Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of February 8, 2016

 

Present: Dorothy Heinrichs, Chair; Robert Ells, Lyell “Skip” Smith, and Sandi Pierson (clerical). Others present: Beverly Ells, Bob and Sharon Proulx, Mathew Angell, Sophie Seace, and Tessa Michetti.

Meeting opened at 7:00 PM.

Financial: Matt Angell met with the Board to review the MS-5 that he recently completed and uploaded to the web portal for the DRA to review. He said the final copy may need some minor adjustments in categorizing expenditures. Matt said that an important consideration is the figures need to correlate to the MS-2 (Appropriations Voted) and the MS-4 (Revised Estimated Revenues) because those are the municipal service forms that are used to set the tax rate. Matt said the MS-5 was prepared using an accrual accounting basis and reported that Treasurer Tessa Michetti’s records reconcile with the bank statements entirely. Tessa said she comprehended and supported Matt’s accounting approach. Tessa would like to review the final MS-5 as approved by the Board. Sandi will log her into the web portal as a municipal viewer.

Matt said that the town’s deficit, first thought to be about $38,000, was actually $4,473 and that this should be able to be remedied without a special warrant article appropriating money for it. He felt that given the advantageous financial results shown in the 2015 budget tallies, continuing those fiscal practices will remedy the small deficit. He feels the DRA will agree to that.

Matt explained why he recommended the town appropriate funds on the warrant to pay for the 3% discount on early payment of property taxes. He said the 3% applies to the whole tax bill yet the school or county does not offer such a discount thus the entire burden falls on the town’s portion. Dorothy stated that the Board has reviewed his recommendations, have discussed it at Board meetings, and have decided to remove the 3% discount article from the warrant.

Matt said he would prepare a brief report of his financial work for the 2015 town report.

Minutes:

  •   The January 26, 2016 minutes were unanimously approved as submitted.

  •   The February 2, 2016 minutes were unanimously approved as submitted.

Warrant: The Board reviewed the draft of the warrant which included a number of revisions recommended by Attorney Waugh. After discussion, they agreed with Attorney Waugh that the warrant did not need to include voting on accepting the Block Grant because it is a routine payment (revenue) from the State that is already incorporated in the operating budget article.

The Select Board will meet on February 10, 2016 following the Budget Public Hearing to sign the final warrant.

Investment Policy: Skip motioned to approved and sign the 2016 Investment Policy. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. This is signed each year and pertains to the treasurer’s task of depositing funds.

Veteran exemption: The Board signed a letter to a property owner regarding their eligibility of a veteran exemption.

Upper Valley Humane Society: The Board unanimously approved and signed the 2016 Animal Shelter Agreement with the UVHS at a cost of $300.00.

Municipal records: The Board reviewed correspondence from the NH Municipal Association regarding their Orange-related legal records prior to 2010. Under the NH Rules of Professional Conduct, attorneys may destroy files that are at least six years old or send them to the client. After discussion the Board agreed the Municipal Association should dispose of them instead of sending them all to the town.

Resignation: The Board accepted with regret the resignation of Gloria Stevens from the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Other:

  •   The Board received correspondence from the DRA stating that the equalization rate for the town is 100.5%.

  •   The Board was in receipt of Bobby Senter’s Application for Alteration of Terrain for his gravel pit on Burnt Hill Road. The Board will review it.

    Secretary’s report:

  •   The quote for office cleaning from Big Mike’s Cleaning was $1500, the high cost being due to travel time. The Board agreed that the quote was too expensive and other options should be considered.

  •   Jeanne Minasian has dropped off her Trustee of the Trust Funds material at the Select Board’s office. Sandi contacted Trustee Nathaniel Emerson letting him know it was available for him to pick up.

    Public comment:

  •   Bob Proulx applauded the Board for having a full audit of the books and to have the MS- 5 done by Matt Angell. He commended Matt’s guidance on the municipal budget matters. Bob said he was also pleased that someone was running for each office vacancy on the ballot.

  •   It was brought to the Board’s attention that a resident had an accident on Burnt Hill the morning of February 3 due to the icy road conditions. They reported that the state police officer who responded questioned why the roads were not yet sanded. The Board asked Sandi to bring this to the road agent’s attention.

    Bills and vouchers were reviewed and signed.

Meeting adjourned 7:55 P.M.

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs

Robert Ells

Lyell Smith