Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of January 10, 2017

 

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

Others present: Beverly Ells and Bob Proulx. Meeting opened at 6:00 PM.

Minutes: The minutes of December 27, 2016 were unanimously approved.

2017 Budget: Budget Committee Secretary Bob Proulx came before the Board to discuss a timeline for the joint meeting(s) to discuss and draft the 2017 municipal budget. He said Sandi had already given him the necessary spreadsheets from the 2016 budget. He will prepare an informational packet for the Committee and Board members. After discussion, the Board and Bob concurred on the following meeting schedule:

  •   Tuesday, January 24 @ 6 PM following the regular Board meeting

  •   Tuesday, January 31 @ 6 PM (if needed)

  •   Tuesday, February 13 @ 6 PM following the regular Board meeting (if needed)

  •   Budget Committee Public Hearing: February 16 @ 7 PM

  •   Budget Committee Public Hearing in the event of inclement weather on February 16:

    Friday, February 17 @ 7 PM

    Audit and MS-535: The Board reviewed the Engagement Letter (narrative of tasks and cost) from Matthew Angell (d/b/a Angell Associates) for the 2016 town audit (MS-60) and 2016 Financial Statement of the Town (MS-535). Also included was Mr. Angell’s Certificate of Liability Insurance. The cost of $500 is the same as last year. After discussion, Bob motioned to approve the Engagement Letter. Skip seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. Skip requested that Dorothy sign the agreement upon her return.

    School funding: The Board was in receipt of an email from Canaan Town Administrator Mike Sampson that included a number of attachments of petitioned articles for the school warrant. These articles pertained to voting for School Board members, individual School Board member votes weighed by percentage, and several funding examples of ratios between ADM (Average Daily Membership of students) and the assessed value of municipalities. The Board tabled a recommendation until a full Board was present.

    Certificates of Occupancy: The Board reviewed and signed two Certificates of Occupancy that were submitted by Building Inspector Don Pfaefflin:

  •   Paul Schwarz/Cross Road (garage)

  •   Paul Schwarz/Cross Road (residential addition)

2017 Warrant: The Board reviewed two anticipated articles which will be on the upcoming warrant and a review and opinion of them by the Local Government Center (LGC) including pertinent RSA’s. The articles are to vote to eliminate the positions of elected welfare agent and elected cemetery agent and to have those positions appointed. By statute, the Select Board would appoint the welfare agent; the Cemetery Trustees would appoint the cemetery agent. The LGC advised that because no one is presently holding the office of welfare agent, the Board can appoint one following an affirmative vote and do not have to wait until 2018. Since the welfare agent’s resignation earlier this year, the Select Board has been the overseer of that office.

Other:

  •   Trash report: As of the end of 2016, the town had disposed of 77.3 tons of trash and 27.24 tons of recyclables.

  •   A letter of introduction was received from District 2 State Senator Bob Guida.

  •   The latest Legislative Bulletin was received from the NHMA.

  •   A copy of the 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update was made available by Hubbard

    Consulting. Approval by FEMA is pending.

  •   A Certificate of Insurance Liability was received from the Mount Cardigan Snowmobile

    Club.

    Secretary’s report:

The annual survey from the Census Bureau has been received. The primary question is how many building permits for new homes in Orange were issued in 2016. (One)

Reports from other Boards and Committees:

Bob Proulx stated that the Planning Board is submitting a Zoning Ordinance warrant article pertaining to accessory dwellings.

Public Comment:

Bev Ell asked if recycling guidelines were available. It was noted that guidelines were printed and sent out when zerosort pick-up first started. Sandi will check the office files to see if there are available copies. It was suggested to mail a copy out to residents with this year’s inventory form and town report.

Vouchers were reviewed and signed. Meeting adjourned: 6:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs

Robert Ells

Lyell Smith