Date:  December 20, 2004
Time:  7:00 pm
Place:  Town Office
Present: Selectmen Jerry Greene, Chair., Robert MacFarland and Daniel Donovan, III
  And Recording Secretary Peggy Arn

1) Maurice Guay attended the meeting to inform the Board that he had looked in the maintenance and part replacement costs for a tub grinder.  He found out that it could be very expensive and cost prohibitive.  He then informed the Board that he looked into purchasing a large, self-feeding chipper and found that it would be a more feasible alternative to burning the brush.  He found a place that would take the wood pallets and the chips from the chipper could actually be sold.  The estimates he got for the chipper were between 25 and 30 thousand compared to the 70 to 80 thousand for the tub grinder.  The Board supported this alternative to the tub grinder.
2) At 7:15, Chairman Greene adjourned the regular meeting and the Board attended the Public Hearing for the Conservation Commission.
3) At7:30, Chairman Greene called a Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3,II(b).
4) Chairman Greene called the regular meeting to order at 7:55.
5) Selectman Greene told the Board that Chief Hautanen had asked if the Board would approve the purchase of an audio two cassette recorder for this Police Department.  The Board agreed that it could be purchased under this year’s budget and approved the purchase cost of under $200.
6) Mr. Greene stated that he had been contacted by Jim Nelson of Nelson Funeral Home to have approval to carry over $3,000 from this year’s budget for expenditure next year on the cemetery lot recording.  He plans to continue the research and work in the coming year.  The Board agreed and requested that they be given a written request from Mr. Nelson.
7) The following persons then attended the meeting:  Ms. Hellyn Egan of 240 Gibbons Highway, Gerald Vanwinkle of 258 Gibbons Highway, Melissa Collins and Robert Collins of 44 Abbot Hill Road.  Ms. Egan stated that they were all at the meeting to discuss brush burning at the Recycling Center.  They feel that the ashes from the burning are falling on their cars and houses.  Discussion ensued as to the burning and everyday operations of the Recycling Center.  They were informed that the plans are to stop burning brush and to chip the brush.  The problem is that this chipper cannot be purchased until it is approved at Town Meeting in March.  Mr. Vanwinkle stated that there is loud noises coming from the center very early in the morning.  He wanted to know what time the work was supposed to start and what time it actually did start.
8) Selectman Greene stated that he had been visited by a representative from DES and that he was in agreement that the burning was being done correctly and under permits from them.  He will also look into the noise issue, the burning, i.e. how many, timing and also charges for landfill.  The Board will let the parties know the results of his research on these issues.
9) The Board reviewed a request from the Wilton Main Street Association for an abatement of the taxes on Lot 48.  Selectman Donovan made a motion to abate the 2004 taxes on Lot 48 on Main Street.  Selectman MacFarland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
10) The Board reviewed and discussed a letter from Benjamin Greene of the Suma Realty Trust concerning the use of the parking lot next to the Fire Station.  The letter was written to the Board as a result of the Police Department informing his tenant, TDS, that they could not park in this lot and told to move their vehicles.  Mr. Greene stated that this is public parking lot and that his tenant has a right to use it and that if there was to be a fire, they understand that they run the risk of being blocked in.  The Board discussed the matter and will write a letter stating that it is a public parking lot and that they do run the risk of being blocked in.  It was also clarified that it was the Police Chief and not the Fire Chief that informed TDS of what he thought was incorrect parking.
11) The Board reviewed a request from Steve Moheban of Senator Development, LLC to release an escrow account for the construction of a fire pond on Abbot Hill by the Four Corners Farm  The fire pond was approved by Fire Chief Ray Dick.  The Board agreed to release the escrow account and Attorney Little will be notified.
12) The Board approved one Veteran’s Application for a Tax Credit.  They also approved and signed two welfare tax liens.
13) The bills and payroll for the week ending December 18, 2004 were reviewed and approved.
14) The correspondence and informational material was reviewed.
15) Each Board member received a packet of information from Richard Thompson with background information on Putnam Hill Road.  They will review the information a discuss at the next meeting.  They received a report from Road Agent Steve Elliott stating what need to be done to the road to bring it to a Class V Road.  Mr. Greene requested that he also include the cost of these improvements.
16) The Board reviewed a note from Jane Farrell concerning the dates of the annual school meetings and town meetings.  It was agreed that the Town and School elections will be on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 from 10 am to 7 PM.  The Town Meeting will be on March 10, with the  business portion of the Elementary School beginning at 7:30 and the town meeting at 8pm.  The High School usually has their meeting on the Friday before town and school elections, which would be March 4, 2005.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 on a motion, with all in favor.
 

Respectfully submitted;
Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary