Littleton Board of
Selectmen-Meeting Minutes- April 13, 2005
LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
LITTLETON TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
APRIL 13, 2005
Present: Chairman Bill Hight, Vice Chairman George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Town manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
Cathy Conway gave a project update on the TCSP Project. She noted Phase I is coming to a close with work being done to finalize the report and a cd for distribution. VHB is pulling together the contract for Phase II. This phase will include the design, environmental review, informational meetings and traffic continuation plans. Bid document and specifications will be tailored to the Town’s needs. A parking strategy plan will be established for use during construction. Construction services will be covered as well as subcontracted services which will include a topographical survey, utility design by Woodard and Curran, communications and marketing/promotional programs.
Two meeting have been held with the Main Street design Committee to discuss Streetscape Design. Another meeting will take place in late May or early June. At that meeting, VHB will bring back a plan for review. Concepts will be revised as they are reviewed, with the Selectmen approving the final concept.
There have been meetings with engineers, students and school representatives regarding heated sidewalks. A search is going on for any grants which might be implemented as part of the Main Street reconstruction program.
The Selectmen thanked Cathy for her update and she told them she would be in with a further update next month.
Officer Matt Culver and K-9 “Wizard” visited the Selectmen’s Meeting. Officer Culver noted Wizard had become certified 2 weeks ago and his training will be ongoing. Currently, he is trained for handler protection, trailing and narcotics. After just two weeks on the job, Wizard has already participated in a narcotics arrest. Officer Culver stated he was very pleased with Wizard’s progress and looks forward to working with him. He noted typically, police dogs work until they are approximately eight years old at which time they are retired. Wizard is now two years old.
Tony Ilacqua, Tim Breen and Emily West informed the Selectmen of various programs and presentations which will occur during Earth Week. The schools will kick off the event with 60 students taking part in a hiking program on April 29th. The rain date for this event will be May 2nd. Starting Monday, May 2, there will be various programs presented for the three evenings. Sandra Crystall will give a presentation on identifying and protecting New Hampshire’s Wetlands. Misty Meadows Farm of Bethlehem will be giving a presentation on organic farming and Tom Considine will give the final presentation on Littleton’s water system from the Gale River to the faucet. He will also give a history of the water department as well as tips for water conservation. These programs will be taped by Channel 2. Littleton Water and Light is also participating by inserting a one page brochure in the next water bill. Lakeway Elementary School will be decorating the Hunkins and Eaton storefront. A 90-minute block of classes will be held with high school students choosing a mini course from a wide variety of topics.
Tony Ilacqua told the Selectmen Littleton is finally ready to proceed with an Adopt-A-Road program. This is something that the Town has wanted to do for a couple of years. The program will encourage people to adopt sections of certain roads and make sure they are cleaned up 2-3 times a year. Shaws has offered to clean up the area immediately surrounding the shopping area. Norton Pike will be cleaning up their road and Friends of Lakeway will be cleaning up the area in the vicinity of Lakeway school.
Chairman Ingerson closed the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting and opened the Board of Assessors Meeting.
Carol Cullen brought two items before the Board for their consideration:
D’Etcheverry, John & Mary-request for abatement-property owners believed they were over assessed on their new garage as the owner did the construction work himself with materials purchased for $12,000. Based on an equalization ratio of 61%, it would result in an assessed value of the garage of about $16,200. The garage and carport are currently assessed at $22,400.
Selectman Hicks moved to reduce the total assessed value of the property from $104,100 to $101,000, a reduction in the assessed value of the garage of approximately $3100. the new approved assessed value will result in an abatement for 2004 of $108.62.
The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
MacKay, Allen—request for an abatement-Currently a 1975 mobile home situated on land owned by another person. The property owner disputes the assessed value of the mobile home ($12,500) due to its very poor condition. Inspection of the mobile home showed excessive physical deterioration. Jeff Waterhouse of MRI recommends the assessed value be dropped to $5,300.
Selectman Ingerson recused himself from this discussion and vote.
Selectman Hicks moved to reduce the assessed value on this mobile home to $5,300 which results in an abatement of $252.29. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Chairman Hight closed the Board of Assessors Meeting and reopened the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting.
Eddy Moore voiced his concern over Jan Edick’s placement on the Exit 43 Subcommittee. He handed out copies of minutes from a Planning Board meeting held on February 15, 2005 regarding how the subcommittee members would be chosen. Jason noted he feels the minutes are incorrect and that the subcommittee members would be chosen by the Planning Board Chairman only and not the Selectmen and Town Manager. Also handed out, were a copy of the Subcommittee’s minutes of March 16, 2005 in which Mr. Edick does admit he has a vested interest in the McLure property and has obtained conflicting legal opinions regarding his potential conflict of interest. Mr. Moore noted the subcommittee will be holding several public informational meetings and have asked that they be given more time to come back to the Planning Board with a recommendation of new wording for the Master Plan.
Jason stated he feels this is another land use diversion which he has seen used frequently over the last few years. Rather than constructive ideas, these diversions cause either anti or pro development sentiment with no dialogue between disagreeing parties. He stated he does not feel he or the Selectmen have the authority to remove Mr. Edick from the Subcommittee. Mr. Moore stated he would like to see the Planning Board vote to remove Mr. Edick from the subcommittee.
Chairman Hight state if he had a financial interest this piece of property he would remove himself from the subcommittee. He added he has no authority as a Selectman to remove Mr. Edick from the committee.
Jason reported that several roads have been posted and that a section of Broomstick Road has been temporarily closed.
The storm damage of two weeks ago resulted in a Town of Littleton and Water & Light Department costs of around $7,000. We may be eligible for some reimbursement of these costs. Jason stated he was very pleased that data from the Town as well as Water and Light was so quickly gathered and sent to FEMA.
Flow monitoring of the sewer system has begun and data will be collected and read for six weeks.
The ultraviolet system will be installed very soon and work is being completed on the specs and design for the centrifuge system.
The town office has seen a huge increase in traffic from the Current Use, Elderly and Veterans letters which have been sent out requesting updated information.
Tony Ilacqua and Chad Stearns are working on numbers regarding construction demolition material to see if there is a market for developing this program.
Jason and Karen Noyes recently attended a meeting at the Littleton Regional Hospital regarding health care costs.
There is a Task Force from Concord who will be working with Towns regarding compliance of new voting equipment, changes in ballot format and accessibility to the voting polls. Jason is serving on the task force.
Jason and Larry are working on the Capital Improvements plan for the Highway Department which includes the road plan as well as highway equipment.
Planning Board:
Selectman Ingerson moved to re-appoint Charlie Ryan to the Planning Board for a three year term. Selectman Hicks seconded the motion and it carried 3-0.
Selectman Ingerson moved to promote Val Poulsen from alternate member to full voting member. This replaces Irene Yeargle who does not wish to be re-appointed. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.
Water & Light Department:
Selectmen Ingerson moved to re-appoint Eddy Moore as Commissioner for a three year term. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.
Zoning Board of Adjustment:
Selectman Hicks moved to re-appoint Eddy Moore for a three year term. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Selectman Hicks moved to re-appoint Dick Merrow for a three year term. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Selectman Hicks moved to promote Donna Trahan from alternate member to full voting member. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Jason noted there are several vacancies and terms which have expired on the Conservation Commission. The Selectmen agreed to wait on these appointments until they can discuss them further.
Selectman Hicks moved to accept the minutes of March 23, 2005 as amended. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent
Administrative Assistant
____________________________
Chairman William R. Hight
____________________________
Vice Chairman George O. Hicks
____________________________
Selectman Burton E. Ingerson