All towns · ashland

Board of Selectmen 9/21/26

Video

Good afternoon everybody.
I'm going to call the board of selectman
meeting to order. Uh it's September
21st. It's 5:30 p.m. I have Steve Felton
and Barney
Jenny and Andy in person. I have uh
Steve Heath on the phone. We need to be
quiet so that we can hear him. Um
board members, um I need permission to
allow uh Steve Heath to attend this
meeting by phone and I'll make the
motion. Do I have a second?
>> I'll second.
>> I have a motion and a second.
>> Do we have any discussion?
All in favor, please say I.
>> I. I. I think we have to go individual.
>> Uh, yes. Because he's because he's um
>> not present. We have to do roll call.
>> Jenny,
>> yes.
>> And
>> yes.
>> Steve,
>> yes.
>> Uh, Andy says yes. Motion carries.
Okay, we're going to go out of sequence
tonight. We have a lot of folks here
uh for the discussion of the paving of
Owl Brook Road. Um, let's go right to
Owl Brook Road. Do we have a spokesman
to this group?
Go ahead.
>> Salvone at 256 Albrook Road M Corners.
And um I have some paperwork written up
I'd like to present to you folks. That's
all right.
>> The chairman.
>> Yeah.
These are um
paperwork with all the signatures that I
got from uh the people on Albrook Road
and other roads too that use uh Alb
Brook Road a lot. And this is also some
other paperwork. And this is for all you
people here to read. You want to read it
individually?
Did you pass that down?
>> One more.
>> Thank you.
Thank you.
>> We can give you this gentleman over
there.
>> So, I mentioned to all these people that
uh we really thought it wouldn't be a
good idea to pave the dirt part from
Beverly's house to Mukers.
And uh I got a great uh result reception
from all these people and we're all
concerned about uh what would happen on
a paved road and what won't happen on a
paved road. So if you guys could you
folks could just read this and uh tell
me what you think and we'd appreciate
it. And I have you asked me to bring a
couple of people.
>> You did.
>> I brought a couple more than a couple.
And thank you everybody for coming. I
really appreciate it. So, um, if you
have any questions, I'm willing to
answer them. And if I can't answer them,
>> can we ask them?
>> We'll find something else.
>> Can we ask him to read this?
>> Sure.
>> Would you read this uh out loud so that
>> Sure, I would. Yeah, definitely.
>> You need my copy. I go in here.
>> Okay.
>> Did the Ashlin board of selectmen in the
town of Ashlin? We underside. We the
underside respectively requests that the
town of Ashelin refrain from the paving
remaining gravel portion of Pbrook Road
and it preserved its historic rural
character.
Alb Brook Road is more than a road. It
is part of Ashland's living New
Hampshire landscape a gravel county road
running alongside over farm open fields
forest mature maples stone walls
wildlife homes and albrook. The portion
of Alb Brook is already formally
designed as a scenic road. The remaining
gravel section joins the designated
portion of counties the same rural
landscape. Protect the disappearing
piece of rural New Hampshire. Bula Farm
remains a working farm with cattle,
chickens, hay fields, agricultural
activity. Unpaved country roads passing
through landscapes like this are
increasingly rare. protect the community
and recreational resource. Alb Brook
Road is regularly used by walkers,
runners, cyclists, families, neighbors,
and visitors who come to experience the
farm animals, open fields, and quiet
rural setting. Oh, check the mature
maples and natural environment.
Old roadside maples are part of the
road's scenic beauty and have taken
generations to grow. Paving may change
winter maintenance and road salt use
with potential impacts to roadside
trees, soil, vegetation, drainage, water
resources, and surrounding environment.
Protect the safety and character of the
road. Before paving, the town should
consider whether a paving surface could
encourage higher vehicle speeds or
increase traffic on the road shared by
presidents,
pedestrians, cyclists, farm, equipment,
resident animals, and wildlife. Protect
the authentic part of Ashland's identity
and tourism value. Visitors come to the
lake region not only to to its lakes and
mountains, but to experience the old New
Hampshire. Ourbrook road offers
something increasingly difficult to find
in an authentic gravel road beside a
working farm and open countryside
required transparency before the river
the rivers of forget it decision
I couldn't I didn't get that residents
deserve to understand the jurisdiction
of paving total cost and funding source
alter alternates considered environment
and safety impacts and the public
process through which the decision is
being made. We respectfully ask the town
of Ashlin to preserve Albrook Road as an
unpaved rural road, pause any pavement
plans until full poor public review was
occurred, evaluating responsible graable
road maintenance alternatives, and
consider extending the scenic road
protections to the remaining rural
portion of our Brook Road.
>> Thank you, bro.
Anybody
have any questions
of the audience?
>> No, it sounds like I don't know what
percentage this is of the people, but I
would I would assume it's a pretty good
percentage of them.
>> Just about everybody that lives on our
road, the dirt part is here. Yeah.
>> And other people that travel dirt uh on
the that part of the road with Hicks
Hill, Highland Street, um wherever. uh
people that we contacted and they were
more than happy to sign it and we're all
of like these people were glad that it
hopefully it stays that way.
>> Chris, want to say something?
>> Hey,
we're just above
the uh piece of the road that's going to
get paved.
I mean, I think
what he's just read to us just expresses
my feelings exactly. But the other thing
I would say is I listen to the um the
discussion. And by the way, thank thank
you to the select man. This has got to
be thankless work and I really
appreciate what you're doing. So this is
no criticism for you, but the way the
discussion went like, hey, we should
pave a road this year. This one's
difficult for Craig. So, let's do that.
None of the people who want live on this
road want to be paid. And I think you
got to consider like the decision that
you made and the reasons for that
decision versus the people that are here
to say that please don't do this.
>> Anybody else from the audience?
>> So, I did some research. Wait a minute.
Another blue dash.
