August 17
Condensed from approved minutes
Present: Selectwoman Mishcon and Selectman Delaney; Road Agent John Thompson, Jim Goody, Joanne Hicks, and Town Administrator (TA) Marj Roy.
Road Agent
John Thompson stated Switch Road work begins on August 18. Jim Shaw will start roadside mowing at the end of this week.
The highway workers again cleaned out Emery Road culvert this week. It was filled with sticks from a beaver. John would like to get Skip Lisle (Beaver Deceiver) to see what can be done on the east side of Hale Shaw.
John said the expense to replace Emery Road culvert was $16,119.08.
Marj Roy read letter from Peter Zak about previous flood repair. John Thompson said he has met with Mr. Zak a few times.
The engineer designed the first stage of the repair, and the Town took care of the plan up to Mr. Lafiosa’s property years ago.
Last year, the stone basin caved in, and then we extended pipe out to the brook and tied into the original system. The invert is two inches lower than the original invert. John moved the pipe on the other side of a big tree per request of owner.
John did go to check out the property in their backyard, and the water is about six inches deep and not even as big as the meeting room table. John Thompson said he is not even sure what Mr. Zak’s complaint is at this point.
John did say he will over seed the lawn if that is what he is wanting. John would like to find out what Mr. Zak’s complaint is about and address it at that time.
Bill Keyser mentioned that he thinks the excess water is due to the logging that has been going on above the property.
Joanne Hicks addressed her concern about water run-off from Tilton Brook Road onto her property. John Thompson explained that her land is low, so it is the natural run of the water from Tilton Brook Road.
The water run-off can be fixed, but she will need to talk with Marj Roy about an easement. This will give the Town permission to manage the run off in a controlled manner, and it will stay with the land.
School Security Grant
Jane Slayton and Jane Hubbard spoke about a grant from Homeland Security. They want to see if the Town will submit two grants on the school’s behalf. One is for a fob key system and the second one is for a repeater system to go into the police cruisers.
The fob system grant deadline is September 3 and would be for $9,000. The mobile repeater would be $7,400 for the police vehicles. The two grants are 100% reimbursable, which means the Town pays the expense, then the grant will reimburse and takes about 45 days to process.
Selectwoman Mishcon moved that Selectman Delaney sign Homeland Security Grant on behalf of Chairman Coolidge, seconded by Selectman Delaney, all voted in favor.
Other Business
Town office vault: Selectwoman Mishcon motioned to authorize Marj Roy to check with our insurance company and to get an estimate from companies to see what it will cost to repair. Selectman Delaney seconded the motion, all voted in favor.
Town Administrator
Marj Roy said the state tested the Town Beach water, and water quality for swimming is okay.
Conservation Commission sent in a letter request to expend $5,000 out of the Conservation Fund for stewardship fees for land donated on Currier Road.
The Department of Revenue has sent a letter to New Hampshire towns to let them know that block grants and rooms-and-meals revenue will still be issued, and the tax rate setting will proceed as usual, even though the state budget has not been adopted.