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Board of Selectmen Meeting 7/20/26

Video

Good afternoon every
Monday, July 20th. It's 5:30 p.m. I'm
going to call the board of Seleman
meeting to order. I have a full board
here tonight. I have two Steves. I have
an an a Jenny and an Andy. Uh Steve
Heath, would you lead us in the pledge,
please?
To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
>> [clears throat]
>> So, we're going to jump around a little
bit. Uh going to go to new business
first thing. Uh we're going to go to the
tax deeding.
>> It's all yours.
>> Perfect. We can do that. All right. So,
I gave you um the packets
and we're really only going to go over
the first two sheets. The rest of it is
just the backup material.
And I'm going to go by parcel ID. So if
you look at the very first um person or
the first property, their parcel ID is
50.
Everybody see that?
>> Y
>> and we're good.
>> Okay.
So the way that this works is we lean
once a year in April. And so that means
that if they have any unpaid property
tax from the year before, we put a lean
on it. and I record it in the registry
of deeds. And if they do not pay that
off within three years and one day,
then the select board has the
choice to to deed it.
>> Three years and one day from when
>> from when I lean it.
>> So I lean in April.
>> Yeah. and I deed in August. Okay.
>> There's
Yes.
>> Okay. Good.
>> Calendar is good all the time.
>> I got a question.
>> You have a Yes.
>> Mhm.
>> So, when you when you put a lean on it,
>> Yep.
>> that means that they haven't paid their
tax for that previous year.
>> Yes.
Do is there a any interest penalty that
is attached to that?
>> Oh yeah.
>> There's 8%
>> right.
>> And then uh for me to record it, there's
an additional fee and then when I send
out when I send out this notice, there's
an additional $22 put on. So when they
pay up that year, they pay what they
owed plus whatever interested during
that period of time.
>> Yes. And the lean and the the fee for me
to record it at the registry.
So this meaning what I'm doing now is
I'm just let note letting you know that
these are the properties that have not
paid their taxes in full from three
years and one day ago.
So parcel ID 50
um and if you can see they owe the very
last bit. So you can see the the
principal that they owed was $3,983.73
and then the full amount with the
interest is $4,865.75.
>> I'm not going to read all the numbers
every time. I'm just showing you the
columns.
>> Okay. The other fees on in this 48
>> Yep. All the
everything is in that last column.
So, um
anyway, this person um has already
communicated with me and they typically
uh they have historically paid
before the end of July. So, their name
will drop off the list and as uh the
list gets updated, I will continue to
update you as well.
[clears throat] The uh next parcel ID
1735
is a
campground site, not at our campground.
This person, this is at um what is that
one called?
>> Ames.
>> Yeah, there you go. Thanks. Um, this
person
signed up to stay at Ames
canled and has never stayed one night in
Ashland ever.
I legally do not change names or
addresses
in the
tax program.
I have um our assessors or assessor
assessing assistants do that. Um that is
separation of church and state. We do we
don't cross that bridge ever. Anyway, I
do not know how uh this person
got back on the list or how they made it
on the list, why they stayed on the
list. At any rate, the total
principal that they owe
um and I can pass it around is $1748
because they were put back onto the
taxes for another year.
>> Yeah. Yeah. On this one,
>> they shouldn't be.
>> You were correct. They should not be.
And I don't know how they got back on
there. I do know that the list is
provided to the town by
someone else and I'm again not the one
that is responsible for updating and
maintaining the
>> so who is
>> responsible
>> the tax um so
Paty used to do it Okay.
Gotcha.
>> And then when I started, um, CNP helped
me by doing it a little bit and
Jane is the one that primarily does it
now, but campgrounds are weird
and
quite frankly kind of nightmarish.
Um, so,
um,
the CNP are still the ones that keep
that updated.
>> So, if somebody stays at a campground
>> the camper is responsible for it and not
the owner of the campground.
>> Correct.
And if they if they
whoever's name is on that
parcel after April 1st can't be changed.
It'd be seasonal sites,
>> right?
>> No, not not day.
>> Not not weekend trippers.
>> Yeah.
>> Whoever stays there for the whole
season.
>> So, are you saying right now we don't
have a solution to fix this for any
future incidents?
>> We do. We just can't do anything about
this particular human being for right
now.
>> I get that. But it could be this h human
or some other human next year. We don't
want it to be a recurring
issue. This could how is
>> I I can only work with the data that is
provided to me by the campground owner
and if that data is not correct
I am not responsible for that.
>> Okay. So, the campground owner owns the
land.
>> And people rent it out for whatever
period of time,
>> the whole season.
>> And so, if there were 10 sites that were
not rented out, does the owner pay that
property tax?
>> Yes. So, there's a there's a a tax bill
assessed for each site.
>> Mhm. an individual tax bill for each
side or
>> I believe I I'm just trying to
understand you know I
don't know okay
from my understanding
is I believe the campground owner pays
for the property because the property
own they own the property
the camper is paying taxes on their deck
on their camper on improvements the on
their things, not the land, but
improvements. Sure.
>> Okay. So, the campground pays the
property taxes on all the land that they
own
>> and then the property tax for whatever
is on that property is paid by whoever
is
>> correct. The camper is
>> but not the camper. Camper
the seasonal renter.
>> Yeah. Right.
>> But not the camper because the camper
pays taxes
else and makes I didn't I didn't hear
your question. You're doing improved
site improvements like
>> decks,
>> but not the actual camper. Is that how
that works? The actual camper is
movable.
>> Yeah, but they're paying.
>> But if they didn't register their
camper, if they didn't register their
camper with the town
>> or wherever, I don't it doesn't matter
with a town in New Hampshire
>> or anywhere.
>> Anywhere. Yeah. If they don't have
plates on their camper,
>> okay,
>> for this year, then they have to pay
taxes on it.
>> Okay. All right. Okay. All right.
>> And it's up to CMP to go through each
campground and go assess each. It's it's
it's
>> that
a lot of work, but not too much money.
>> You are correct.
It Okay. very painful.
>> So, you'd like to evade this?
>> I would love that.
>> You think it's appropriate
>> for a person who's never been to
Ashland?
>> Okay. Yes.
>> You have enough older lady to cover it,
too. for the $1748.
I certainly hope so.
>> Do you want to take care of that now or
later?
>> It's up to you.
