Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of May 27, 2014

 

Present: Betty Fulton, Chair; Bob Ells, Patricia Mercer, and Sandi Pierson (clerical). Others present: Sharon Proulx, George and Pat White, Bev Ells, Nathaniel Emerson, Henry

Minasian, and Dave Como.

Meeting opened at 7 PM. Attendance taken by the secretary.

Approval of minutes:

The minutes of May 13, 2014 were unanimously accepted as amended. The minutes of May 22, 2014 were unanimously accepted as submitted.

Trustees of the Trust Funds: Nathaniel Emerson took the oath of office for the vacancy on the Trustees of the Trust Funds. His appointment was voted on unanimously in favor at the May 13, 2014 meeting. The Board thanked Nathaniel for taking the position.

Hazardous Waste: Pat Mercer stated that she has been in communication with Canaan Town Manager Mike Sampson about Orange possibly participating in a hazardous waste collection in conjunction with Canaan. She stated that presently the discussion is informational and there was no money was appropriated by the town for a 2014 hazardous waste collection. Disposal fees would be the responsibility of the resident. The initial figures given by Mike were for Orange residents to pay $25 for each visit with a cap at $250. Pat stated she felt she could work with Mike to decrease those figures. Pat White will use her listserv to get input from the community to see if there is an interest in a hazardous waste collection.

Fairpoint abatement: The Board reviewed and discussed Attorney Shawn Tanguay’s response to Fairpoint’s 2013 property tax abatement and Avitar’s response to the abatement. (Shawn Tanguay is an attorney from Bernie Waugh’s office.) Shawn agreed with Avitar that the town should abate the 2013 $197,000 Public Right of Way (PRW) valuation. His recommendation was to not tax the PRW in the future until it is sanctioned by the courts. The Board concurred that they will not tax the PRW in 2014 unless it is advised by the attorney and Avitar to do so. The Board will revisit the PRW taxation when it is time to send out the tax bills.

Sharon Proulx noted that the town clerk’s books in the document cabinet contained utility pole licenses. George White questioned whether Fairpoint should be allowed to control vegetation without an updated pole license. Sharon stated that it NHEC that did the vegetation control, not Fairpoint.

The Board signed the Fairpoint abatement and voucher as voted on at the May 13 meeting.

Sewer disposal: The Board was in receipt of a contract with Plymouth Water and Sewer District offering the cost of $100 per year for five years instead (payable annually) instead of $150.00 which they wrote they had been charging since 2004. (NH Statute mandates that each municipality shall either provide, or assure access to, a department of environmental services approved septage facility for its residents.) Pat moved for the Board to sign the agreement. Discussion: Betty stated that according to the town’s financial records, the annual fee in the past has actually been $100.00 per year, not $150.00. Pat withdrew her motion and the Board tabled signing the contract and processing the payment until Betty can get a clarification.

Driveway permit: The Board reviewed and signed a driveway permit from Aaron Allen/New Colony Road/Map 3, Lot 36-A. It was noted that the road agent had already reviewed and signed the permit.

Sandi stated that Aaron’s deed has the Cardigan State Forest (CSF) abutting his property but that the recent CSF survey identifies their newly blazed, boundary line a distance down the road from Aaron. This possibly leaves an uncertainty of ownership of the stretch of land in question. Scott Sanborn’s tax map also shows CSF abutting the Allen property. Sandi stated she has brought the inconsistency to Scott who said he will research the deeds. Sandi said that if the property proves not to be CSF, at some point it might be considered property of the town.

Junkyard Ordinance: After discussion, Pat Mercer motioned to have Bob Ells and Health Officer Don Pfaefflin drive around the town to evaluate if there are violations to the revised junkyard ordinance that was voted on in March. Betty seconded. Motioned passed unanimously in favor. Sandi gave Bob a folder of related junkyard material compiled by former Board member Dorothy Heinrichs.

Notes of appreciation:

  • The Board signed a card of thanks to the third grade students in Mrs. Landry’s class at Canaan Elementary for the Veterans Day wreath they made for the Town House.
  • The Board signed a card of thanks to Nate Harpootlian for accepting the Veterans Day wreath and placing it at the Town House flagpole.
  • The Board expressed appreciation to Bob and Sharon Proulx for their recent work on the Town House grounds.
  • The Board expressed appreciation to Marvin Rock for coming up with his tractor to assist in removing the excess gravel from the flagpole area left from winter plowing.

Other:
  • The Board was in receipt of the Grafton County Commissioner’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2015 Budget.
  • The Board was in receipt of the 2014 LGC Knowing the Territory publication.
  • Pat Mercer will speak to a Canaan resident who is disposing of his trash in Orange. Betty noted that she and Pat Mercer worked with treasurer on Quick Books and that the treasurer’s duties are being carried out.
  • Addressing a concern from Dave Como, Bob Ells will follow up on tires discarded on New Colony Road.
  • Bob Ells will follow up with Scott regarding the drainage work at the Town House and repairing the two cracks in the foundation.
  • Betty expressed concern about long-term effect of the sun shining through the windows onto Gary Hamel’s historical panels. Sharon stated that Gary said it was not a problem. Betty suggested seeing if the town’s attorney can attend the June 24th informational meeting with Councilor Joe Kenney and the DRA in regards to the tax impact to Orange because of the Mascoma High School renovation.

Secretary’s report:

  • 2014 pick-ups were completed by Avitar on May 13. This year’s pick-ups, including a number from the 2010 UC list, resulted in an increased valuation of $348,095. Using the 2013 tax rate, this will yield $7,500 in property taxes.
  • Sandi said that a resident approached the Conservation Commission about removing a Burning Bush plant from the Town House grounds. The Burning Bush is considered an invasive species. The resident is now unclear whether the specie at the Town House is actually the invasive variety.

Public comment: The Board entertained and took public comment. Parties that spoke are welcome to submit their comments and attach them to the minutes for public review.

Meeting adjourned 8:30 PM

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

______________________ Betty Fulton

______________________ Robert Ells

______________________ Patricia Mercer