Present: Gary Allen Chairman, Gino Funicella, Beatrice Davis Selectmen
Visitors: Jackson Police Chief Karl Meyers, Ron Cote New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, Myles Crowe, Burr Phillips Town of Jackson Engineer, Diane McClave Jackson Public Assistance Officer, Ed Dubie, Dr. Gerald Carrier, and residents living on Vista Way
1. The minutes of July 2, 2007 were reviewed and approved as written.
2. The Summary of Payments was reviewed and checks were signed in the amount of $18,824.54.
3. Deposits in the amount of $7,478.24 were transferred to the treasurer tonight.
4. The Financial Resume indicated an amount of $1,226,475.04 in the general fund after tonight’s vouchers.
5. Ron Cote, NH Department of Revenue attended the meeting to discuss the reassessment monitoring report. The DRA reviews a random sample of assessment cards in town. Mr. Cote presented the samples and comments regarding the DRA procedure. Jason Call Northtown Associates, Town of Jackson Assessor, provided Mr. Cote with a list of properties that he reviewed for the 2006 year. The DRA review the card, and make a site visit to the property. After the site visit, the monitoring report with comments is sent to Northtown Associates for their response. The selectmen reviewed the monitoring reports. Jason Call responded to the DRA regarding the reviewed cards. Mr. Cote stated that most of the review points are under seven which is acceptable. He suggested the selectmen contact Mr. Call regarding any
discrepancies. There was discussion regarding a previous meeting. Mr. Cote stated a ratio study was going to be performed by Mr. Call and a list of employees must be submitted. The assessing contract with the town and Northtown Associates was submitted to Ron Cote for approval by the Department of Revenue Administration. John McSorley, Assistant Director, will review the contract and make recommendations based on the 600 rules. The contract will be sent back to the selectmen within 10 days. Once the contract is signed by the selectmen, the DRA will be sent a copy.
6. Bill Botsford, Jackson Town Clerk/Tax Collector attended the meeting to advise the selectmen that he registered for classes with New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles. These classes are training for registering cars online with the state. The state has indicated they would like all towns in New Hampshire online. It will be approximately 10 weeks before the system is installed. There was discussion regarding the benefits for the town being online with DMV. The state will supply all computer equipment.
7. Jackson Police Chief Karl Meyers attended the meeting. He requested that the selectmen visit the police department to discuss space issues. The selectmen agreed to visit the police department within the next two weeks. Chief Meyers advised the selectmen of the following police department activities: received complaint regarding garbage being dumped at the transfer station gate the person was sent a fine registered return receipt for illegally dumping garbage, fire complaint due to the dryness of conditions, 4 -911 hang ups, hit and run in front of a restaurant in town, assisted ambulance with individual, assisted New Hampshire Motor Vehicle with arrest in town, civil disturbance regarding a property line, assisted fire department with alarm at High Pastures East and at a local inn, report of
lost checkbook, loose canine and horse complaint in same location, investigated suspicious subject parked on Iron Mountain Road, 4 alarms at condominiums, assisted individual locked out of vehicle, checked on a resident that was reported missing, report of oil spill it was unfounded, digital radio station installed, 2 separate incidents of found dogs that were held, assisted ambulance with a person that fell off a horse, check on welfare of elderly town person, assisted state police with individual who was suicidal, civil stand by with a couple that are in divorce proceedings, minor accident in business parking lot, assisted ambulance at a local hotel with a cancer patient, accident by Blake House, and arrested an individual for driving while intoxicated. A volunteer will assist the police department with updating data in the computer from previous years. Gino Funicella requested information regarding a law about noise. Chief Meyers stated the police department
follows the state penal code and Jackson does not have a noise ordinance. Generally the time is 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. which usually has applied to resident parties and contractors.
8. Myles Crowe attended the meeting to discuss noise from the Wildcat Inn. Gary Allen stated we received several complaint letters from Mr. Crowe regarding loud music and noise from the Wildcat Tavern. He stated Jackson does not have a noise ordinance and the establishment is in the commercial district. Mr. Crowe stated the noise begins after 11 p.m. and as midnight approaches the noise increases outside and if possible would like the selectmen to resolve this problem. Gino Funicella mentioned the new owners attended a selectmen’s meeting and advised us they would install air conditioners to keep the noise level down. Gary Allen stated this improvement has been accomplished. Mr. Crowe stated if there was a problem with noise the previous owners quickly took action. The new owners are not as
cooperative. Selectman Allen stated after the inn was sold the new owners met with the selectmen and seemed very cooperative and promised to make upgrades to help alleviate some of the noise issues. They have complied. Mr. Crowe stated they heard noise all winter as well. He feels the noise is from the music and also after the crowd breaks. Chief Meyers stated he is on duty every hoot night and will act if there is a complaint. There was discussion regarding loud motorcycles. Selectman Allen mentioned the selectmen will be meeting with one of the owners of the Wildcat Inn and will try to work out an amicable solution. Mr. Crowe stated the owner has not been responsive to him. Bobbi Meserve, who lives near Wildcat, stated she does not notice an excessive amount of loud music or noise. Selectman stated there have been no other complaints from businesses or residents.
