Town of Groton

Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes

April 21, 2009

7:00pm

In Attendance:  Michael Brogna, Miles Sinclair, Kyle Andrews, Pamela Hamel (AA)

Audience Members Present

Mike Brogna called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

Mike read the appointments, announcements and the minutes of the April 7 selectmen’s meeting to the audience. Miles asked to amend to minutes to include the sentence “Miles remarked that the Board may require bonds.”

Miles reported that Glen Hansen had made the necessary contacts concerning receiving stimulus money for road paving. The state is not allocating money to municipalities for road paving.

Mike made a motion to accept the minutes as amended, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Miles made a motion to sign the Excavation tax warrant for Mike Ethier, Kyle 2^nd, all in favor, so voted. Mary Pinkham-Langer, DRA representative in charge of excavation, had reviewed the report of excavation and believed it to be accurate.

Because Time Warner Cable’s response to the Town’s request for build out in the Sculptured Rocks Road/Jewell Hill Road area was that the area did not meet the 25 houses per mile criteria, Miles did his own survey of houses per mile in the areas that currently have cable. He reported that only two areas might qualify, and that is if all travel trailers, houses, mobile homes, seasonal homes and homes that currently have satellite are included, and houses at intersections are counted for both roads. Following TWC’s guidelines, no houses in town would qualify. Miles would like to draft a letter to TWC appealing to their sense of reasonableness, pointing out the Town’s current status and the fact that the Town would probably never be able to meet the criteria. The Board will be asking them to reconsider. Miles made a motion to send a letter to TWC, Mike 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Mike made a motion to sign the Rego Junkyard Permit Renewal Application, Kyle 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Mike made a motion to sign the 2008 MS-5, Kyle 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

The Board had requested that Glen Hansen ask GMI about payment options for the paving work as they would like to get the paving done as soon as possible but have concerns that the town might not have sufficient funds until July. At a work session, Glen reported that GMI would accept a $15,000 deposit, then 30 day billing once the job is done. Miles and Kyle had looked at the numbers for the next few months and felt that it would be too close of a call to do the requested deposit and the paving before the next tax bills go out. Mike agreed with their findings. Mike made a motion to table this until next week so they can have an opportunity to speak with the Road Agent, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Sam Greene from the DRA property appraisal division addressed the Board. Mr. Greene’s responsibilities include:

• Monitoring the contracted assessors—Avitar

• General education: assisting the Board of Selectmen, holding seminars, etc

• Assessment review every 5 years: auditing the Town’s assessing records including current use, veteran’s credits, elderly exemptions, etc. Next scheduled review is in 2011.

Mr. Greene reported on Mike Vien/Avitar’s cyclical inspection work, verifying the accuracy of the assessing data. He also briefly reviewed the Town’s equalization results. As of September 2008, the property values in town are assessed at 95.9% of market value. He did expect to see a change in this number for next year as the market has changed since September. Overall, Mr. Greene feels that Avitar is doing a good job with property assessments.

Miles made a motion to sign a letter to the Town’s auditors Mason & Rich, Kyle 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.  The Board is responding to the auditor’s initial Tax Collector’s audit findings. The auditor suggested that an unknown property should be abated and taken off the tax rolls until the status of the property is known, and a few Town properties should be abated and taken off the tax roll.

Miles made a motion to sign the letter to DOL reporting that all boiler violations have been taken care of, Mike 2^nd, all in favor, so voted. The inspector had found a few minor violations. In order to save money, Miles did the repairs himself.

Mike made a motion to sign the letter to the property owner of Map 6, Lot 91 concerning building without a permit, Kyle 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

The GRC is working with the Tapply Thompson Center to arrange to use the ballfield for Little League. Currently, the field is okay for practices but would need some upgrading in order for ballgames to be held there. Some of the improvements include wider baselines, removal of the ledgepack to be replaced with stone dust, using lime and fertilizer on the grass, etc. Donald Merrill has agreed to donate his time and equipment to do the work. The GRC has requested $2,000 from their Capital Reserve fund to pay for the materials and any of Mr. Merrill’s workers if they cannot find enough volunteers. Once improvements are made, the GRC will be able to host games and have a concession stand. This will be a great fund raiser. Leslie Dion from the Tapply Thompson Center said the field is ideal because there is plenty of parking, a pavilion for shade, and a playground. Mike made a motion to authorize the GRC to move forward with their project at the Everett Hobart Memorial Park, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Miles reported that Ron Aguiar has approached him a few times about some concerns over the use of Brock Lane. Miles told him that the use of the road is a private issue as it is not a town road. Recently, he gave Miles some pictures of horse manure left on the road. Miles told him he would discuss it at a Selectmen’s meeting to get some feedback. There was discussion from the audience about the issue including:

• responsibility
• cleaning up behind the horses: can it be pushed over to the ditches or should it be bagged and carried away
• master plan clearly describing Groton as a rural, residential, agricultural community
• difference between horse manure, dog droppings, and moose droppings
• health concerns

The Board discussed whether or not there are any health concerns involved. Miles made a motion to forward this to the Health Officer for informational purposes, Mike 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Gordon Coursey submitted a list of signatures of those interested in allowing beer at a street dance in July. The subject of allowing the consumption of alcohol on town property is still being investigated.

Gordon Coursey asked about the bonding of town roads and the Atwell/Orange Brook Bridge. He doesn’t believe it is appropriate to ask for a bond from loggers for the bridge, and is concerned that small logging operations will not be able to afford these bonds. Miles responded by outlining the Board’s position:

• For years people have been asking the Board of Selectmen to do something to protect the roadways.
• The Board will look at each individual operation/situation to determine the need for bonding.
• Not only logging but other situations that include the use of heavy equipment on the roads will be looked at, such as subdivision development
• Guidelines/criteria have not yet been set as the Board is still learning.
• Bridge will need an inspection. If at all possible, the Board would like to be present during the inspection
• Bond amounts will depend on amount/type of work, and have not been set
• Condition of the road would be very carefully documented

Mike suggested that when the Board does meet to discuss guideless they include residents who have been/are truckers, loggers and operators of heavy equipment.

Mike made a motion to go into non public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II(b) at 9:23pm, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Mike made a motion to return to public session at 11:31pm, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Mike made a motion to seal the minutes of the non public, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Mike made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:32 pm, Miles 2^nd, all in favor, so voted.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela Hamel  

Administrative Assistant