>> Um, Beverly Albert, 190 Albert Road. Um,
I was uh heartbroken when I heard about
this. I did not I I was not watching the
little meetings that you have on on the
YouTube. So I was I was taken a back and
yes so I went back uh through all the
meetings and I saw where um I guess it
originated back in July. Um, it appeared
to me that
there was a little bit of extra money in
the paving fund and it was suggested by
um the department head that um that this
something that we like done and it
looked to me everyone almost everyone
just voted to go ahead and do it and it
didn't seem like there's any research
done at all about any um repercussions
of having it done and I was wondering um
well no I wasn't wondering I was going
to see what the discussion we should
have been having months
and months
um because it is something that is
affecting our lifestyle and it's
something that we don't like having
crammed down our throat so to speak um I
understand that it's hard work and all
that and I understand that there is uh
tear on vehicles as part of the job as
part of what is uh in the budget for
wear and tear. I understand all of that.
Um I have one more point and I'm just
trying to think of it. Hold on.
>> Oh, I was wondering if there is extra
money in the
Isn't there something else that could be
done with this money? And if not, can it
go back to all of the taxpayers to
reduce the tax rate overall
>> or does it just go into general fund and
get lost?
>> It's inf
it's in the CRF. Any answer to that
question? It doesn't go back to the
taxpayers. is money that you folks have
that we have all voted to set aside to
do this work. Okay. So it's not extra
money.
>> So it has to be used for paying.
>> Yeah.
>> Yes.
>> Does it have to be used this year?
>> No.
>> No. There is nothing that says it has to
be used this year.
>> And it doesn't have to be anyone
specific project.
>> No.
Okay. I had somebody else guess.
I I don't want to speak for the economic
development, but I think that having
rural
um healing and access is a great benefit
in terms of bringing people in because
people are I agree with Fred, people are
looking for this kind of a setting and
the more suburban we get um the less of
that there is available. We've got
fun and
people are
um
see this kind of
I'm not sure
of what exactly the reason would be for
this portion of Albert the other
I agree that definitely needs a little
>> bringing up to the code or whatever, but
we're all used to this dirt road and we
know better and um it's like cutting off
a part of our heritage to just pave it
over.
>> So, it's my belief, tell me if I'm
wrong, there is a 10-year plan to see
when the road should be done. So, this
isn't something Craig said, "Okay, let's
do this one now."
um it's been in motion. This is the
final year of it, right? So that we were
going to do a new study. This is what
one of the things that were on the road
and that's why he brought it up to us.
It's not Craig saying
let's just do this. Um, it has been on
the plan. Have I'm glad you guys came
before something hap, you know, we
already paved it and stuff, but just so
people know, Craig didn't just decide
one day, okay, let's go pave this road.
There is a plan, 10-year plan.
>> Where can we see that 10-year plan?
>> Is it
>> where where is it available? That town
hall.
>> That town hall.
>> Yeah.
>> And it's up this year and we're doing
another one. This was like the last year
of that 10-year plan.
>> Mike, did you have your hand up?
>> Yeah, I just want to say I also live on
that road and I p it every day and a
section nearly house is so narrow that
one car has to pull over, let the other
car by 18 ft wide. So they pave it from
ditch to ditch is 18 ft and the pads
pull off one side. They got to break
that into
shoulders that be built
facility is 20 foot pave plus two foot
shoulders.
>> So they're only going to move corner
Mike. They're not doing the whole thing,
>> right? But for house to move corners
there.
>> Okay,
sir. question. You mentioned that
10-year plan that's for all the dirt
roads, all the roads, not
>> that's for all the roads.
>> So my question is where's the funding
coming from the extra funding needed for
our book that they this section talking
about? And wouldn't that go to town
meeting as other town road paving has in
the past?
>> It's already been a town meeting, sir.
We approved it when we approved $150,000
for Craig last year for roads and
bridges.
That's where the money comes from from
that CFR.
>> Understand that there were some specific
roads that that Craig mentioned at the
town deliberative session to where that
road is money was going to be used. I
don't believe Al Brook was there.
>> He wasn't sure he was going to get the
money yet. Yeah. Um,
so we've been following the road plan.
Okay. Um, like like was said, this is
the last year of the road plan. We need
to have somebody come in and study our
roads again.
>> So maybe we should take this extra money
and use it for that purpose.
>> It's only $36,000.
>> Yeah, it it's $36,000. It's not much for
that section.
>> Yeah,
>> ma'am. jump off something that Mike said
about maintenance of the road because
cars are potentially going to be going
off and damaging the shoulder point,
right?
>> Um I'll speak for myself and my husband.
Well, I think one of one of his big
concerns it had to do not just with road
traffic, but it is that stretch is right
in front of that farm and there are
going to be tractors coming on and off
of that and that's going to damage the
heck out of
>> that as that pavement.
>> It's purely financial. The reason why I
want to pave that
Oh, Craig's online.
>> Craig, what was
>> Oh, good.
>> Could you repeat that?
>> Go ahead, Craig. Okay.
>> Yeah, it's it's just so you guys know,
it's purely financial. That's why we
want to pave it. Um it's it's we've
raised the road up so much over the
years, and anybody can tell you we've
raised it. Um, every if I put more
material on that road next spring during
the mud season,
it's going to we're going to have to
take it out after it dries out. And
putting it down is easy. Taking it out's
not um it's going to be, you know, a few
thousand dollar or more every time we do
that and probably a week's worth of
work. And then we have to restore the
road back to its original place. And
that'll occur every single year because
that's the flattest section of the road.
That's where all that dirt accumulates.
I mean, the water accumulates on that.
There's not much w much much place for
the water to go. So, when you pave a
road that's not like that, it'll shed
off more evenly across that whole
section, the flat section. So, the
reason to do this is because the road
has gotten so high over the years, and
it's going to cost us money every single
spring to address that and probably a
week or two worth of work.
So, one of the things,
>> sorry, that
>> one of the things that I found in my
research, folks, was
um
this was a study that was done. It
doesn't apply everywhere.
They're saying maintenance grading per
mile
per year is $25,000.
that uh yeah, $25,000.
That's the low cost.
Okay. If you've got to do what Craig was
just talking about, you're talking
$60,000
because you're rebuilding the road every
year.
Maintenance on a paved road
averages out to $5,570
a year. It's just something for you
folks to think about.
>> That's a lane mile, right?
