Orange Archive

Office of the Select Board

Town of Orange, New Hampshire

Minutes of August 13, 2013

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

Meeting opened at 6:45 PM.

Nonpublic session: Dorothy motioned to go into nonpublic session pursuant to RSA 91-A-ii-(c) for the purpose of meeting with the tax collector. Sharon Proulx joined the Board in nonpublic session. Betty motioned to come out of nonpublic session at 7:04. Dorothy seconded. Unanimous in favor. Betty motioned to seal the minutes of nonpublic session. Dorothy seconded. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Public meeting opened at 7:05 PM. Others present: Sharon Proulx and Henry Minasian. Minutes: The minutes of July 23, 2013 were approved as submitted.

Mascoma Valley Health Initiative (MVHI): Dorothy stated the MVHI is seeking two representatives from Orange. After discussion it was agreed to ask Gloria Stevens if she would serve.

Building Permits:

• The Board reviewed and signed a building permit for Jim Collins and Kristen Laine/564 Tuttle Hill for improvements and a minor locale change of the historical Orange schoolhouse located on their property.
• The Board revisited a building permit from Thomas Handel/Williams Road that was tabled at the July 23 meeting due to being incomplete. After review, the Board deemed the building permit application complete and signed it.

Intent to Cut Wood or Timber: The Board reviewed and signed an Intent to Cut for Thomas and Wendy Huntley/Cross Road/Map 1, Lot 27.

Utility vegetation control: The Board discussed whether to exempt all town properties from the upcoming vegetation control by herbicidal application on NHEC corridors. Betty said she did not have an opinion on the matter. Bob and Dorothy agreed to not apply the herbicide on town property. Sandi will contact the Vegetation Control Services to let them know that no utility corridors on town property should be sprayed.

MS-5: The Board reviewed and signed a revised MS-5 of which a few entries were corrected. Sharon reviewed the tax collector data and a few more changes were made. Sandi will send the revised MS-5 to the DRA with a cover letter noting there have been modifications.

Veteran credit update: The Board reviewed and signed a requalification for a veteran tax credit. (Requalification update occurs every five years per the DRA). Sandi stated that this application completes the veteran credit update.

Cardigan Land Reimbursement: A response was received by email from the office of Senator Jeanne Forrester about why state reimbursement for forest land was substantially reduced in 2013. The representative from Senator Forrester’s office wrote that Current Use Board adjusted the assessment ranges based on the combined output of the old and new assessment models of which data includes timber type and volume, stumpage values and forest management costs. The state anticipates that the assessment ranges will continue to fluctuate over the next few years as the new model gradual replaces the old model and the data input is refined. Current Use land values have considerably dropped due to the market influx.

NH Department of Transportation:

• A Block Grant payment of $8,280.71 was electronically deposited into the town’s account on July 1, 2013.
• The Board received notification from the NH DOT that the FY 2013-2014 Block Grant allocation to Orange is estimated to be $27,602.36. This figure can change based on the final audit of the State’s FY 2013 revenues.
• A bridge inspection report was received from the NH DOT. They reported that the two bridges they inspected, Ford Brook [Number Seven Brook] over New Colony Road and Brown Brook over Millbrook Road [River Road] were in compliance with the DOT’s recommendations and that no action needs to be taken by the town.

Other:

• Betty noted that capital reserve transfers are not processed by the use of vouchers.
• The Board would like to meet with Scott Sanborn to discuss updating the tax maps.
• Betty will contact Tessa Michetti about FICA payments being reflected on the monthly spreadsheet.
• The Board unanimously agreed to table paying an invoice for $17,901.00 from Richard Remacle until invoice #1404 is submitted (which was included in the total but not attached) and the road agent apportions FEMA and operating budget totals.

• Sandi followed up on the discrepancy between the state’s figure on the acreage of Cardigan State Forest and the town’s assessing database. The Department of Revenue and Economic Development’s recent survey puts the state forest total at 5,076 acres which they delineate as 8.5 acres of recreation land and 5,067.5 of forestry land. Their total includes the newly acquired Hoyt Hill acreage.
• Information about FEMA grants for flood damage due to the heavy rains between June 26 and July 3, 2013 was forwarded to the road agent.
Cross Country Appraisals needs to assess the land that will be taken out of current use per the Handel building permit. There is also a parcel of land with two access roadways that need to be taken out of current use.
• A response to a request for FairPoint’s inventory of taxable property has not been received, nor has a response from WaveComm been received. Sandi suggested that Sam
• Betty noted that capital reserve transfers are not processed by the use of vouchers.
The Board would like to meet with Scott Sanborn to discuss updating the tax maps. Betty will contact Tessa Michetti about FICA payments being reflected on the monthly spreadsheet.
The Board unanimously agreed to table paying an invoice for $17,901.00 from Richard Remacle until invoice #1404 is submitted (which was included in the total but not attached) and the road agent apportions FEMA and operating budget totals.

• Sandi followed up on the discrepancy between the state’s figure on the acreage of Cardigan State Forest and the town’s assessing database. The Department of Revenue and Economic Development’s recent survey puts the state forest total at 5,076 acres which they delineate as 8.5 acres of recreation land and 5,067.5 of forestry land. Their total includes the newly acquired Hoyt Hill acreage.
• Information about FEMA grants for flood damage due to the heavy rains between June 26 and July 3, 2013 was forwarded to the road agent.
• Cross Country Appraisals needs to assess the land that will be taken out of current use per the Handel building permit. There is also a parcel of land with two access roadways that need to be taken out of current use.
• A response to a request for FairPoint’s inventory of taxable property has not been received, nor has a response from WaveComm been received. Sandi suggested that Greene from the DRA explain to the Board how to go about getting the assessments. This tax data should be entered into the town’s database before submitting the MS-1 to the DRA.
• Mike Trimpi came into the office recently to commend the road agent for the good quality maintenance and conditions of the roads in Orange.

Vouchers were signed. Meeting adjourned 8:10 PM

Respectfully submitted, Sandi Pierson

______________________ Dorothy Behlen Heinrichs

______________________ Betty Fulton

______________________ Robert Ells