>> So, I'm going to make a motion um to
abate the taxes on parcel ID1735
in the tune of $1748.
Do I have a second?
>> I'll second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Do we have
any further discussion?
All in favor, please say I. I.
>> Any opposed?
Motion carries.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh next parcel uh 1007.
I have not heard any news but the those
that particular
family typically comes in and makes
payments. Um 679 I've never met that
person nor have spoken to them before.
[clears throat]
693.
Um they plan to pay that particular
lean off and then making a payment plan.
That
is parcel ID 1176.
Sorry, that was on the last page, but on
the next page, um, historically pays on
the day that they are due.
Um,
parcel ID 304. Um, I
do not know that family.
Parcel ID 532.
Um they uh a and parcel 531 they plan to
pay in the next two weeks I've spoken to
them. Um
parcel ID 1461
is on a payment plan
and so is parcel ID 1505.
And those are all my parcels. If they're
on a payment plan, does that mean they
have to be paid by August?
>> No,
>> you can. Yeah. No.
>> So, the payment plan is to pay the
amount that they currently owe and then
going forward they're expected to pay it
when it comes due.
That is our plan. When I first um
took over, the oldest taxes that I had
was from 2016
and they are all caught up now and make
their payments on time.
>> I don't know if you know the answer to
this. Is this a typical number that we
would see a number of
>> for at this particular period in time?
>> And it will it'll drop drastically
within the next two or three weeks.
>> So I I hope that this list goes away
very very quickly.
In fact, I hope to not see you anywhere
near August 19th. [laughter]
Um, all around
I have Oh, I'm sorry.
>> Go ahead.
>> Okay. Um, the next thing is I have an
intent to cut. Um, this is mostly a
brush clearing or re reccleing of a
cleared area.
Yeah, we'll go with that. um for parcel
105-027
and so they're clearing it now and then
we will get the final tallies ne on
sometime in March probably.
>> So I'll make a motion that we approve
the intent to cut.
>> We don't we don't need one.
>> We don't need one
>> not for this. We just sign.
>> We just sign just saying that you have
received you've been noticed.
>> When is
>> the 20th
Next item we have on the agenda is the
grant opportunity.
>> So
>> good night.
>> Good night. Right.
>> So, I've been putting in for grants and
trying to find some grant money to help
with the buildings and stuff that are
under my
um and I just heard Thursday from the uh
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation that
they are going to give money. it's going
to go to a a
um for them to hold and then we they
will give it to us when we get the stuff
done. And it's the total amount of the
grant is $810,750.
>> Wow.
>> It is for um the town beach, the snack
shack. Whole new one. We're gonna get a
whole new one because it's in rupture.
>> Yeah, that's it. Is that's great.
>> Yep. Um they're gonna put in pay to put
in an irrigation system on the field so
it' be easier for instead of hauling the
hoses all over the place. We'll have
that. And then there's some uh money for
the ren some renovations to the booster
club to make it a little bigger
downstairs instead of the porch go out
so there's room for the kids if it's
raining or
>> whatever and um
the kitchen and all that stuff. And they
also are going to
the there's going to be a fund an annual
grant for $20,000
for maintenance
of the improvement. So if it costs more
for water for the field, then that'll
cover that or whatever
we need it for.
So I wanted to make everybody aware of
that.
Um they said
>> that we'd have the money in
>> between one and two months
>> and the hope is to start um over as soon
as the beach is done, you know, the end
of August. Then we'll start there.
>> Nice.
>> Take that down. Get that going. And
probably the field. We're gonna try and
do it between like I don't want to mess
up the soccer
>> or baseball for the school. So, I'm
gonna go talk to them tomorrow and see
if we can plan a time for that. And
the booster club. I'm going to talk to
the school as well. See if we can keep
the after school program in the
cafeteria for whatever we need or if
they can like do the downstairs first
and we'll stay upstairs and switch
>> just depending on how that goes. but
hoping to get that done fairly quickly.
>> What was the process to get that grant?
>> Um, well, I've talked to these people.
These ones are the ones that gave us the
50,000 for the after school and summer
camp last year or the year before. Um,
and they've kept in touch with me and
kind of, you know, what else do you
need? They came and met with me and went
over and showed them everything and
they took all the notes and went to see
where it would fit in to their criteria
and they found it and
>> it's awesome.
>> Absolutely.
>> So, how is the process going to go
because you've got a couple of few major
different areas, you know, you got the
field, that's one things, then you got
that booster club. It's a building
thing. And then with the beach there,
um there is each project going to be
separate project inter specs together
and put bids or how is this going to
work?
>> So when I was talking to the charitable
foundation, they had me get estimates
to tell them how much it's going to
cost, okay,
>> to get those things done. And that's the
amount. Well, actually they added 10% on
because it's taken them.
>> So how are you going to how
who's managing the different projects
because
>> So the money is going to a
>> right but okay they have the money
>> but then you got the projects.
>> They have to be back.
>> We will we will get any kind of
permits or whatever we need to do.
>> Who's we? AR and myself.
>> Okay. All right.
Um
before we get really started on this, we
have to
town has to accept this. I guess this is
part of what this discussion is. But
knowing how this process is going to
work and who's going to do it is
something that would help me. So, uh be
just become comfortable as to what we're
doing.
>> Yeah. I I think just so I understand
what you're asking. I think it's
basically as these projects
get begin to happen and are planning
that this light would be kept apprised
of what what's going on with it or is
that
>> well there's that and and it where this
this is going on time land so the town
the board needs to kind of approve
what's going on there.
>> They do need to approve because it's on
time land. So before it happens,
you know, we we need to be in on that
communication
>> and that's why I'm here. Yeah.
>> To let you know
>> um that we got the amount
>> and at the beach that whole building's
going to go.
>> Okay. So we you know we say so we see
I'm sorry to interrupt but this this
board where before shovel goes on the
ground before you know that the board is
on the select board has seen what's
what's planned and what's what what the
expected outcome is and gets to um prove
it because it's on
town property kind of thing kind of so
it's it's great that we have this
nonprofit group but Um, it's still a
town property, so
>> they can do this, but then the the board
approves it before the work
>> commences as to what's going to happen.
>> Okay. Well, we've got when we That's my
That's my my opinion. I mean the board
can other people in the board can see
what they're but that's
>> so what I'm looking for over at the
beach and what we talked to the
contractor before we got the numbers is
right now the it's
has the three bathrooms
and the snack shack part.
