PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
October 24, 2007
APPROVED as AMENDED & CLARIFIED:
11/14/07, jrl_______
AGENDA: CIP FINALIZATION
EXCAVATION WORKSHOP
PCC: ELIZABETH SEELER, Danforth Brook Rd.
ATTENDING: Dan Paradis (Chairman), Elizabeth Seeler (Vice-Chrm.), Steve Favorite (Sel. Rep.), Janice DellaCroce, Denice DeStefano, Clay Dingman, Don Milbrand. Alternates: Murray Campbell, Bob Duquette, Jerry McGwin.
ABSENT: Alternates: Tom Babcock (excused), Don Martin (excused).
OTHER: -----
The meeting opened at 7:02 pm. Mr. Duquette sat in for Don Milbrand, who was held up at work, until he arrived.
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 10, 2007: The following amendments and clarifications were made:
Page 1, under MITCHELL/MORRISSETTE PCC, 1st paragraph, 8th line, replace “it is only” with “much of it applies only”. 2nd paragraph, 3rd line, replace “We” with “They”. 4th line, replace “our” with “they” and “we” with “they”. Page 3, last paragraph, 5th line, replace “things” with “inflation adjustments”. Page 4, 4th paragraph, 3rd line, following “shopped around” insert “for rates”, replace “we have” to “we could” and “been” with “do”. 4th line, replace “areas that would be good to get into.” With “investments that are allowed to be used.” 6th paragraph, 3rd line, following “public hearing” replace “, which” with “should be held.” Begin the next sentence with “This is recommended….”.
Page 5, last line under SELECTMEN, change “fine” to “find”. Under SURVEY, 1st paragraph, 3rd line, eliminate “for him”.
E. Seeler made a motion, second by C. Dingman, to approve the minutes as amended. The motion carried.
CIP APPROVAL:
Mr. Campbell explained that there is a change for the fire truck, bottom of page 2 of the explanations. He distributed the new wording.
Mr. Paradis stated that Ms. Corrow, Town Manager, had presented a big jump and the CIP committee tried to keep it to a step up plan. We had wanted to put the Bourough bridge and Smith River project on bonds but Ms. Corrow stated that this cannot be as they must be paid in 2008. Mr. Campbell added that this makes our bar graph of capital expenses go up and down, which we don’t want to do. Mr. Paradis stated that it causes increases in the first three years but it does not go up and down, it just varies the increases.
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CIP APPROVAL continued:
Mr. Dingman expressed that he thinks that the CIP committee did a great job. Mr. Favorite suggested that the Planning Board bring it in so as to get it on television. Mr. Paradis reminded all that this is a recommendation only. Mr. Favorite felt that a news article on the plan should be placed in the Newfound Voice. Ms. DellaCroce suggested that they do the Plymouth Enterprise first, then television and then the Newfound Voice so as to keep up the momentum. Mr. Campbell asked if we present it to the Budget Committee and was told that we definitely do.
Mr. Dingman stated that it will be the bottom line increases that the public will want to know. Mr. Campbell reminded the Board that this plan does not include the school. In future years, we shall probably have more for the Water and Sewer and we may bring in a school representative. When Ms. Corrow presented her Capital needs, the bottom line was an increase of $1.11 in the tax rate for 2008. The committee brought this down to 67 cents. Mr. Dingman asked the tax rate now. Mr. Favorite thought it was at $14.67 and Ms. DellaCroce looked it up in the Town Report and stated that the town’s portion was $4.96.
At this time, Don Milbrand arrived and Mr. Duquette stepped down from any votes.
Mr. Paradis gave credit to Ms. Corrow for all the work that she put into this, as well. It helped the committee a great deal. The remaining Planning Board members thanked the member that are on the CIP committee.
C. Dingman made a MOTION, second by S. Favorite, to ACCEPT THE CIP AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING. The motion CARRIED.
Mr. Paradis, as Planning Board Chairman, also thanked the CIP members officially.
EXCAVATIONS:
Mr. Paradis stated that we should let Corey Johnston know that a lot of his work in the past has been used. Mr. Favorite stated that he has already done so.
The 10/10/07 draft copy was then studied. Ms. DeStefano explained that the basis is from Matt Nebesnik’s (previous Land Use Officer) plan and then she has inserted some of Mr. Johnston’s for these changes. All of the changes, shown in red or lined out, were addressed. There were numbering changes and section VII was moved to the beginning of the Page 6 portion titled “The Following are Prohibited Projects. There were several other minor changes made and Ms. DeStefano will make up a new draft for our next workshop meeting (11/28/07).
