September 10 Select Board Minutes

Sorry I'm a little slow in posting these official minutes. I've been traveling and in and out of connections. You'll find the full minutes here.  --Jay

Highlights:

The Board approved a new mileage policy recommended by an ad hoc committee. The Board also agreed to retroactively reimburse Road Agent Scott Sanborn. (We'll post the policy in a bit.)

Scott Sanborn reports that Dave Stacey has completed masonry work on the Tuttle Hill bridge. He says that FEMA has received the permit for work on storm-damaged Burnt Hill. He has requested to take down a number of damaged or dead trees on that road, and has marked them for anyone who wants to see. The Planning Board must approve the request. 

The Board discussed the lack of an animal control officer. Bev Ells will contact Mary Ann Guaraldi in Grafton, who cares for stray animals. Pat White criticized the town's annual contract with the Upper Valley Humane Society, which charges for strays if a resident surrending an animal can't or won't pay. The Board will renew the next contract renewal and entertain public comment.

The Orange Conservation Commission is hosting a cleanup of the lower Cardigan State Park parking area. For the second time in a year, someone has dumped a load of trash. The cleanup is slated for October 6.

Have coments? Put them in the section below or use the discussion board.

Notes from Last Night's Select Board

Dorothy Heinrichs gave us these notes. They're not the official Board-approved minutes, or minutes of any kind--just notes. Feel free to comment if you have anything to add.

Select Board met early to have Road Agent Scott Sanborn lead a tour of ongoing FEMA work. The group visited sites on Burnt Hill and Tuttle Hill. It is important to note that ultimately it is FEMA that will determine when work is completed as required. The big washout on Burnt Hill requires a special state permit; the Orange Conservation Commission is reviewing the permit application.

Back at the Town House for the regular meeting, the Board got a report from the Hardy Hill Snowmobile Club on the work they agreed to go on the New Colony Rd extension up past the beaver pond. The storm damage from Irene was extensive, and the club expects to take several years to complete the work. Nonetheless, they hope to have the trail passable by the time the snow flies.

The Board decided it needed time to review Town Attorney Bernie Waugh's email on the proposed contract with Casella for trash collection and will discuss the contract at a future meeting.
The Conservation Commission will hold a clean-up day at the mica mine on Saturday, October 6. Bring work gloves and meet at the Town House at 10 a.m. 

The Commission hopes to host renowned black bear expert Ben Killian speak on living with bears as our neighbors. Tentatively scheduled for mid-November.

Three Women

Sandi Pierson sent us this photo of Orange's all-women Select Board, the only one in the town's history. Now that Bob Ells has joined the Board (replacing Linda Giner), it's two to one. (Click on the thumbnail for the full size image.)

We welcome pictures, which go on this post as well as the photo albums.

FEMA Meeting

The Select Board will meet at 6 PM with the road agent on Tuesday, August 14, to do an on-site review of FEMA work locations. They expect to be back at the Town House at 7 PM to commence the regular Board meeting.

Notes from the July 24 Select Board Meeting

Dorothy Heinrichs wrote these up for us.  There's been some confusion over what constitutes minutes and what doesn't. This site posts the official minutes after the Board Secretary writes them up and the members vote to approve them. Any reporting done here, or by Pat White in the emails she sends out, doesn't constitute the official minutes. 

Feel free to comment below or on the discussion board.

It was a fairly brief meeting.  Dorothy Heinrichs chaired. Bob Ells commented that all board meetings used to open with the winding of the clock. Dorothy promised to bring a AA battery to the next meeting since the clock in the meeting room has stopped.

The board received Catherine Ells’ auditor’s report (2011MS-60).  Each board member will review prior to the next meeting when the board will vote whether to accept the report.

The Board received and approved a building permit from Gloria and Brent Stevens; they reviewed an invoice from Cross Country which was inaccurate. The Board decided to request a new invoice rather than pay a portion of the incorrect one. 

The NHDOT sent an updated estimate of Block Grant Aid payments to Orange for highway work. The amount is several hundred dollars more than the amount in the budget approved at Town Meeting.

Pat White hopes to have information from the State soon on the implementation of the new voter ID rules.  Apparently, the state plans to offer vouchers so that those without an official state issued photo ID can get a free ID. With the September primary coming up soon, we hope to have information no later than the next Board meeting on August 14.

At the previous meeting, Anita Watson had asked about junk in people’s yards and what the town could do about it. Bob Ells will review the booklet "Junk and Junkyard Regulations" before passing that on to the Planning Board for discussion.

Also at the earlier meeting a question was raised about liability issues for those who wish to use the Town House for other than official town business. There is an option through the Local Government Center for people to purchase one-day liability insurance. The cost ranges from $90 to $400. Given that requiring insurance for people to use the building would be a change from past practice, Dorothy asked for volunteers to explore the issue. Judith Lindhal agreed to chair the ad hoc committee; Pat White and Pat Mercer also agreed to serve. Among the issues to resolve will be what constitutes an "official" town function. They will also find out whether someone other than a town employee can drive the town truck.

Finally, vouchers were signed. Dorothy said that in the future all hours due to the Welfare Agent will be paid separate from any other reimbursements. In addition, the Board will reimburse Pat Mercer only for those expenses for which she submits receipts. The amount the Board approved at the meeting was for expenses claimed by Pat Mercer in March. Though the Selectboard has requested proof of purchase since March, the receipts have never been provided.

Finally, Dorothy reported on a conversation she had with attorney Paul Sanderson of the Local Government Center regarding the voided voucher for Pat Mercer. It was his opinion that the Selectboard acted entirely properly and within the law. 

When the voucher which had been voted on and signed by the Board to reimburse the Welfare Agent for food, fuel and gas was discovered to be for the wrong amount, the Board Secretary voided the voucher. That was, according to the Local Government Center, the proper procedure. Paul Sanderson said it was also correct for the Town Treasurer to refuse to issue a check for a voided voucher. Sanderson said it was in line with 91-A (the Right to Know Law) for the Board to wait until an open public meeting to approve a voucher for the correct amount.