>> Mhm. So, what I'm looking to do is
have the snack shack part still there
and then instead of three bathrooms, I
want to do two
like unisex but handic both handicap
accessible
>> and then have one room for the
lifeguards materials
>> that they have in that
>> storage
>> storage area that's been broken into and
the locks broke and all that fun stuff.
And if we move that, then we might be
able to do some other things in that
area. But anyway, that's what I want for
that. Plus, um,
uh, pavil pavilion off the end.
>> Big enough to have like five picnic
tables under it. So that like storms and
stuff like cuz just last week I had to
take camp and bring them into the um
bathrooms
and wait for the bus.
>> So that way they'll be covered and so
that's what I'm looking to do there.
Nothing majorly different except it's
going to be done the right way with the
right material.
So, are you going to be going out to bid
or or are you like how are you doing
this with contractors or specs or I mean
because vendors aren't very good
vendors.
>> We don't have to go out to bid because
the town isn't the one doing it. A is
you can say yes, we'll take this money
to rebuild that or not.
>> We already have a contractor like I did
for all of these. already had somebody
come and give us estimates for them and
what needs to be done.
>> Do we have a layout? I mean, I I I I
need to know.
>> I think I think I know I need
>> I think what you and Correct me if I'm
wrong. You sayans
>> that sounds like a great plan.
When when that's drawn out, will we be
able to see here's the plan of what it's
going to look like
>> before we do before we really start?
>> That is that what you're asking?
>> Yeah. I think at the beach she's
absolutely going to have to have a plan
before we start anyway. Dees is going to
require it.
>> Right. Right.
Meeting
Friday morning at the beach
>> with the
>> no with the with the uh
guy that gave me the estimate.
So, where does dees come in on this
>> permitting?
>> I know, but I mean with the project
before we before we start. Well, yeah.
>> Yes. Yeah. You can't touch a shovel down
there without
>> So, and we've got time. She doesn't
close for 6 weeks or seven weeks.
>> Yeah. And the money is one to two months
out
as well.
the irrigation
I mean we had them same people that did
uh Memorial Park. We had them come and
give us the estimate for that and um
Greg and Andrew have already like
checked to see because we're going to
need bigger
>> curb stops.
>> Yeah, sure.
>> Bigger what?
valving.
>> So they they went down with when they
were finding that out because they know
about it and I don't know when that will
happen yet because I want to try and
talk to the school and get it around
their things
>> as much as possible.
And then the
booster club will be like the last
thing. And we're trying to get somebody
to donate their time to do a plan for us
like
construction architecture.
So this is [clears throat] me coming to
you guys and say this is what we've been
given. These are the projects it's been
okayed for.
Are we okay with
it's not even accepting the money
because the money is going to a
letting the projects happen after. I
guess
>> we do have to accept it because it's
going it's real property going on.
>> You have to accept the not the money
because a the money is not going to us.
>> You have to expect accept the value of
the assets
>> each building. Yes, that's That's for
what I said
>> requirement would require for initial
reports from a
>> yeah [clears throat]
>> what do you think
>> that the requirements of the grant or
that you know would be that a would file
all the financial reports.
>> Oh yeah. Yep. And Kendall is here. He
could talk
>> about that if you'd like.
>> We have already
>> the president and vice president of ARA
are both present here. Mhm.
>> So,
>> go ahead, Kendall. Why don't you speak?
>> Um, so like Dan said, $810,000
has been awarded to us. Our our charter
is to assist the parks and wreck with
stuff. That's what we do. We hold the
money and do what you guys want to do
with it. Yes, we will make sure that
that plan is given to you showing what
it is before you spend the money because
if you don't want it then the charitable
trust will be happy to take the money
back.
>> Um, which we would rather they didn't
shoot. [laughter]
we have five person board and
we've been around since 2009.
My one question to all of this is
who's overseeing this?
This is town property. Who's going to
oversee this?
>> The parks and recck director and a
parks and rec director.
>> Wouldn't the town manager be involved in
that?
>> And obviously the town manager.
>> I thought that goes without saying.
>> Yeah, he's been he's known about it. I
gave him all the information and all
that stuff.
>> You can do with everything we were just
talking about, right?
>> Yeah. I just need to see the plan and
bring it to the plan.
>> Who has the who has the yay or nay power
unless there's something?
>> The select board.
>> Select board.
>> For anything to go in
>> before the construction starts.
>> Construction starts.
>> First of many meetings with you.
>> All righty. We got any more discussion
on this?
>> No. Good job, Kendra.
>> Nice job.
>> You need anything else from us tonight
in
>> um No. Like I said, Friday is going to
be
step one.
>> So, the next item we have on the agenda
is paving request.
Right.
I don't know if you guys have had a
chance to look over the proposals.
>> I have. Anybody else?
I sent it to y'all. You guys have
>> Do I understand it?
>> All right. So,
>> be a question.
>> Um, what we're going to do is the
Albrook is starting to delaminate. So,
in other words, the last time they paved
that, which I have no record of, sheets
of it are coming up along um if you have
driven on that, you'll see in the very
beginning starting to, you know, big
chunks of the, you know, one inch
pavement is starting to come up and I
can't just can't hold it together
anymore. Um, so we want to start at
Route Three. Um, we're going to go up
Highland Street a little bit on that
hill because that hill is falling apart
TO that's going right
>> to the left up on the hill a little bit.
We're going to get to the top of that
hill. We're going to grind that whole
part of the road all the way from Route
Three to the intersection. Now, from the
intersection towards um Hicks Hill, it's
in better condition. It's not all broken
up and it's not it's very wet down on
the first section. So, we're going to re
what they have what they call a full
depth reclamation. We'll grind it right
up and put it right back down on the
road. That'll bring it up just a little
bit and we'll braid it, compact it, and
repave it. Um, then we'll go from that
intersection. We're going to do just a
shim and an overlay on that road. It's
going to be like a base. And we'll just
basically shim it to make it even. And
then we're going to get to the dirt
section of our brook and we're going to
pave from that dirt section to move
corners and up to the bridge and over
the bridge. That's like three or 400 ft
over the bridge that we the town owns.
