Office of the Select Board
Town of Orange, New Hampshire
Minutes of April 23, 2013

 

Present: Betty Fulton (chaired the meeting), Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs, Bob Ells, and Sandi Pierson (clerical). 

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

 Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM.

 Minutes: The minutes of April 9, 2013 were approved as submitted.

MS-2: The Board unanimously approved and signed the 2013 MS-2 (appropriations voted on at town meeting) as prepared by Betty Fulton. Sandi will forward it to the DRA with the MS-9, MS-10, 2013 town meeting minutes, and 2013 warrant.

 Building permit: The Board reviewed and approved a building permit application for Sandi Pierson/Skyland Trail Road to enclose the front porch and construct a smaller one at the rear of the house. The permit was signed by the building inspector and the fee was attached.

Historical: The Board reviewed a request from Sharon Proulx for the town to reimburse $148.30 to the Orange Historical Commission for the acquisition of 22 binders with plastic sleeves which will be used to accommodate a collection of early town documents recovered by Gary Hamel in a local barn. After discussion, Bob motioned to reimburse the Historical Commission for the $148.30 expense. Betty seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. The Board agreed the funds would come out of the Culture and Recreation appropriation category.

Legal: The Board was in receipt of the 2013 retainer agreement for municipal legal services from Attorneys Gardner, Fulton, and Waugh. The Board approved a $2500 voucher for the retainer with the remaining $2500 due on or before October 30, 2013.

BLTA: The Board was in receipt of an appeal by Daniel and Hope Kokas to the Board of Land and Tax Appeals for their Land Use Change Tax. The Board directed Sandi to forward a copy of the appeal to Attorney Waugh and ask him how he feels the town should proceed.

UVHS: Judith Lindahl submitted to the Board a 2013 agreement between the town and the Upper Valley Humane Society at a flat fee of $300.00 for pet surrender and adoption services and lost and found services. After discussion and review, Dorothy motioned to accept the 2013 UVHS contract with the town for $300.00. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. The Board thanked Judith for her efforts on behalf of the town.

Tax Anticipation Note (TAN): Treasurer Tessa Michetti met with the Board to discuss this year’s line of credit from Mascoma Savings Bank. As per the year prior, it was agreed that a $400,000 line of credit was appropriate. Because a notary was not present to notarize the paperwork, the Board will meet with Tessa at Bernie Waugh’s office to sign the forms. (It is standard procedure that TAN documentation be reviewed and approved by the town’s attorney.)

Emergency Generator: The Board reviewed email correspondence from Cindy Richard of the NH Department of Safety (DOS) about the pending emergency generator grant for the town house. Ms. Richard noted that $3750.00 in matching grant money is eligible to the town. Attached to the correspondence was an Environmental and Historic Preservation Review (EPH). The grant expires on May 31, 2014 and is contingent upon the DOS/Business Office’s approval of the grant agreement as well as FEMA’s approval of the EHP review.  In her correspondence, Ms. Richard stated that she will forward a grant agreement to the town for appropriate signatures. The Board unanimously approved going forward with the Town House Generator Project. Sandi will forward the documentation to Emergency Management Director Brent Stevens. It was noted that the town’s matching funds of $3750.00 will come out of the Town House Capital Reserve Fund.

 

Other:

 

  • A letter of appreciation was received from TRI-Cap for Orange’s annual contribution.
  • The town has a “premium holiday” (credit balance) from Primex of $1088.42 which will be reflected on the July 1 invoice.
  • The town received their current median ratio and equalization ratio from the DRA. The ratio for both is 97.5%.
  • The Board was in receipt of a Community Action Report from the DRA. Sam Greene had met with Sandi to review tax exemptions and credits.

 

Veteran credits: The Board reviewed and signed a number of requalification forms for veteran credits as prepared by Sandi. This is part of the file update per the DRA.

Secretary’s report: Sandi noted the following items:

  • Sandi stated there is one abatement, one subdivision, one property revaluation, and five construction projects slated for this year’s pick-ups.
  • Scott Sanborn will be on the agenda at the next meeting to discuss water drainage issues around the town house.
  • The office is in receipt of a pamphlet from NH Legal Assistance about the Senior Citizens Project. The project provides free legal services to individuals who are at least 60 years old. Legal assistance includes the areas of financial exploitation, debt collection, taxes, Social Security, Medicaid, foreclosure, and many others. You may contact the Select Board’s office for more information. Information on this legal service will also be available at www.OrangeNH.us
  • There is a new law effective April 1, 2013 (RSA 76:21) that for property taxation purposes the town prorates the tax on a structure that is damaged by fire or natural disaster and causes the building not to be used as intended. (Generally the property tax years end on March 31.) Because the homeowner needs to file an application for a proration within sixty days of a fire, Sandi requested the Board allow her to follow up on the specifics of the statute with the DRA and contact the property owners who recently lost their home to a fire. The Board agreed Sandi should do so.

Pick-ups: The Board unanimously agreed to follow up on a property which may need to have additional land taken out of current use due to apparent land usage expansion.  The Board also approved two additional properties being re-assessed due to new construction and exterior improvements. The Board will notify the three parties they are on the 2013 pick-up list.

Public Comment: none

Vouchers were signed.

Meeting adjourned 8:15 PM

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sandi Pierson

 

______________________      ______________________      ______________________

Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs             Betty Fulton                                   Robert Ells