PRESENT: Marj Roy, Town Administrator; Jim Delaney, Dave Blinn, and Chief Glenn Laramie
ROAD AGENT REPORT:
Gravel Roads – The highway crew has been working on ditching the gravel roads in town. Chase Hill Road and Brick House Road are completed. There was a grader issue halfway through Putney Road. Thompson attempted to locate and fix the problem but the issue is beyond his knowledge. Thompson contacted Caterpillar to assist. A representative will be out to look at the grader next Monday. Thus, the grading and ditching are on hold temporarily until the grader is working again.
Old College Road – The work on this road will be started tomorrow, Tuesday. The highway crew will be ditching and patching the area where the water runs down the hill. Thompson spoke with some of the residents there. They understand that the road is being repaired and that reconstruction will not probably happen this year. When it is time to reconstruct, Old College Road residents will be able to offer their opinions before the work takes place.
Highway Block Grant Fund – The State released an additional sum of $86, 000.00 to the Town recently to be used for highways and bridges. The Board discussed how to make good use of those funds. One of the ideas is to possibly put asphalt onto Currier Road. The Board agreed this road is a good candidate for asphalt because of the amount of constant speeding traffic on the road, thus this road deteriorates at a quicker than normal pace.
In 2006 there was a foot of gravel put onto Currier Road. The standard is 1” of gravel per year. Gravel roads last approximately 10 years whereas asphalt roads last approximately 20 years. Currier Road is currently being graded one to two times per week. Basically, the gravel has all worn down to the dirt. Every time the grader goes out to grade a road, it first grades Currier Road. Even with all this work, the road is still quite dusty.
The money is available to spend this year. The money will be put into the General Fund and earmarked in a special fund. A public hearing is scheduled for August 21, 2017 at 6:15 PM to explain how the funds can be spent.
Thompson will put together some figures for comparison of the cost of maintaining Currier Road as a gravel road or putting down asphalt.
Roy let Thompson know that Huckleberry Fuels is scheduled to be at Town Hall on August 30 to bury the two propane tanks in the rear of the building so that Thompson has prepared a location for the underground tanks.
White Oak Pit – Chris Turgeon from the Right of Way Bureau at DOT will meet the Board, Roy, and the Town Attorney on August 17 at 10:00. at Town Hall prior to the site visit.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – Doug Phelps may be stepping down from the committee. The Board discussed having this committee on an every other year basis like other towns. Phelps would remain in an advisory role.
Gale Street Bridge – Thompson will get back to the Board when he schedules this project. Thompson estimates it will be done sometime in August.
DOT will be working on two bridges in Andover and one in Danbury. The Andover bridges are parcel ID 21-669-586 on Main Street and parcel ID 12-007-358 at 41 Salisbury Highway. DOT would like to invite the Danbury Road Agent to our Board of Selectmen’s meeting on August 21, 2017 so that the information can be explained once.
HIGHLAND LAKE
Roger Kidder representing the Highland Lake Association discussed a proposal to protect the lake. Kidder informed the Board that the association met recently and would like to propose having a yearly winter draw down of two feet on November 1. Kidder explained that the ice in the wintertime is damaging not only the shoreline but the retaining walls and concrete pads. Having it done yearly, gives the ice ample space to expand and will prevent damage from occurring on the shoreline, retaining wall, and concrete pads,
The Board discussed that the lake has not had the draw down since the dam was repaired years ago. The State along with the Town will determine when this happens.
Additionally, the Board discussed repairing the dry hydrant at the lake at the same time.
Roy will contact the Dam Bureau to see when this can be done. An article will be written for The Beacon for the next edition in September.
Other business: Kidder requested a sign be put on West Shore Drive that says No Outlet and a speed sign. The Board agreed. They are doing a sign inventory at this time and will add those signs to their list.
WORK SESSION SCHEDULE: The Board discussed having a work session on Thursday, August 10 at
9:30 AM Roy will check with Mischon to see if she is available.
Emerald Bore Ash – UNH notified Andover that this is now within three miles of Andover’s town line. A Municipal Management Plan was included. The Board suggested the information be given to the Andover Conservation Commission. Roy will pass the information on to Jesse Schust.
CORRESPONDENCE AND SIGNATURES
Town Clerk/Tax Collector submitted a tax payment plan resident for the Board to sign
The Board signed a tax abatement for 10 Mill Road
The Board signed a thank you letter to the Andover Energy Group
The Board reviewed the Grant Application for the Upgraded Emergency Plan drafted by Jane Hubbard.