>> That's a lane mile.
>> We're only talking about not even a
third of a mile.
>> Yeah.
>> No, we're actually talking about uh 2/3
of a mile
>> from Deb's house to move on
>> is maybe a third of a mile.
>> I'm talking about the whole contract
which starts at at uh Hicks Hill and
goes to Moose's Corner.
>> Yeah, that's about a third of a mile.
Yeah,
>> not according to the contract.
>> I think I live there. I was there. Take
a ride on with your put you in my car
and we'll
>> I was just there today, Fred.
>> Measure it.
>> I was just there today.
>> 1,590
link.
>> Okay. So, I read the wrong. It's um
>> Alb Brookke Roaden asphalt base
uh 1590
linear feet by 16 1/2 ft.
>> Okay. So I read the wrong
>> Yeah.
>> There's this
>> Oh, you read section three, which
>> I read.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> How wide are they making it?
>> 16 and 12.
>> 16 and 1/2 ft.
>> Yep. That's what the contract says. for
two cars to pass each other.
>> I didn't write this contract.
>> Yeah,
>> cuz the road's already challenging and
then you're not going to have anywhere
to go.
>> Yeah. Once like even on the tighter
spots, we're pulling over to let
somebody go, which everybody has gotten
very into, but now we're going to be,
>> you know, try trying to go off the
pavement into a ditch. Even where the
road got redone this year from wash out
feels feels tighter because of the ditch
that got created. So now you have
nowhere to put your tire.
>> I tell you I would I wouldn't want to
dump I wouldn't want to dump my Mustang
in the ditches up there.
>> No, I wouldn't either.
>> Greg, what are the alternatives,
please? Um, well, just to answer his
question, anywhere there's a pulloff,
we'll extend that pulloff with gravel.
In other words, when they if we do pave,
and I don't care if we pave or not, this
is up to you guys. We would, if we did
pave, we would bring the level up with
existing gravel. So, there would still
be a level spot to pull off on to let
oncoming traffic go. Um, and what was
your question, Andy? If what what's the
alternative is just to to leave it as
is.
>> Well, is is there any other
um
material that we can lay in there
um
to keep it dry in the spring?
>> Well, typically what we do is any every
every town in the state uses inch and a
half stone to firm up the road. And like
I said, the ro the the all that water
and any of any of the oers can tell you
it comes off the hill beside them and
fills that ditch line and it's so flat
it can't run very good. So it gets
trapped under the road and we had and
every every town has to do it inch and a
half stone and then we cap it with ledge
pack in the end. Now if I had to take
that up, this is where the cost comes
from. it's an added cost every year and
um but we can still do it. That's that's
like people said that's part of our job.
We can still do that. Um it's just
purely
um the cost of it. Um but there's no
other alternative. Everybody in the
state, we all use inch and a half stone
to firm up the the wet areas and that
over the years is the worst area that
that section that we are proposing to
pave.
So if if we have a water issue and we're
going to pave it, aren't we going to
have
>> frost heaving and ruining the
>> You know, because if if the road doesn't
drain,
>> I worked for the DOT, used to anyway,
and um we always had to maintain ditches
to make sure you keep the water table
down under the road so you don't get
frost eaves because the more water you
get under the asphalt, higher the eaves
get. So, we may actually be creating
more of a problem if we pave it without
the proper drainage.
>> Well, no, it's it's it's wouldn't cause
a problem because we're it's it's the
traffic that brings the water up, you
know, it's like you you guys have played
in the mud before. The more you hit it
with your hand, the more it gets wet on
the surface. So, that's the traffic
that's going to go over that makes the
mud pie. Um, but when you pave it, it
keeps it under the road. And of course,
we've we've brought that road base up.
So last year and the year before that,
it was relatively dry, but if we have a
bad winter, so this will firm up the
road and in the water that does happen
in the spring will shed off evenly
across it. Um, so all the experts and I
did ask the the pavers and the
construction companies if they thought
this would work and they agreed this is
>> the next step for this road to bring it
up to a better standard is to pave it.
But it's again it's completely up to you
guys.
>> Can I make a question Michelle on the
budget committee?
>> Go ahead.
>> Okay. So I'm only two years on the
budget committee. So I might make a
mistake. But I understand exactly how we
allocated the money for this road
because it was a lesson learned for me
how we cut the money down for it only
whatever 30 grand. Then we were in the
meeting. We put it up to 150 for the
whole road budget. I want to say I have
been walking down Alber Road taking a
left to go to Whitton Woods or taking a
right walking up there past the
beautiful farm up to move corners
sometimes going up Peppercorn which is
paved. I've been doing that three times
a week. Two or three times a week. It's
one of the most beautiful roads out
there. It's like buolic. It looks like
you're in some fancy place in like I
don't know another state. It's amazing.
So, I'm in a room here of all these
people that are looking here and I'm
looking at their faces and I just would
feel very very bad if we push this
forward fast. I think it's just you have
to look at it for another year or two.
We can always do something. But this
room was full and some people didn't
even know this was on the end of the
10-year plan. So, I would feel very sad
if we pushed something on this room
right this week. That's how I feel
having walked on it many, many times
lately.
>> Mike, I have a question for you.
>> Reclaim.
Is this a Is this a candidate for
reclaim?
I think the best thing to do would be to
block the road down base gravel first
and there some fresh gravel.
>> Okay.
>> Actually put some under drain in a few
places and
>> okay
>> is good on you need a good base for us
over the years that's just been cobbed
up with gravel and it doesn't have a
good base
there too I think.
>> Yeah. Can And the drainage be fixed a
little bit?
>> That's what the under drains. Yeah. If
you box it out,
>> fix the drainage.
>> That's going to be a project. But
>> yeah,
>> might as well do it right.
>> Yeah, exactly.
>> So, would we get an engineer to help
design that or how would that happen
where we would figure it out ourselves
or what?
>> Well, the new engineering firm will have
them look at it.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. Andy, I just did my driveway
reclaim. It took me two months to get it
because they were out of it all summer
long. It's hard to get. It's a lot more
expensive than than regular stuff.
