unseal
non public meeting minutes dated September 2 & 4, 2008.
Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the
motion passed. 14. Adjournment Selectman Hartman moved
to adjourn the meeting at Board of Selectmen Richard A. Cook – Chairman Respectfully submitted, Mary Whalen Recording Secretary
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