MINUTES
HOLDERNESS BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING
September 24, 2007
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.
PRESENT: Chairman Peter Francesco, Selectmen, Barbara Currier, Suzanne Peoples, Sidney Lovett and Town Administrator, Walter Johnson.
PAYROLL AND PAYABLES: The Selectmen approved and signed payroll and accounts payables.
The public meeting was moved upstairs to the meeting hall at 6:30 PM where Anne Abear (municipal secretary) joined the meeting.
MINUTES: Mrs. Peoples moved and Mr. Lovett supported to approve the minutes of September 10, 2007 as written. Vote was Unanimous. Motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Holderness 2000 Project - Chairman Francesco reviewed correspondence from Attorney Walter Mitchell advising the execution of the Holderness 2000 deed is ready for the Board's approval. The correspondence further advised that the property is subject to certain rights of way, but the title is otherwise clear. Chairman Francesco advised the parcel is 1.38 acres more or less; conveying the benefit of a certain right of way 20' in width located east of the post office building, providing access from the premises conveyed; subject to all easements of record associated with the septic system and leach fields under the parking lot; subject to a conservation easement 49' deep along the Squam River on a portion of the property; and subject to the right of the general public to use the land
conveyed herein as open space, intending to create a restrictive covenant running with land in perpetuity.
Mr. Lovett moved and Ms. Currier supported accepting the quitclaim deed for the Holderness 2000 property as presented. Vote was 3-Yes, 0-Nay, and 1-abstention by Mrs. Peoples. Motion passed.
The Board discussed a ribbon cutting ceremony to be held for this property later this year.
Code Enforcement Officer & Health Officer - Mr. Johnson discussed an ad that was created for this position. This ad will be for 8 - 12 hours per week. On an interim basis, Chairman Francesco as deputy health officer will be responsible for signing any septic plans that will require immediate attention.
Mr. Lovett moved and Mrs. Currier supported giving Administrator Johnson and Chairman Francesco interim building permit signing authority. Vote was unanimous. Motion passed.
Grafton County Municipal Group Update - Mr. Lovett moved and Mrs. Peoples supported to approve two resolutions from the Town of Holderness to support the efforts of the Grafton County Municipal Group to hear and consider the concerns of Grafton County municipalities, particularly those concerns related to the impact on Holderness taxpayers with the implementation and construction of a new county correctional facility in North Haverhill. Vote was unanimous. Motion passed.
Gailey/Brunt Property on Beede Road - Chairman Francesco advised this topic would be discussed after a response is received from NHDES regarding the size of the septic system compared to the number of bedrooms in the household on this property.
SIGNATURE FILE - The Board reviewed and signed the following:
1. An acceptance of audit requirements received from the NH Department of Safety regarding the funding to be received from the State for the 2006 flooding.
2. An application for elderly exemption was approved for the owners of map 101 lot 026.
3. A timber tax levy in the amount of $262.86 was approved for map 227 lots 024 & 025.
4. An application for current use was approved for map 231 lot 012 and map 232 lot 003.
5. A special events application was approved for a wedding on 10/20/07 to be held at Kirkwood Gardens.
6. A special events application was approved for Woodsistock which was held on September 1, 2007.
CORRESPONDENCE FILE
The following items were reviewed:
1. A letter from Stephen W. Mosman regarding the snowy owl woods subdivision was reviewed. This letter was addressed to Mr. Spencer as chairman of the Conservation Commission in which Mr. Mosman advises the assessment of the snowy owl property was merely a conversation between friends and should not have any bearing on the planning board's decision for this subdivision.
2. A request was received from Roland Ladeau asking for a 20' right of way across the Town garage property to his property. The Board was advised the request would have to be given at Town meeting and therefore, decided to take no action on the request.
3. The Board reviewed 2007 election law changes to include the opportunity to change the position of treasurer from elected to appointed.
4. A bill from Horizon Engineering for testimony at the BTLA hearing was reviewed and approved for the Rockywold-Deephaven Camps development analysis.
5. The highway department's project schedule from September 17 - September 20, 2007 was reviewed.
6. A notice was received from the NH BTLA regarding a denial for the Thomas Coolidge v. Town Of Holderness case in which the Town denied a current use application on Utopia and Long Island. The decision to deny the property current use was upheld by the BTLA.
7. A notice of intent to conduct remedial corrective measures was received from NH DES for the Edward Shield's property along Route 3 regarding the removal of the underground storage tanks on his property.
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
1. Mr. Johnson discussed the grant for Perkin's Lane and his meeting with Chris Devine of SLA. Mr. Devine advised he was willing to assist the Town of Holderness in this project for the protection of Squam Lake and the surrounding watershed area. The application for funding will be prepared with SLA staff assistance to be submitted on or before October 19, 2007.
2. Mr. Johnson discussed the NH Retirement System's financial issues in which they are attempting to conquer. He brought the Board's attention to a study completed by the Center for Public Policy noting the burden this matter may put on employers in the future.
3. Mr. Johnson advised the MS-1 has been submitted to the State, reviewed and accepted for the tax year 2007. A date for the 2007 tax rate setting is pending.
4. Mr. Johnson discussed changing the current calendar year to a fiscal year for budgeting purposes. This change would have the Town's fiscal year running from July 1 - June 30. The Board requested Mr. Johnson check with the Budget Committee for their input on this change and to move forward if the response was favorable.
5. Mr. Johnson advised he would be out of the office on Thursday, 9/27 for a seminar in Lincoln on budgeting.
6. Mr. Johnson presented a request from Spear Memorial Hospital to hold a flu clinic for the general public at the Town Hall. The Board authorized this clinic to be held on 10/24/07 from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
7. Mr. Johnson advised cycle inspections have begun for the 2007/2008 year by Corcoran Associates. The area of concentration is the North West section of town.
8. Mr. Johnson announced an open house is planned for Chief Mardin to celebrate his retirement on October 23 from 5 - 7 pm at the public safety building. More information will be forthcoming on this gathering.
9. Mr. Johnson announced the over expenditure of the legal line item in the 2007 budget. The over expense is due largely to a number of BTLA abatement cases especially the Rockywold Deephaven case.
10. Chairman Francesco discussed the tour of the central school that he and Mr. Johnson took last week. Both advised the renovations were very impressive and they were pleased with the project.
11. Mr. Lovett discussed the upcoming capital funding campaign being discussed for PSU and the enormous success the college had during their first campaign. This campaign will be for the purpose of looking at adding a welcome center along Route 175A and a skating rink. Mr. Lovett, a member of the president's council for PSU, advised NH did not have a ice hockey hall of fame and the college should review this during their upcoming campaign funding efforts.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mrs. Peoples moved and Mr. Lovett supported to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne M. Abear, Municipal Secretary
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