SEL20091229

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SE= LECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

December 29, 2009

APPROVED &#= 8211; January 12, 2010

CALL TO ORDER – 6:30pm

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. Robert Haverty, Mr.= Douglas Viger, Mr. William McDevitt, Mr. Harold Lynde

ABSENT:

Mr. Edmund Gleason, Town Administrator Tom Gaydos

MINUTES REVIEW

Novemb= er 18, 2009

MOTION:

(Viger/Lynde) = To approve the N= ovember 18, 2009 meeting minutes as written.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

Decemb= er 15, 2009

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Lynd= e) To approve the D= ecember 15, 2009 meeting minutes as amended.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

OPEN FORUM

No one came forward to ad= dress the Board.

OTHER BUSINESS

Funds to be Encumbered – Historical Society Repairs - $21,= 800

Mr. Haverty believed the = funds ($21,800) for the Town Historical Society building repairs would be encumbe= red from the Town Buildings budget. The funds being encumbered was the balance of $30,000 already approved on November 17, 2009.

MOTION:

(Viger/McDevit= t) To encumber $21,800 from Town Buildings budget for the purpose of Historical Society building repairs.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

Update of Solid Waste Bids

Mr. Haverty noted that Mr= . Gaydos suggested that the Selectmen provide an update regarding the Solid Waste bi= ds as a result of the RFP. He st= ated that all the respondents had been asked to provide a best and final offer.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He stated that the Board had rejected all of the proposals and hired a Superintendent for the Transfer Station who has entered into agreements with a number of different vendors.

Mr. Lynde questioned when= the Selectmen voted to reject the best and final offers. Mr. Haverty didn’t believe a public vote was taken to do so. He said it was a consensus of the Board. Mr. Lynde felt the Board should have a formal vote.

Mr. Lynde made a motion t= o reject the responses to the RFP’s for best and final offers. Mr. McDevitt seconded the motion.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He stated that the Selectmen rejec= ted the offers knowing that the new Superintendent had some ideas and ways of changing things to make them less costly.&= nbsp; Mr. Lynde added that the Selectmen became more aware of the process while conducting interviews for a new superintendent.

MOTION:

(Lynde/McDevit= t) To reject all responses to the Request for Proposals for a best and final of= fer on handling the waste stream at the Pelham Transfer Station.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

Director Ron Hannon of th= e Pelham Recycling Complex (aka Pelham Transfer Station) came forward to provide upd= ates regarding the vendors that would service the facility and to make residents aware of the changes that would be occurring at the site. He provided a diagram showing the location of containers, site changes and traffic flow.

PUBLIC HEARING – Regarding a proposal to purchase property= at Map 26 Lots 2-66, 2-76 and map 27 Lot 2-77, addresses 69, 72 and 75 Spauldi= ng Hill Road to be acquired as conservation land.

Mr. Haverty opened public hearing. He read aloud a lett= er submitted by the Conservation Commission.&= nbsp; The Conservation Commission held a public hearing December 21, 2009 at which t= ime they heard a proposal for the property; they voted unanimously (5-0) to support = the purchase of the approximate thirty one acre parcel with the expenditure of $78,200 from the Conservation Fund. The Commission supported the proposal with the understanding that the acquisition was consistent with RSA 36,A.

Conservation Commission m= ember Karen MacKay came forward and provided the Selectmen with information booklets. She reviewed a map showing the parcel location. = She noted if the acquisition occurred, the proposed parcel would connect the Gu= mpas Pond Conservation area with land from the New England Forestry Foundation; currently there was no connection between these parcels. Ms. MacKay provided a summary of h= ow the Commission became interested in the parcel and the fact that the owner expressed interest in conserving the land.= The estimated (appraised) value of the property (in July 2009) came = in at $70,000, which was below the expected amount; the Town appraised value w= as $78,200. The new apprai= sed value for 2009 (calculated in September, 2009) dropped to $59,500, however, negotiations had already begun and the parties had settled around the $78,2= 00 number. Ms. MacKay went throu= gh the criteria for purchasing parcels and how the proposed parcel fit the guidelines. She stated that b= ecause the appraisal was so low, the sale would not be a ‘bargain sale’= ;; it would be difficult for the owner to take 10%-20% below the appraised number. She pointed out that = the cost per acre was below what the Commission had paid in recent transactions.

Mr. Haverty opened the di= scussion up to the public. There was no public input.

Ms. MacKay estimated if t= he parcel was purchased it would create a contiguous conservation area of approximately 270 acres. She mentioned that there was another parcel in close proximity that may have the potential of being connected as well. She said the Commission was trying to connect as much property as possible which would create larger wildlife corridors, better use of resour= ces and more recreational areas for use by the residents. She said they would like at some p= oint to be able to connect through to the Merriam-Cutter Conservation area. She stated that the Commission qui= te often discusses parcels in Town and how they might be connected. She said they take one step at a t= ime and felt the proposed parcel was important to help their goals move forward= .

There was further discussion. Mr. McDevitt ques= tioned where the funds to purchase the parcel would come from. Ms. MacKay believed the funds woul= d come from the current use (which would not impact property taxes).

Mr. McDevitt asked if the boundaries would be marked and if a formal survey would be done. Conservation Chairman Paul Gagnon = said they knew a portion of the boundaries based on the location of the Class VI portion of Spaulding Hill = Road. He said they were in the process of developing a forestry management plan for one of the smaller parcels. He stated they would also do an extension to the Gumpas Pond forest management plan at which point they will try to find all the boundaries. The surveyor will be paid through timber harvesting money. Once the boundaries are found they= will be blazed so as to not be lost in the future.

MOTION:

(Lynde/McDevit= t) To approve the requested proposal to purchase the property located at Map 26= Lot 2-66 and Lot 2-76 and Map 27 Lot 2-77 = for the purchase price of $78,200.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The motion carried.

Mr. Viger expressed his g= ratitude for the hard work and dedication by the Conservation Commission. The Selectmen echoed Mr. VigerR= 17;s sentiments.

APPOINTMENTS

Robo Panthers

This item was postponed t= o the next meeting.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S / SELECTMEN’S REPORTS

Mr. McDevitt and Mr. Lynd= e had no report.

Mr. Viger commented that = the map for the Transfer Station’s new layout was available on-line.

Mr. Haverty had no report= .

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(Viger/Lynde) = To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:25 pm.

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Respectfully submitted,

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Charity A. Landry Willis

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Recording Secretary