Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of July 28, 2015

 

Present: Robert Ells, Lyell ‘Skip’ Smith, and Sandi Pierson (clerical) Dorothy Heinrichs was out of town.

Others present: Sophie Seace, Beverly Ells, Betty and Bill Fulton, David Stacy, Judith Lindahl, Brent and Gloria Stevens, Nancy and David Pike, Tessa Michetti, and Dave Como.

Meeting opened at 7:00 PM. Skip Smith chaired the meeting.

Minutes: The minutes of July 14, 2015 were unanimously approved as submitted.

Building permits:

  • Daneil Kokas/off Peaslee Road/Map 7, Lot 4. Skip stated that the permit was for a deck, the application fee has been submitted, and the permit was reviewed and signed by Building Inspector Don Pfaefflin. The Board approved and signed the permit.
  • Betsy Coble and Robert Shea/38 Peaslee Road/Map 3, Lot 50. Skip stated that the permit was for an accessory building, the application fee had been submitted, and the permit was reviewed and signed by Building Inspector Don Pfaefflin. The Board approved and signed the permit.
  • Rene Regione/89 Tuttle Hill Road/Map 3, Lot 61-B. Skip stated that the permit was for a deck, the application fee had been submitted, and the permit was reviewed and signed by Building Inspector Don Pfaefflin. The Board approved and signed the permit.

Hazard Mitigation Plan: Emergency Management Director Brent Stevens came before the Board to discuss the availability of a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant agreement from the State of New Hampshire for the purpose of updating the town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. Acceptance of the grant agreement was approved at the May 26, 2015 meeting by the previous administration but very little information about it was available from the minutes of that meeting. Brent stated that the Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee would draft the plan which presently expires in 2016. He said the total cost of updating the plan is $8000 with $6000 projected to come from the State grant agreement. The town would be responsible for 25% of the cost ($2000), though that can be an in-kind payment such as monetary credit toward the hours the committee members employ.

After discussion, Skip Smith motioned that the Town of Orange Board of Selectmen, in a majority vote, accept the terms of the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant as presented in the amount of $6000.00 for the purpose of updating the Orange Hazard Mitigation Plan. Furthermore, the Board acknowledges that the total cost of the project will be $8000.00, of which the town will be responsible for 25% in-kind match of $2000.00. Bob Ells seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Large Wind Energy Zoning Ordinance: Planning Board Vice Chair Judith Lindahl came before the Board regarding the Large Wind Energy Zoning Ordinance (LWES). The Planning Board has been progressively drafting the ordinance and has voted to continue the Public Hearing until it is deemed complete. Judith stated that the Planning Board unanimously voted to request that the Select Board approve submitting the current draft of the ordinance to Attorney Justin Richardson for a comprehensive review in the event that it needs some fine-tuning. Judith stated that the town had voted to appropriate funds at town meeting for legal counsel specifically for industrial wind energy- related issues that affect the town. She added that in the past Attorney Richardson has generously assisted the town at no cost. Judith stated that the LWES would address both large and small wind turbine proposals. As examples she stated that firms as large as Energais De Portugal is presently proposing a 250 megawatt industrial turbine facility in Maine, but that projects can be much smaller such as property owner who is presently proposing a 20 megawatt, seven-turbine facility on a mountain ridge in Swanton, Vermont.

After discussion, Skip motioned for the Select Board to approve the Planning Board’s request to have Attorney Richardson review the Large Wind Energy Zoning Ordinance. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Treasurer/financial: Treasurer Tessa Michetti submitted to the Board an updated status report of the treasury. She stated that she is now in possession of the town’s laptop and all documents relating to the treasurer’s office. She stated that the previous money management account had not been reconciled since she left office in March 2014. The Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) has also not been reconciled during that time, nor have there been any reconciliations between payments and vouchers.

She is presently reconciling the records with the tax collector, town clerk, and Selectmen’s office. Tessa said she does not believe there was any fraudulence by the previous treasurer, but that instead it appears to essentially be a lack of accounting skills. She said that at this point in her reorganization she did not believe the town needed to do a forensic audit. At present she is reviewing and resubmitting payroll irregularities. She will review the town’s projected expenses to determine if the present TAN line of credit will be sufficient to bridge spending until November and December.

Tessa stated that as she restructures the 2014 records she should be able to generate a 2014 treasurer’s report. A 2014 treasurer’s report was not submitted by the former treasurer and is required in order to complete the MS-5, a document necessary for the DRA to set the tax rate. The Board agreed that basically Tessa is doing a comprehensive audit, and depending on the result of her findings, the town may not need to fund an outside audit. The Board thanked Tessa for the work she was doing.

Judith Lindahl stated that Tessa is basically doing two years worth of treasurer work and that she should be compensated for the many hours she is investing. Judith added that the considerable time she is putting in is going a long way to return transparency and faith in the town. Sandi stated that Sharon Proulx left a note in the office that agreed with Judith’s sentiment that Tessa should be compensated for the many hours she is putting in that is beyond the treasurer’s regular monthly duties. Tessa said that she did not expect additional compensation and was doing the tasks as a public servant. She said that it did displease her that someone was getting paid for a job that wasn’t accomplished.

Board meetings: After discussion, the Board agreed they will meet next Tuesday, August 4, 2015 and then resume their regularly scheduled meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Other:

  • Bob stated that he spoke to George Smith about the State’s paving schedule for Cardigan Mountain Road; it is slated to be done in mid-August.

  • Skip stated that Don Pfaefflin has offered to fill the vacant position of Welfare Director. Don has held the position for many years in the past.

  • The Board reviewed and signed the request for PA-28 forms for 2016 (Inventory Forms). These are provided by the DRA at no cost.

  • The Board was in receipt of the 2016 Grafton County Budget.

    Secretary’s report:

  • Sandi asked the Board to reconsider the approval of the July 14 minutes. Four people who were at the meeting were inadvertently omitted from the record of attendance. Skip motion to amend the minutes to include the attendees not listed. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

  • Sandi shared a copy of the DRA yield tax worksheet authored my Mary Pinkam-Langer (DRA) that automatically figures the timber tax range for stumpage reports. The only missing component is what form the resident or logger completes in order to enter their timber rating. Sandi will follow up with the DRA on Monday.

  • On an earlier request of Sharon Proulx, Sandi submitted to the Board four pages of notes taken by Sharon during meetings of Pat Mercer and George White. She requested that the present Board review the many tabled and incomplete items in the event that they still need to be resolved.

  • Per request of Skip, the Staples account has been re-opened with a new account number.

  • A draft of the revised Informational Directory was submitted to the Board for their review.

    Reports from Boards and Committees: n/a

    Public comment:

  • Judith stated that Stefan Hamilton from the DRA will present an informational talk on the tax impact to a municipality by an industrial wind facility. She thought a Wednesday or Thursday evening in September would be suitable and that people from Dorchester, Canaan, and Groton could be invited. The Board concurred.

  • Nancy Pike thanked the many townspeople who are cooperatively working to get the town back together again.

Meeting adjourned 7:53 PM

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs

Robert Ells

Lyell Smith