So up to the town line or the town owned
portion of of that of hoop corners. Um
that'll be the first coat. Next year
we'll pave the top coat. I just don't
have enough funds this year to do all
the the the top coat as well. And that
happened a lot in other towns. We'll put
a base on and then the final the next
year we'll put a top coat on. Let it
wear in and settle in.
>> It's a work, you know, top coat, wearing
horse, whatever you want to call it.
It's an inch of pavement.
>> That'll be much cheaper next year just
to run that
>> um across. But to do that whole project
with the asphalt prices
um it's just getting too expensive to um
length of road nowadays of just
$150,000.
So um went through a bunch of renditions
with with a contractor. we ended up with
this one here. Um,
so it would it it's we have, you know,
$241,000 in the capital reserve. That's
with this year's what what's going to go
in this year's funding. Um, so we have
money to do it. Um, it's probably the
worst road in town right now. Um,
any questions on what we're I got a
couple questions. Yeah, go ahead, Steve.
Uh one of them is is
uh so the to the total amount that you
would be spending on these proposed
changes are is how much?
>> Well, the whole the whole project is
$156,942
>> in Michigan.
>> And is is any of the is any of that
money coming out of the budget as
opposed to coming out of capital
reserves?
>> It's all capital all capital. So there's
I mean and I don't want to get into this
real deep right now, but obviously with
the CIP, the capital reserves are
designed to save money for future
projects.
>> So I know that it sounds like the CIP
hasn't been done in a while. So it
sounds like we're just using the money
that's in the capital reserves to do
what we think should be done this year
as opposed to having those funds
designated for certain projects. Is that
accurate?
>> That's right. I mean, we've always So,
we we've um always put any 100 125 or
150. This year, we put 150 in capital
reserve,
>> But road paving this year. So, that
capital reserve that you voted on during
the vote was for paving for this year is
what I I usually try to save money. Like
I I usually try to spend 100 and put
25 grand 50 grand in the bank to have a
to have future projects so we can build
a bank. But with the cost, it's just I
can't do it anymore. I didn't didn't do
it last year and I didn't do it this
year. Um, [clears throat]
>> yeah. And I guess the part that I'm
concerned about is as we do, you
obviously know about CIP, but
>> the money that we're supposed to be
putting in there should be for a project
we might need to do in two years, 5
years, 10 years, so that we're putting
enough in each year so that when we have
to do that project,
>> we're saving for it.
>> It's we'll have paid for it ahead of
time and won't have to take loans out on
it. It sounds like this is not this is
not at you. It just it sounds like the
way we've been doing it. It almost
sounds like
instead of putting the money in the
budget for the year for what we needed
to do in the year for paving, we're just
taking the capital reserve mons monies
and using that kind of like as a
>> we've never it's in the checkbook. So
yeah,
>> instead instead of
>> instead of funding it and then doing
capital reserve, then you should be
doing both.
>> But that's the way you've been doing it
right along.
>> That's the way we've been doing it ever
since you
>> your C your CIP is going to make be a
big change.
>> It will be because you know then we're
going to look at what are the costs
going to be in five 10 years and how
much do we have to save to get there,
>> right? You're going to name your project
and then the money starts,
>> right? And so if there's if we know that
there's going to be
uh road repairs that have to be done
next year,
>> those may end up being let's put that in
the budget because we know we're going
to have
>> I can easily get you a number of the for
next year and say this is what I plan,
you know, for next year and put it in
the budget, but we just never have done
that. Do have we had any kind of a um
road survey done where an independent
group comes in and kind of evaluate?
>> Yeah, in 2016 we did a road service
management plan. Um of course it's from
2016. Um
>> how much it was it was it followed and
exper?
>> Yeah, it we did for the first um five
years but as you know things
>> and that's and then there's five years.
>> Yeah, after about five years everything
changes. And to be quite honest, when
they did it, there was a bunch of
college interns that did it.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> That just, you know, they walked around
>> you need an engineer.
>> It's probably better off if we're going
to do that to hire an engineer.
>> 100%. I agree.
>> That could actually do, you know,
boring.
>> Sounds like that's probably something
where
>> happen. We need to budget.
>> I mean,
>> that to get a real Yeah, they want you
want to do a couple borings here and
there. be 100 feet or whatever and
figure it out
>> and look at like roads and culprits and
all the different
>> Yeah. When we did it last time, we did
it through LRPC and they hire a bunch of
college interns
>> and you know that may or may not be the
best
>> to use and they look take pictures and
give their assessment. There's no
engineering. I mean, these are future
engineers not
>> they don't have
>> Yeah, understood. Yeah. So I guess my my
point in all that is I guess we should
just be somewhat cautious about how much
we take out of capital reserves knowing
that there's what we have left the
length the less we have left the more
we're going to have to try to put
prioritize going forward. So um
>> yeah I mean but if you wait we'll be
behind the I mean we're you can't keep
up with paving.
>> So so basically do you agree that those
>> No just do you agree that those are
>> there's a lot of roads in need
>> but are you in agreement with
>> Yeah. There's sections of it that are
like you said
>> I'm not a road expert either so
>> yeah. Well, you're welcome to table and
take a look with me. Uh we can meet
anybody and meet meet you guys out
there. And
>> Al Brook is in some rough shape by
driving.
>> It is. Steve drives it a lot. He can
tell you
>> couple times.
>> Okay. But
>> just a couple.
>> It's It's up to you guys. I can meet
with you guys individually. Make a
decision next meeting.
>> What What's everybody else's opinion?
Just ask me questions.
>> Craig, what's it going to cost us to
pave from the end of the pavement down
to Moose's Corner?
Um, oh, that's that's in the the dirt
section, right?
>> Yeah, the dirt section.
>> Um, isn't that four?
>> Yeah, it's I think it was under four.
>> It might be.
>> Yeah, it's from the end of payment.
Yeah, section four.
>> It's It's only $35,000
roughly to do that.
>> Just a the dirt section. Yeah.
>> When was this going to happen?
>> You don't have to.
>> I I have to if if you gave me the
authority tonight, I'd have to re I
still got to replace
three, four culberts. Uh so we're
looking probably August, end of August,
set early September.
>> before we we would be ready in a paving
company would be ready anyway.
>> So we're working on a on a study
that's 10 years old.
I'm definitely in favor of paving the
dirt portion,
but before we pave anything else, I
think we need to get the study done.
I think we need to put the money,
we need to fix the roads that need to be
fixed first, and we don't know what they
are.
