Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of December 8, 2014

 

 

Present: Betty Fulton, Chair; Bob Ells, Pat Mercer, and Sandi Pierson (clerical).

Others present: George and Pat White, Bob and Sharon Proulx, and Judith Lindahl.

Meeting opened at 7:000 PM. Attendance taken by the secretary.

Approval of minutes: The minutes of November 24, 2014 were unanimously approved with a typo correction.

Junk Ordinance: After discussion, Betty motioned to sign two letters to residents who are presently in violation of the junk ordinance requesting they come into compliance. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. Pat stated that the ordinance could not be enforced if the recipients remained noncompliant. Bob Proulx disagreed and stated that the Select Board has the power to enforce the ordinance.

Avitar:

  • After discussion, Pat motioned to approve and sign the five-year general assessing contract with Avitar. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. The contract was revised to encompass a number of suggestions by Attorney Waugh.

  • The Board discussed the 2015 reval contract. Pat stated that the indemnification clause included in the general assessing contract should also be in the reval contract. Betty stated that each contract stands on its own merit. After discussion, it was agreed Pat will confer with Avitar regarding the indemnification clause. Because Betty will not be available for the December 22 meeting, the Board will call a special meeting in order to subsequently sign the reval contract.

  • The Board reviewed an email to the town from Colin Higbie regarding his 2015 assessment. Colin felt the 2015 reassessment seemed excessive. He would like to confer with Avitar regarding the square footage and if only the new garage was reassessed. After discussion, it was agreed that Pat will get clarification from Avitar on how they would like to communicate with Colin.

    Equalization Data: The Board signed the 2014 Equalization Municipal Assessment Data Certificate to be submitted to the DRA in order to set the equalization rate. The DRA affirmed that the required data was in their system. The data was provided by Avitar.

    Police: The Board reviewed correspondence left in the drop box stating that the telephone directory was still listing a contact number for the “Orange Police Department.” After discussion, the Board directed Sandi to write to FairPoint and have them correct the error.

Spruce Ridge Wind Project: Planning Board Secretary Bob Proulx recapped his conversation with Attorney Waugh regarding the 500-foot wind turbines intended for Orange by Energias De Portugal Renewables (EDPR). Orange is slated for eight of the 29 proposed wind turbines. Bob reiterated that the town’s authority to reject the 1985 wind turbine project in Orange is no longer the case. The legislature established the Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) to review and give sanction to all large electrical projects. The SEC has nine members of which two are from the public. Bernie felt, however, that the town was in a good position given the strength of their zoning ordinances and Master Plan, including noncommercial, rural zoning, structure height restrictions, and the town’s vision statement. Bob said the turbines would also have a negative effect on Mount Cardigan State Forest considering the state park gets 10,000 visitors each year. Bob said he discussed with Attorney Waugh the “Bill of Rights for Sustainable Energy” warrant article that a number of other towns have done. Bernie felt the article was not legally binding and that an alternative option would be to draft a warrant article specific to the town of Orange. The town should have a warrant article that specifically asks the townspeople: are you in favor of an industrial wind project in the town of Orange? Bob said that Bernie hopes to attend the December 16 Planning Board meeting to learn more about the wind project issue.

The discussion about the Spruce Ridge Wind Project continued. Pat Mercer stated that since the state supersedes the town, perhaps state representatives can put forth counter legislation. She also suggested a multi-town meeting with the other affected towns, perhaps hosting a dinner at Canaan Hall. Judith Lindahl stated that part of the SEC criteria is listening to municipal administrators such as representatives from the Select Board, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission. Pat White said she doubted decommissioning bonds in reality covers the actual cost of proper decommissioning. Judith stated that after construction, EDPR will hand off the project to a limited liability company (LLC) which would be problematic to genuine decommissioning. Sharon said there are plans to develop a steering committee regarding the wind project and she hopes that one member from each board or committee in town will be represented. There was a brief discussion on legal representation for the town in regards to the wind project. Judith spoke about an attorney from Portsmouth who is well versed in the wind project issue may be open to meeting with the Select Board at no cost.

Other:

  • The Board received an Approval for Septic Construction from the NH DES for Cody Dugan/Razor Hill Road/Map 4, Lot 3-1

  • The Board reviewed an FYI from Avitar about information from a recent seminar on the history of telecommunications taxation.

     

    Secretary’s report:

  • The checks from the last meeting have not been issued.

  • Sandi stated the Department of Labor asked her what is the considered the town’s  payday. After discussion, the Board concurred to establish the paydays for the town as the 1st and 15th of each month.

  • Sandi asked what the reason was that she was asked by Pat Mercer to research the 2013-2014 minutes about the funds from 2013 that were encumbered to pay two remaining contracts (heater for the town clerk and the Upper Valley Humane Society). Sandi submitted to the Chair an email stream of Pat’s information request that she felt concluded with Pat’s implication that Sandi administratively encumbered the funds instead of the Board. Sandi said she spent additional time researching the minutes that established the Board encumbered the funds at a Selectmen’s meeting. Pat said she did not intend the implication. Betty stated that Sandi had nothing to do with the encumbering of funds.

Treasurer: The secretary’s report led to further conversation about various issues with the treasurer, including late checks and checks that do not correspond to the vouchers. Betty and Pat recognized that little can be done because it is an elected position.

Vouchers were reviewed and signed. Meeting adjourned 8:27 PM

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

______________________ Betty Fulton

______________________ Robert Ells

______________________ Patricia Mercer