Date:  March 23, 2009
Time:  6:30 PM
Place:  Town Office
Present: Selectmen Daniel Donovan, William Condra and Richard Rockwood and Town Attorney Silas Little and Recording Secretary Peggy Arn

Road Agent Steven Elliott attended the meeting.  He informed the Board that he had been working on the project of cleaning up the trees and brush that had been downed as a result of the ice storm this winter.  He had been inspecting the roads and compiling a list of areas that need to be cleaned up.  He had also been working on a contract to be used to retain companies that will be awarded the bid to do the clean up work.  He stated that it is his intention to have separate bids for different roads.  He is working on cost estimates to make sure the bids are appropriate for the work to be done.

Discussion ensued as to the preparation of the bid packages and what the timetable would be for the completion of the clean up.  Steve stated that he would like to have the bids in by the end of April and the work done by the time school starts in the fall.  The Board stated that they wanted to review the contract he proposed and will let Steve know next week if they approve.

Steven then informed the Board that he has an opportunity to secure a box trailer from Drapers.  He has talked to Joe Poisson and he says he would be able to move it from Drapers to the Highway garage for $1,000.  He would place it behind the garage and would use it for storage for flammable materials and parts.  He is very cramped for space and this addition storage would be a solution.  Selectman Rockwood stated that he was not in favor this because it wouldn’t look good.  Selectman Condra stated that he had no objection to a box trailer.  Chairman Donovan stated that he was not opposed to it.  Mr. Rockwood then stated that Steve should give the Planning Board the courtesy of informing them of the idea.

Mr. Rockwood then asked Steve if he had asked Brian Adams not to keep up his water certification.  Mr. Elliott stated that he had certainly not and that Brian was able to do if he wished.  Mr. Rockwood stated that he felt that Dennis Maki should not be the only person that is certified to work on the water system.  Mr. Elliott agreed.

At 7:00 pm, Attorney Little came to the meeting to discuss the apartment building at 30 Forest Road.  Attorney Bill Gannon, who represents Paul Schaefer the owner of the apartment building, had requested a meeting to discuss the town’s position on the condition of the building.  The Health Officer and Building Inspector were also in attendance.  Attorney Gannon started the dialogue by stating that owner Paul Schaefer is now in the United States Bankruptcy Court.  The building was condemned and all tenants of apartments were ordered to vacate because of the life safety issues and the owner’s failure to comply with Health Officer and Building Inspectors requests for repairs.  Attorney Gannon then asked the Board if they would consider allowing Mr. Schaefer to rent 10 of the 12 apartments on the condition that the deficiencies were addressed, in order to make payments to the mortgage holding bank.   He suggested that the Building Inspector and Mr. Schaefer inspect the building and a list of the necessary repairs be drawn up.  This idea was discussed throughout the evening and in the end, it was agreed that it was not part of the Building Inspector’s responsibility and that the owner should compile a list and then the Building Inspector would review the list.  It was noted that several lists of deficiencies had been given to Mr. Schaefer over the course of the past four or five years and he has not responded.

Mr. Schaefer stated that he had the building sided and new wiring installed.  There is however, no permit for electrical work or any inspection of said work on file.  When asked the name of the electrician, Mr. Schaefer couldn’t recall the name.  He suggested that other repairs had been made but there is no record at town office.

Attorney Little suggested that the owner give the Town a surety bond on the work that needs to be done to make the building habitable.  Attorney Gannon stated that it would not be feasible because no bank would support that kind of  bond.  He suggested that a portion of rental income could be put in a special account that would be used only for the repairs in non-rented apartments or deficiencies requirements until as the work was completed.  The general consensus was that this idea would not work and it was not the town’s responsibility to oversee the work.

The Board agreed that there would definitely be life safety issues throughout the building if they were to rehab one apartment at a time.  Most likely they would have to repair the entire building before given approval to rent.  Building Inspector Keith Carman stated that he had never heard of a building being “half safe” and he would recommend that all the apartment be in compliance with regulations before renting the apartments again.

The discussion of the condition of the building presently ensued at length because of the past deficiencies because the building has been without heat and water for the winter.

The end result was that Paul Scheafer would present a list of items to be repaired or replaced for the Building Inspector and a plan to give assurance that the work  would  be completed.  Then the Board would consider the request at that time.

At 8:10, Chairman Donovan made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and to go into a Non Public Session per RSA 91-A:3,II(a).  Selectman Condra seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

The regular meeting was resumed at 8:40.

The Board reviewed and signed the following:

1) Issuing Agent Appointment Form for Helen Sargent to complete fire permits
2) MS2 Report of Appropriations Actually Voted At Town Meeting
3) Sign Permit for Jo Landis on Main Street
4) Land Use Change Tax
5) Intent to Cut
6) Application for Current Use
7) Hazardous Waste Collection Agreement
8) The bills for the week ending March 21, 2009
9) The payroll for the week ending March 21, 2009

The correspondence and informational material was reviewed.

The Board reviewed the proposed wage increases as submitted by each Department Head and they approved them as presented.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion at 9:50 which was seconded and approved.

Respectfully submitted;

Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary