Office of the Select Board
Town of Orange, New Hampshire
Minutes of June 25, 2013
Present: Betty Fulton (chaired the meeting), Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs, Bob Ells, and Sandi Pierson (clerical).
Others present: George and Pat White, Dean Vanier, and Senator Jeanne Forrester.
Meeting opened at 7:00 PM.
Minutes: The minutes of June 11, 2013 were approved as amended.
Senator Jeanne Forrester: Senator Forrester spoke on a number of issues. She said the Senate will vote on the state budget on June 26. The budget is up by 3% and includes hospital compensation for treating the uninsured as well as scholarship grants for universities. There was an increase in funding to Children in Need of Services (CHINS). Senator Forester did not support raising the gas tax nor did she support casinos in New Hampshire. She supports LCHIP but does not think revenue from it should be diverted to expenditures of which it is not intended. (LCHIP, New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to NH communities and non-profits to conserve and preserve New Hampshire’s natural, cultural and historic resources)
Senator Forrest spoke about her sponsorship of Senate Bill 99 which will provide for an outside review of the Site Evaluation Committee (SEC). SEC oversees the development of energy projects in New Hampshire such as wind farms and Northern Pass. Betty asked Senator Forrester if she would look into why the Forest and Land Reimbursement revenue was significantly cut from last year.
MS-5: The Board reviewed and signed the MS-5 as prepared by Betty Fulton. Sandi will forward it to the DRA.
Building Permit: The Board reviewed a building permit application from Thomas Handel of Williams Road (Map 3, Lot 61D) for a single family home. The Board deemed the application incomplete because it lacked the scale drawing that delineates building layout, placement and distances from other buildings, septic, and boundary lines; driveway, etc. They asked Sandi to notify the property owner and request that he submit the required documentation.
Pool dismantling: Nancy Schwarz had emailed Betty saying she was dismantling their above- ground pool and wanted to know how she its value can be removed from her property assessment card. The Board affirmed that 2013 taxes are based on what is on the property as of April 1. Sandi stated that she told Ms. Schwarz to note on her 2014 inventory form that the pool is no longer on the property.
Land Use Change Tax (LUCT): On the advice of Attorney Waugh, Dorothy motioned to rebate Daniel and Hope Kokas their Land Use Change Tax of $1150.00. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor.
Junk and Junkyards: Dorothy said she drafted letters to residents who are in violation of the junk and junkyard ordinance and had the drafts reviewed by the Planning Board secretary and town counsel. Attorney Waugh felt that before the town enforces a property clean-up, the Planning Board should first revise the provisions of the Orange Zoning Ordinance because what constitutes scrap appears vague. Any changes in the zoning ordinance would need to be approved by the voters at town meeting. The Board, however, can act on junk cars because the existing state statute allows for no more than two unregistered vehicles on one’s property.
The Board agreed that a property that presently has a vast amount of junk and rubbish near the banks of a local brook should be brought to the attention of the EPA.
Other:
Secretary’s report: Sandi noted the following items:
- Information about the generator grant has been forwarded to Brent Stevens including the required Environmental and Historical documentation required by FEMA.
- NHEC is doing a selective, town-wide application of herbicides to undesirable vegetation growing within power line right of ways beginning on September 4, 2013. Property owners may request to be notified when spraying will commence in their area. You can also make the Vegetation Control Services aware of environmentally sensitive areas where herbicide application should be restricted, such as wells, springs, crops, or pasture. A personal notification request must be received by the consulting forester, Brian Johnsen, no later than July 24, 2013. Coupons for personal notification and/or request for restricted application may be picked up from the Select Board’s office, the town clerk’s office, or downloaded at www.orangenh.us
Condolences on behalf of the town were sent to the Gunn Family on the passing of Ben Gunn.
Bob Ells noted that the Planning Board has tabled the FEMA flood insurance issue because it has not affected people acquiring mortgages.
Vouchers were signed. Meeting adjourned 8:15 PM
Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson
Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs
Betty Fulton
Robert Ells
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