LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MEETING MINUTES

LITTLETON OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM

JANUARY 25, 2006

Present: Chairman Bill Hight, Vice Chairman George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Town Manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent

APPOINTMENTS

Tom Considine superintendent of Littleton Water and Light was in to give an annual briefing to the Selectmen regarding the Water & Light budget. He handed out copies of his presentation (see copy attached). Tom stated water usage is down 4.5% to 5% due to the amount of rainfall during last year. The cost to produce electricity has increased 71% which has been directly affected by the cost of fossil fuel. Mr. Considine state it will be necessary for Water & Light to increase the rates by 15% in April. It may be necessary to increase the rates again in October by 7.5%. Public Service of New Hampshire is increasing their rates substantially in March.

Chairman Hight asked Mr. Considine if wind power had been studied further. He added that a location on Slate Ledge Road had been identified as a favorable location for wind power. Mr. Considine stated he would be glad to look into it further and that The Selectmen should refer any interested parties his way.

The Selectmen thanked Mr. Considine and his crew for all of the assistance they have offered the Town over the last year. It was noted that Water and Light has spent many hours for community service such as getting the Christmas lights up.

Officers Steve Kenney, Paul Smith, Michelle Soares and Chief Cam Brown were in to clear up an inaccurate perception of an event that happened over a year ago. Officer Keeney explained he had received information that Seniors were going to be holding a cookout at Knockey’s Landing and it was believed that alcohol was going to be present at this cookout. Officer Kenney relayed this information to the Police Department and on the designated day, duty officers followed up on this information.

Officer Smith stated the reception from the kids was good. There were no problems and no alcohol was found at the location. Officer Smith did a voluntary inspection of one vehicle and nothing was found. There was one individual who was present and not a member of the graduating class who was negatively vocal about the Officers showing up at the party. The rest of the students were well behaved and the Officers left with no incident.

The letters to the editors of the papers portrayed the event inaccurately and made accusations against the Police Department. Chief Brown stated the Police Officers were just doing their jobs and were not out to harass the kids.

Jason Hoch thanked Chief Brown and his Officers for coming in to clarify the situation and stated that it was unfortunate that now over a year ago, the Police Department is still being negatively portrayed for doing their jobs.

Bernard Chase asked Chief Brown if the speed monitor could be set up on the corner of Cottage Street and Route #302. Speeding has become a problem in this location. Chief Brown stated he would be glad to set up the monitor, space permitting.

CITIZENS CONCERNS

Dick Merrow asked the Selectmen if something could be done about the parking situation at the Community House. He stated that the Community House has started roping off the parking area from use other than functions taking place at the Community House and Annex. He stated that the All Saints Episcopal Church had received permission to use the parking area when the Community House was not using it. At a recent Zoning Board meeting held at the All Saints Parish Hall, it was necessary to park on School Street and with the snow banks it created a hazardous situation. He added that as the Town gives the Community House $35,000 a year toward its upkeep, the public should be allowed to use the parking area.

Selectman Ingerson stated the Community House is on private property and the Community House Committee controls it. If space at the Community House is rented a fee is charged and the renter has use of the parking area.

Selectmen Hicks stated he is on the Community House Committee and as the property is private they have the right to fence off the parking area. The Church has a right-of-way only to get to the back of the church.

Eddy Moore stated when the Episcopal Church came before the Zoning Board for building their parish hall they had reached an agreement with the Community House that they would be able to use the parking area for functions when the Community House was not using it.

Jason added that with the loss of the Opera House for a meeting location the situation has been aggravated as the Town now uses the Annex for some of their meetings. This has added to the parking problem.

Bernard Chase stated there is a house at the corner of Badger Street and Kelley Lane which is dumping water into the street and causing ice problems. Jason will look into the problem.

Eddy Moore stated he feels a better effort should be made to get the sewer bills out in a more timely manner. He state Water & Light has spent $22,000 on a program to be used in getting the data to the Town so the sewer can be billed.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

The Town has been tying up loose ends on the budget and closing out fiscal year 2005.

The Warrant is being edited and in the process of being reviewed by DRA and town counsel.

The Redington Street Bridge has re-opened.

Jason met with a group from Partridge Lake to discuss phosphorous level in Partridge Lake. Jason will continue to work with the group. They are actively seeking funding for grants to study the Lake further.

The Town has received another award for the Covered Bridge.

The Police Department held their open house at Mt. Eustis Commons last weekend and received over 250 guests.

The Selectmen discussed the petition warrant article regarding renovation of the Town Building. The Selectmen did not feel the 2.9 million dollars is enough money to correct the major structural problems at the Town Building. The Selectmen agreed the Police Department does not belong at the Town Building. The square footage of usable space in the plan as presented is not accurate. The Selectmen feel that the Police Department is in a good place and could work for them for a long time. The condo unit occupied by the Police Department could be purchased by the Town if it ever came up for sale.

Selectman Hight stated the Selectmen have always had the Town’s best interest at heart in any decision they have made. He stated some of the articles and statements in the newspapers have been outrageous.

Dick Merrow stated he wanted to apologize to the Selectmen for some of the accusations that have been made by certain people. He added everyone should keep in mind that not too long ago the school lost money and the Town covered the loss for them.

Bernard Chase stated he feels that communication with and among Department Heads needs to improve. Regarding the Town Building he added he would like to see the floor plans in square footage so that he can come up with some possible solutions. He added he has experience in building trades and feels he can offer some ideas.

Regarding the petition warrant article in the amount of $1500 to audit the drug forfeiture funds, Jason noted the funds are already audited by the Department of Justice as well as Plodzik and Sanderson. It would be redundant to have a third audit done on these funds. Furthermore, if there were problems with the audit the Town would have to pay back the money and would become ineligible for further funds. This is not something the Town is going to mess up.

The petition warrant article regarding an audit of the TCSP funding for the main Street Reconstruction funds will not be accurate because the time line they want to use will not work to accurately audit the funding.

Regarding the oversight committee to look at the Moore Dan Assessment, there have been two recent assessments done on Moore Dam with both of them coming in the same ball park.

The petition warrant article regarding public notice of inspections is ridiculous as the Town is not in a position to tell a state inspector that he has to wait to do an inspection until they can publicly notice the inspection.

The petition article regarding lease agreements will make it very difficult for the Town to take emergency actions if and when a piece of crucial equipment goes. Emergencies cannot always wait until Town Meeting.

Police Chief Cam Brown thanked the Selectboard for their support. He also updated the Selectmen on a letter from a Vermont resident which appeared in the local paper in regard to handicapped parking spaces being illegally used at the T.J Maxx shopping area. Chief Brown stated that his Department has spoken with the manager of T.J Maxx and has alerted them that their handicapped spaces are not properly marked. He added the State has a maximum fine of $300 for anyone illegally using a handicapped space. He would like to check into this further and come back to the Selectmen with a recommendation to raise the town fine which is currently $75.00.

Selectman Hicks moved to approve the minutes of January 11, 2006 as amended. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Sargent

Executive Assistant.

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Chairman William R. Hight

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Vice Chairman George O. Hicks

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Selectman Burton E. Ingerson