>> So, it's was $18 a yard.
>> I can get gravel for like six or seven.
>> Yeah.
Sir,
>> I guess um
the one big uh drawback if you want to
call that to um
keeping the gravel road. The cost and
we've touched on already today. It's
about five times more than it was maybe
more than that. At least five times more
than what it would cost to maintain a a
payroll.
Uh, and that's going to be there uh
forever unless we do something about it.
And it'll probably only get more so
because the roads uh you only build up
so high.
Eventually, you have to do something.
>> Yeah. They're saying in the studies that
I found that um pavement lasts 50 years,
believe it. But that's what they're
saying.
folks. What do we want to do?
>> I mean, my personal opinion is from, you
know, based on every hearing what the
officers consensuses from the people
that live on the street. Um, I don't
think there's any need to have to do
that right now. So, I think we should
not do it right now and then look into
what may be a more costeffective way of
keeping it somewhat as it is now. as
opposed to paving it.
>> Yeah. Have it engineered.
>> Yeah. Have somebody that Yeah. Have it
engineered so that we look at it and we
are able to keep the look of the road as
it is with trying to reduce the
maintenance that's involved in keeping
it that way.
>> Yes.
>> And there may be an upfront cost to do
that, but it may help in the long run
because we won't have to keep going back
as often.
>> Yeah. Redesign or design the um
drainage, you know, and see see what
that does. So I understand the minute
you because I've lived in other places
where they were dirt roads for a long
time and the people on it wanted it to
stay dirt and when it got paved yes then
the traffic the traffic increases
becomes a shortcut or becomes a thorough
m kind of thing and I understand that
concern
because it would change the climate of
your neighborhood.
>> Yeah.
There's no room for all that traffic
right now.
>> Traffic, we're gonna have problems even
quickly in the winter.
>> Um,
I think that what you guys are saying is
personally the way I think you should go
about it. I mean, even if you were going
to pave it, I feel like you would want
to redo the base of that road and not
just go over a mud
>> hole. Um, but
>> that seems like the way to go. And they
did a new culvert today in the size of
the rocks they took out of that road.
>> Yeah, I saw the rocks.
>> So, it doesn't have the proper base.
>> Yeah.
>> Steve, do you want to make a motion?
>> I guess I would just make a motion that
we do not proceed with paving it and we
do a little bit more research to figure
out if there's a cost effective way to
keep it as it is.
>> I'll second that.
Do we have any further discussion?
>> Just ask one thing. Um, how would we be
updated as to where it is, you know, in
the processes of what's going on with
it?
>> It's it's going to be a while
>> right here.
>> Yeah. Um, we're trying to get the
newsletter
to where it should be. Hopefully, we can
get the newsletter to where it should
be, and it should be in the newsletter.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. So, I have a motion on the floor
and a second. Um, this will be a roll
call vote. Do we have any further
discussion?
>> Steve Heath,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Dan,
>> yes.
>> Uh, Steve Felton,
>> yes.
>> And Andy says, "Yes, we will postpone
this."
>> Well, just that part. You're going to do
the other paving.
>> We'll do the other paving. Yes.
Just a quick question to Steve's
comment. Um, if we live uphill of Alb
Brook and there's a lot of water that
comes down Hicks Hill, drains across my
field or our field down in the back of
Cory's property, basically floods out
the back of his land. And most of this
comes from culverts that were put by the
town years ago that basically are
washing out part of my field there and
into this city. The town pay a little
more attention I think to where those
strange beds should be and the colors
maybe the pinion ponds to the pension
areas. I want you to something like you
know maybe 5% in the diameter water
>> down
the field
behind glory house you'll see the damage
has been done by just one cold
>> and you've heard us mention that we're
going to get a new road study done is
part of that road study they'll be
looking at everything when they do
Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> All right, folks. We need to move on to
our next item. Um, our next item is a
public hearing
uh for the
acceptance of $80,500
for the purpose of irrigation,
installation, and maintenance of the
ball field.
with the provisions of RSA 31 semicolon
95-B.
And we're going to wait a minute.
I've never heard.
>> I'm sorry. That's something I've never
heard before. People didn't want us
coming.
That's different.
>> But I understand their position.
>> Okay, folks. Um
H
>> who's who's going to speak to this?
You
>> want me to want Kendall too?
>> Kendall.
>> The AR has received a grant for
irrigation and maintenance of the ball
field up to
800
$80,500.
We have looked at and gotten a quote
which has been for Florida to you guys
of 60
>> 69,000
>> 69,000. Yeah. Um
>> to do the irrigation system.
69,786.25.
We look asked two different places. We
actually asked three, but only two said
anything and only one actually showed up
in the end. Give us the quote, which is
Capital Well and Irrigation, who happen
to be the same people that just did this
for K State University, all of their
fields, much bigger than ours.
Um, Ann has the plans there if you want
to take a look at them,
but it's up to eight $8,500
and that would include maintenance of
this irrigation system into the fields
items that may arise.
>> Yes, because um water and sewer are
going to have to build
a pump.
So there's a pot bill that need to be
filled and there's some repaving that
will need to be done. There's some dirt
that where they they do the trenching.
We're going to fill that and seed it.
But come spring, we may have to due to
settling may have to refill it and seed
it again. So that's why I say it's up to
the 80,500.
If it if it comes to we need more, we do
have a source where we be will be able
to get more funds to do that.
>> Okay. But it's not just 80,500 for an
irrigation systems. What I want to make
that point clear.
>> Do we have any questions from the
audience?
>> Not really a question, but I was uh part
of the project that when we we got the
uh playground install right by the
tennis courts there and I believe that's
the same family donating again and
worse. This time I think it's going
through the new and is it New Hampshire
Charitable Trust? Is that the right
name?
>> Uh yeah, I just got a letter and they
said, "Please acknowledge support from
the New Hampshire Charitable
Foundation's Katherine Wells McMillan
Fund for Youth Enrichment."
>> Yeah. So
>> they they were incredible to work with
before that family
>> that at that we did it differently that
time. I believe your money was given to
AR. AR paid the bills for the
playground. And I understand why there
can be issues with that, but it I sure
hope we don't look a gift horse in the
mouth. Ashley needs all the help we can
get. And if uh the turndown the turn
down a project that you know is fully
covered would be a shame.
