June 16, 2015 Minutes

These minutes were posted by the Selectmen.
MEETING AGENDA

TowN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Town Office, 85 Main Street
Pittsfield, New Hampshire 03263

JUNE 16, 2015

5:30 PM Call to Order

PUBLIC INPUT AGENDA REVIEW NEW BUSINESS

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Rob Lauricella – Pump Station Replacement
  2. Parking Ban Implementation
  3. Use of PA-28 for DRA
  4. Tax Abatement – R35-24-T5 in the amount of $1,075.
  5. Tax Abatement— R27-13-32 in the amount of $141.

INFORMATION ITEMS

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Deeded Property List

APPLICATIONS and WARRANT

 

1. Intent to Cut: R13-6 Dan Mullen
2. Intent to Cut: R52-2 Isadore & Theresa Piaseczny
3. Intent to Cut: R54-11 George Teloin
4. Timber Tax Levy R52-2 Piaseczny in the amount of $2,099.39
5.  Dog License Civil Forfeiture Warrant  

CHECKS and MANIFESTS

MINUTES

  1. June 2, 2015 Public Meeting Minutes
  2. June 2, 2015 Non-Public Meeting Minutes

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

RSA 91-A:3, 11(a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee.

RSA 91-A:3, II (e ) Consideration or negotiation ofpending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed against the public body

 

BOS MEETING June 16, 2015 ADDED ITEMS

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Tax Map Maintenance Contract
  2. Website Committee Disolution

APPLICATIONS and WARRANT

  1. Riel Abatement (Manchester Street Fire)

 

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263

 

MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, JUNE 16 2015 CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 5:30 P.M. by Eric Nilsson, Chairman

MEMBERS PRESENT

Eric Nilsson (EN), Chairman, Albert Douglas (AD), Vice-Chairman, Gerard LeDuc (GL), Denis Beaudoin (DB), Nicholas Hayes (NH) Michael Williams (MW), Town Administrator, and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

MEMBERS ABSENT: None.

PUBLIC INPUT

Ricky Dielernans: I have talked to the Building Inspector and he will be submitting a letter to Amenico regarding the noise issue.

Diane Levesciue: I know you have a new ordinance regarding a parking ban. I am here tonight to let you know my main point is to explain how I feel about this. We live on Bow Street and are facing an issue between two evils – breaking our lease or breaking the law. I believe that a possible solution will be presented by the Police Chief to alleviate the problem. We are between a rock and a hard place.

She read into the Minutes a letter from her landlord regarding his feedback on the parking ordinance. (See Attached.)

Tracy Huyck: I guess because after checking the Website, I could not gather any information on this because of no updated Minutes. I did learn that Chief Cain proposed this amendment and it was voted on June 21. People are affected by this action because parking can be a problem. I believe there was some ordinance that required landlords to provide two parking spots per apartment dwelling. Who is

 

responsible for that? When the apartments were permitted, was the parking there? I do not think enough research was done on this. People will be moving out because they have no place to park and the landlords will not be paying their taxes. This will be a real impact on the Town. I had heard there was going to be five parking lots proposed in Town; I do not know where.

(EN) The new Website launch date is Friday, June 1 9th and then that will not be a problem any more about finding information on the Website. About the five parking lots, I have not heard anything about this. If you would like to meet and discuss with the Town Administrator to discuss; he could explain the rationale behind this.

Tracy Huvck: 1 think it should be brought back to the table in a couple of weeks so that the people can address it who have no place to park.

Zachary Wentworth: I am here tonight also to address the parking ban. I have been in this town for 25 years and I am disappointed that there was not more publicity concerning this.

Adam Gauthier: I have submitted a copy of the Concord Noise Ordinance which we can maybe clean-up and adopt for Pittsfield. I have been trying to get a Noise Ordinance in place since last year. We do not have to have every word from the Concord Ordinance but just use from it what we need.

Also, on Elm Street in front of Village Pizza a couple of weeks ago they were putting in a catch basin or something. (EN) That area will be paved soon.

Adam Gauthier: There were no signs up to warn people of the construction in the road and then allow people an opportunity to turn around. (MW) We will make sure that in the future the road work is properly signed.

AGENDA REVIEW

(GL) Update on the Planning Board Minutes; (AD) Aqueduct Purchase Committee update; (MW) Tax Map Maintenance Contract, Website Committee Dissolution; Riel Abatement – Manchester Street Fire.

