TOWN OF STETSON
SELECTMEN’S MINUTES
Date: FEBRUARY 12, 2020
I. OPEN MEETING
Brenda Clark opened the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
A. ROLL CALL
Brenda Clark, Charles Leighton, Leslie Merrill, and Danny Withee were present. Millard Butler is out of state.
B. MINUTES OF THE MEETING
1. Approve January 22, 2020 Meeting Minutes
Upon motion by Leslie Merrill, seconded by Danny Withee, it was voted 3 to 0 to approve the January 22, 2020 Meeting Minutes.
Charles Leighton did not vote as he was not present at that meeting.
C. QUIT CLAIM DEEDS
None.
D. WARRANT
1. Advantage Payroll Warrant # 16
Upon motion by Charles Leighton, seconded by Leslie Merrill, it was unanimously voted to approve Advantage Payroll #16.
2. Expenditures # 23/24 (Corrected to 24 and 25.) Noted #23 deleted by Trio as correction to #24.
Upon motion by Danny Withee, seconded by Leslie Merrill, it was unanimously voted to approve AP Warrant #24.
Upon motion by Leslie Merrill, seconded by Brenda Clark, it was unanimously voted to approve AP Warrant #25.
(noted to allow check for Joe Gray to be released which included a debated amount for the mixing and loading of salt and sand.)
The debate will be decided when there is a full board for discussion as some board members felt it was part of the contractors contract to do so.
The question being if it is only the first time mixing is included in contract, not additional when needed.
Upon motion by Charles Leighton, seconded by Danny Withee, it was unanimously voted to transfer $200,000.00 from undesignated to the checking account.
E. BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Upon motion by Charles Leighton, seconded by Brenda Clark, it was unanimously voted to grant the abatement do to a homestead exemption era.
II. OLD BUSINESS
1 Kitchen rental fees.
Again tabled for a full board, but Jody Lyford reported that we are in comparison with Exeter and Hudson.
Diane also reported that the Emergency Shelter Committee cannot seek donations until it is approved by the residents at town meeting.
III. NEW BUSINESS
1.Budget Process Meeting Dates – Monday February 24, 2020 at 9:30 AM
2. Second Public Hearing Date for Fire Department and Roads
At this Time, Diane informed the Board that she had received a petition submitted by Mark Merrill (see attached). Diane informed the Board of her concerns about the petition:
1.If the petition submitted is a copy or the original
2.The wording does not fit the fiscal budget year of the Town of Stetson.
3.If the Town was to approve the loan for roads, and abide by the petition, taxes in this town would sky rocket.
Mutual agreement between Mark and the Board was to not accept the petition at this time and move forward with a potential loan.
Brent Dorman also noted that he does not agree with the amounts reported in the sum of 2.4 million, and the town cannot afford a loan in that amount.
William Chadwick requested that Diane research the top amount that could be applied for not to increase taxes.
Consensus of the Board was to hold the meeting on a Saturday.
March 14, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Diane reported that recycling will start being a major cost to the Town now:
Potential of $115.00 to $145.00 per ton.
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. ANIMAL CONTROL Diane reported that Sullivan’s Waste notified us of a dead puppy that was put in a box for road side trash.
B. APPEALS BOARD Nothing.
C. CEMETERY Nothing.
D. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER Nothing.
E. E911 Nothing.
F. EDUCATION Nothing.
G. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE Danielle Withee was present and informed the board of a handy cap sign Jody Lyford purchased
and stated that the committee is ready to open up the community room if and when needed.
H. EMT/RESCUE Nothing.
I. FIRE DEPARTMENT Diane reported that she has spoken with Levant Town Manager in regards as to when the voting on contracting with Levant will take place and he is fine with that.
J. MEETINGHOUSE Nothing.
K. PARKS & RECREATION Nothing.
L. PLANNING BOARD Nothing.
M. PLUMBING INSPECTOR Nothing.
N. RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE COLLECTION Increased cost noted above.
O. ROAD COMMISSIONER Joe Gray was present. Danny Withee questioned why the roads were not plowed during the last storm as he dealt with many complaints.
Leslie Merrill stated that the roads certainly were plowed and he himself does the plowing on Danny’s road.
Brent Dorman stated that the roads need to be scraped more. Both Joe and Leslie agreed that scraping to much would create bare black ice and would be worse.
Brent also stated the when you have a Road Commissioner that does the plowing along with a Board Member working for him and plowing the complaints
will never be addressed in the way they should be.
Leslie Merrill took offense to the comment and stated that he takes pride in plowing the town of Stetson’s roads so that no one gets hurt.
He also stated that the last storm, there were 62 hours put in a 4 day span to keep the roads safe.
Brenda Clark stated that 95% of the time the roads are good.
P. STATE LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDANCE Nothing.
Q. TREASURER Nothing.
R. WELFARE DIRECTOR Nothing.
S. OTHER Diane reported the important dates coming up:
Nomination Papers will be available on March 2, 2020 and need to be returned by close of Business April 10, 2020.
IV. TRAINING
Contract has been signed to get Trio SQL.
V. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jody Lyford questioned if the contents that are still in the Building of the office/community center could be listed on Market Place on Face Book.
Concerns noted were: Who would do the listing, Who would do the responding, and who would show what is requested in the building.
Mark Merrill question individual road expenditures. Diane informed him that the office is working on a spreadsheet.
Danielle Withee asked what is required to be a Selectman in the Town? Diane informed her that the nominee only has to be a resident of the town.
V. SELECTMEN COMMENTS
Nothing.
VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION
When needed per statue
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Charles Leighton, seconded by Danny Withee, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
__________________________________Brenda Clark
__________________________________Millard Butler (OUT OF STATE)
__________________________________Charles Leighton
__________________________________Leslie Merrill
__________________________________Danny Withee
Minutes are recorded by;
Diane Lacadie