>> We're not the same thing that we're
doing.
>> Um it's just we have to have the public
hearing to accept our funds.
>> Well, expend the funds.
>> Okay. Do I have any more comments from
the public? I'm going to close the
public meeting.
Any questions from the board?
>> Question.
>> Ron, you're you're good with the foot
footprint of where that's going to go?
>> Yeah, Andrew is going to dictate where
the pump house is going to be and all
that.
>> So, you're comfortable with it?
>> Yep.
>> Okay, that's my question.
>> And I'll oversee it.
>> You'll oversee the make. Okay.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. So this is to have the money come
from a AR to the town so that the town
can pay the bills and feel comfortable
with
>> for a specific purpose and only that
purpose.
>> Correct.
>> Right.
>> Correct.
>> Okay.
>> Want to be very clear on that. It's not
going anywhere else.
>> No.
>> Good.
>> And when will this start if we vote
tonight?
>> Um October
>> 13th is
due date.
>> Tenative date. Yeah. Yeah. The best way
to do it. Now in the springtime you got
them. Yeah. And then
>> that's after the last.
>> Does anybody want to look this before we
roll it out? This is the
>> plans. It's up on heads and
>> Yeah.
>> You think once you confirm this, we'll
get digital copies and have it on the
website. You see? Yeah, that would be
>> they just need a contract signed before
they will send the digital copies.
>> They usually don't give us that.
>> So, are you
>> are you going to sign the contract?
>> Yeah, I have.
>> Okay. I'm just
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> So, making sure I understand what's
going on.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. Do we have a motion on this?
>> I'll move.
>> Okay. We have a motion to accept the
funds.
>> Yes.
>> From the AA.
Do I have a second? I have a motion and
a second to accept the funds from AR for
this project.
>> Do we have any further discussion
after?
>> No.
>> Ron, can you explain it to me, please?
>> No, because this is unanticipated funds,
so we're doing it by a public hearing.
You are going to do a warn article for
the other two projects I believe.
Correct. Yes.
>> Yeah. There's two other
>> bigger
>> projects grants from the same thing that
we're going to put on a warrant article
to
>> we just need this one to
>> because the best time to do it is in the
>> fall before.
>> Well, and the amount of money on the
others, it'll go into a CRF. you know,
it'll be a CRF with
a specific purpose
>> and according to the RSA, we can do that
with these funds.
>> Yeah. Yes. Yeah.
>> Okay. So, I have a motion in a second.
Do I have any more discussion?
>> Steve Heath.
>> Yes.
>> Denny,
>> yes. And
>> I'm gonna abstain just because it's my
department. But yes,
>> Steve.
>> Yes.
>> And Andy says yes.
>> But one abstension
>> with one abstension.
Okay. Uh the next item on the agenda,
uh we need to
replace the chairman of the board. The
chairman of the board desires to step
down at this time.
>> As the chair only.
>> As the chair only. Um,
>> unless anybody wants to talk about it,
we'll just get right to appointment uh
nominations. Does anybody have anything
to say?
>> I'd like to nominate Steve Beld.
>> Okay.
And I will second that.
Um,
do we have any further discussion?
Okay, Steve Heath,
>> yes.
>> Jenny,
>> yes.
>> Dan,
>> yes.
>> Andy says yes. Steve,
>> sure.
>> Probably should ask him first if you
wanted it.
>> No, I don't do that.
>> He was drafted.
>> So, Mr. chairman. It is now your
meeting.
>> Excellent. Thank you.
>> I think first we got to thank you Indy
for all his time and effort and years of
being the chairman.
>> Absolutely.
>> Thank you.
>> Anything else we need to do for
reorganization? That should take care of
it.
>> So pretty much.
>> Yeah, I think so.
>> All right. Um then with that I guess
we'll get to the uh next item on the
itinerary which is Bob Pno.
>> Thank you.
>> And
Mr. kettle year was come up with me
on
>> basically on behalf of the Ashlin
Historic Society for the presentation to
the town of founding documents
and the
the founding documents that you're
getting today are a direct copy from the
official records kept in the archives at
the state archives.
>> You stand back just a little bit. So,
>> oh, okay.
>> We're we're seeing your chest hug at us.
>> Get my head in there and not my belly.
There you go.
>> So, the archives uh were very very
helpful. Um,
and helping me find these documents in
the original records. And what the way
these were produced was that I
photographed them with my camera and
then I put them in the computer and
printed them in the exact same size that
they are in the records. That's why
they're 17 by 11.
>> And that's the way they used to do it.
And the book is very very big, very very
large. These are documents are signed by
the Senate President,
Speaker of the House, the Governor, and
there's some footnotes on the last one
with all the signatures.
Um,
presented to the governor July 1st, 1868
at 4 p.m. by George F. Fowler.
Bar has something. He was a senator. I
think he was a senator that represented
this district.
And um
yeah,
pass around. You see him? And they're in
cursive. Very very interesting to see
these as they're written
in the day. Everything was written by
hand
in ink.
know if there's any changes or any
mistakes there they have to correct it
on on the paper. I just wanted to give a
little history that goes along with it.
>> Um
we did present these show these at the
July 4th uh down at the booster club
this last during July 4th celebrations
here in Ashley. Sure.
>> Sit back.
>> Oh, I'm Yeah, I keep doing that.
>> Talking to us.
>> I can't help myself.
and move around. Um, Ashland New
Hampshire became independent as a town
July 1st, 1868
when the southwestern portion of Holdens
were officially separated and
incorporated as the town of Ash.
So, I'm not going to read everything
that's on this,
>> but what is interesting about it is that
Ashen was originally part of the town of
Holdus. Oldest was granted first granted
by colonial governor Benning Wentworth
back in 18 1751
but because the settlement was delayed
by the French and Indian War the
township was regranted as new holdiness
in 1761.
