Town of Grantham - Board of Selectmen

Regular Meeting Minutes

April 9, 2003

 

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Constance A. Jones. Present were: Constance A. Jones, Chairman; William E. Hutchins, Selectman; Harold Haddock, Jr., Selectman; Tina Stearns, Town Administrator; Gary Broughall, Recreation Director and members of the public. The meeting was held in the Town Office on 34 Dunbar Hill Road.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE

For Approval / Signature – Approved

Building Permits:

o Bisson, Charlotte B. – Map 222 Lot 33 – 14 Azure Brae – Addition/Garage/Shed

o ECA – Map 225 Lot 54 – Troon Drive / 14th Fairway – Comfort Station

o ECA – Map 225 Lot 307 – Eastman Road / 5th Fairway – Comfort Station

o Mousseau, Paul – Map 225 Lot 243 – 38 Fairway Drive – Garage

o Shearon, Ed – Map 225 Lot 62 – 7 Wedgewood Drive - Addition

Notice of Intent to Cut: Lary, Russell E. – Map 242 Lot 16 – Bouldervale Road

Current Use Application: Gallien, Matthew & Stacey – Map 221 Lot 49

Notice of Intent to Excavate: Field, Reginald & Theresa – Map 233 Lot 4

2003 Boundary & Annexation Survey

Quitclaim Deed: Map 222 Lot 45 – 10 Fernwood Lane

Quitclaim Deed: Map 213 Lot 4 – 10 Ash Lane

Raffle Permit: Classic Pro Am on June 27th

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Motion made by Selectman Haddock to approve the regular meeting minutes of March 26, 2003; motion seconded by Selectman Hutchins. The Board voted majority to approve. Chairman Jones abstained due to absence at the meeting.

PUBLIC RECOGNITION

 

Gymnasium Baseball Use: Chairman Jones welcomed parents and coaches to discuss the use of the gymnasium for baseball/softball practices. Administrator Stearns had made the decision to halt the practice in the gym after the insurance company (Primex) was contacted regarding two broken windows. Primex stated that there should not be practice in the gymnasium unless safety measures were put in place.

 

Dan McClory stated that the issue of not allowing practice in the gym had never arisen prior to this year and wanted to know the position of the Board of Selectmen. Chair Jones responded that she had been unaware that the gym was used for baseball practice and once the Board had knowledge of this activity action had to be taken. The action was contacting the insurance company and legal counsel to determine the liability to the town if an injury occurred. Selectman Haddock added that the main concern is the safety of the children and to take proper precautions to avoid any injuries.

 

Jerry Goodman informed the Board that he was coaching a practice when one of the windows was broken. Does the liability issue pertain to all gym uses? A child can be injured while playing basketball just as easy as when playing baseball.

 

Selectman Hutchins stated that the Board does not intend to deny use of the gym for recreation purposes. The gym should be used as much as possible; that’s why it is there but there are liability issues that go along with having a municipal gymnasium.

 

Fred O’Brien stated that he has been coaching baseball for the last six years and this has never been an issue before. He informed the Board that he puts pads against the doors to protect the windows from breakage.

 

Mary Beth Watt informed that the gym is used for various sports and exercises. Does this liability issue affect the use of the gym for school exercise? The Board’s decision has to be across the board and cannot single out one sport.

 

Jennifer Jenkins appealed to the Board that the kids just want to play ball. She felt very put out by not being able to use the gym; her husband is a coach. The scheduling was worked out for the use of the gym and the teams barely got in a practice before they were told they could no longer use the facility. There is no place to practice and it costs money to use the Grantham Indoor facility.

 

Chairman Jones questioned what type of exercises were being done during practice and if safety equipment was being used. Rec. Director Gary Broughall responded that safety equipment is not required with throwing and no batting took place. Basically the practice involves throwing, running and situational drills and there is a coach present during the entire practice.

 

The majority of the audience affirmed that the broken windows were simple accidents and they are all willing to use safety precautions.

Dan McClory questioned the new ball field(s) and where that issue stands. Is it possible to upgrade the existing field? G. Broughall answered that various sites are being investigated. Upgrading of the existing field is difficult due to the fact that it is the Village School’s playground. If expensive soil is brought in and put on the field it will be tracked into the school by the kids from recess – would not be worth spending the money.

 

The Board of Selectmen approved to allow baseball/softball practice in the municipal gymnasium as long as the Recreation Director formed a set of safety rules that all coaches will have to follow.

 

Resident Phil Schaefer:

Revaluation – What is the progress being done on the revaluation? Administrator Stearns responded that proposal requests have been submitted to 10 firms and have received responses from two of them.

