Date:  August 31, 2009
Time:  6:30 PM
Place:  Town Office
Present: Selectmen Daniel Donovan, III and Richard Rockwood and Recording Secretary Peggy Arn

Maurice Guay asked the Board for permission to close the Recycling Center on Sunday, September 6, 2009 so the workers can have the day for Labor Day.  The Board approved his request.

At 6:35, Chairman Donovan adjourned the regular Board meeting and called a non-public session per RSA 91-A3,II(a) as requested by Gary Zirpolo.

At 7:00 PM, Chairman Donovan called the regular meeting to order.

Tom Quinn attended the meeting because he had been denied a request for an abatement on his property May F, Lot 173.  At the time of his denial, he was informed that he could appeal the decision.  He then presented the Board with a list of reasons he felt that his assessment should be lowered.  He quoted current law that states “pits, shall be taxed as real property pursuant to RSA 72:6 independent of any earth contained therein”, he referred to a case known as the Lisbon Sand and Gravel Case, from which he quoted Mary Pinkham Langer of the Department of Revenue and he referred to an appraisal done by Mr. Rockwood in 2004.  Mr. Quinn stated that land should be assessed at different values for areas of the lot.  Discussion ensued as to the assessment of all gravel pits and industrial land values in Wilton.

Town Assessor Todd Haywood stated his reason for his assessment on this lot.  He stated that he did not believe Mr. Rockwood should have done the appraisal because he not qualified as a commercial appraiser and that he had also had spoken to Mary Pinkham Langer about issues in the case Mr. Quinn quoted.

Selectmen Rockwood and Mr. Haywood had a heated discussion but agreed that this issue had to be resolved because tomorrow is the last day Mr. Quinn could appeal to the Board of Tax and Land Appeals.

Chairman Donovan stated that he was not versed in the area of gravel pits and therefore would like time to study the issue further.  He would be more in favor of Mr. Haywood’s recommendation.  He also stated that he would not like to make a decision because it would be a majority vote with Mr. Condra being absent.

After discussion and comparing different ways of assessing the property, all parties agreed to an assessment of $486,00 that will be held for two years.  Mr. Quinn also agreed not to ask for a reassessment of this property in the future.

MOTION:   Selectman Donovan made a motion to place the assessment of Map H, Lot 173, at $486,000 for last year and this year.  Selectman Rockwood seconded the motion, which passed with all favor.

Chairman Donovan stated that Chief Hautanen had told him that he had a concern with the number of sick days that are given to employees if the H1N1 flue becomes a problem this year.  Employees are being asked to make sure they are over the flu before they return to work, which could result in at least 5 to 10 days of being sick.  The Board agreed that they would prefer to not change the policy but to review sick time as individual cases are reviewed.

A request from Attorney Sullivan was reviewed.  He asked if a road relocation plan had been recorded for the agreement signed by the town and Al Litchfield.  Upon review of the file, it was apparently not filed.  It will be filed this week.

The Board reviewed a proposal from the NH Department of Safety to participate in a 911 Mapping Program.  It will encompass the collection and verification of all existing addressing as it currently exits.  The town will receive maps and digital data for emergency response at no charge upon acceptance of the project.

The Selectman signed the agreement of participation.

The Board reviewed and signed the following:

The 2009 MS-1 report to go to the Department of Revenue
One Lien on property at 19 Pleasant Street
An abatement to Guilford Transportation for incorrect tax bills
2 Abatement requests: Hope for Homes and Eleanor McGettigan
3 Current Use Change Tax Applications
1 Sign Application for yoga studio on Main Street
Bills and payroll for the week ending August 29, 2009

The informational material and correspondence was reviewed.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion at 8:45 PM with all in favor.

Respectfully submitted;

Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary