Meeting convened at 6:30 PM
PRESENT: Marj Roy, Town Administrator; Vicky Mishcon, Select Board Chair; Dave Blinn and Chuck Keyser, Select Board Members; John Thompson, Road Agent; Jim Reed, Transfer Station Manager; and Police Chief Joseph Mahoney
Also present were: Elita Reed, Bill Keyser, Henry Prentice, Lenny Caron, Chris Caron, and Jason Dudek
TRANSFER STATION BUILDING BIDS
After sending out notices to all area contractors for bids, only two contractors inquired. Steve Barton had some questions and went to view the site. Doug Bent will submit a proposal. Last year, David Bates bid on the project. Roy will follow up with Barton, Bent, and Bates.
Jim Reed suggested the need for a large sliding window for the southside for the attendants to view and make sure that only the correct items go into the hopper.
ROAD AGENT REPORT
• July 10 Micro-burst storm – The damage on Morrill Hill, Horseshoe and Elbow Pond Roads entailed the first sections of these roads. Telephone poles and trees were down. The electric company assisted that night. The brush is cleaned up. The cut wood that is left on properties is the property of the homeowners.
• Last Street Bridge – Josif with Hoyle Tanner met with Thompson, Roy, and Mishcon at the site last week. Josif went over the issues with the bridge and offered some options.
• Lawrence Street Bridge – Steve Hodgdon with Hoyle Tanner met with Roy and the Board last week. The only option is to expand the traveling bridge by taking out one of the sidewalks. One side of the bridge will be done and then the other half. The bridge is already on the Department of Transportation (DOT) State Aid Program list and the Town will receive 80% reimbursement once the project is underway.
• Elbow Pond Bridge – Hoyle Tanner will be doing the permitting for this project. The possible start date is December. Roy brought the agreement for the Board’s signatures this evening to start the permitting process.
• Merrimack County Culvert Assessments – Stacy Luke looked at three more culverts recently. The Board needs to prioritize the list.
• Highway Department Assistance for JP Pest Control at the Transfer Station – Jim Reed spoke to JP Pest Services last Friday to discuss what needs to be done at this point on the rat irradiation. Reed explained to Thompson that specific stones, not gravel, a 3” erosion stone, 12”-18” depth down along with trenches need to be dug in the area behind the jersey barrier near the office. The goal is to make it so the rats cannot burrow through the metal mesh and stones. Thompson agreed to meet with Reed at the Transfer Station on Wednesday morning to view what needs to be done in order to do a plan and an estimate.
• Old College Road – Thompson indicated he sent out Request for Pricing to contractors within a twenty-mile radius including GMI Paving, R & D Paving, and Pike Industries.
The Board reviewed and discussed the Highway Budget with Thompson.
Question from Recreation Committee Chairperson – Roy received an email from Tom Franz requesting clarification on who is responsible for the Blackwater Park field maintenance, the Town or the Recreation Department. Thompson indicated that the Highway Department fertilized the field, replaced the water heads, and the timers were checked.
HENRY PRENTICE
Prentice went to the Transfer Station last week and was outraged when he found out that Reggie Roy was no longer the manager. Prentice, as he has done in the past, started to throw the empty five-gallon hydraulic oil buckets into the hopper. However, Reed requested that he put the empty sealed buckets with tops over in the area for recycling. This upset Prentice greatly and he had words with Reed. Prentice spoke to Keyser about it because he was upset. Keyser explained that for Prentice, like some other older town residents, it is difficult for them to take the buckets to the recycling and they should be able to continue to put the buckets into the hopper as they have done all along.
BUSWELL PROPERTY
As requested by the Board at the last meeting, Lenny Caron provided Roy with an email from his attorney stating his vested interest in this property. Roy will provide the information to the Town Attorney for his review.
TRANSFER STATION
• Balers – Jim Reed received two fairly similar priced quotes for balers. He contacted both companies, one in Allenstown and the other in Massachusetts. Reed plans to go to locations that use these balers to speak to people who actually use these balers before purchasing these.
Marilyn Weir at National Resource and Recovery Associates (NRRA) informed Reed that the Town of Colebrook has a nearly brand new baler that was only used for about seven or eight months and would like to sell it for $7, 000 because it is no longer needed.
• Shipping Containers – The Board agreed that the three shipping containers need to be ordered as soon as possible in order to take advantage of the lower pricing. Mishcon and Reed will be heading to the NRRA in the morning and will then order the shipping containers. NH the Beautiful offers rebates on these items.
• Reteach Sorting – Weir will give Reed all the information he will need about sorting when he and Mishcon meet her in the morning. Reed expects Weir will provide posters and pamphlets for his review also.
• Swap Shop – Roy provided example of a possible new shed to the Board for their review.
• Transfer Station budget – The Board reviewed the budget.
• Transfer Station Capital Reserve Expendable Fund – Mishcon confirmed that as of 12/31/2017 there was approximately $49, 251 in the Transfer Station’s Capital Reserve Expendable Fund. An additional $10, 000 was raised at Town Meeting 2018 totaling approximately $60, 000 in that fund. There is enough money there in the Transfer Station budget to move forward on this project.
The tentative start for sorting recycling will be sometime in September. Mishcon will write an article this week for the Beacon. Mishcon will also work on signage with examples of items.