 

Cell Towers – Can the Selectmen make demands on the cell tower companies that they have to have service on them within a certain time frame? Do the Selectmen have the authority? Selectman Haddock stated that one of the reasons for vacant towers is the height of the tower. Service is definitely needed along I-89. Administrator Stearns suggested Mr. Schaefer contact ZBA Chair Conrad Frey with his questions. C. Frey has researched the cell tower issue and should be able to answer the question.

 

State Education Property Tax – Mr. Schaefer thanked Administrator Stearns for the information provided and informed that Elizabeth Twomey no longer is head of the Department of Education. Mr. Schaefer feels that the taxpayers have the wrong impression of the amount of money Grantham sends to the State of NH. It is not the full amount that is raised by taxes. Chairman Jones informed that we raise extra over our local school budget to send to the State of NH. Selectman Haddock stated that this is a school issue and the Superintendent should be able to clearly explain the process. It was recommended that Administrator Stearns include in the next newsletter an explanation of what is sent to the State.

 

Payment in Lieu with ECA – Mr. Schaefer posed the question if the payment in lieu agreement includes certain improvements done to the ECA properties, e.g. pool and new ECA office building. If a new building were constructed would ECA be required to pay property taxes on it? Selectman Haddock responded that the agreement includes all of ECA property with the exclusion of the retired lots. Selectman Hutchins stated that any changes would be addressed when the current agreement expires and would be through negotiations. Mr. Schaefer stated that there is no negotiation on the amount of taxes paid when someone builds a new house. Selectman Haddock stated that the properties will be addressed with the next revaluation and reviewed at that time. Chair Jones added that the current agreement covers everything until the expiration. All changes made during this time period will be reviewed and negotiated at that time.

Resident Don Noordsy – Curious about the NH House Bill pertaining to the expense of capping landfills in towns with under 5,000 population. Would the passing of this bill mean that the Town of Grantham receives monies back from the State of NH? Chair Jones is looking into it.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Groundwater Management Agreement – CMA Engineers, Inc.: A proposal was received to complete the Landfill Groundwater Management from CMA Engineers in the amount of $8,000.

 

On a motion by Selectman Hutchins, seconded by Selectman Haddock, the Board unanimously approved to contract with CMA Engineers for the Groundwater Management.

 

NHMA – Education Funding Matrix: Document was received from NHMA outlining the 2003 Education Funding Legislations/Plans.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

Highway Department: Road Agent Joe Newcomb is working on finalizing the prices on the new plow truck.

 

Fire Department: Selectman Haddock and Administrator Stearns attended the Fire Dept. Officer’s meeting on Sunday. Many issues were discussed and both feel that it was a positive meeting. Chief Seavey will contact the Long Island Fire Department to see if they would like to reclaim the old Mack engine. It is now housed in the Eastman Fire House and is basically inoperable.

 

Police Department: March report was distributed last week. It was noted that Chief Russell Lary is at National Guards for a couple days.

 

Town Administrator: Vacation schedule was distributed along with some pertinent dates for the Selectmen to be aware of.

 

CONTINUING ISSUES

 

Police Facility: Resident Phil Schaefer stated that he read the minutes of the last meeting and stated that it seems the current situation was partially caused by the police department proposing a facility for more money than the voters were willing to approve.

 

Selectman Haddock stated that the entire building needs to be replaced and would like to have something prepared for Town Meeting 2004.

 

Resident Alan Tanenbaum asked if thought had been given to establishing a committee of citizens for investigation of a building and would like to participate on such a committee.

 

Assessing Needs: Administrator Stearns spoke of the nonappearance of current assessor Norm Bernaiche and presented a proposal from the firm of Earls Nieder Perkins, LLC in Loudon NH. Their price is comparable with what the town has been paying and they are able to complete our pickups, subdivisions, abatement applications, etc. in a matter of a couple weeks. On a motion by Selectman Haddock, seconded by Selectman Hutchins, the Board voted unanimously to approve the hiring of Earls Nieder Perkins, LLC to do the assessing for the Town of Grantham.

OTHER

 

Town Ordinances: Administrator Stearns presented the Board with copies of the current Town Ordinances. Some of these ordinances have not been reviewed in a number of years. T. Stearns requested that the Board review the ordinances and discuss at a future meeting.

 

NON-PUBLIC

 

On a motion by Selectman Haddock, second by Selectman Hutchins, after proper vote 3-0, the Board entered into Non-Public session at 8:35 p.m.

 

Following proper vote, the Board returned from Non-Public session at 9:10 p.m. On a motion by Selectman Hutchins, seconded by Selectman Haddock it was unanimously approved to assist a resident with electric bill and food purchases; providing proper paperwork was received.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business, Selectman Haddock moved to adjourn, seconded by Selectman Hutchins; the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. There will be a regular Selectmen’s Meeting on Wednesday, April 23rd at 3:30 p.m. at the Town Office.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Tina M. Stearns, Town Administrator