9. Diane McClave, Jackson Public Assistance Officer, attended the meeting to discuss the updated welfare guidelines. She submitted the guidelines. The selectmen reviewed and signed the updated guidelines. Mrs. McClave advised the selectmen that she will be meeting with Health and Human Services regarding transportation. Mrs. McClave reported Mary Burack, Alice Pepper and she has started inventory of town documents at the vault in the school.
10. Burr Phillips Town Engineer, Ed Dubie Road Agent, and Dr. Gerald Carrier attended the meeting to discuss roads in Jackson. Gary Allen advised Dr. Carrier this since his letters were regarding Vista Way that is the road that will be discussed at tonight’s meeting. Dr. Carrier advised the selectmen that he lives at 29 Vista Way. This is not a critique or criticism but information regarding the road he has lived on for 38 years. Photos of Vista Way were submitted to the selectmen. The main issue is that over the years the top of Vista way was not completed. It was left as dirt section and not black topped. The road has been breaking away over the years. The road currently washes out several properties on the road. The water is running straight across the road. The road is eroding and disappearing. Selectman Allen asked if
Dr. Carrier buried the utilities which would have disturbed the road. Dr. Carrier stated he did not disturb the asphalt. To continue, the water winds up on Tin Mine Road. The bottom of Vista Way and top of Tin Mine Road has become dangerous. Selectman Allen mentioned the town is addressing some of the roads with the state and federal government about mitigation for Tin Mine Road. The town has been diligently making repairs to the roads as funds allow. The selectmen received Dr. Carrier’s letter and investigated Vista Way with the road agent and town engineer. Burr Phillips, engineer commented on one of the photos. At the time all agreed that it looked like the pavement was dug up because the way the pavement appeared. Cars driving down the road when the road is soft create a wheel rut and then the water will follow the road or winter sand might build up on the edge of the road and form a little berm. Further up the road there is a curb along the side in the grass. At some
point the intent was that some of the water would come down the road. It would not be advisable to send water down someone’s property that was not receiving the water in the past. The trenching did exacerbate the situation. At the top there is a ditch along the Barrow’s driveway to a large culvert on Mr. Bowman’s land. This is the appropriate direction for the water. The ditch is filled in with sediment. The plan is to excavate the ditch to move the water. There was discussion regarding the road toward the Barrow’s property and building a ditch along that side of the road. The ditch will appear to be in the Barrow’s driveway, but it is in the road right of way. There was discussion regarding the placement of the road and the road right of way. Ed Dubie stated when developers were subdividing they gave the town a right of way but did not build the road in the center of the right of way and this is the problem with this road. Dr.
Carrier’s driveway is in the right of way. Mr. Phillips stated the new road standards will address this issue. We cannot go back to how roads were built in the past. Dr. Carrier contacted professional engineers and asked for a quote regarding some repairs to the road. There was discussion regarding building a cul-de-sac. He requested $50,000 from the town to make the repairs on Vista Way to Tin Mine Road. Mr. Phillips commented he is reasonably certain the town cannot build the cul-de-sac at the location Dr. Carrier suggested because the Barrows would lose their driveway. If you bring the cul-de- sac back to center and grade it the way it should they would have a 10 foot drop from the house directly onto the road. It would be unacceptable if it were pulled back to Dr. Carrier’s driveway. There was discussion regarding the amount of miles in road in Jackson. Ed Dubie state approximately 25-30 miles. Ed Dubie stated the bottom of Tin Mine Road was damaged from the
April storm. A paving company is coming in two weeks and that part will be paved. There was discussion regarding some dangerous areas. There was a request for cones. Cones were placed for motorist but were stolen. The highway department will place some stakes on the dangerous areas. Selectman Allen stated the board, engineer and road agent will decide how best to approach the solution to fix this road. Ed Dubie stated the plan is to do some shoulder work and ditching. After the ditching the water will go into the brook. Dr. Carrier disagreed with this statement. Selectmen Allen stated there were plans to grade some of the road, put some gravel down, grade and ditch the cul-de-sac. Dr. Carrier asked about black topping the cul-de-sac and black topping the road. Mr. Phillips stated most of the gravel on the road would have to be replaced and you would have to grade it. Tim Pietro, Electrician, attended the meeting to discuss the feasibility of putting the wires underground. He has
been contacted by some residents on Vista Way that would like to have the wires placed underground. There was discussion regarding this request. Selectman Allen stated that plans should be submitted to the town for review before any work commences.
