In attendance:

Selectman Edward F. Mical – Chairman

Selectman John C. Brayshaw – absent

Selectman Allen C. Brown

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen.

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

Mr. Jeff Albright met with the Selectmen to inquire about the generator that is not currently operating. Mr. Albright runs a foundry in Charlestown. Mr. Albright is interested in the generator for emergency back up and would like to put his name in for the record when and if the Town decides to put the generator up for bid. At this time no decision has been made regarding the generator.

Mr. Ron Wirth met with the Selectmen to inquire why the old generator has not been moved to the Transfer Station. It was agreed at a previous Selectmen’s meeting to move the generator for security purposes. Chairman Mical explained that the loader was not available. Selectman Brown verified with Mr. Wirth that moving the generator is only for testing purposes. Mr. Wirth inquired about the lighting at the Transfer Station. Mr. Wirth understands that lighting has been arranged through Public Service of New Hampshire at a cost of $50.00 per month. Mr. Wirth then stated that he has no intention of connecting the generator to the Transfer Station. Mr. Wirth continued to explain to the Selectmen that a decision to go with PSNH for the lighting calculated to 83% wasted consumption of electricity, ($500.00 per year), why not a cable and a switch from the electricity that is already delivered there. Selectman Brown explained the concern for the generator to Mr. Wirth; at one time the generator was moved to the Transfer Station without the Boards permission. The generator was purchased through Emergency Management. Mr. Wirth explained that the generator is valuable to the Town. It may be used as a transportable system for emergencies. Mr. Wirth would like to see the generator stored until springtime. Mr. Wirth asked the Selectmen if an estimate was obtained for wiring the lighting at the Transfer Station into the current system. Mr. Wirth also inquired if the Board reviewed the information regarding the sidewalks.

Chairman Mical commented that the Police Department has been informed about the request to increase speed enforcement on Connors Mill Road.

Paul Fouliard, Transfer Station, Department Head presented the 2004 Transfer Station budget to the Selectmen. Pete Newman also attended the presentation. The cost of disposing the ash in the burn pile has been added to the budget. The Governors Council is holding up the used oil grant funding for 2003. Equipment Maintenance increased from $3,600.25 to $9,950.00, maintenance needs to be done on both bailers and the bobcat. Mr. Fouliard presented a cost breakdown to the Selectmen. The garage door needs repair, the way the door is now, it impossible to open manually. Improvements in grounds maintenance includes concrete blocks for bunkers, gravel to expand the parking lot, and cutting through the fence to make a road to access the glass disposal area. Mr. Fouliard stated that he spoke with a member of the Highway Department who stated the road could be built in one day. The Director of Public Works needs to verify this; the lease needs to be reviewed before any work can begin. Mr. Fouliard presented a list of overtime hours for the staff and also two additional part-time positions, not exceeding twenty hours apiece. The Finance Director stated that the overtime hours would need to be adjusted by the hours that each employee works. Chairman Mical explained that the Selectmen have not made a decision regarding wages. The Selectmen proceeded to review the Transfer Station budget inserting the Boards changes. The Selectmen will review the lease contract before a decision is made regarding breaking through the fence to make a road for the glass disposal.

Allan Brown, Director of Public Works presented the 2004 Highway Block Grant budget along with General Expenses. Money was added to line stripping for various roads that are a problem with site judgement. The Finance Director verified the cost for uniforms. Guardrail installation at Riverside Park was discussed, the guardrails will be installed along the river entrance to the park. The Selectmen added $500.00 to the Silver Lake Dam line. The Selectmen further discussed line striping. Schoodac Road and Pumpkin Hill Road were discussed as the first to receive stripping (total of five miles). Line striping would become a yearly item for maintenance and additional roads would be added (line striping is still under consideration, no decision has been made). The Selectmen will discuss salaries at a later date. The Highway Department did not use part-time help this past summer, a large number of part-time hours was used for winter maintenance. As long as the staff stays the same, part-time summer hours will not be needed this year. The Director of Public Works presented the following long sheet items; paving is slated for $100,000.00 in paving. The paving has been suffering for the past few years. East Sutton Road will be a road reconstruction project; North Road will also have some road reconstruction. North Road is a targeted road in the Capital Improvements. Joppa West is an overlay and the balance is for cold patch and shimming. Bible Hill Road was not worked on in 2003 due to budget cuts, culvert work needs to be done, and then the following year overlay and some reconstruction work needs to be done. A new mack truck will be presented in a Warrant Article ($138,000.00), which is also on the Capital Improvement schedule. There will be $100,000.00 requested for the reconstruction of East Roby District Road; there is already $200,000.00 in Capital Reserve. For the reconstruction of the intersection at Denny Hill Road and Pumpkin Hill road will cost $210,000.00, the outside cost to have the job just engineered would cost $48,000.00, the Director of Public Works engineered the project himself.