Roy brought up an issue at the Transfer Station office about visitors staying there while the attendants are trying to work. After discussion, the Board agreed that the attendants need to have the folks move along asking them with an attitude of civility. It is a place of work and not a place to hang around.
Reed discussed with the Board the need for a gate in front of the compactor. Reed spoke to Dale Dukette from Andover Fencing and he quoted Reed $850.00. After discussion the Board agreed there only needs to be a four-foot high barrier in front of the compactor. Blinn offered to assist Reed with making the barrier tentatively on Friday.
CHRIS CARON
Caron is very upset because he believes someone in the Town office called the State on the last three logging cuts he performed in Andover during the last year. Caron spoke with Jason Aube from Department of Environmental Services (DES). According to Caron, Aube told him that the person identifies themselves as someone from the Town office. Roy believes the calls are not coming from the Town office but will contact Aube in the morning to speak with him about the situation. The Board agreed to investigate and assured Caron they have never had any issues with his paperwork filing the correct work papers. Once Roy speaks with Aube she will text Caron to let him know what transpired.
HIGHLAND LAKE DRAW-DOWN
The dam operator, Jason Dudek, has some concerns with drawing down the lake by three feet. Dudek keeps a close eye on it. Every year, typically in the very beginning of November, Dudek draws down the lake about 8” over a three or four-day time period. This gives the reptiles enough time to burrow into the sand before the winter weather arrives. The Highland Lake Protective Association’s (HLPA) concern seems to believe that the ice is damaging the lake shoreline. However, Dudek does not agree and believes it is more of the constant wakes from the motor boats causing most of the shoreline erosion.
Dudek is also concerned about dropping down the lake level by three feet because several years ago when the lake level was drawn down a significant amount, people had excavators out there and were ripping apart the shoreline. Dudek wants to keep the lake at a healthy level. He has done research and he agrees that drawing down the lake a large amount can assist with controlling weeds, but that is typically for invasive species such as milfoil. Highland Lake does not have that issue.
Dudek suggests continuing the program as he has been doing. Drawing more down, can do more harm than good for the lake.
The Board discussed and agreed to have a Public Meeting on Tuesday, August 7 at 6:30 PM to discuss the differing opinions and concerns so that the Board can make an informed decision as to what approach is appropriate. The meeting will be posted in several places including out front of the Town Hall on the board by the sidewalk. There will be an announcement put in the Beacon. And Roy will contact Earl Davis of the HLPA.
At one point, Roy spoke with DES because the reason some people wanted the lake drawn down was to repair the concrete pier footings on the docks. However, DES informed Roy, that those cement footings are not supposed to be there in the first place.
GENERAL BUDGET REVIEW
The Board reviewed the budget. An item Roy wanted the Board to be aware was that the Town Clerk did not put in a budget for the year and the election budget is almost used up at this point. Because the elections were not budgeted, that will affect the Town budget’s bottom line and the funds will need to be pulled from other departments.
Another item Roy noted was the Hazardous Waste line should be Hazardous Waste Day. The figure is not accurate because the bill had been paid twice. Andover pays Franklin to participate approximately $1795. That issue has been resolved but it doesn’t show in the numbers currently. Hazardous Waste Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 28 in Franklin.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
After discussion, Mishcon made the motion to accept and approve the Minutes of July 2 as amended. Blinn seconded the motion. All in favor. The July 2 minutes are approved.
CORRESPONDENCE AND SIGNATURES
• NH Electric Coop – additional pole on Boston Hill Road- required on signature. Mishcon signed for the Board
• Timber Tax Bill $1051 Wood Sutton – Brick House Road Map 16-215-459 All three Board members signed
• Timber Tax Bill $999.20 Julie Rector – 46 Main Street Map 19-108-067 All three Board members signed
• NH the Beautiful Grant Application Recycling Equipment 2 Vertical Balers All three Board members signed
• NH the Beautiful Grant Application Recycling Equipment 3 Shipping Containers All three Board members signed
• Andover Conservation Commission Appointments Signed by all three Board members
o Mary Anne Broshek
o Larry Chase
o Gerry Hersey
o Jesse Schust
o Tina Cotton
o Derek Mansell
o Nan Kaplan
Roy informed Broshek that each individual member appointed tonight will need to come in to be sworn in by the Town Clerk
OTHER BUSINESS
Charlie Darling is working with Virtual Town and Schools fine tuning some issues with the new website.
Darling will not be working on the Town Report this year so that will fall on the Board.
Mishcon confirmed with Jane Slayton, Principal, at the Andover Elementary Middle School that the school building is now available for both the September and November elections.
Keyser inquired about whether Moyer as the Zoning Administrator visited the Gee/Barton properties recently. Moyer indicated that she had with Chief Mahoney and there are several violations noted. Keyser requested a letter be sent to Barton to inform him of the ongoing monitoring and follow up on the issues Gee has created between the two properties. Keyser also requested a Fall follow up visit be made as to whether Gee is residing on his property.
Mishcon made the motion to go into Non-Public Session by Roll Call Vote:
Mishcon Yes Blinn Yes Keyser Yes
The Board entered into Non-Public Session at 8:50 PM
Closed Non-Public Session at 9:10 PM Re-opened Public Meeting at 9:10 PM
ADJOURNMENT
Mishcon made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Blinn seconded the motion. All in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM
Minutes prepared by Patricia Moyer, Select Board Secretary