LITTLETON SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MINUTES

OCTOBER 27, 2004

LITTLETON OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM

Present: Chairman Burt Ingerson, Vice Chairman Bill Hight, Selectman George Hicks, Town Manager Jason Hoch and Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent

APPOINTMENTS

Nicole Lapointe updated the Selectmen on the Model Community Grant and on the proposed regional Intermediary Development Project for which funding has recently been received by the Town. Nicole stated the Model Community Grant has been a huge success in identifying those existing barriers which create challenges for the handicapped. She stated Littleton is the only Town in New Hampshire with such a project and has been used as a model for other communities who are trying to improve working and living conditions for the disabled. Jason added this has been a fully funded grant and has brought all the pieces together in getting discussion going. Nicole reported she has provided technical assistance and consultation for about a dozen businesses. There are currently eight incentive grants being utilized at $1000 each. These grants will be used to help businesses make the renovations necessary to bring their businesses into ADA compliance.

The proposed Regional Intermediary Development Project will cover SAU 35; which covers the eight communities of Bethlehem Easton, Franconia, Landaff, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman and Sugar Hill.

SAU 35 will act as the fiscal agent on behalf of the Model Community Advisory Council. The project will consist of three goals; 1) to develop a coordinated and supported network of transition-service providers, 2) to support youth with disabilities toward successful transition to adulthood, and 3) to organize the Demand Side of Employer Networks. The project will seek to establish a sustainable partnership among regional providers, the business community , the public school system and the municipalities it serves.

The Selectmen thanked Nicole for coming in and updating them on the projects.

Cathy Conway updated the Selectmen on the TCSP Project. She noted we are into Phase II of the Project. The $2 million project will come before the Governor and Council next week for approval of the contract. Test borings on Main Street will be conducted on Monday, November 1^st. If they are not completed on the 1^st they will return on the 3^rd. No test bores will be dug on election day. After some further discussion, it has been decided the only feasible area to do the back in parking experiment will be the parking lot behind the theatre. The parking spaces are frequented several different times during the day. Signs are being printed now and will be posted alerting the public to the new parking experiment.

A Public Hearing for the Master Plan will be held on November 16, 2004.

Mike Stein of Woodard & Curran will be working on the utility design for Main Street. He will be working with Bill Church from the school to see if the sidewalk heating system which the students created can be worked into the design plan. It is hoped that this project can be utilized as the students worked very hard on it.

The Selectmen thanked Cathy for coming in with her update.

The Selectmen went into a Board of Assessors Meeting to discuss the following item with Carol Cullen.

BTLA Case for Hitchiner Manufacturing-

Joe Lessard from MRI and Steven Poole from ExTax have come to an agreement to abate a total of $108,627.05. They are requesting the Selectmen approve this request. The total abatement reduces the 2002 assessment from $2,447,500 to $1,500,000; the 2003 abatement from $2,447,500 to $1,400,000 and the 2004 assessment from $2,447,000,000 to $1,000,000. By accepting this proposal the Town would be saving about $1,030 as compared to the original proposal.

Selectman Hight moved to accept this proposal the motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

The Selectmen came out of the Board of Assessors Meeting and moved back into the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting.

CITIZEN’S CONCERNS

Khonie Poulsen told the Board the water to the trailer on Saranac Street had been shut off today. They will now have the trailer drained in preparation for having it hauled away. She asked if the Town had heard anything yet from Provan and Lorber and was told that they have not. Khonie stated she and her husband would like to set up a meeting with the Selectmen and Town Manager regarding the disposal of the trailer. Due to her husband’s work schedule, she would like to meet on a weekend. Selectman Ingerson stated he believes a meeting should take place and she will be contacted as to the date and time of such meeting.

At this time, Town Manager Jason Hoch, stated it is the wish of the Town that Khonie choose an independent assessor to assess the property at 39 & 40 Saranac Street as the Town is interested in purchasing the property. Khonie stated the property is absolutely not for sale. She further stated she does not feel the way to solve this problem is by obtaining her property.

Jason stated the Town is faced with a situation where there is an aging sewer system throughout town. It will take considerable time and money to upgrade the entire system. The Town is working from a schedule to upgrade the areas which are in the worst shape. Bronson and Bishop Streets have been done this year.

Eddy Moore asked what it would take to take care of Saranac Street. He said this was the only case he knew of where the Town is trying to take property from an owner.

Selectman Hight stated he is not against spending money on Saranac Street, but the street is on a hillside and another unusually heavy rain storm can cause additional problems in the same area. He noted the Town did not plan for this to happen; it was an act of God. The Town cannot afford to keep paying money out of its pockets in this situation and we have gone over the allotted number of occurrences allowed by our insurance company. The taxpayers will hold the Selectmen accountable. The Selectmen are trying to cut the Town’s losses and proceed in the most prudent way they can.

Eddy Moore stated he can understand Khonie’s reluctance to part with her property as she has an investment in it and also has the right to keep it.

Doug Grant asked Jason for a status on the e-coli problem in town. Jason stated there were a couple of areas on Knight Avenue and Maple Street which may have been contributing to the property but it is not believed to the sole cause of the problem. They will need to go segment by segment testing as they go along

Eddy Moore referenced a letter in this week’s Courier which inferred the Town was aware there would be cuts in education funding. The letter stated the letters had gone out from the State warning Towns there would be cuts in the amount of money they would be receiving No one on the Board nor the town Manager ever remember such a letter. Eddy will go to the Supervisory Union to see if such a letter was received by them. Jason emphasized that when the Town went to Town Meeting there was no indication of the what the Town would be receiving in education funding.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Jason noted there have been 8 questionnaires returned from potential Fire Chief candidates. After these have been reviewed, three or four applicants will be interviewed in person.

Jason met with Walter Johnson regarding the cable franchise. The franchise is close to being finalized

Jason and Carol Cullen have spent considerable time on land use issues arising from questions by the Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment from recent Public Hearings.

Bethlehem has shown an interest in sharing the Town prosecutor’s time. It was originally planned the prosecutor would start working for Littleton and then branch out to become a regional position. There are other towns who may also be interested in sharing his time. This would be savings for each town involved.

A recent vacancy at the Highway Department has been filled and the employee will begin working in November.

The Highway Department has completed hauling sand in preparation for the winter.

We have been promised the new handicapped ramp at the Town Building will be ready in time for election day.

Jason has been working on budgets as Department Heads are handing in their worksheets.

Jason asked the Selectmen to give some consideration to designate as gravel roads some of the roads in rural areas especially those roads which have dead ends. Jason advised the Selectmen in these certain cases it is excessive to require these roads be paved.

Selectman Hight moved to leave the option open to the Selectmen on a case by case basis when requiring roads be paved or gravel surface.

The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

In other business, Selectman Hight moved to re-appoint Richard “Doc” Hill as Health Officer for the town. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

Selectman Hight moved to appoint Val Poulsen as alternate to the Planning Board for a three year term. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

Selectman Hight moved to approve the minutes of October 13, 2004 as presented. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

The meeting adjourned a 5:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Sargent,

Executive Assistant

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Chairman Burton E. Ingerson

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Vice Chairman William R. Hight

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Selectman George O. HIcks