Chairman Mical asked the Director of Public Works the status of a Class V seasonal section of Couchtown Road. Colby Realty has asked about that section of road in regards to a vacant lot that runs both on Class V and Class V seasonal. Only about 200 feet of the property in question runs along the Class V section.

The Selectmen received to bids for the printing of the 2003 Town Report. One received by R. C. Brayshaw and the other from Town & Country. More information is needed regarding the mailing and printing of the envelopes from Town & Country before a decision is made.

The Selectmen reviewed a list of over charges from the first tax billing. All over charges will be refunded.

Barbara Annis asked if Chairman Mical if he spoke to Fire Chief Dick Brown regarding driveways. Chairman Mical retained information from the Peterborough website regarding driveways and forwarded the information to the Fire Chief and the Director of Public Works. Mrs. Annis clarified that she is looking for information from the Fire Chief regarding the set-up of driveways in a sub-division, and also homes that have a high topography. The Planning Board’s decision declining the sub-division at Exit 9 was discussed, along with the appeal from the applicant to Superior Court.

The Selectmen signed:

2 Building Permits

4 Intents-to-cut

Selectman Brown made the motion to continue the November 18, 2003 Selectmen’s meeting until November 19, 2003 at 7:30 a.m. Chairman Mical seconded the motion. The motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Chairman re-opened the Selectmen’s meeting at 7:30 a.m.

In attendance:

Selectman Edward F. Mical – Chairman

Selectman John C. Brayshaw

Selectman Allen C. Brown

Chairman Mical updated Selectman Brayshaw regarding the Transfer Station and Highway Budgets. Salaries on both budgets were not addressed. The Selectmen re-reviewed the Transfer Station budget. Selectman Brayshaw recommended looking for someone local who can service the Bobcat on sight. The Selectmen cut the temporary help request, the Board feels that the existing personnel can take care of what the temporary help was slated for (grounds keep etc.). The Selectmen discussed the request to cut through the fence at the Transfer Station, the property surrounding is State Property, and the project needs further review and will not be slated for the 2004 budget year. The building of the glass bunker will be budgeted for 2004. The Selectmen discussed lighting at the Transfer Station, PSNH was contacted for a quote, the work would result in a monthly fee and lights remaining on when the Transfer Station was closed (dusk to dawn). Mr. Ron Wirth recommended to the Selectmen hiring an electrician to wire the lights along with a separate switch. The Selectmen will obtain a quote from an electrician to wire the lighting with a separate meter.

The Selectmen re-reviewed the Highway Department budget. The Selectmen discussed line striping. Selectman Brayshaw is not in favor of beginning the line-striping project. Selectman Brown is in favor of restricting the striping to heavily traveled roads. The Selectmen will discuss with the Director of Public Works the cost of only targeting heavy traveled roads. The Selectmen discussed the condition of Silver Lake, Selectman Brayshaw recommended increasing the Silver Lake Dam line to $1,500.00, it was discussed possibly using the Highway crew to do some clean up at the lake. Review of the budget continued.

The Selectmen signed a letter responding to concerns regarding Map 18 Lot 19. The Board determined that most of the concerns are of a civil nature.

The Selectmen reviewed a vacation accrual request. The request is for five weeks of vacation time due to continuous employment beginning with a part-time position. Chairman Mical made a motion to add an additional 10 hours of vacation time to Mr. Fouliard’s current accrual (2003), commencing in 2004 Mr. Fouliard will be eligible for five weeks vacation. Selectman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Brayshaw made the motion to approve the October 28, 2003 work session meeting minutes. Chairman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Brayshaw made the motion to approve the October 21, 2003 meeting minutes. Selectman Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Brayshaw made the motion to approve the October 28, 2003 meeting minutes. Chairman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Brayshaw made the motion to approve the November 10, 2003 work session meeting minutes. Selectman Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Brayshaw commented to the Board about a concern regarding "lots of record". Selectman Brayshaw has received comments about New Market Road, and how people are building on lots that are smaller than the required 5-acre lots in an OC-1 zone because they were sub-divided years ago before the Zoning Ordnance was passed. These lots are protected under what is called a "lot of record". This type of building is causing sprawl on some the roads in Town. Selectman Brayshaw would like to obtain clarification on the term "lots of record". The Selectmen discussed reviewing building permits with adjacent lots included along with the plot plan with new construction.

The Selectman will hold a work session on November 21, 2003 at 7:15 a.m. for Selectmen’s budget review.

Selectman Brayshaw made the motion to accept the October 14, 2003 work session meeting minutes. Selectman Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Chairman Mical made a motion to adjourn at 8: 54 a.m. Selectman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Edward F. Mical – Chairman

John C. Brayshaw

Allen C. Brown