CORRESPONDENCE:
There was an Island Press Environmental Sourcebook listing of books available, an announcement from CEI that they will be exhibiting at the 11/7 & 11/8 Annual Conference in Manchester, a notice that Freudenberg NOK has been designated as not being a known Historical Resource, the Oct. Town & City, announcement of a Watershed Conference on 11/17, the DES Source flyer, and an FYI on the Meredith Survey.
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
DOWNTOWN REPORT: Mr. Favorite stated that they have now picked up the barrels to store for the winter.
HISTORIC DISTRICT REPORT: They have one hearing set for Nov. 13th . The Commission is to meet with the Selectmen on Nov. 8th. Mr. Dingman, Chairman, is planning on emphasizing the need of enforcement.
SELECTMEN’S REPORT: Mr. Favorite announced that the Selectmen have signed and are moving forward on the Central Street bridge. It is to be closed in two weeks. There is a $30,000 increase in construction costs and they want the final bridge completed in 18 months. The Bourough bridge is now open again. They held a public hearing on the foot of the lake plans. Mr. Paradis added that the Friends with a Vision were also at that meeting.
CIP REPORT: Finalization this evening.
SURVEY REPORT: Mr. Dingman explained that the web site will be shut down on 11/1 but the account will be open until 11/10 so that Ms. Heaney (Mr. Dingman’s wife) can input all of the hard copies received. There have been about 400 hits to the web site. The secretary had an additional 26 hard copies and stated that many more have requested hard copies be sent to them.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Paradis stated that he has sent a letter to Jeff Shackett requesting that he come in again.
NEW BUSINESS:
Zoning Amendments: Mr. Paradis has put together proposals for four new changes which he distributed. He also added last years proposal regarding Building Codes and Building Inspector. He asked that the members look these over for the next workshop as time is getting close to when we must have these done. He stated that Building Codes and a Building Inspector must be done at the same time. Mr. Dingman stated that he shall see that the Historic District Commission look at what they want changed, if any, as well.
PCC: BETTY SEELER
Ms. Seeler stated that the Land Use Officer has said that, if she finds a second tenant, she will need a Site Plan (on her Industrial property on Danforth Brook Rd.). She has two buildings on the property. One building (#66) is now half rented as the tenant who rented the whole building left in the Spring. The new tenant in half the building will be hiring 5 people. They do not want the whole building so she wants to block it off approximately half and rent to another Industrial tenant. She would block off the interior door and put in an additional egress, as determined by Fire Chief Skantze. The problem is that going from 1 tenant to 2 is bringing in Site Plan Review.
Mr. Paradis read the Site Plan requirements Section 8.3.6. A discussion followed. Ms. Seeler stated that the other building had 3 tenants but now has one; would she need Site Plan to go back to 3?
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SEELER PCC continued:
She feels that this is not an expansion of use as it is the same use – Industrial. Land Use Officer, Sheryl Montague, feels that it is an additional business. Mr. Paradis stated that Manufacturing is an allowed use. This is not a change such as a dentist office might be.
Ms. Seeler stated that she tried to find the minutes in regard to the Pharmacy when it was in the Downtown Square. Ms. Laferriere stated that Angela Mahoney, Assessing Assistant, continued to research this and could find nothing as far back as 1999. Ms. Laferriere suspects that the Code Enforcement Officer at the time did not bring the case in to the Planning Board. More discussion was held. It was felt that the Beauty Shop in the Bakery/Pizza building should have come in. Mr. Paradis stated that Ms. Montague asked how we know when a new business comes in if we do not have them in to see us.
Mr. Campbell asked if Ms. Seeler needs to build a wall. Ms. Seeler answered that this was a barn originally and an addition was put on so the wall is there. She just needs to close the door that goes in between. Mr. Paradis read the purpose of Site Plans. Mr. Campbell questioned if we should separate industrial from commercial. The Board did not agree with this as we do not want to lose the small Industrial space we have. The Board felt that they needed to think about this situation before determining
an answer. Mr. Paradis said that the Board will address this at the next meeting.
OTHER: A short discussion was held as to Parking downtown and it was mentioned that the Selectmen must have a vote by the Town.
NEXT MEETING: November 14th at 7:00 p.m. There is a Subdivision for Mitchell/Morrissette, 8 Central Sq. and a Boundary Line Adjustment for Michael Sharp, Jenness Hill & River Rds. There may be another subdivision for Hemlock Brook LLC on Lake St. if Ms. Montague finishes it in time.
With no other business, E. Seeler made a motion, second by C. Dingman, to adjourn at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Laferriere, secretary