Regular Meeting (07-27-2020)
Selectmen Present: Suzan Rudnicki, Douglas Small, Isaac Raymond and Daniel Frye
Absent: Jared Fitts
Town Manager/CEO: Kevin Howell
Rec Secretary (Remote): Coreen Sylvester
7:30 PM: Suzan Rudnicki called the meeting to order.
MINUTES: Suzan Rudnicki made a motion to accept the minutes of July 13, 2020 as written Isaac Raymond seconded. Three voted in favor.
TOWN MGR/TAX COLLECTOR/CODE ENF OFFICER/RD COMM. REPORT:
- There was discussion of the tax mil rate increase. The Town Manager stated that he had looked at a few recent property sales in town, and they all sold for a considerable amount higher than we have them assessed for. Because we are assessed at about 90% of market, there was discussion about possibly having another revaluation. Kevin said he will have a discussion with our assessor about revaluation options.
- Kevin gave an update on the Stephen Dunham and Patricia St. Louis junkyard court case. The judge came out and looked at the property in the morning before the court session, then issued an order for every piece of trash to be cleaned up within thirty days, ordered them to pay $22,000.00 in court fines and approximately $7,500.00 in legal fees. The town can put a lien on the property for those court and legal fines. Mr. Dunham agreed to everything the judge ordered. If the property is not cleaned up in thirty days, the town can go in and clean it up and issue a supplemental tax bill for the cleanup costs.
- Isaac Raymond made a motion to put a lien on the property for $30,000.00. Douglas Small seconded. Three voted in favor. Suzan Rudnicki abstained.
NEW BUSINESS:
Northern Light EMS Contract: Suzan Rudnicki made a motion to sign the Northern Light EMS Contract for mutual aid. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
Safety Lane/Route 2 Intersection: Kevin told Selectmen we have received the culvert from D.O.T. and Bobby Noyes can do the work of replacing the culvert and widening the entrance of Safety Lane on the Route 2 side tomorrow morning.
Brush Pile at Sand Shed: Kevin let the Board know the brush pile is gone from the sand shed lot; Gary Pomeroy chipped it and cleaned it up.
Voting Place: There was discussion of whether to change our voting place to the fire station before the November election, as it would be a much more practical location in many ways.
Speed Limit Change Request: Spratt Road, South View Road, Hayward Road: Kevin Howell explained that if rural roads are not posted, the speed limit is automatically 45mph. Towns do not set speed limits; they have to go through a process and make a formal request to the State to do a speed study and recommend speed limits. Kevin said he has had requests for reduced speed limits on Spratt Road, South View Drive and Hayward Road. After discussion, Isaac Raymond made a motion to authorize Kevin Howell to make a formal request to the State to do speed studies on those roads. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of July 20, 2020 in the amount of $7,063.85. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of July 27, 2020 in the amount of $5,919.83. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the accounts payable warrant of July 27, 2020 in the amount of $239,951.73. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
ADJOURNMENT: Sue Rudnicki made a motion to adjourn. Isaac Raymond seconded. Four voted in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.