Um, that's that's where I'm at.
>> What road do you think's worse than that
one? I mean, you know,
>> I know North Ashland Road's got places
where it's falling apart.
>> Well, we can fix that like
>> Yeah, like you did the last time with
tar and stone. That didn't work.
>> It was We ground it and put asphalt in.
>> I I would rather get the study. Um, I'd
rather do the dirt road, get the study
done, and then once that's done, we know
where we can spend our money
to our benefit.
>> How much is How much is the study?
>> I have no clue,
>> but
>> but it's got to be done.
>> It's got to be done. So, let's make
>> I do put an RFP out there to get to get
it done,
>> get the study done.
He needs Craig needs an answer tonight
about what we're going to do. What are
we going to allow him to do?
>> What What's everybody else's opinions?
And what are your thoughts?
>> Well, I
don't know what road needs it the most,
but this is all one section. Like
they're together. You want to fix
already paved going into the dirt
>> section, right? Yeah, in my opinion,
that's the worst road. The second worst
road in town is probably Saman Road.
And then we're going to hold off on all
the roads up by the Highland Street, off
the Highland Street, because we're going
to do the engineering on that. That's
all going to be dug up anyway.
>> Um,
that one
>> tell you, I think Al
is probably the worst because it's still
laminated. Um,
I don't know. North Ashen Road there.
There are sections, Andy's right, that
need to be addressed. Um, I think we can
do some repairs on, but it's up to you
guys.
>> Well, you've got you've got a couple of
sections where the road's sloughing away
up there. I know Sandborn Road has got
the same problem.
>> It does.
>> Um, that's that's why I want to get to
the study done.
>> It's going to cost
>> Oh, I know.
>> 6 or $800,000.
>> We're going to have to hopscotch it. I
understand that. But I want an engineer
to tell us
that road. But I think we wouldn't bond
it. Get that done.
>> I mean, if you bond North Ashen Road,
you're going to get the road done.
>> You're going to put the guard rails in
and all that stuff. Do it all at once.
>> That's not happen.
>> You know, get the guard rails fixed.
It's they're in terrible shape. Andy
knows that.
>> I've seen more than one car off the road
down there.
>> Yeah. I mean, it's there's a lot of work
that needs to get done. We might have a
casino going in. Who knows if that'll
happen. I don't want to pave a road like
that if they're going to dig it up,
>> right? Uh, and put water and sewer out
there.
>> But I still I still want to know where
the engineer thinks we better spend our
money.
>> I don't want to be throwing money away.
>> Well, either way, they all need to be
fixed. Correct.
>> just the order,
>> It's the order. I want I want to
establish the order
>> before we do before we do anything. No,
I'm I'm
fully with Craig. The dirt road gets
gets done.
We should get all the dirt roads done.
>> What?
>> But doesn't it make sense to do the dirt
road and what's connected to it at the
same time?
>> This isn't connected to it, though.
There's There's a gap. What? A mile.
>> What's that? You said you were going
from Route three.
>> It's going to be a continuous paved
ground all the way to to the end.
>> Yeah. Oh, so you are paving the whole
thing. You're grinding that whole area
up
>> from end of Route Three to the
intersection to up the hill will be
ground.
>> Estimate will be shimmed and overlaid.
that. Thanks. So, we'll be fixing the
that part of the road and the base coat
and then everything next year will get
topped a wearing course on it.
>> So, if you're already in the and in the
meantime, we've got roads that are
getting worse and worse like Sandborn
Road
>> like North Ashlin Road.
>> Um, you know, if you're spending all
that money out there, you got nothing
left to spend anywhere else,
>> right? But
>> I I want to know that we're doing the
right thing.
>> Originally, we put in the You guys put
in for $30,000 to run that road, you
know, for my cattle reserve.
>> We didn't put in for that.
>> Luck. Somebody put $30,000 in. I'm not
sure who
>> Well, there's a lot of speculation over
who did it, but it doesn't matter. You
got $150,000.
>> What do we want to do, folks?
>> You guys want as a town manager? What's
your position? Sure.
Pass. So you can imagine,
>> You know that there are sections that
do, you know, there are some
intermediate sections and the hopscotch
isn't isn't money well spent either, you
know.
>> you guys can table it and think about it
and I'll meet with you guys and show you
if you want.
>> That's fine.
>> You want to meet with them and drive it?
I I don't think any of us are experts on
this.
>> I don't I never traveled that road that
I think the only time I've been honest
with you.
>> No, I I have traveled that road, but you
know, it's like okay, but I don't know
what the other roads look like. So,
you know, um and I I agree with you
having an assessment of all the roads to
get a plan, but meanwhile, do do we want
to do something? I mean,
>> this money was put to paving, not to get
somebody to go and engineer,
>> That's what the people
>> the money was put. No, the money was put
in the capital reserve fund
>> with no set home with no set nothing
set. It was put in for roads and
bridges. Part of roads and bridges is
getting the assessment.
>> So, let's table this for tonight. Um, if
you guys want to meet with Craig, meet
with him and we'll get back to it next
week. Uh, next week.
>> Is that okay with everybody?
>> Do it one or two at a time so it doesn't
constitute a meeting.
>> If three of you go, we got to notice it
and everything.
>> Yeah,
>> that's fine with me. I'm happy to do
that. Yeah.
>> Can we get a list of what roads you're
looking at? Just,
>> you know, I don't
>> Well, you've got that map there and then
just take a drive around town. I'll do
>> Yeah. I'll tell you, you know, the it's
it's the Samborn Road.
>> Um that's the next fourth one. Um
North Ashen Road is Andy's right. It's
getting getting to the point where we
need to address it, but I think that's a
big project we need to talk about.
>> Right. What's the A priority for you out
of the out of these pieces
[clears throat] you asked for? What's
the A priority?
>> Well, I think it's all Brook Road. I
mean, it beats the crap out of our
plows. I mean, it's starting to come up
with every year we in the spring you see
pieces of pavement off to the ditch line
and we're plowing we're literally
plowing it up in that first section. Um
I I can just I'll meet with you and show
you
>> um talk about it.
>> But
>> ultimately if you want to save it a year
we can save it. That's fine.
>> I don't care. We don't want to pave it.
