APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

July 29, 2003

APPROVED – August 12, 2003

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Acting Chairman Derby opened the meeting at approximately 6:30 pm. 

MINUTES REVIEW

Deferred to the next scheduled meeting.

OPEN FORUM

Mr. Leo Doherty, 45 Robin Road asked that Mr. Gaydos discuss the report submitted by Mr. Peter Zohdi of Herbert Associates with regard to the Robin Road area, which had been discussed at past meetings.  Mr. Gaydos said that Mr. Zohdi had submitted a report of his findings regarding the Robin Road area.  TF Moran would have to review the report.  Since only one copy of the report had been submitted, Mr. Gaydos said he would request additional copies.  A meeting will be set up with the property owners to discuss general repairs that would be performed.  Residents with specific impacts will be addressed separately.  Mr. Gaydos said that there had been positive discussions with the developer.  Mr. Doherty said he was concerned that Robin Road would not be ready for placement on the Town ballot. 

PUBLIC HEARING - Street renaming

There were thirty-six residents present for the public hearing.

Ms. Marie Wolf, 299 Gage Hill Road reviewed for the Selectmen the address changes she had during her thirty-seven years as a Town resident.  She was unhappy with the current numbering of the street.  Ms. Wolf said that changing her street name and number again would be an inconvenience. 

Fire Chief E. David Fisher and Police Chief Evan Haglund joined the Selectmen to discuss the street naming process, and to review the list of proposed street names.  Chief Fisher began the discussion by explaining the purpose for changing certain street names.  He said that 911 (in Concord) had assisted the Town by reviewing the layout of the streets and by reviewing street names so that no two names were similar, or sounded alike.  Chief Fisher said that they were trying to limit the number of streets being affected.  He also noted that the Police Department had similar issues (as the Fire Department) with some of the current street names.  He went on to explain that once the names had been approved by the Selectmen, 911 would need to re-map and re-number the Town.  He said once the renumbering was complete, the Town would then work with Verizon to change their information (i.e. phone books); last, the Post Office would be brought into the process to ensure an easy transition. 

Ms. Christine Doherty, Hillcrest Lane asked if she would need to change the information contained within the deed to her property.  Mr. Gaydos said there was no need to change information on a deed since plots were registered/referenced by book and page number.  Ms. Doherty asked if she would need to contact her mortgage company for any reason.  Mr. Gaydos said the only reason to contact a mortgage company would be to inform them of the address change.

Ms. Wolf questioned the name change for Gage Hill Road and was not pleased with Lowell Road being the proposed name.  She was concerned that her phone number had a Salem, NH exchange.  Chief Fisher said that 911 would know that Lowell Road was located in Pelham.  Ms. Wolf asked why Gage Hill Road couldn’t be referenced as Route 38, since that was how people were directed when finding certain addresses.  Chief Fisher said that Gage Hill Road’s proposed change would only affect the section between Main Street and the Salem, NH line.  He said that often a route would also have a street name.  Mr. Bergeron pointed out that there were other routes in Pelham, each of which also had a street name. 

There was a question regarding how the street names had been selected.  Fire Chief Fisher said that residents had made suggestions; the Safety Committee had reviewed the list of names and compared them to current names; the list was presented to the Selectmen for approval.  Mr. Danevich said if anyone didn’t agree with a proposed street name, they should come forward so that any disagreement could be resolved. 

Mr. Richard Guziejka, 41 Old Gage Hill Road South, said his concern was with money, and safety.  He felt changing the street names would be confusing for emergency response.  He suggested when the new names were implemented that the old maps be accessible in case of confusion.  He felt that money would be an issue because of changing driver license, credit card, checking account, etc...information.  He felt that the person wanting the changes should also be financially responsible. 

Mr. John Burns, 290 Gage Hill Road, commented that if Gage Hill Road was going to be changed, it should be changed for the length of the road, from Salem, NH to Dracut, MA, not just half way, to Main Street. 

Mr. Bob Haverty, Irene Drive agreed that street names should be changed with regard to safety issues.  He said initially his street was going to be changed to Patriot Drive, but now the proposal was to change his street to Coyote Drive, which he disliked.  He said he didn’t want the street name to keep changing, but requested that it remain with the original request of Patriot Drive. 

Mr. Scott Orlando, Robin Road, said he did not want his street to be named Wild Turkey Lane. 

The owner of 34 Old Bridge Street North said that the first notice received regarding street name changes came one week ago.  She said there were three businesses on the street and didn’t feel that the street name needed to be changed. 

Ms. Michelle Kelly, Hillcrest Lane asked why residents from her street were not informed about the initial street naming meetings.  She said she would like to voice her opinion regarding the name of her street.  Chief Fisher explained that the original meeting had been postponed, but through local papers and the media, the Town attempted to contact residents to make them aware of the meeting and provide them with the opportunity to discuss the proposed names.  Ms. Kelly asked if the name had been decided upon, or if she still could discuss the proposal.  Mr. Gaydos discussed the process taken to notify the public of the proceedings.  He said if the residents did not like the proposed names, an additional meeting would be scheduled. 

Mr. David Lamoureu, 5 Irene Drive, discussed the proposed name for his street and wanted to know if the numbers would also change.  Mr. Derby said all road name suggestions would be noted and voted upon.  He said once the street names were approved, 911 would review the Town, and number the roads every fifty feet.  Chief Fisher noted that the street number and name change would occur at the same time. 

Ms. Glennie Edwards discussed the name proposal for Old Bridge Street.  She also inquired when the numbers for the whole Town would be done; why they would be done every fifty feet, and who would choose the numbers.  Mr. Derby said the numbering of the whole Town was not currently being discussed.  He said that 911 was requiring that numbers be assigned every fifty feet.  He said that house numbers would be determined by the location of the driveway. 

Mr. Derby began review of the proposed street name list.  He took suggestions from the residents.  The 911 dispatch process was explained by Chief Haglund.  It was noted that 911 had reviewed the Town and made recommendations regarding what street names should be changed for safety reasons.  Once the proposed street name list had been reviewed, the following motion was made:

Mr. Danevich noted that the following street names were still to be determined at an upcoming public hearing:

Irene Drive

Robin Road

Tall Oaks Drive

Old Bridge Street North

Bridge Street

Old Gage Hill Road South

Lowell Road

Hillcrest Lane

Jay Bird Lane

MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION

Mr. Gaydos said that the Technical Review Committee (Safety Committee) had received a submission of three street names for the subdivision on Keyes Hill Road (ML 5-75) and recommended Parkside Drive.

REQUEST FOR NON-PUBLIC SESSION

The Selectmen entered into non-public session at approximately 8:15pm.  Also present was Mr. Gaydos and Fire Chief E. David Fisher. 

The Selectmen returned from non-public session at approximately 8:25pm.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT/SELECTMEN’S  REPORTS

Mr. Gaydos had no report other than discussing the Police Department move into the new Police Station at the Municipal Center.  He said that everything went smoothly and the Police Department was happy to be in their new space. 

Mr. Bergeron had no report.

Mr. Danevich had no report.

Mr. Derby had no report.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 pm.

                                                                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                          Charity A. L. Willis

                                                                                          Recording Secretary