Meeting opened at 5:00 p.m.

In attendance: Selectman David E. Hartman – Chairman and Selectman Richard A. Cook

Absent: Selectman Wayne Eigabroadt

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen

Others present:  Laura Buono – Town Administrator, Richard Brown – Fire Chief,
Allan N. Brown – Director of Public Works, Ed Mical, Marianne Howlett, Martha Mical

1. FIRE EQUIPMENT CAPITAL RESERVE

The Fire Chief explained that the status of the grant for a tanker will be known by Town Meeting. If the grant is not approved the Fire Chief recommends funding for the expense. The Chief recommends maintaining 3 tankers because of the many remote areas in Town that have a poor water supply. The Fire Chief also recommends keeping Tank 2 (the one that would be replaced) allowing the Highway Department to use it to wash bridges and clean culverts. The Fire Chief explained if a new tanker is purchased either by grant or Town funding, two pieces of equipment on the Capital Improvements Plan can be removed, one being Tank 3. Within the next 5 years there is $550,000 worth of apparatus scheduled on the CIP. The Fire Chief believes that Engine 1 scheduled in 2015 can be pushed to 2020. The Rescue vehicle also scheduled in 2015 is questionable. Chairman Hartman requested a list of all the equipment within the Fire Department. The Fire Chief also recommends purchasing a used forestry truck instead of new. Selectman Cook made a motion to present a warrant at the 2007 Town Meeting an article requesting $100,000 to be placed in the Fire Department Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund. Seconded by Chairman Hartman. The motion passed unanimously.

2. SPRINKLER SYSTEM – FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Fire Chief has not obtained a quote as of this date. Mr. Brown feels that because the piping can be exposed the recommended $20,000 should be able to cover the costs. Chairman Hartman asked Mr. Brown if he felt it would be a wise investment. Mr. Brown with no doubt in his mind feels that it would be a wise investment to protect the equipment. Selectman Cook made a motion that the Selectmen postpone the reconstruction of the front granite steps at the Town Hall and remove the project from the Capital budget for 2007 and add $20,000 to the Capital budget for the installation of a sprinkler system at the fire station. Seconded by Chairman Hartman. The motion passed unanimously.

3. CONNORS MILL BRIDGE

Allan explained that FEMA will fund an aluminum multi-plate box culvert (similar to Bartlett Loop) in the amount of $106,000, 75% of $150,000. The State of NH has stated that they do not want to participate in the FEMA program. If the Town alters the program that FEMA recommends then the Town needs to go back to FEMA for a special project (approval for what the State recommends). The State recommends the installation of a three sided cement unit (con/span). DES and Fish & Game are pushing to have bottom- less culverts (earth bottom) to allow a natural passageway. FEMA has already appropriated $54,000 to the Town of Warner. Allan explained that the tax dollars to replace the culvert is $49,000 with FEMA or $133,000 with the State. Chairman Hartman asked if both programs result in the same durability. Allan said no, one is a Volkswagen the other is a Cadillac. Allan obtained information from the State as to why they would not participate with the multi-plate box culvert provided by FEMA and one reason is because the water in this region is acidic and the units corrode at a faster rate. The question is, why did the culvert fail? The culvert was 13’ tall and had 8’ of cover. Witnesses of the failure said that the water was at the top of the road. FEMA requires the project to be engineered and provides 6-8% of that cost, and the State is estimating $180,000 for engineering. The Town of Bow went through a similar situation and decided not to go with the State Bridge Aid program. Selectman Cook asked if the Board decided to use the State program could the Town still use the FEMA money. Allan explained only if permission is granted from FEMA, a project would need to be proposed along with the engineering in order for FEMA to grant permission to apply the funding. Allan is confident that FEMA will accept this as a special project. Selectman Cook asked if the project is recognized as special, will FEMA pay 75% of the actual costs or does the Town just receive the $106,000. Allan believes that FEMA will pay 75% of the actual cost, and then if the project is agreeable with the State, the State will fund 80% of the balance, the Town’s responsibility would be 20% of the balance. Selectman Cook confirmed that it will cost the Town the same if the cons/span is installed if everything falls into place. The first item that will need to be completed is the engineering, once the design is approved then bids are solicited for construction. Ed Mical recommended arranging a meeting with FEMA and State Bridge Aid in order to coordinate the project to begin moving forward. Laura will arrange that meeting. Selectman Cook is concerned about having the answers for this year’s Capital budget. Allan reminded the Board that FEMA has already allocated $86,705.31 for Connors Mill Bridge to install the bailey bridge, remove it and install a pipe. Allan has questions on how FEMA determined the $86,705.31; those questions will also be addressed at the meeting with FEMA and the State. Selectman Cook recommended that if an answer is not obtained on the coordination then the least to be done is to present a warrant article to raise an extra amount of $20,000 to allow the engineering in order to move forward if the coordination occurs after the deadline for the warrant. Another option would be to use funding for the engineering from the Road Construction Fund because 80% would be reimbursed over time. This would save raising more money from taxation.

4. BOUND TREE & BOG ROAD

Selectman Cook took a walk up to Bound Tree this past weekend and found that the logger is skidding down the road. Allan said that he visited the site and took pictures, the logger said that he was going to move the log landing up the road 150’ (from Bound Tree the landing is 1,500’ up on the left hand side). Selectman Cook said the skid yard is now on the right hand side and beyond that the logger is skidding from both sides of the road another couple hundred feet down from the yard. Allan will visit the site. Martha added that the ruts are really deep. There is no bond because the logger owns the land. If there is damage the Town can place a lien. On Bog Road the owner is applying stone, the Conservation Commission has been notified to look at the condition of the wetlands.

5. INVENTORY FORM PENALTIES

The Selectmen discussed four requests to waive the penalties; the Selectmen are still not inclined to waive any penalties. There was a total of 1,500 inventory forms received on time, and 600 received late or not received at all. The Town Administrator, Assessing Clerk and Tax Collector support the Selectmen’s decision.

Motion to adjourn 7:20 p.m.

Board of Selectmen

David E. Hartman – Chairman
Wayne Eigabroadt - Absent at Meeting
Richard A. Cook