Date:  May 9, 2005
Time:  7:10 pm
Place:  Town Office
Present: Selectmen Jerry Greene, Daniel Donovan, III and David Glines
  And Recording Secretary Peggy Arn

1) Chairman Greene called the meeting to order at 7:10 following the Public Hearing.
2) Road Agent Steve Elliott gave the Board a list of paving projects that he has planned and are being paved now.  They are Pead Hill, top coat of 1.604 miles, Abbot Hill Acres, top coat of .613 miles, Dale Street, top coat of .423 miles and Curtis Farm Road, top coat of .555 miles.  Chairman Greene stated that he had been going over some of the town’s roads and was concerned about the condition of so many roads.  He asked Steve if there was any work scheduled that he felt could be put off for a year in order to address repairing other roads.  Steve stated that he was paving what they had discussed and had made the decision that they were the ones that need the work this year.  Discussion ensued as to the condition of all roads and which ones were in the worst condition.  The Board will further discuss this issue when the report on the roads has been completed by Ned Connell of the Transportation Systems Planning.
3) Mr. Greene asked Mr. Elliott if he was aware of the condition of the grass at Laurel Hill Cemetery.  Steve stated that he was and it seems that the grass in back area of the cemetery takes much longer to get green.  Steve stated that the would do an analysis of the soil in that area.
4) The next item on the agenda was that of the selection of a person to manage the town’s Transportation Enhancement Sidewalk project.  Main Street Association members, Charles Wagner, Tracy Hutchins-Bardsley, George Andersen, Carl Anderson and Mickey Pieterse attended the meeting.  Steve Williams from NRPC presented a proposal and scope of work for the necessary project management.  He answered questions from the members and the Board of Selectmen.  Mr. William estimated that the project will take 555 hours and will cost $25,000.  $20,000 is included in the grant and the town responsible for the remaining $5,000.  The first year or 2005, will be spent on engineering and environmental studies and the bid-letting will take place in the spring of 2006.  Mr. William stated that he will work closely with a committee that will be made up of representatives from the Selectmen’s Board, the Main Street Association and the merchants on Main Street to insure that the merchants keep their businesses running with minimal interruption.  The Board and members of the Main Street Association agreed to work with NRPC.
5) Carl Andersen asked the Board if the “reserved” parking signs that two business on Main Street put up, could be removed by the Town and what hours they could be not be used.  After a discussion of the signs, it was agreed that they business owners would be informed that they could not be displayed between the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.  The Police Department will also increase enforcement of the two hour parking.
6) Chief Hautanen informed the Board that the Art Festival is asking permission to close Main Street Friday night, June 3, 2005.  They would like time to set up tents for the festival.  After a discussion, it was agreed that they could close the road but not until 11:00 pm.
7) The next item was that of the impound area behind the Police Station.  After a discussion of the type of fence to use, it was agreed that it will be constructed of pressure treated wood. The estimated cost is $2,325.  The Main Street Association has offered to put the impound fence up to reduce the cost to the town.  The Board agreed to use the pressure treated wood instead of the chain-link fence.
8) Town Assessor Todd Hayward attended the meeting and presented the Board with a list of his recommendations for people that filed a request for an abatement for last year.  The list was reviewed, discussed and approved by the Board.  A discussion on the first of two tax bills was discussed and it was agreed that the bills should be sent out by the end of May to be due July 1st.
9) The issue of gravel pits and how they are taxed was discussed.  Todd informed the Board that he had met with a  representative from the Department of Revenue and they had reviewed the gravel pits in operation.  One recommendation was that the site-specific needed every 5 years should be required every year.
10) Selectman Greene told the Board that he had been asked if the state’s laws on “No Littering” applied to towns.  Selectman Donovan stated that they did.  The town does have the authority to put up no littering signs if they chose to.
11) The Board discussed the purchase of the chipper for the Recycling Center.  The Board agreed that they should proceed with the purchase of a 15” wood chipper.
12) Selectman Donovan asked a question that had come up at a Planning Board meeting concerning the Highway Agent’s authority to require 300’ sight distance for driveways.  The Board asked to have Steve inform the Board on what the requirement is based on.
13) The Board reviewed and signed the payroll and the bills for the week ending  May 7, 2005.  They reviewed the correspondence and informational material.
14) The meeting was adjourned on a motion at 10:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted;
Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary