Condensed from approved minutes

Present: Selectmen Mishcon, Danforth, Town Administrator (TA) Roy, and Road Agent Jon Champagne. Members of the public in attendance were Representative Mario Ratzki, Arch Weathers, and John Thompson.

Road Agent’s Report

Five thousand gallons of liquid calcium were applied to some dirt roads this summer, and this has been very effective in dust reduction. There is one pallet of calcium chloride flakes still in inventory.

Street signs at O’Neil Drive and Brick House Road have been replaced. All road signs have been replaced as of this report. Jon asked citizens to report to the Police, Town Administrator, or Road Agent any criminal mischief they observe. Street signs are very expensive to replace; in fact, since January 1 we have spent $2,672 for sign replacement.

Selectmen Coolidge joined the meeting with apologies for being late.

Arch Weathers is planning to rent a scissor lift to trim trees on his property and in the town’s right-of-way. He came to the meeting to request the Town pay for part of the delivery fee. Mishcon stated that since there are several factors that need to be investigated, the Board will look into his request. Jon offered to provide safety cones for the road while Arch is doing the tree work.

Mario Ratzki expressed his concern about the condition of his stone wall on Tucker Mountain Road and also the drainage there. Mario stated that the stone wall that was lower than the road is gone, and the trees on the side of the road are girdled with dirt. The stone wall near Emile Shaw’s has been covered with road material. He is concerned that the water will rush and collapse the road if the trees die and the stone wall is covered.

Jon Champagne explained that girdling is actually removing the bark at the base of a tree, ultimately killing the tree.

John Thompson explained that when the Schwartz subdivision was put in, the road from Maple Street to the Ganley home was widened to 24 feet.

Mario stated that the angle of the road was recently changed.

Coolidge asked Mario what he wants to have happen. Mario replied that he would like to have his stone wall back, but he doesn’t think that is possible, and he is concerned that the remaining stone wall will be damaged.

Danforth suggested that delineator posts might be helpful. Thompson stated that delineator posts have more meaning than that.

Champagne stated, “If ditching could be done more frequently, it would not seem so drastic when it is done.” He will put green reflectors on delineator posts to mark the area. He also stated, “The work that has been performed on Tucker Mountain Road has been very well done. The work was done to protect the integrity of the road.”

Mario replied that he wants to preserve the old stonewalls that are there, and he will repair the stone wall near his woodlot.

The Road Agent’s report continued. The piles of sand in the pit off Monticello Drive have been combined. There are approximately 2,500 yards of sand. With this quantity still in inventory, it will be necessary to extend our right of way agreement with Mark Thompson Excavating.

Jon asked for authorization to spend $3,000 for cold patch. The Board authorized the purchase.

Andover Fence Company has repaired and replaced the fencing on the Lawrence Street Bridge.

The turn-around at the top of Hoyt Road has been staked out, will be 60’ by 30’, and will cost $7,800. The turn-around will resolve liability issues since the grader, fire trucks, plows, and the ambulance will have area sufficient to turn around.

Projects slated for next year:

• Add a culvert near the top of Valley Road

• Pave Sam Hill Road

• Repair the Hall Road bridge

• Repair the Elbow Pond Road bridge

• Remove the superstructure at Gale Bridge.

Roy reported that Armand Boisvert had reported to her that Sam Hill Road is so broken up that cars are bottoming out when traveling there. Jon will call Armand and ask where patching should be best applied.

Town Administrator’s Report

Roy presented the Town Administrator’s Report.

DRA Equalization Software

The Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) is urging assessing clerks in towns across the state to train and learn the State’s new Mosaic program used in the equalization process. Roy quoted from a letter received from the President of Assessing Operations at Avitar addressing this issue: “The DRA monitors have been out in full force urging assessing clerks to train and learn the State’s new Mosaic program. I have several problems with this. Under the rules established by the Assessing Standards Board, only an Assessor or Assessor Supervisor is qualified to verify sales. Pushing the assessing clerks to verify sales in the Mosaic program would appear a direct violation of the law. As all of the sales and ownership information is already entered by the assessing clerks and verified by the Assessor, the information already completed is double entry and an inefficient use of Town time and money.”

Roy reported that Avitar will submit all of the sales information as required by law but will not be entering any data into the State’s Mosaic program. There is no statutory provision that would force the Town to do this work. It seems that the DRA is using this program to perform its equalization duties and are attempting to use assessing clerks as State data entry staff. This is another example of the burden being shifted from the State to the Town.

The Board agreed that this would be an inefficient use of Town time and money.

Belletetes Sign Application

Roy presented photos of proposed changes in signage from RP Johnson and Son to Belletetes Inc. Since the signs are replacements with the new name and the sign on the gable end of the Home Center is oval on top and therefore smaller, the Board had no objection to the proposal.

ZBA Appointments

The Board appointed Charles McCrave as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) and Katherine Stearns as a member of the ZBA.

Signatures

The Board updated the signature page of the Personnel Policy.

The Board signed the Acceptance of Audit Requirements that authorizes the reimbursement from FEMA to the Town for expenses incurred during the Nemo storm of March 18, 2013.