So, it's a little bit of history there
back there. And because
a lot of that was happening in the
1800s, the early 1800s around New
Hampshire, the farming communities were
disagreeing with the industrial
communities. And Ashton happened to be
one of those places where we had
industrial growth and the railroad was
coming in and the farmers didn't like it
and there was always that discussion. So
that the solution was to split the town.
Um the historical significance of this
is Ashlin's founding affects the
economic trans transformation occurring
throughout New Hampshire in the 1800s
where it began as a farming settlement
evolved into a manufacturing and
transportation hub. The separation from
Holden would recognize that the
riverpowered mills the railroad commerce
commerce and the growing village had
developed leads in sector district from
surrounding the agricultural community.
So this is what was going on back in
then. So these documents are kind of
important. A lot of people that live
here in town don't know if ask questions
about it. This is very interesting
stuff. It's hard to read unfortunately.
It hasn't been put into text where you
can actually read it like you see in a
book today, but you can make it out. It
details every dollar that had to be sh
separated between Holden and Ashlin.
>> Every marker in the town were separated.
The boundary lines is in this document.
It's all there. That's how they did it
back in those days. They were very
precise.
So, and I made copies for anybody who
would like to have a little bit of a
history for the town. Um, and and
that's,
you know,
>> and I'm really glad and happy to be able
to do this for you. uh the the board of
the ashan history his historic society
is very very involved with this and u
we've talked about this quite a bit in
our meetings and I said I wanted to
donate them to the town as part of the
absent historic society so it has so
you're getting it from one of your
departments to the rest of and and I
would make a suggestion to put them
where people can see them and the only
place I could think of right now is
somewhere in this
because these will never fit in town
hall because there's no place where
people will come in and see them.
>> So this is for the people and so enjoy
them. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Why didn't you go on like five or six
minutes?
>> You're good.
>> Thank you.
>> I did. I said thank you. That's a lot of
work.
>> Well, it's it's fun. It's interesting.
It's history. It's us.
>> Yes, it is.
>> You know where we came from, where we're
going. and we'll ensure they get posted.
>> We need to get back to that industrial.
>> We certainly do
>> here. Here.
>> Yeah, she running off on us.
>> Thank you for putting up with them.
>> Thank you, Bob, for the work you've done
on that and the presentation. Appreciate
it. Um, I guess next on the agenda is
the uh historical society covered bridge
grant.
>> Well, hello gentlemen again.
>> Imagine that.
>> Imagine that. Hey, put him to work now.
>> I know.
>> Oh, there you go.
>> Um, I'm Kendall Peters, president of the
National Historical Society. Uh, a
little bit of history here, just because
it seems to be the name. Um, in
1990, we built the Ashlin Covered
Bridge. In 2021,
we were very successful in fundraising
for a campaign by AM Greatton Associates
to do restoration to the bridge because
it needed it.
>> And part of that was replacing the
bridge floors, damaged face boards,
trims, portals, and deteriorating planks
on the guardrail, as well as installing
new sheathing on the inside of the
walkway and finishing the application of
Milchar Fire Retardant. No char fire
retardant was donated through a project
from the National Covered Bridge
Association. Every five years we're
supposed to go back through and put the
nochar on the section that gets daylight
and open to the weather.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, guess what? The five years is up.
The National Covered Bridge Association
has donated no charge to us. Um it's $20
and something dollars for a five
gallallon bucket. We have approximately
five of them. They're on their way here.
Um, it needs to be reapplied. The
National Historical Society once again
reached out blah blah blah. Um,
we talked with the town manager. He
agreed that it would be okay to store
them down at the DPW until such time as
we're ready to do it. Um, we have also
spoken with um, Tim Greatton and and Meg
Greatton. They are going to be the ones
who will do the application because they
have the special knowledge to do it. Um
they will at that time or actually prior
to that time they're also going to go
through the bridge and check it for
safety, what has rotted, what hasn't,
and the historical society will pay to
have those fixed as well. We have a fund
for the covered bridge that was
established and um we want to keep and
maintain that. Um one of the things that
we're also want to do at the same time
is if you look at the covered bridge on
the top, there's a sign to Arnold
Greatton. We want to take that down, fix
it, make it nice and pretty again so you
can read it again
>> and we'll put that back up.
>> So, want to talk about the upcoming
fundraisers for the society?
>> No.
>> Okay.
>> Um, do you have any questions, concerns,
or
>> um do you
just I need your agreement to allow us
to do the work on the bridge. is what it
is. It will all be donated.
>> You have a motion to accept that grant
and that work.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any discussion?
>> Hearing no discussion.
>> You have to have a roll call vote
because Steve's
>> That's what I'm about to do.
>> Okay.
>> Um, so we'll have a roll call vote.
Jenny,
>> yes.
>> Andy,
>> yes.
>> Ann,
>> yes. Steve.
>> Yes.
>> And I say yes.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> Yay.
>> Hey, next on the agenda is signing of
the MS535.
>> There's three copies
>> and that's that's done by our auditor
numbers we plug in.
>> Okay. Yep.
>> With the card. And just as a side note,
uh spoke with
>> the assessor. We should have the MS1 in
the next day or two.
>> That and once the school does theirs,
we'll be able to do the tax rate
setting.
>> Ah, yes.
>> The countyy's already done theirs. So,
>> now when do we have what's the dead date
of having that done?
>> Like I'd like to have it done in
October.
>> Okay,
>> that would be wonderful. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Get the uh tax rate set and then
Yeah.
From there, sometimes aren't quite going
to make that deadline.
>> Anybody have any questions or concerns?
unclip it. There's
>> Oh, I see. Gotcha. And
>> I'll take the clip then.
>> Yep.
And just just so you know, that butter
says we have 1.46
million in unreserved fund balance.
>> Last year we had 1.4.
>> Did you just say 1.6?
>> 1.46.
Yep.
which is right where you want it.
>> We have a budget meeting coming up and
it's going to be discussed.
>> See, Michelle shouldn't have left so
early. She would surprise you.
>> Now you've got something on her. You can
say, "Hey, guess what? You should stay.
I know something you don't."
That'll That'll eat her up. She likes
the numbers.
>> I did this for her.