>> I also understand the comment on Ashlin
Road. There are issues with Ashlin Road,
but we haven't
>> Sandborn Road, but but just talk about
>> North Ashen Road is a lot of traffic on,
>> right? But there's discussion of the
potential of the the the developer
putting in putting putting in sewage and
water and so that will just rip it all
up. So it would be really
>> unfortunate.
>> Most of the worst sections is beyond
that developer.
>> Lord's holding us.
>> These are things. Okay.
>> So I guess Sounds like we should wait
till the next meeting
>> and we we need a solid recommendation
based on some
knowledge on our part.
>> Well, we definitely need to decide at
the next meeting. So, correct.
>> We don't want to delay a decision too
long because they'll miss this
opportunity.
>> Yes. Yeah.
>> Book.
>> We'll do it next meeting.
>> Will that work time from a time
standpoint for you?
What if we if we decided the next
>> Yeah. No, that's fine. you need me to do
anything other than meet with you before
that or
>> um send a send
>> information
>> send a copy of the roads plane that you
have Craig
>> right so we can drive roads become a
little you know just to educate
ourselves
>> and and I'll be in touch with you just
to kind of
>> Okay, if you can mark that up or make a
list of what's been done
>> because Yeah, because that plan hasn't
I'll get that to you. Yes. Yep.
>> That'll help them. Yep. Okay, second
quarter financial review. Yeah, this
will be hopefully kind of a clicky here.
Just like I did for the first quarter, I
picked each
um so general fund, this is
second quarter,
end of second quarter.
So under general government, we're at
should be at 50% for the year. We're at
44.64.
uh registration vital statistics
at 42 point uh 43.24.
Uh financial administration is over by
um it's at 55.59.
Uh reevaluation of property that's up
69.62.
I think there may have been a coding
issue there. I'll get with Marissa on
that. Um legal expense.
We're at we're over by the tune of
$13,459
56 cents. I asked Marissa about this.
All the legal is getting coded against
that line. There was a warrant article
that was passed
>> for the $100,000. So there'll be one
journal adjustment at the end of the
year.
>> Okay. to clean that line up rather than
peacemealing it and seeing the up and
down up and down rather just overspend
it now.
>> But we know that money's there.
>> We get the 100,000 that's coming out of
unreserved fund balance that was
approved by the voters. So that'll clean
that line up at the very end of the year
to close it out for the auditor.
Um just in case you know someone sends
that says oh my god you know we do have
a lot of legal um
insuranceances
uh personal administration that's at
43.65
plane zoning is down 20 24.25 25
general government and buildings 34.92
again 50% is the midyear
um insuranceances you know a lot of
these insurance it's one payment a year
so as the year goes on you know right
now it's showing that we're at 90 98.90
it's all been paid for the year so as we
get to the end that'll look there.
>> Um, other government, that was a
miscoding.
Um, public's
public safety police,
they're actually doing quite well.
They're at 43.95.
Now, if you remember the incident
>> in town there and there was a lot of
overtime. They actually controlled that
very well.
so kudos to them. You know, obviously
the overtime line will probably end up
going over by the end of the year, but
right now they're they're doing good.
Uh police detail, that's zero. Ambulance
>> 13.77,
but the last bill that we just received
has not been put against that yet.
>> Got that.
>> So what does that look like for the
year? Projecting for the year. Um, it's
going to be interesting at the end. I
think we're Well, I think we're g I
think
>> I think we're gonna go over.
>> I don't know by how much yet. You know,
we'll we'll know in the third quarter
where we stand.
>> You know, usually the summer take, you
know, there's a lot of runs in the
summer with the tourism and everything.
>> Um, but we also had that increase that
kicked in July one.
>> yes,
>> last year. Um, second quarter's bill was
30 39,000 something like that. Um, if we
had the same amount of calls, it'll be
closer to 50,000 for the third quarter.
We'll probably have more calls than
Um, fire department's a little bit over,
but they've
u
Yeah.
They were a little over
>> because of
>> well there was some salary increases for
the uh pdians. Well not just the pians
but the they did uh pay increases for
the firefighters and everything.
>> We didn't know that when the budget was
put together that was
>> right. Yep.
But that you know their their calls are
a moving target.
>> I get that. Yeah. You know, they may
actually I think chief has been
providing he's had quite a few calls
first and second quarter of this year so
far.
Oh, all right.
High streets
48.9
the administration
and then high wind streets that's you
know street improvements you know a lot
of a lot of what Craig does he's up a
little bit there but um a portion of
that was the extended winter and the
amount of storms we had he went over on
his salt salt budget there
uh solid Flid waste we're at 44.66.
Uh health administration 48.26.
S control zero s I guess. Uh welfare um
doing very good there. We're only at
37.96 the budget
out of a $14,000 budget. Uh $25,000
budget I guess.
Uh parks and recreation. Nan's doing a
good job there at 43.36.
Uh parks and recck beaches,
not everything been coded against that
yet. You're only at 8.39.
That'll be higher.
>> Uh after school program 47.06.
Good job there.
Uh memorial park, that's just the
electricity.
uh library
basically their wages uh 51.94.
So get to the bottom line overall we are
at
31.85%.
They're doing good.
>> Yep. Are there any lines there that you
are have concerns about looking over the
next
>> month list? Sometimes there's an
occasional miscoding. somebody put in
the wrong line and then it will it'll
skew.
>> Right. But is there but is there
anything that you say, man, this one is
we're probably going to be overspending
this one by the time we get to the end
of the year.
>> yeah. Yeah, understood.
>> We can't we can't hold off.
>> We can't hold off winter. So, and that's
a
>> but other than that,
>> no, everything seems to be in line
pretty good.
>> Great.
Um, sewer.
Uh, Andrew doesn't generally spend a
lot.
That one, the numbers aren't accurate
because the bonds
um hit the lines and we're waiting for
the re, you know, get back. So, I can't
give you a true uh percentage on that
because you'll notice that we he spent
91.34%
of the budget.
It's because we paid out on one of the
projects 522,000.
So it hits that line then we get
reimbured that money and then it zeros
out.
So
that's that one. And then the water fund
similar with the water fund. We've you
know projects there engineering and
everything going on.
But um he's definitely more than 19.91%
for the year. Mhm.
>> We got a re we got a reimbursement ahead
of the expenditure. So
>> Oh, ahead. So
>> then the electric that's the one
everybody wants to know about, right?
