Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

Monday, December 9, 2008

Meeting opened at 6:00 p.m.

In Attendance:   Selectman Richard A. Cook – Chairman

Selectman David E. Hartman

Selectman David Karrick, Jr.

                        Laura Buono – Town Administrator

Absent:             None                  

Others present:

Ed Randall – Warner Power                                                         Karen Wiggins – R.C. Brayshaw

Jeanne Hand                                                                              Martha Mical

Nancy Martin – Conservation Commission Chair                             Brian Hotz – Conservation Commission

Beth McGuinn – Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust               Marianne Howlett  

1. Warner Power

Ed Randall from Warner Power addressed the Selectmen because he said it was time to give back to the Town.  Warner Power has donated to the Kearsarge Children Center and the volunteer Fire Department.  They have started a Community Action group where the Warner Power employees sit as a committee and decide where donations would best benefit the community.   Warner Power recently held their company picnic at Riverside Park which led to the decision to donate $500 to Parks & Recreation followed with a company name sign on the press box as well as donating toward uniforms for flag football.  Mr. Randall thanked the Town for their continued support.  Selectman Karrick invited Mr. Randall to speak about Warner Power and what the company does at a Men’s Club meeting.   Selectman Hartman said he attended the memorial service for Ted Bliss who is one of the original founders of Warner Power (Saban Electric).  Mr. Randall said Warner Power would like to create a memorial in the company lobby with pictures.  Chairman Cook recommends a donation from the Town in memory of Ted Bliss.  

2. Sign Permit – R.C. Brayshaw & Country Houses

Selectman Hartman moved to approve a Sign Permit for R.C. Brayshaw Co. as submitted per Zoning Ordinance Article XII adopted March 31, 2001 .  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  Selectman Hartman complimented R.C. Brayshaw on their accomplishments within the Town of Warner .  Chairman Cook gave the Selectmen’s condolences on the passing of Richard Brayshaw.  

Selectman Hartman moved to approve a Sign Permit under Article XII Zoning Ordinance granted to Brackett Scheffy for a temporary sign.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

3. Jeanne Hand  

Jeanne Hand did some research on the Conservation Commission but could not find when the Commission was established.  Chairman Cook said it was started in the early 1980s.  There was a Parks Recreation & Conservation Commission; it was one board.  Then it was separated in the 1980s.  Jeanne Hand also researched the most current project which is Boundtree and could not find information about the total amount paid to the property owners for the easement.  She knows of the Town’s portion but could not find out the amount from other sources such as grants that was paid to the property owners.   Chairman Cook explained to Ms. Hand how to find out the total cost of the easement, she can contact the organization that holds the easement for that information, she can also go to the Registry of Deeds to find out the organization that holds the easement; it’s all public record.  Chairman Cook also explained that the Town of Warner has never participated in a project that paid 100% value for an easement.   Ms. Hand said she is uncomfortable with the total power of the Conservation Commission.  Chairman Cook explained how the process works in Warner.   The Town has not participated in any project financially without taking some sort of interest in the property, because if public funds are being expended there should be accountability to the public.  The Conservation Commission cannot accept an interest in a project, only the Board of Selectmen can commit the Town.  Ms. Hand feels the public access to the Boundtree property is difficult.  Selectman Hartman offered to help Ms. Hand get to the property.  Ms. Hand recommends a member of the Planning Board should be on the Conservation Commission as well as a Selectman attending each meeting.  Chairman Cook said he regularly attends the Conservation Commission meetings, also in the past a Planning Board member did serve on both Conservation Commission and Planning Board.  The current Planning Board does not have a member that wishes to serve on both.  

4. Revaluation Bids

References have not been completed.  The Selectmen tabled awarding the bid until references are completed.   Also Ms. Buono explained that the Selectmen are agents to expend from the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund so a contract can be signed anytime.  

5. Resignation

David Bates submitted his resignation from the Energy Committee.  Selectman Hartman moved to accept Mr. Bates resignation from the Energy Committee with regrets.  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

6. Tax Collector - Refunds

Selectman Karrick moved to authorize the Town Bookkeeper to issue refunds as requested by the Tax Collector in a letter dated December 9, 2008 to Total Mortgage Solutions, Fred & Tammy Hill, Edward Knight and Pleasant Lake Estates.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

7. Quick Claim Deed

The Selectmen signed a quick claim deed that deeds the property back to the property owner (Map 7 Lot 67).   

