Littleton Board of Selectmen-Meeting
Minutes-May 11, 2004
LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
LITTLETON TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
MAY 11, 2004
Present: Vice Chairman Bill Hight, Selectman George Hicks, Town Manager Jason Hoch and Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
Absent: Chairman Burt Ingerson
Vice Chairman Bill Hight opened the Selectmen’s Meeting at 3:00 pm.
Selectman Hicks moved to approve the minutes of April 28, 2004 as presented. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Selectman Hicks moved to authorize sending the sewer bills out semi-annually. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Vice Chairman Hight closed the Selectmen’s Meeting and opened the Board of Assessors Meeting.
Carol Cullen presented the following items for the Board’s consideration:
Michael C. Kilby/Kohnie C. Poulsen – Request for an abatement- 3 Union Street, Tax map 112-21. The owners purchased the subject property in 2003 for $65,000. The property is values at $114,400 and is in need of structural as well as cosmetic renovation. Selectmen Hicks moved to approve granting an adjustment in the property value from $114,400 to $65,000. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Nichole McKeen/Jason Brooks – Request for an abatement – 20 Bryan Street, Tax map 123-21. An error in the lot size results in a decrease in the property value. Decreasing the lot size from .50 acre to the correct lot size of .24 acre will change the property value from $69,100 to $68,600. Selectman Hicks moved to abate $5.09. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Robert & Linda Warden – Request for an abatement – Shadow Lane, Tax map 240-9. Mr. & Mrs. Warden are being assessed for a shed which is not on their property. Removing the shed from the assessment record will change the property value from $7,500 to $2,400. Selectman Hicks moved to abate $152.75. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Reginald & Emily Laflam – Request for an abatement – 32 Corey’s Mobile Home Park, Tax map 123-30-32. Correcting some data errors and allowing for depreciation will change the property value from $18,500 to $13,300. Selectman Hicks moved to abate $156.94. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Richard Wilson – Request for an abatement – 953 Union Street, Tax map 128-3. Mr. Wilson believes the camp sites located in the field should be valued less due to the fact there was no development costs involved as per the wooded sites, however if all sites generate the same income then their values should be similar. Selectman Hicks moved to deny the request for abatement. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Vice Chairman Bill Hight closed the Board of Assessors Meeting and reopened the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting.
Jean Dickerman from the Littleton Public Library read a letter from the Library Trustees voicing unanimous opposition to the Main Street reconstruction design proposal for the front of the library. The letter stated the trustees feel this design proposal would be detrimental to the library and would limit any plans for future expansion. In particular, the trustees object to the proposed high wall because they feel it will obstruct the view of the library and believe it would create safety and liability problems for the library.
Ms. Dickerman was told the library trustees concerns will be forwarded on to the Project Team. Selectman Hight added he felt it was unfortunate that citizen support has been stronger than support and cooperation from some Town agencies.
Jason noted he had met with Police Chief Cam Brown, Fire Chief Paul Lopes, Kevin Flanders and Jennifer Harper from the NH Office of Energy Management regarding homeland security issues. He added the Emergency Management Plan is being rewritten with cooperation of the Fire and Police Departments as well as GIS input from Kevin Flanders. The group is planning an exercise this fall.
The Highway Department will begin to repair damage to various properties caused by snow plows over the winter.
The ladder truck has been ordered and paperwork for the loan is being completed with Laconia Savings Bank.
New alternatives are being considered with Atlantic Administrators, the town’s health care carrier. Jason noted of particular concern are the retirees who have stated health care costs have increased higher and faster than their social security incomes.
The Town is preparing to get information together for DRA in preparation for obtaining the new tax rate.
Aquarion is completing the Sludge Management Plan which should be ready by some time next week.
The Bishop and Bronson Streets sewer reconstruction project is ready to go to bid.
There is currently a vacancy at the Transfer Station as an employee has left there to take a job in the Highway Department which was vacated when Tank Sylvestre retired. The Town will be advertising the Transfer Station vacancy in next week’s issue of the Courier.
At a meeting of Main Street business owners on Monday evening, it was decided to hold off on reconstruction of Main Street until 2006. It would not be feasible to try to get work started in 2005 due to the immense amount of time needed to get ready. Jason noted there are easements which must be obtained in order to complete utilities. State Right-of-Way paperwork will also require a certain amount of lead-time before the project can begin. The engineer’s final design plan will be ready in June. Jason noted he was sorry it was not possible to please everyone but that a plan needs to be finalized so the work can progress.
Tony Ilacqua has requested permission to extend the range of electronics disposal and impose a 20 cent per pound fee. Selectman Hicks moved to add a 20 cent per pound fee for electronic items. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Jason asked the Selectmen to approve the amended Opera House Policy. Selectman Hicks moved to approve the amended Opera House Policy. He added he had certain reservations in doing so because he felt it was too stringent. Selectman Hight moved to second the motion and it carried 2-0. Jason noted the items in the policy are already in practice but the policy makes it more concrete. He also added the policy can be amended again if needed.
Selectman Hicks moved to approve the annual list of Town of Littleton Traffic Devices/Stop Signs. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Jason requested approval to auction off various items which he listed for the Selectmen. Selectman Hicks moved to dispose by auction the items listed by Jason. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 2-0.
Selectman Hicks moved to reappoint the following members to the Conservation Commission: Bill Nichols, Priscilla Didio and Connie McDade.
It was noted there are still vacancies on the Planning Board and the Transportation Committee to North Country Council. There have been no response to recent advertising of the positions.
Selectman Hight asked Jason if he has been able to get any data on when the generators have been in use. He stated he had requested this some time ago but has not seen anything as yet. Jason stated he will try to track down this information as it does not appear in the monthly reports from the Waste Water Treatment Plant or the Highway Department activity reports.
The meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent
Executive Assistant
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Chairman Burton E. Ingerson
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Vice Chairman George O. Hicks
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Selectman William R. Hight