>> Uh electric's doing very good. So under
electric administration,
oh the bottom line, they're at 45.62%.
We did, just so everybody knows, we did
just get
in the mail from Evers Source, they are
raising the wheeling fees for all the
power that we have to pay a wheeling fee
for all the power we buy and
redistribute. They're going up almost
10%.
>> Same as New Hampshire Electric Co-ops
going I'm a co-op customer in Lincoln
and we get the notice that they're going
up almost that amount. What's the
wheeling piece? How are our revenues
looking from the standpoint of electric
and septage receiving?
>> Um, so Septage I really can't because
the budgets a skew with the lawns stuff,
but
uh electric revenue
we are that's
we year-to- date uh $1,617,980
And there's a couple of things that need
to get cleared out, but we're about even
with the with the electric.
>> Plus, we just got tax moneyies in, so
we're sitting pretty flush with the
general fund
sewer fund. They're doing pretty well
with the septage receiving.
Sewer user fees so far year to date
$371,195
just in the sewer user charges.
Now sewer user is $93,992
but the septage receiving is $277,22
for a grand total of $371,1958.
So,
>> how does that compare to last year? Do
you know?
>> I didn't print that often.
>> That's right.
>> It it steadily climbs during the summer
>> that's what it is. Yeah.
>> And then, you know, once once you get
closer to the cold weather, that's when
the septage receiving really drops off.
>> Hard to pick up
>> the the first quarter this if you
remember right there wasn't a lot of
income and septage receiving because
Jamber Fe March.
>> Yeah. Um but then April, May, June
>> really starts ramping up and I'm sure if
you go to the transfer station
>> generally meet one of those trucks
running the road. So
>> and water and sewer is doing asset
management and Yep. And then we'll
>> all there.
>> So now did we have a meeting? Was it
today?
>> There was another one today but all the
department heads are busy and projects
and stuff but Marissa and uh Andrew were
>> Okay. And there's another one that's I
think scheduled for next week.
>> Oh, you're thinking the kickoff meeting
was two weeks ago.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, because I thought you
said Monday there was a meeting with
department heads on with asset managers
was going to kind of talk about what's
>> we had that meeting and then there was a
a followup today, but everybody was
busy. There was electrical problems and
Craig Craig was busy on another project.
>> What's the timeline on that?
>> By the end of the year.
>> Okay, good. I think we pretty much give
it three months or four month.
>> That's a there
>> is a lot to input.
>> Oh, there is. But that's a a very
worthwhile project.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Craig, I think has the most, don't you,
Craig?
>> Oh, yeah. [laughter]
Quite a few of them.
>> Now, the electric department does too
with all the transformers and
everything.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> So, transformers.
>> So, it's going to be good to have all
that in there. And then
actually in Craig's department under
vehicle maintenance and everything, you
know, all those records going to be
electronic instead of paper form and
>> Now, will that include a maintenance
management plan as well?
>> I think they uh
>> that's another module.
>> Yeah, because that that
>> that that's a huge thing. But you got to
have the assets there first before you
can
>> Yeah, you got to you got to crawl before
>> you got to get that in. But it it's
huge. the the battery thing, you know,
it's it's it's just
>> Oh, yeah. The substation.
>> It's just one of those things. It's
>> batteries on the transformer.
>> Does water and sewer have the
maintenance piece of it in the in their
plant?
>> They've been doing asset management for
a while, I believe.
>> Yeah. So, I think their maintenance
piece is already built into it.
>> Yeah, I think so.
Um, one other thing is, uh, tomorrow
morning
Craig and, uh, myself and the electric
department are going to meet down at the
substation with, um, Icy Reed to go over
the layout for the new, uh, switch gears
and all the work that needs to be done.
So, that's going to start ramping up.
>> Somebody told me about that because I
have it in my schedule.
>> I told you about that.
>> So, I'm invited.
>> Okay. Um, you know, it's kind of the
kickoff and um, all the plans signed by
the engineers. So, it's going to get
it's happening.
>> So, it says electric substation.
Exactly. Where is that?
>> Right out behind us.
>> I'll be leaving.
>> Awesome.
>> Okay. The next item on the agenda, we
got to go back and do the approval of
minutes. We have minutes for Monday,
June 15th.
I'll need a motion on those.
>> I move.
>> Have a motion to approve. Anybody else?
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. To approve
is written.
Any further discussion?
All in favor, please say I.
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Motion carries.
The next minute meeting
minutes we have our July 6th. Um, do I
have a motion on those?
>> I'll make a motion to approve them.
>> I have a motion to approve. Do I have a
second?
>> A second.
Okay,
>> I have a motion and a second. Any
further discussion?
>> Motion carries.
Do we have any old business tonight?
Do we have any selectment items?
>> Yeah, I just I had a couple of things.
One of them is I just want to kind of
give you an update of where where what
we've done and where we're going with
the economic development group. Um right
now we're working on the economic
development master plan piece piece
piece of the master plan and we've had a
couple of meetings on that and we've uh
as you know we've already done all the
rules and procedures and those are now
online and we're we've got different
groups working on different pieces of
the master plan portion. and we're going
to do an extra meeting uh above and
beyond our regular ones to try to get
that tied up so we can get it to the
planning board in a timely fashion. And
just so you're one of the pieces that we
put in there that were what are the main
goals that we as an economic development
group want to accomplish over the next
year and everything [clears throat] that
we've read and understand we want to
keep that two achievable goals that can
be done in the next year. And then once
we have these goals down, we're going to
put them on a Excel spreadsheet as to
when we started, who's responsible for
it, and review it on a routine basis to
make sure that we accomplish each of
those goals. And just so you have the
information, the these are the uh goals
that we as a group came up with and will
be part of the master plan. And I won't
go through every detail of it, but
there's basically one is to, and we've
talked about this before, we're creating
a property map for commercial,
industrial, and town properties so that
we have all of that and all the
appropriate information for those on an
Excel spreadsheet and then get those put
into the uh into our GIS system so that
we can pull up all of those properties
on a map, take a look at them, and look
at any details that we want on them. So
that as we're looking at economic
development, we'll have a clear picture
of what's available, what properties are
available,
and we'll have those, you know, no
matter who they're owned by, if they're
zoned in any of those ways, then they'll
show up on that. Um, and I know as a as
a whole select board, we're working on
with a marketing group to put together a
marketing plan on how to market um,
Ashland. And from the economic
development group, um, we're we're
attach we're approaching that from our
perspective and some of the key things
that we're going to do is we're going to
we're going to do a SWAT analysis to
kind of identify opportunities and
threats and that kind of stuff. uh
develop some key marketing points to
communicate define the target audience
and the communication vehicles to use
and update our section of the website
and social media as appropriate.
