Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of November 27, 2018

 

Present: Dorothy Heinrichs, Chair; Robert Ells, Tamara Fairbank, and Sandi Pierson (clerical).Others present: Bev Ells and Karen and Donald McFarland.
Meeting opened at 6 PM. Attendance taken by the secretary.

Minutes:

  • The minutes of November 13, 2018 were approved.

  • The nonpublic minutes of November 13, 2018 were approved.

    Abatements: The Board signed two abatements as voted on at the November 13th meeting:

  • Elderly tax deferral application: $2,776.76

Inventory form penalty: $17.00

Intent to Cut: The Board reviewed and signed an Intent to Cut for Ronnie Goodearl/100 New Colony Road/Map 3, Lot 40. Logger is Walter Buckwold.

Attorney retainer fee: The Board reviewed an email from Attorney Adele Fulton (Fulton, Gardner, and Waugh) regarding the annual retainer fee, effective April 2019. Due to the increase in legal council during 2018, Adele proposed that it be increased from $2000 to $5,000. As been the agreement in previous years, any unused balance from the retainer at the end of the fiscal year will be carried over to the next year. Adele also suggested the option of monthly billing at an hourly rate. After discussion, the Board concurred to approve a retainer contract at $5,000.

The board also discussed whether we would like to create a fund to pay for any additional costs in this fiscal year or if we would prefer to just be invoiced for those services. The board decided to ask Gardner, Fulton and Waugh to invoice us.

UVLSRP correspondence: The Board signed a letter to the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission in support of their USDA Solid Waste Management Grant application. (Letter was approved at the November 13th meeting.)

Town House heating fuel: The Board signed a one-year contract with Young’s Propane thatkeeps the cost per gallon of fuel at $1.35 over their cost. This will result in a current price of about $2.35 per gallon. Young’s Propane will revise their recent bill that charged $5.99 per gallon, which will reflect the contract agreement.

Budget: The Board reviewed the Municipal Budget Report ending November 2018.Other:

The Board received a questionnaire about the Pemigewasset watershed. Dorothy stated that Planning Board Chair Scott Sanborn has already completed the form.

The Board reviewed an invoice from Gardner, Fulton and Waugh for $562.95. (Paid from out of the retainer.)

 A Certificate of Occupancy was received for Donald and Karen McFarlanes home.

Secretary’s report:

  • Dena Aitken wants her name deleted from all town records for a property in town, and does not want mail from the town to be sent to her address. She said it results from a divorce agreement. Sandi stated that the town has not received any documentation of a property transfer and there is no alternative address to send necessary mail, such as the inventory form and tax bill. The Board agreed Sandi should contact NHMA legal counsel and ask how the town should proceed with the request.
  • The Board concurred that Skip Smith may proceed with the installation of three lights in
  • An acknowledgement receipt of the certified letter regarding current use sent to Billie Brockhum and Terrance McQueeney on November 6 has not been returned. The Board asked Sandi to contact the West Lebanon post office in regards.
  • Sandi stated that she believes legislation was passed that requires all approved Intent to Cut applications be publicly posted. She will check with the DRA, and will post RonnieGoodearl’s application if required.
  • The revised school payment for the next eight months has been received. It is an increase of $5,437.00.

  • Reports from other Boards and Committees:

  • Dorothy stated the Conservation Commission will meet on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 6 PM the Town House.

Public comment:

  • Donald McFarland stated he will submit a revised current use map that accurately reflects the land use change area of his property.

Bills and vouchers were reviewed and signed. Meeting adjourned 6:40 PM.

Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs

Robert Ells

Tamara Fairbank