Office of the Select Board
Town of Orange, New Hampshire
Minutes of February 13, 2018
Present: Dorothy Heinrichs, Chair; Robert Ells, Skip Smith, and Sandi Pierson (clerical)
Others present: Bev Ells
Meeting opened at 6 PM. Attendance taken by the secretary.
Minutes: The minutes of January 23, 2018 were unanimously approved.
Investment Policy: The Board reviewed and approved the 2018 Investment Policy. This is a standard document required by the auditor.
Forest Stewardship: The Board reviewed a Summary of Stewardship Plan for Current Use Assessment (CU-12 form) and a Forest Management Plan for Jacqueline and Paul Dick/Map 4, Lot 8/Tuttle Hill. After review and discussion, Skip motioned to approve and sign the CU-12; Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor.
2018 Warrant: The Board discussed and unanimously approved the following warrant article amendments:
To recommend Article 2 pertaining to the proposed changes to the Orange Zoning Ordinance as put forth by the Planning Board.
To recommend Article 3 pertaining to the prepayment of property taxes.
To recommend Article 4 with the following modifications to the elderly exemption: Income limits: if single, not more than $24,000, and if married, a combined income of not more than $36,000. (The current net income limits are: single: $17,000; married: $29,000.) Property tax exemption limits: age 65 years up to age 75: $50,000 exemption (currently $25,000); age 75 years up to age 80 years: $65,000 exemption (currently $33,000); age 80 and older: $75,000 exemption (currently $50,000).
Final warrant and next Board meeting: After review by the attorney, the Board will sign and post the final warrant on Monday, February 26. The Board will hold their second meeting of the month on that day instead of Tuesday, February 27.
Committees: The Board affirmed they would be appointing two committees in 2018. One will be to explore how the town can honor veterans. The other will be to study and research a parking strategy for the Town House.
Other:
The Board was in receipt of a letter from Gardner, Fulton and Waugh notifying them that Bernie Waugh has retired and has transitioned to an “of counsel” arrangement.
The Board was in receipt of an informational sheet from the tax collector regarding a .065-acre property on Tuttle Hill presently owned by the town. The property is presently valued as a separate lot for $18,500. The Board will ask the assessor if the value would change if the town sold it to an abutter as an annexation. They will also ask the attorney if they are allowed to only offer it to the two abutters as an annexation.
The Board was notified by the State of NH of an automatic deposit of the January Block Grant payment of $6,032.21.
Secretary’s report:
Casella has refunded the $59.91 overpayment from December.
Sandi will contact Karen McFarlane to see if she will continue as welfare agent. This is now a position appointed by the Select Board.
Skip will replace the batteries in the two motion-sensory lights in the Town House.
FYI: the total interest in 2016 for capital reserves and cemetery trusts was $36.37. Due to the increase in interest rates, the interest for 2017 was $753.01
Reports from other Boards and Committees: n/a
Public comment: n/a
Bills and vouchers were reviewed and signed.
Meeting adjourned 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandi Pierson
_________________________ _______________________ ________________________
Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs Robert Ells Lyell Smith