8. Manifest

Selectman Karrick moved to authorize the Selectmen to sign manifests and order the Treasurer to sign payroll check numbers 1367-1444 in the amount of $60,138.65 and accounts payable check numbers 42441-42502 in the amount of $1,449,347.83.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

9. Courser Easement

Chairman Cook recused himself.  Conservation Commission member Brian Hotz is before the Selectmen to have them sign two conservation easements on Phase III of the Courser Easement.  Beth McGuinn from Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust presented the documents.  Conservation Commission Chair Nancy Martin was also available to sign the easement as well as the Selectmen.   Selectman Hartman asked how durable the conservation easements are.  Ms. McGuinn explained conservation easements are a relatively new tool because threat to the land is greater now than it was 100 years ago.  The easements date back to about 40 years.  Ms. McGuinn said the history of the organization that is worked with is very important; the stewardship provided by the organization is also a very important part.   Good organizations visit properties annually, keeping good relationships with the landowner, meeting with new owners that take over the property and having funds set aside to make sure any problems that may occur are taken cared of.  Brian Hotz explained the fail safe is the Attorney General’s Office as the final backstop for conservation easements in the event they are abandoned or the organizations that enforce and monitor don’t do their work or don’t exist.  Selectman Cook added projects that have Federal money involved; the entity that receives Federal money has to sign a notice of grantory which gives the power to the Federal government to uphold the easement if all else fails.  

Ms. Hand asked what “primary interest” and “executor interest” is.  Mr. Hotz explained the “primary interest” is the one that holds the easement, monitors and enforces the easement on a yearly basis.  The “executor interest” is the back-up holder and steps in when the primary interest is failing to do their work.  

10. Nonpublic Meeting Minutes – Motion to Unseal

Selectman Hartman moved to unseal nonpublic meeting minutes dated February 5, 2008 .  Selectman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

11. Selectmen’s Other Business

Selectman Hartman will attend a Northeast Resource Recovery Association on December 10th.    

The Planning Board public hearing for zoning changes is scheduled for December 15th.  Selectman Hartman asked the Board if they wish for a Planning Board representative to meet with them to explain the proposed zoning changes.  The Selectmen think it’s a good idea.  

The Selectmen discussed Recycling Committee membership particularly the Chairman.  There have been unceasing attacks on the Town, the Selectmen and Department Heads by the RC Chairman.  This is felt to be inappropriate.  Chairman Cook said further discussion could be brought up at the next Selectmen’s meeting and if someone chooses to make a motion a vote will be taken.  Chairman Cook said he has been attending the Recycle Committee meetings and feels it is wise that a Selectman attend.  He also said he has mixed feelings; he tries to disconnect the two activities, although the same frustration is felt.  Chairman Cook did say when the RC meets as a whole the committee acts appropriately; some of the lack of communication is shared by Chairman Cook because he has not brought all information back to the Selectmen.  Selectman Karrick asked what the proper function of a committee chair is.  Ms. Buono explained that the Recycle Committee is a Selectmen’s Committee working under the direction of the Selectmen.  Selectman Karrick does not see a reason to keep someone as Chairman if they are continually opposing the Selectmen, but what if the chair is carrying out their responsibilities properly.  There has been some input from RC members that have discussed the political aspect, having a Selectman attend the RC meetings has defused that.   

12. Non Public Session RSA 91-A:3, II(c)

Chairman Cook moved at 7:19 p.m. to go into non public session per RSA 91-A: 3, II (c), reputation.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Chairman Cook, yes; Selectman Hartman, yes; Selectman Karrick, yes.  Motion passed.  

Selectman Hartman moved to come out of Nonpublic Session at 7:56 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Selectman Karrick. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Cook – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Karrick – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

Selectman Karrick moved to seal and restrict the nonpublic meeting minutes per RSA 91A:3 III.  Motion was seconded by Selectman Hartman.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.  

13. Adjournment

Selectman Karrick moved to adjourn at 7:57 p.m.   Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.

 

Board of Selectmen    

Richard A. Cook – Chairman
David E. Hartman
David Karrick, Jr.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen

Recording Secretary