>> Me, too. Don't worry about it. It won't
bounce. Okay. So, I'll write my name
over here
this time.
And next one's CRF adding on the CRF
reimbursement request.
>> Yeah. So, this one is it's a CRF
reimbursement to the general fund from
the trustees for
put for the list here. So, the police
CRF, it was to do with upfitting the new
Durango in the spring that they got that
car.
>> Uh 900 is $900 from uh two New England
Outfitters,
another 13,268
all to New England Outfitters. Then a
separate bill for 125
for a total of $14,293.
Then the highway equipment CRF is the uh
new Ford F350 that we just got.
>> Yep.
>> Uh 51,412
bucks. And then JD design and print for
$132.
So that'd be CRF
total of 51,544.
And they do have meeting ups. That's
timingless everything. All the receipts
are there, but I've reviewed any.
>> Anybody have any questions on that?
>> That was a good deal on that truck.
It was on the municipal bid price, too.
Frank did a good job with that.
I think we had about 4 days left on that
deal that he had done.
>> Yeah.
>> And it would have changed. Very
fortunate to make that happen because
the price was going to go up.
appointment.
Thank you.
So, next on the agenda is a cutting
board appointment
and this is
uh for Jean and I don't want to
mispronounce her last name.
>> Give it a shot then.
>> Pam Lonus.
>> He alone. Okay. Thank you, Jean.
Um
and that's to become a member of the
alternate member
>> alternate member of the planning board.
Yeah. Oh. Anybody
have any questions? Regin,
>> was she coerced into it or is this of
her own free will?
>> I saw her in a couple of meetings, so I
think she will.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> I have been to a few meetings.
>> Yeah.
>> Some of it for personal reasons, but it
>> Yeah,
>> they do a lot of good work.
>> I'll just pass that so you can look at
it.
>> Mr. chairman as as the manage I'd like
to also say we have two more alternate
positions.
>> Okay.
>> We desperately would love to fill those
positions. Those are due to people
becoming sick and and passing away.
>> Yeah. So,
>> what am I supposed to do at the same
>> just those are all alternate alterate at
this time.
>> Okay. Thank you.
So, I'll make a motion that we approve
uh Jean Tammy Lonus
to the planning board as an alternate
member uh with a three-year term.
>> I'll second.
>> I'll approve.
>> Yes,
>> yes,
>> roll calling.
>> Okay. Yeah. Okay.
And
>> yes,
>> Steve.
>> Yes.
>> Felton. Yes.
>> So she can
>> Can you swing by town hall someday and
Becky can swear in?
>> Excellent.
>> Are we supposed to do anything with this
or just look at
>> Is there a signature line or anything?
>> It says appointed by
>> Oh, no. We'll take care of that.
>> Okay.
So, next on the agenda is the cell tower
lease.
>> Yeah. How about that?
>> Interesting.
>> I think you
all saw that, right?
>> Yes.
>> I sent you some other info.
>> Yes.
>> I think that research I think is what
Steve Felton did. I
>> I uh printed one copy and then I emailed
it to y'all. Um,
>> it's not a one-sizefits-all.
>> No, no. I mean,
>> the 2% is interesting, but that's what
the industry kind of did.
>> That's what they they do.
>> That's what they try to do.
>> That's the first thing they come up
with,
>> right? But that's what, you know, they
we one of the big contracts that's what
the escalation, you know, is is 2% which
is below inflation, right? Right.
So I think what we want to try to
accomplish tonight is correct me if I'm
wrong. We want to give you permission to
go and negotiate with them to see what
we can get for a lease that's something
maybe better than what they're offering
initially.
>> Yeah.
>> You don't take the first offer.
>> Right. Agreed.
>> And you know I think one of the first
questions to ask you know are they are
they the only cell company on that
tower?
>> They're not. though if they are not
in that research I sent you that's a
game changer
>> right
>> um
>> in proximity to the interstate
um one deterrent though is the height so
you know if there's a 200T tower close
to an interstate
it's worth a lot more but the proximity
of the interstate
and the collocation of it um all factor
that needs to be investigated and talked
about with them. And uh obviously I'll
do a little more research and I'll pay a
visit to get a list of actually who's on
it
>> and we'll have another conversation with
them and uh
I'll come back to you with another
hopefully the next meeting I'll come
back to you with a best proposal that
they're willing to do.
>> Okay.
>> But that's up to you folks.
>> Kendall, you had a question. Um, may I
suggest that you read the zoning
ordinance on the cell phone tower
because they're supposed to come before
the planning board for different things
that we know in the past that may not
have exactly happened.
>> Is that if they do something different
than what
>> if they do touch anything on the tower,
they're supposed to come before if they
add a per if they add
>> if they add a carrier, if they change
carriers,
>> okay,
>> change equipment. Um, we have to do
calculations for fall and everything. if
they do anything to the tower itself
>> because it was engineered for one.
>> Correct.
>> And the more weight you put on a tower,
you need an engineering document to
support that it will
>> handle the average wind loading expected
in this region.
>> My request.
>> Yes, that's good suggestion.
>> The last edition keeps track of all
those
>> the last edition that they did put them
right at the line. They can't add
anything else.
Okay.
>> There might be some good knowledge for
you when you go into it.
>> Yeah. For the amount of years it's been
there, it hasn't been much of an
increase. And I think you actually had
to do battle with them to get them to
start paying again.
>> Mhm.
>> Yeah. If
>> if I remember what someone told me.
>> Yes.
>> So, u
it's up to you folks. If you want me to
try and renegotiate it, then
>> do we have a department want to make a
motion to have investigate and come back
to us?
>> Yes, I I move that we have Ron do that
>> and I'll second that.
>> Okay. Having motion made and second. Any
discussion?
Roll call vote. Jenny.
>> Yes. Ron
Andy I mean sorry.
>> Yes.
It's okay. And you're a rookie.
>> Yeah. Give me
and Steve Heath.
>> Yes.
>> And Steve Felton says, "Yes." So, go for
it.
>> And I I think this will be more
efficient rather than having four or
five people trying to negotiate.
>> Oh, 100%. Yeah.
