Littleton Board of Selectmen-Meeting
Minutes-May 24, 2006
LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
LITTLETON OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
MAY 24, 2006
Present: Chairman George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Selectman Ed Farrell, Town Manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
Chairman George Hicks opened the Selectmen’s Meeting at 4:00 pm.
Ruth Taylor presented the Board of Selectmen with a merit award which had been handed out at the NH Main Street Award Banquet on Monday evening. The award entitled “Main Street Heroes” was presented to the Littleton Selectmen for their continued tremendous support as well as personal effort for Main Street Inc. Ruth thanked the Selectmen for their enthusiastic support for Main Street.
The Selectmen accepted the award with their appreciation to the committee.
Schuyler Sweet, representing the Littleton Chamber of Commerce, requested 2 parking spaces in front of the Information Booth be designated for tour buses during the busy tourist season. The buses would park in the designated space long enough to unload and load passengers no more than fifteen minutes at a time. Once the passengers were dropped off, the buses would go to a designated spot to wait. Stiles Fuel has offered to let the buses park on their lot which would also be easily assessable to the restaurants in the area. Ruth Taylor also strongly endorsed this request, stating it would encourage downtown foot traffic which would be good for business.
Selectman Farrell moved to designate two parking spaces in front of the Information Booth for tour Buses. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Jason advised the Selectmen they will have to vote today on whether they desire to hold a Special Town Meeting to address the issue of the town’s borrowing power for the Tri-Town Industrial Park project. The project ties in with the replacement of the Redington Street bridge. Bridge aid for this replacement would not become available until 2009. The Town would be seeking the authority to borrow the entire amount to replace the bridge and the money would be reimbursed to the Town in 2009. Jason added that Rita Potter from EDA and Carol Murray have advised that the Town stay on target as much as possible for this project and borrowing the money to replace the bridge would allow us to do this. A key factor in the entire Tri-Town project is that the Redington Street bridge is replaced. Obtaining borrowing authority would allow the Town to proceed with engineering site work with a target date of April 2007. A motion to petition Superior Court and providing the Court grants the petition, would allow the Town to hold the first session on June 27th and the second session on July 25th.
Ed Hennessy urged the Selectmen to hold the Special town Meeting as soon as legally possible.
Joel Bedor stated that if this is to be short term borrowing, it should be written into the Warrant Article so that the voters understand what they are voting for. He stated it would certainly make a difference in the way he votes. Jason stated this would be taken into consideration when the Warrant Article is written for the ballot.
Brien Ward agreed stating it is very important to educate the community.
Selectman Farrell moved to petition the Superior Court for an emergency special town meeting to address the issue of borrowing authority for the Tri-Town (Industrial Park Project. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Chairman Hicks closed the Selectmen’s Meeting and opened the Assessor’s Meeting to address abatement requests presented by Carol Cullen for their decision.
Selectman Farrell moved to go with the recommendations as made by MRI. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Chairman Hicks closed the Board of Assessors Meeting and re-opened the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting.
Joel Bedor read a letter prepared for this Meeting (see copy attached). He wants to know how the current situation with the Police Department will be handled. He would like to see the Selectmen outline a specific plan and has suggested a warrant article be placed on the ballot for Primary Day to raise and appropriate $200,000 to purchase manufactured structures to be used as a temporary police department. He has requested the Selectmen respond to this request no later than June 1st and that the Police Department vacate the Mt. Eustis Commons location prior to December 1st.
Dick Smith stated that this Committee has put the Selectmen in a bind with nowhere to go.
Mr. Bedor stated the Mt. Eustis Commons lease is not legal and was voted down at town Meeting.
Chairman Hicks stated the board will take this under advisement.
Ray Hopkins and several members of the Historical Society advised the board that their current situation at the Old Hospital is not working out and several people have been ill due to what they feel is poor air quality. The Society is looking for work space where they can conduct research and do their clerical work. They would like to move into the office suite on the second floor of the Community House which was at one time the CLL office. They feel there is adequate space to meet their needs and they would be located in the downtown area which is desirable to them. They are asking the Town for $200/mo. To help pay the rent on the office space. The Society could pay $100/mo toward it.
Jason stated that there is a problem with money now that the Town budget has been cut. He suggested the Society consider using some of the vacant space available here in the Town Office. They are not sure it would be large enough to meet their needs but they will check it out.
The Society would also like to know if it is still necessary to call the Fire Department every time they need to get into the Opera House for materials. Jason will check to see if there is some kind of waiver which can be used but he stated the issue at the moment is safety and liability.
Brien Ward read a letter prepared for this meeting (see copy attached). The letter consists of ten areas of what he describes as illegal conduct by Town Officials. He would like to see measure in place which will prevent this from happening again.
Jere Eames stated we are in a deplorable situation. He said the community is seething and voters are feeling that their votes have been ignored and disrespected. He stated the Selectmen have to stop looking the other way. Citizens have given many warnings and are not going to drop this and will not let it blow over. Someone will have to be held accountable. He stated Littleton is a forgiving community and if mistakes have been made it is time to admit it and go on. Steps need to be taken to make sure the Community does not find themselves in this kind of situation again.
Brien urged the Selectmen to comply with the law and respect the vote of the people. He asked that his letter be taken under advisement.
Eddy Moore told the Selectmen that many years have passed since the Town entered into agreement with other seven other local towns to form the Profile Cable Consortium. Since the consortium has been formed nothing more has been done. He noted so much time has passed, for instance, in the case of the Town of Bethlehem, there are no remaining Selectmen on the Board who signed the original agreement. He is not sure how much the other Towns know about the agreement. He offered his services to the Consortium if the Selectmen wish to appoint him to the committee. He stated there are a lot of things the Town could be doing such as an increase in the franchise fee for the town and he has always taken an interest in the Cable situation . Also, with the Time Warner takeover imminent, there are many people leaving Adelphia.
Selectman Farrell moved to appoint Eddy Moore to the Profile Cable Consortium and to have him contact the other Towns involved as Littleton’s representative. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Dick Smith told the Selectmen he has noticed telephone poles with signs on them for an extensive period of time, long after the event being advertised has gone by. Jason stated it is not within the jurisdiction of the zoning officer.
Selectman Farrell moved to appoint Robert Record as Library Trustee on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
The following people will serve on the Main Street Reconstruction Committee:
Art Tighe will represent the Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Considine will be asked if he would like to serve on the Committee as the designated Citizen as specified in the warrant article.
Perry Goodell will serve as President of the Littleton Water & Light Department.
George Chartier will be asked to serve as the Selectmen’s designee.
Selectman Farrell approved the minutes of May 10th as amended. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.
Selectman Farrell gave an update on the Opera House/Police Facility Committee. He stated that at the next meeting the Committee will present four options for the Selectmen’s consideration. He invited the Select Board to attend this meeting. Jason stated the meeting will be noticed as a work session so all of the Selectmen can attend. The Committee is currently gather information from Arts and Program directors to see how this works and how it could be implemented in Littleton.
The Chairman closed the Selectmen’s Meeting at 6:20 pm. Selectman Ingerson moved to go into non-public session to discuss a personnel issue. The motion was seconded by Selectman Farrell. Each member was polled agreeing to go into non-public session.
The Board returned from non-public session at (6:45?) Selectman Ingerson moved to return from non-public session and the motion was seconded by Selectman Farrell. Each Selectman was polled agreeing to return from non-public session.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent, Executive Session
_________________________ _________________________
Chairman George O. Hicks Vice Chairman Burton E. Ingerson
_________________________
Selectman Edward Farrell