Office of the Select Board
Town of Orange, New Hampshire
Minutes of October 24, 2017
Present: Dorothy Heinrichs, Chair; Robert Ells, Skip Smith, and Sandi Pierson (clerical)
Others present: Beverly Ells, Terry McQueeny, Billie Brockum, and Sharon Proulx.
Meeting opened at 6 PM. Attendance taken by the secretary.
Minutes: The minutes of October 10, 2017 were unanimously approved.
Trash pick-up: The Board reviewed and signed a letter to residents regarding the available options for trash and recyclable disposal for 2018. This will be distributed by a town-wide mailing. Regarding the option of the East Neighborhood using the Grafton facility if there is no curbside pick-up in the future, Bob said that after speaking to people in that area, the consensus is to utilize Canaan instead if that is the option.
Mascoma School District: The Board received notification that as of November 1, 2017 the school payments for the next eight months are $50,704.93. This is a decrease of $10,332.96 from the present pay schedule.
2017 Tax Rate: The Board concurred that they will meet on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 3 PM to set the 2017 tax rate. The DRA has sent the town a preliminary tax rate of $26.02 per thousand dollars of valuation. The Board agreed they will adjust the year’s revenue by adding a $3,200 Land Use Change Tax. Sharon Proulx asked why the school rate increased $0.91 per thousand of valuation if the payment schedule decreased. The Board was uncertain as to the reason.
Other:
A notice was received from the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (formerly DRED) that the acting Forest Ranger for our area is Captain John Accardi.
A notice was received from Primex that the town’s Workman’s Compensation Program for 2018 will be $500. There will be no invoice because we have a $1,707.50 credit balance.
Correspondence was received from the Gardner, Fulton, and Waugh stating that Jane Taylor, Esq. has joined their law firm.
A notice was received from the Mascoma School District that the 2018 Deliberation Session is scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the high school auditorium.
A request was received from the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council for a $400 donation for 2018 based on the per capita amount of $6.45 for each of the 62 Orange residents aged 60 and older. This is a $350 decrease from the 2017 contribution.
Secretary’s report:
The UVLSRPC sent an order form for the new Land Use Regulations Handbook. Bob said the Planning Board already had copies. Bob gave a copy to the Select Board’s office.
On the advice of the town’s attorney, the vacant 3.9 acres considered “Owner Unknown” needs to be published in the newspaper in case anyone has documentation in regards. The Board directed Sandi to do so.
Reports from other Boards and Committees:
Historical Commission: Sharon Proulx said the Harvest Festival was a fantastic time and thanked the members for their subsequent donation to the Historical Commission on behalf of their forthcoming history book. Donations from the Harvest Festival were also made to the Mascoma Senior Center and Orange Scholarship Fund.
Public comment:
Property owners Terry McQueeny and Billie Brockum came before the Board to object to the recent change in their property cards which combined two lots into one. The Board stated that they had sent them a letter following the September 12, 2017 meeting notifying them that the deed indicated it was one lot of record. Terry stated that they received the letter but did not realize that the intent was to combine their two newly-purchased lots. Dorothy reviewed an earlier email between the office and Scott Sanborn, stating his opinion is that it is a single lot. Terry said that he and Billie Brockum felt they had purchased two lots and they should remain as such. He said combining the two lots decreased its [non-current use] value by $28,000. Bob and Skip maintained that it was a single lot and should be reflected as such in the database. Skip said that perhaps the discrepancy occurred when the tax maps were drafted in 1973. The Board and Terry researched the records at hand and saw it was taxed as two lots as far back as 1975. After discussion, Dorothy motioned to return the parcel back to the respective two lots and for the Board and land owners to do more research on the issue and to ask Scott Sanborn for further clarification. Motion passed unanimously in favor.
Bills and vouchers were reviewed and signed.
Meeting adjourned 8:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandi Pierson
_________________________ _______________________ ________________________
Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs Robert Ells Lyell Smith