>> Yes.
>> Yep.
>> Because that could play into their
advantage
>> whereas it's just oneonone.
>> Yep. And you'll do your research and you
do your research. So, that's a good
thing.
Well, discussion on paving our book
road. I think we're done with Yeah.
>> Next is a discussion on moving town
funds to B&H.
>> Yeah. Yeah. We've been talking about
that off and on. So, um
the treasurer has put some funds two
different accounts and they're almost 6
months now. So, um, Linda put 450,000 of
septage receiving in an account interest
bearing account at Bank of New
Hampshire. Um, that's earning currently
earning 3.6%.
Um, that $450,000
in well actually about five and a half
months
has earned almost $7,000.
>> That's only $450,000.
or another 50 a day you get 5% 4%.
>> Well, that's what they offered us. So,
it's better than the 0.12% that we're
getting at the local bank.
>> So, we we go from 0.12 to 3
six.
>> That's that's significant. um all of
last year on you know just general fund
monies I think all of last year we in
interest we only earned about 12,000
>> and we're talking4
million over the course of the year in
that account
>> yeah obviously it has its peaks and
valleys as the tax dollars come in we
spend it down and the next tax dollars
come in
>> um we put a you put a h 100,000 from the
electric department
into an account and that's um earned
over a,000. It's like 1,500.
I I think it's time that we need to
start earning, you know, the millions of
dollars between septage receiving,
general fund, um well, the three
revolving accounts.
We need to keep the money where it's
going to make the most money. You know,
not looking to close all the accounts at
the local bank. They'll still use the
checking accounts and stuff.
>> Yeah.
>> But you know, um, at Waterville Estates,
well, my previous employer, we went with
B&H and we set up two sweep accounts and
their their operating budget is barely
$3 million, but I was able to utilize
the interest
after doing it for a year. I was able to
put 50,000 as anticipated revenue
against the new budget, which was
conservative.
>> Yeah.
>> That actually helped keep the tax dollar
ass down.
>> And because it's because it's a sweep
account, correct me if I'm wrong.
>> Yeah.
>> No one account goes over $250,000. So,
we're covered in FDIC for all of that.
>> Up to $23 million, I think, is
>> we should be safe. Oh yeah. Um yeah. So
we'll be, you know, 100% covered that
way. And sweep accounts, how they work,
you keep your local checking accounts
for your accounts payable and your
payroll. And then your deposit accounts
where you know the daily drops um like
kind of clerk's daily drops would go in.
Then the money would get a over to the
interest bearing account. And then you
do your payroll on Monday. You know what
that number is? You a money over. It
covers the checks on Thursday.
it accounts payables done on Tuesdays.
You know what the final number is. You a
money out of the interestbearing account
over to the local checking account and
you just that way you try to keep your
all your tax dollars and your revenue
and the
>> revolving funds in interest bearing
accounts as long as possible to take
advantage of you know earning
>> the interest
>> right and the millions of dollars we
handle between water sewer and electric
and general fund which handles the tax
dollars you know I I wouldn't be
surprised if we didn't make 60 $70,000
in interest easily just probably in the
general operating account.
>> So, what do you need from us to proceed?
>> Um, permission to have a discussion with
the uh treasurer to uh have her start
looking at moving the farms.
>> Do I have a motion?
>> I think you just need a
>> Okay.
>> Consensus. Consensus. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> If that's how you want to do it.
>> I don't see why we wouldn't want to do
that.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we vote on it or we just
>> It sounds like it's just
>> vote on it.
>> Steve, you good?
>> Yes.
>> Awesome.
>> All right. Thank you. I'll have that
conversation with her and I'll get back
to you.
Is your old business
any any select board items.
I'm just going to quickly update a
couple of things just in at the next
meeting. I'll go in a little bit more
detail, but just a couple of updates on
the economic development group
committee. I think at the last meeting
told you that we got the opportunity
zone application in and by the probably
by our next meeting because by September
28th we should hear if we're one of the
25 towns that the BEA will pass on to
the governor for final approval. So we
should know by the beginning of October
if we're into that next round. Uh so
that's moving along well. so far. Um,
one of the other things, um, looking
into that we'll talk about maybe at a
future meeting is, and I think I may
have mentioned it before, is the
opportunity zone gives you gives
developers a federal tax credit. And
there's something called an ERZ zone,
which is a economic revitalization zone.
And you have to define what area that is
in town. And if you do that,
businesses that invest under certain
circumstances in their businesses and
developers get state tax credits. So, we
could potentially put both the federal
and the state on top of each other for
some of these pieces.
Um,
as a as a group, we did a SWAT analysis
where we looked at our strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
as a town and put together a it helped
us to put together a list of projects
that we want to pursue. And at the next
meeting, I'll bring an example of we're
putting we put a project worksheet
together where we're going to have each
of the projects listed. And then each
project will have a project manager and
they'll be able to bring in other people
with the appropriate expertise to
continue on each of those projects so
that we can can continue to measure our
success in getting some of these things
done. So
>> So you're pretty much using the span of
control, you know, only a few
>> Yeah.
>> on each project so that you have better
control over its progress.
>> Correct. And then we'll measure and
every every month or so each of the
project managers will come back and talk
about here's where we're at. Here's the
obstacles we ran up against. Here's the
next steps we're going to get into.
>> A firefighter at one time.
>> Uh yeah, not that I know of.
>> It's called span of control.
>> I've done project management. Good job.
>> So anyway, that that should help us uh
move forward with some of the different
pieces and we'll go into that in more
detail at a future meeting.
>> That's all I have. Does anybody else
have anything else on select board
items?
Any public comments or questions?
>> Yes.
>> On Hill Road. I would just like to thank
you all for being responsible
new experience. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Oh no, we did something wrong again.
>> All right. Hearing no other public
comments. Um, do I have a motion to
close the meets?
>> I'll make
>> Yeah,
>> I'll make a motion to a second.
>> Okay, we need to do roll call on this
one, too.
>> Okay, roll call. Jenny,
>> yes. Andy,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Steve,
>> yes.
>> Can I say yes? Thank you all.
Nothing.