11. Peter Canty, President of Jackson Tennis Club, attended the meeting to discuss the building permit of an 8 X 9 foot shed for the tennis club. He described the specifications of the non permanent shed to the selectmen. In a memo to the selectmen Kim Frechette, Building Inspector, stated that Mr. Canty could not produce a site survey for the property. She walked part of the property with Mr. Canty in an attempt to locate property lines but was unsuccessful. It is impossible to determine zoning compliance without being able to locate the property line. It was her recommendation that the Tennis Club hire a licensed land surveyor to survey the property and locate the existing property lines and structures on the survey plan. Mr. Canty mentioned that the club never had a survey of the property but there is a deed. The deed was submitted
to the selectmen. There was a discussion of the description of the deed. In error he submitted the septic design which he thought was a survey. He stated he went behind the shed and paced off 35 feet and took photos where the shed is placed. He was told by some older club members that the club owns to the steep drop. It was an honest mistake. He is asking for relief of paying $800 for a survey of the property. There was discussion regarding the shed and the property line. There was discussion that the shed was not a permanent structure and a letter to the town from the tennis club stating that if there were any complaints they would remove or relocate the shed. Gino Funicella motioned the Jackson Tennis Club be allowed to keep the temporary shed structure in its present location based on the assumption that the current president diligently tried to locate the appropriate setbacks and Mr. Canty feels they are within the setbacks. Furthermore the tennis club will provide a
letter to the town stating in the event there is a complaint they will move the shed. It was seconded. So moved.
12. There was a complaint regarding the town hauling and delivering fill to a resident on Cameron Drive. Ed Dubie, Road Agent, stated the fill is from ditches and it is helpful to the town to be able to dump the fill off from the ditch. Ed stated if anyone is interested in receiving the fill there is a list, but the resident must be close to where the highway crew is ditching.
13. There was a complaint regarding damage to a property on Jackson Ridge. Ed Dubie will investigate the complaint regarding the damage. He stated that residents should be aware that they do not own the property to the road. The town has a right of way. Bea Davis asked if Iron Mt. Road will be graded. The road will be graded. There was discussion of the recent propane accident and charges to the owner for payment of the local fire departments that responded. Ed will investigate this issue. Ed advised the selectmen Mike Clemons will be on vacation for the next few weeks.
14. The selectmen will request another meeting with the Betty Whitney Foundation, Jackson School Board, Jackson Library Trustees, and the selectmen tentatively on August 13, 2007 based on whether the foundation has met with the school board.
15. There was discussion regarding appointments for the Jackson Planning Board. Gino Funicella motioned to appoint Scott Badger as a regular member of Jackson Planning Board. It was seconded. So moved. The selectmen will interview the 3 remaining candidates for a position of alternate member of the Jackson Planning Board.
16. Mr. & Mrs. Don Bilger, owners of the Inn at Jackson, requested to use the town’s building inspector for guidance on a project they are planning. All of the building inspector’s fees will be paid directly to Shawn Bergeron, Technical Services by Mr. & Mrs. Bilger. The selectmen agreed to this request.
17. The selectmen received a petition and request from North Country Council to support an increase in the gas tax. The selectmen will advise the North Country Council they require more information regarding the cost of the gas tax before they make a decision on whether to support this tax.
18. The following building was approved by the building inspector and signed by the selectmen: Scott and Lori Badger Map R17 Lot C-3 approved for construction of the addition. Rick and Gail Davis Map V6 Lot 31A-3 was given a conditional approval. When the additional building permit fees are paid the building permit will be issued. Bea Davis recused herself from signing the building permit for Rick and Gail Davis.
19. The selectmen signed a request to the New Hampshire Liquor Commission for the Red Fox to serve alcohol in a tent for an event.
20. The selectmen reviewed applications submitted for the Jackson Road Agent.
21. The meeting started at 5:30 p.m. and ended at 10:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Julie A. Maiorano
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