Uh, another one that everyone wanted to
approach was working on the phys the
town physical appearance as far as
everything from the landscaping to, you
know, just the pride and when someone
goes through Ashland, you know, really
making an impression. And so, um,
and different people are assigned
different tasks. Jenny, I think you're
on that one right with Bonnie. Mhm.
>> Um so we'll be defining the key areas of
focus, creating a working group with an
outside collaborate with whatever
departments or groups from the outside
that it might make sense to collaborate
with and then execute the plan and then
develop a relationship with existing
business community. We're going to
schedule a meet and greet with all the
business owners uh after the summer,
probably September, October. We're going
to do kind of like a SWAT with them as
well to get their input as to what what
are we doing right as a town? What
things could we do differently to help
businesses in town? And then we'll
develop a routine meeting schedule with
them. So maybe we meet with them once a
quarter or something like that to make
sure that we're on track and follow up
with anything that they come to us with.
And then as again as we do these, we're
going to put those on a project
worksheet so that we can track it and
make sure it's not something you just
put on a piece of paper and put on a
shelf. It'll be it'll be a working
document that we uh review on a
continual basis.
One of the other things that came up at
one of our meetings, and I don't know if
as a board we're interested in doing
this or not, is um in the master plan,
there isn't anything within the master
plan that the select board has. And I
kind of researched some of the other
towns and other towns do have it's kind
of like what are the four or five key
goals that you want to accomplish as a
select board over the next year or two?
And
you basically decide what those goals
are. And
similarly that I just said, you just
kind of put together an implementation
schedule. How we how we going to get it
done? Is it going to take one year, two
year, three years? Just so that we've
got some main things that we want to uh
keep track of that fall within the
purview of select board
responsibilities. So I guess one
question is is that something that we
want to pursue?
>> That's I think we should
>> I think so.
>> Yeah, I think so too.
Then what I'll do if it's okay with
everybody is at the next meeting I'll
put together examples of what some of
the other towns that have done it are
and then we can kind of take that and
then I'm sure in everybody's minds
there's certain things you think of
these are priorities but this will kind
of give us a like a template to be able
to use where it's been used in other
places.
Um let's see
and also uh John Havl and I are going to
work on uh the different steps in
looking at an impact fee. So that's and
when when we get to a certain stage on
that, we'll bring it to the board to for
everybody's opinion on it and we want to
official.
>> And the only other question I had is
anything further on the um cell tower
contracts?
>> Haven't heard back from
>> meeting about well the next day I sent
an email out. They haven't responded
back yet.
>> Interesting. Is there is there any way
of
increasing cell phone coverage in the
town
>> taller tower
>> there? They can't go any taller. Yeah.
>> They're they're there's you know
>> they have to put lights on it and
they're not willing to do that
>> between us and hold us. I mean we're
just there just dead spots. Really dead
spots. Yographies talking that down.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Hold
>> one on Hicks Hill.
Holdenness was going to put one up off
of 175 someplace, but I don't know where
that went.
>> It went down.
>> Never happened. Yeah,
>> we have our tower repeater up there for
our radios. Be a great spot. It would
take all that.
>> We own the land. I don't know if we own
the land, but we at least have an
agreement to have our power up there.
>> is in your u
maybe there's just not they don't think
there's enough
payback or I don't know
>> it's kind of a I would think for safety
issue it's like
>> the PD has no we have no coverage out
there at all either
>> right yeah there's no coverage on the
lake there's no there's no coverage
>> but that would I think it would go over
>> that would be nice one other thing I'm
just looking into is we talked about I
brought up at one of the previous
meetings is and I think somebody from
the audience brought it up at our last
economic development meeting. It was in
regards to um assessed values and the
assessed value of the town and um how
those compare across all the different
properties and I did a little bit of
research on different factors that are
used to do that. And uh I'm not going to
get into details, but I learned quite a
bit about it. And um I'm going to see
what are there certain
um
averages that you use. There's like two
or three different key ways to do the
measurement. And this the state has how
every town is currently rated
and a history of it over the last few
years. So, I'm going to take a look at
what ours is to see if we're like within
the guidelines of where we should be
based on the state's recommend
>> on how good our assessments are.
>> Yeah. And it's it's based on a few
things. One of them is
>> what percentage of market value are you
at? And they literally range from 68% to
>> 110%.
And the guidelines is to have it between
90 and 110.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I'm going to look at
where are we at? And then there's
another one to tell does it look like
it's assessed fairly across all
properties. And when I do a little bit
more on that, I'll bring whatever I
find. [clears throat]
>> Our next reval was what 90
28
>> I think.
>> Was so our last reval was it 23 24
>> five years. So 28.
>> Okay. So it was 23. Yeah. Okay.
Ron, I have a question for you. Uh,
what's the latest on Winona the Winona
Road water project? Have we heard a
start date or anything?
>> No, actually there's going to be a
meeting scheduled with Grenice, the one
that the contract was awarded to.
>> Um, Underwood scheduling that. I think
that's going to be in the next week or
two.
>> Yeah. And then, well, we've got to do
the formal signing of the contract and
everything and then
>> Right.
Um been uh actually I've spoken with New
Hampshire uh district 3. They need some
more details. I had Underwood send them
what they needed and they're going to
issue the permit and
>> it's going to happen this
[clears throat] summer.
>> So I have uh one other selection item.
Um it's a letter of appreciation for
John Thomas. John Thomas has served on a
couple of boards. Um, he has been in the
background in a lot of things in towns.
Um, we would like to give him a letter
of appreciation.
I'll pass it around so you all can see
it
and I'll make a motion that we
um sign this and present it.
>> I certainly second that.
>> Okay. Okay. So, I have a motion and a
second. All in favor say I.
>> Just go ahead and sign it.
Heat.
All set.
>> Okay. Do we have any public comment
tonight?
I'm going to make a motion that we go
into non-public session. RSA 91- A
stem wall and three sections C and E
legal and reputation.
Have a good night all.
>> You as well.