Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of April 26, 2016

 

Present: Dorothy Heinrichs, Chair; Robert Ells, Lyell ‘Skip’ Smith, and Sandi Pierson (clerical). Others present: Beverly Ells and Martha Richards

Meeting opened at 7:00 PM.

County Informational: Grafton County Commissioner Martha Richards gave an informational update on county matters. She gave updates on the county farm, correctional facility, and nursing home. She supports more treatment and rehabilitation services for those experiencing drug and alcohol habits. She anticipates a 7.9% increase in the county budget . She stated she was in favor of burying the entirety of “Northern Pass” and opposed to industrial wind in the area as well as fracking and nuclear power.

Dorothy and Martha discussed a “medical partnership” between the county and DHMC. Bob spoke about the events leading up to the town having no government in June of 2015 and how it was resolved. Skip spoke in favor of keeping the County farm in operation. It is the last county farm in the State.

Martha encourages people to frequent the farm stand for produce and to stop in for a general tour.

Minutes:

  •   The public minutes of April 12, 2016 minutes were approved as submitted. Skip abstained because he did not attend the meeting.

  •   The nonpublic minutes of April 12, 2016 minutes were approved as submitted. Skip abstained because he did not attend the meeting.

  •   The Board voted unanimously in favor to seal the nonpublic minutes of April 12, 2016 minutes.

 

Safety Report: The Board reviewed a building safety inspection report from the NH Department of Labor. The safety issues listed focused solely on the fire extinguisher and the cleaning products currently used in the building. There were no other aspects of the Town House deemed a safety hazard by the Department of Labor.

Fire extinguisher: Needs to be inspected and tagged. Resolution: Hampshire Fire Company of Lebanon is scheduled to come to the Town House on Monday, May 2, to inspect and recertify the existing fire extinguisher. The Board has authorized the purchase of three additional fire extinguishers to be placed in the building. Dorothy has done this.

  •   Safety data sheets need to be available for each cleaning chemical in the building. Resolution: These are available on each company’s website. They will be downloaded and hard copies will be printed.

  •   An eye-washing station must be available if a safety data sheet recommends the flushing of eyes if the product comes in contact with them. Resolution: The Board hopes to furnish nontoxic cleaning alternatives and dispose of current products necessitating eye- washing.

  •   Protective gear must be available to those cleaning with chemicals. Resolution: When it is determined what cleaning products will be in the building, the Board will review the safety data sheet and provide the applicable protective gear (such as latex gloves and safety glasses).

Veteran credit: The Board reviewed and signed a letter to resident regarding the veteran credit.

Deputy Fire Warden: The Board reviewed the recommendation from Fire Warden Brent Stevens for the Board to approve the appointment of Richard Colburn of Eastman Road as a Deputy Fire Warden. Skip motioned to approve and sign the recommendation. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor. It will be forwarded to the State Fire Marshal.

Trash pick-up mailing: The Board reviewed a draft of a postcard, to be mailed town-wide, listing the alternative 2016 holiday trash pick-up dates and the large trash pick-up date. Dorothy requested that the dates for hazardous material disposal in Lebanon be included.

Insurance: The Board reviewed bonding and liability insurance coverage and the price quote from Primex. (The town’s present insurance company, Property Liability Trust, will no longer offer this insurance as of June 30, 2016). With discounts, the one-year cost of bonding and liability insurance from Primex is $1,672.00, which is a decrease of $443.88 from the most recent Property Liability Trust annual cost. This quote is after a number of prospective discounts, totaling $260.00, including being a multi-contract town (they presently cover Orange with Workman’s Comp insurance), Orange having a very low claim history ($120.00 in the last seven years), and the pending adoption by the Board of a number of policies. The Board will further review the policies that merits $48.00 of the total discount. After discussion, the Board unanimously agreed that Primex should proceed with the formal contracts for the Board’s review and signatures.

Other:

  •   Dorothy stated that she and Judith Lindahl will be raking the garden hillside at the Town House. Skip will contact Scott about removing the gravel from winter plowing from the triangle at the flagpole site.

  •   Congresswoman Anne Kuster sent the town a contact sheet and requested it be posted.

  •   The Board reviewed the State certification of 2015 tax bill mailing submitted by Sharon

    Proulx

  •   The Board reviewed the attorney’s itemized bill for the TAN. This was an FYI only and

    comes out of the retainer.

  •   The Board was in receipt of the state-wide list of “Red List Bridges” from the NH DOT. The only one listed for Orange was the multi-culvert bridge over Brown Brook on Brock Hill Road near the Bruce Ells residence.

  •   The Board reviewed information from UVLSRPC re: sites and dates for Household Hazardous Waste Collection. This is a fee program for Orange residents.

  •   The Board received a notice from the State that they electronically deposited $2,329.40 for the 2015 reimbursement for Forest and Lands (Mount Cardigan State Forest).

  •   FYI Correspondence was received from Gary Roberge of Avitar regarding the 2017 assessment of utilities. Gary wrote that if the State Assessing Board amends the assessing rules for utilities, the town will have to accept DRA values or hire someone other than Avitar to assess utilities.

Secretary’s report:Green Acre Woodlands (formerly the Casperson property) has submitted their current use maps, stewardship plan, and current use grading reports. Sandi submitted to each Board member a report on the completion of a 5,100-acre conservation project, The Cardigan Highlands Forest Legacy Project, all of which is owned by Green Acre Woodlands. The Highlands project includes Groton Wind Project but not the Orange acreage.

Reports from other Boards and Committees: n/a Public comment: n/a
Bills and vouchers were reviewed and signed.

Meeting adjourned 8:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs

Robert Ells

Lyell Smith