Town of Groton
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes (Amended)
April 15, 2008
7:00pm
In Attendance: Michael Brogna, Michelle Clark, Richard O’Connor, Pamela Hamel (Administration Assistant)
Audience Members Present
Mike read the appointments, announcements, and minutes to the audience. He amended the minutes to include that a motion had been made to seal the non-public minutes of 04-01-08. Rich made a motion to accept the minutes as amended, Michelle 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Mike gave the floor to Sam Greene from the DRA. Sam introduced himself to the Board. He explained that the DRA offers municipal help and assessing help. Sam’s job involves the assessing end. Said there is a constitutional requirement to do revaluations every 5 years. All assessing companies are required to be USPAP (uniform standards professional appraisal practice) certified. Sam’s roll includes
Sam then explained the equalization process, arms length sales, and non market sales. The results for Groton after our 2007 revaluation is an equalization ratio of 99.9% which means that on the average, the properties are assessed at market value. All properties in town fell within the DRA’s acceptable range.
Daniel Plumer presented his amended Report of Cut along with a time line and all the mill slips. Daniel would also like the Board’s consideration on the doomage fee.
Mike made a motion to table this until the Board can come up with the new numbers, and also request that Jesse Bushaw come out and check the site, Michelle 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Mike made a motion to sign the Town Meeting minutes, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Mike made a motion to sign the building permit for Hamel, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Board reviewed the letter from Hesselton concerning the deeding of their property. Mike and Rich feel the 15% penalty should be paid. As a Board they have the authority to not charge that penalty. Michelle would be interested in abating a portion of it. Mike made a motion to draft a letter to Hesseltons with all monies owed for the Board to sign next week, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Roger Thompson explained the training session that the deputy wardens recently received. The state likes to see them get training once a year. Rich made a motion to pay the training fee, Mike 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Roger discussed some changes that should be implemented in the building permit such as requiring a heating system being installed by someone who is certified and having it inspected by the fire warden, and hard wire smoke detectors. Michelle asked Roger to look into it. Dave Leone suggested that the Board look into the legality of adding to the current building permit based upon the 1975 warrant article purpose.
Michelle made a motion to include a start and stop time on all time sheets, Mike 2nd, all in favor, so voted
Mike made a motion to sign the police chief application response letter, Michelle 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Rich made a motion to sign the E911 data release form, Michelle 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Rich made a motion to sign the Report of Excavation for Ethier, Michelle 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Rich made a motion to sign the Rego Junkyard License renewal, Michelle 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Mike made a motion to sign the Hutchins Junkyard License, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Mike made a motion to accept the Bailey Penalty Abatement, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
The Board discussed Leone’s request for a building permit for 5 camps. Mike wanted to know if these camps were for private use or for the campground. Dave said these were for the Campground and would go on pre-existing camp sites. Said the campground was approved by the state for 18 sites. There will be no running water going into the building. The Board wanted to make sure that these camps were consistent with the plans the Leones presented to the Planning Board prior to the zoning ordinance that was passed in 2007. Dave replied that prior to the town adopting the zoning ordinance he had approval for 18 sites and each one of these camps will go on one of these sites which will not change the use of the site, and according to the 2000 campground compliant rules which they are compliant with it doesn’t matter whether you have a tent, camper, or a cabin on the site. The site has a specific use, must be a minimum of 600 square feet to considered a tent site and his sites have that. At the time, he did not need any approval from the Planning Board even though he did present a plan to them. The approval they have is from the state for 18 sites with no water hookups and for 16 3-way sites that have water. Mike wants to check with the town attorney to make sure that there is no problem for the Board to approve the permits, that it is not considered expansion because these are new structures. Again Dave said they are not expanding, only using what is there. Michelle suggested that Dave put these details in writing so they can present this to the town’s attorney. Dave said they are not changing the use or increasing the use. Feels the town’s attorney can go online and look up the 2000 campground compliant rules.
Mike made a motion to table the signing of the permit until they can get a response from the town attorney, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Mike Viani works for Casella Waste Management. He is asking the town for help in defeating HB 1429. According to Mr. Viani, this bill adds more requirements and regulations for private companies looking to get permits for solid waste management. It will be much more complex, difficult and costly for companies to get permits. This bill could make the cost of waste disposal for the town much higher. Most of the 19 towns that Casella services have already written letters of opposition. He is requesting that the Board write a letter to Senator Deborah Reynolds with a copy sent to Martha Clark who is the chairwoman of the senate committee that is reviewing the bill. Mike will be sending the town copies of letters from other towns opposing the bill as well as general information on the bill. He said the DES is opposed to this bill for a number of reasons. It will take the some of the regulating of the landfills out their hands. The Senate will be having a public hearing on the bill possibly as early as the end of next week.
Mike made a motion to table the Casella request until they can review the bill, Rich 2nd, all in favor, so voted.
Questions and comments were taken from the audience.
Dave wanted to know who repaired the outlet pipe for the perimeter drain at the Town House.
Meeting adjourned at 9:02pm
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Hamel
Administrative Assistant