Board of Selectmen
July 2, 2008
Minutes
Members present: William Cavanaugh, Doug Walter John Murray-absent
Others Present: Richard Furlong, Colleen O’Connor, Beth Van Ness
7:00 PM Meeting opened. Reviewed minutes. Doug motioned to accept the minutes of June 18, 2008, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
The Selectmen reviewed letters of resignation from Purr McEwen from the Becket Cultural Council and Alice Briggs and Joshua Lombard from the Conservation Commission effective immediately. Briefly discussed the resignations. The Selectmen would like something placed on the website asking for anyone interested in being appointed to the Conservation Commission. Doug motioned to accept the resignations, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
Richard advised that a woman who owns property next to 59 Benton Hill Road will be coming to the meeting on July 16, 2008 to discuss the issue with this property. The woman is complaining because she cannot sell her property because Mr. Bergeron’s property is full of junk. He also advised that Bill Girard has been working with Mr. Bergeron to try to get this property cleaned up. Richard advised that the town has been to court in the past because of this issue but the court cannot determine if his property is grandfathered. The neighbor thinks there may be oil contamination on the property. The Town cannot test the property for contamination; it needs to be done by the Department of Environmental Protection. Richard will check with the Zoning Enforcement Officer before the next
meeting to see what is being done to clear up this issue.
Public Input: Colleen O’Connor asked what the Selectmen are doing about Uncle Larry’s Tavern. She advised that since the bar opened up less than a year ago there has been a knifing, a shooting and the sale of alcohol to a person under the age of twenty-one. Bill advised that the State has the bar under probation for the sale to a person underage and Richard advised that the shooting is still under investigation. Colleen feels that there is another set of standards for Uncle Larry’s Tavern because of the name of its owner. She also explained that the reputation of the bar often determines the clientele that goes there. Bill explained that having a bar is a tough business because it is open to the public. He advised that if the police department gives the Selectmen
anything than they would need to determine what to do.
Colleen advised that there are flyers all over town about a Pentecostal Evangelical Group using the Town Hall to hold their meetings and she asked how this was possible. Richard advised that he checked with Town Counsel and she said we could not deny them use of the building. Colleen asked how this was not an issue of Separation of Church and State. Richard advised that they are just using the town hall; it has nothing to do with town business.
Doug motioned to appoint Rita Furlong to the Parks Commission term to expire June 30, 2011 and Madeleine Swindlehurst as alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals term to expire June 30, 2009, Bill seconded. Motion passed. Briefly discussed the baseball field. Bill commented on how nice the park looks. Richard advised that the parks commission is in the process of having the lights installed.
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July 2, 2008
Page 2
Doug motioned to continue posting meetings on the 2009 Community Birthday Calendar, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
The Selectmen reviewed the bid for demolition of buildings on 141 Golden Knight Lane. Doug motioned to award the bid to Andrews Excavating in the amount of $3,500.00 for the demolition of buildings on 141 Golden Knight Lane, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
Doug motioned to sign the dog officer warrant, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
The Selectmen reviewed the report of the Ambulance Department.
Any other business: Briefly discussed High Speed Internet. Richard advised that Verizon has contacted him about the town getting High Speed Internet by late August. He advised that the whole town will not be receiving it, only approximately 70%.
Richard gave the Selectmen a list of Request for Transfers that need to be done to close out fiscal year 2008. Doug motioned to transfer $2,000.00 from Highway Culverts to Demolition Fund; $1,583.88 from Transfer Station to Payroll Tax Account; $2,275.50 from Garage Repairs to Vocational Transportation; $1,361.81 from Tree Account to Conservation Commission; $5,000.00 from Gravel Roads to Tax Title; $4,500.00 from General Maintenance to Tax Title; $4,870.00 from Vocational Tuition to Tax Title; $1,000.00 from Veterans Benefit to Winter Roads; $3,800.00 from Board of Health Salaries to Winter Roads; $1,300.00 from Public Safety to Winter Roads; $1,500.00 from Postage to Winter Roads; $5,000.00 from Fuel Account to Winter Roads; and $1,500.00 from Assessors Expense to Winter Roads, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
Richard asked the Selectmen if they would be interested in being on the Wahconah Building Needs Committee. They were not interested in this. Richard will check with the Finance Committee to see if they would be interested in this.
Richard advised that the mileage rate went up to 58.5 cents per mile.
Richard advised that he received another email from Ed Jekot regarding the large boulders on Prince John Drive. He asked if the Selectmen had authority to appoint or remove anyone from the Conservation Commission. Richard advised the Board that he sent him a copy of the town bylaws pertaining to appointments.
Richard advised that Bob Wallenberg from the Sherwood Forest Neighbors Association came in to speak with him about issues in Sherwood Forest that mainly deal with the common land property. They discussed the possibility of forming a committee to try to work on these issues. The committee would be made up of members of the Road District, the Neighbor’s Association, a Selectman, a Finance Committee Member and a person who does not have an interest in Sherwood Forest. Briefly discussed this committee.
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July 2, 2008
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Richard advised that the septic system at the Town Hall will have some work done on it because there is a broken pipe that needs to be replaced.
Reviewed correspondence.
8:15 PM Doug motioned to adjourn, Bill seconded. Motion passed.
Reviewed payroll/expense warrants.
Respectfully submitted, _______________________________
Nina Weiler, Secretary William F. Cavanaugh, Chairman
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