 

NEW BUSINESS

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Rob Lauriella – Pump Station Replacement

Rob Lauriella: We are looking at some upgrade issues for the pump stations. There was a problem at the Catamount Pump Station on February 4, 2015. This type of problem happens often due to rag building up in the pumps at which time one was fixed and put back into service and the second pump during the process of pulling it up, the chain broke causing other damage. AAA Pump Service installed a rebuilt pump and a temporary support. This is a temporary fix. There are several other problems pertaining to the pump station as well. I do not know why gravity flow wasn’t originally used.

We plan on doing an evaluation on all the pump stations which are 25 feet below the surface and are raised with chains.

(NH) What is the timetable on evaluating all the other pump stations?

Rob Lauriella: About a month or so. (NH) Could we “package it? And do one repair? Rob Lauriella: Yes, you are right, this would be a good idea. (EN) When AAA Pump Service came out to do the repair, it resulted in three hours work for about $3,000? Bill Gilpatric: Yes. There are four pump stations and an estimate of about $23 T per pump station at an approximate cost of $100,000. (NH) They are all about the same age, but this one is an issue? Rob Lauriella: I would like to get back to you about this. (EN) Check with Mike, and he will put this on the Agenda on July 7t11

  1. Parking Ban Implementation Police Chief Cain was present.

(NH) I have discussed this with Chief Cain last week to try to come up with a solution for those people who do not have parking places. That is, a renter with no parking would be allowed to park on the street until the winter parking ban comes into effect. This would be a fair timeframe to allow them to come up with alternate parking.

Police Chief Cain: I have spoken to Nick about this and I wholly support this. The first night the parking ban was in effect, there were 89 cars on the street and warnings were left on the vehicles. There are currently only about 8-10 vehicles

 

left on the street overnight. I fully support this solution. I will say that only one person came to talk to me about the parking ban and only one person called. (MW) If anyone has any questions about this, I would be happy to sit down and talk to them.

(NH) If a tenant has an active lease and there is no parking area provided by the landlord, rather than force them to get a ticket or break their lease, we will honor the street parking until November 15, 2015. They will have to prove they are a tenant and it will be done on a case-by-case basis rather than have them make a choice. (AD) Chief, you are okay with this? Chief Cain: Yes. (MW) The next meeting of the Board is on July 7′ and by then we can develop some type of criteria which the Board can vote on implementing. (NH) We can vote on the criteria on July 7th and then we will have two weeks to evaluate the situations for those requesting street parking.

(NH) Motion to approve allowing a grace period for the Parking Ordinance until July 21, 2015. (DB) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Use of PA-28 for DRA

(MW) This is a question posed every year by DRA pertaining to use of

Form PA-28, which we have never used. It is an alternate inventory of taxable property which was used in the past.

(AD) Motion to approve not using Form Pa-28. (GL) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Tax Abatement: Tax Map R35, Lot 24-T5 in the amount of $1,075

(MW) This relates to a mobile home which was improperly taken off the property. Chief Cain tried to track the owners down but received no responses to any of this efforts.

(GL) Motion to approve tax abatement Tax Map R35, Lot 24-T5 in the amount of $1,075. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

 

(NT-I) There is no way to go after these people? (MW) We would have to hire an attorney probably at a greater expense. Police Chief Cain: We made about 15 phone calls to this company with no responses.

  1. Tax Abatement: Tax Map R27, Lot 13-32 in the amount of $141

(GL) Motion to approve tax abatement for Tax Map R27, Lot 13-32 in the amount of $141. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Tax Map Maintenance Contract

(MW) This is an annual renewal of contract for CAT Technologies who keep our maps up-to-date. (EN) These are the only people who do this? (MW) There are others but are smaller companies with smaller resources. (NH) What about Avitar? Do they provide this service? (MW) No.

  1. Website Committee Dissolution

(GL) Motion to approve dissolution of Website Committee. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

(NH) Are there no members? (EN) Only one and he has not been sworn in. (MW) There is a letter to be sent to the last member of the Website Committee. (Board signed letter.)

INFORMATION ITEMS

  1. Planning Board Minutes Update

(GL) The Planning Board is in the process of updating the SubDivision Regulations. Also, the Building Inspector has requested someone to help him with some research. Question is will these people be using his computer for the research? (NH) I can meet with Jesse and help him with this. (MW) These are concerning Building Code situations.

  1. Aqueduct Purchase Committee Update

(AD) The Committee met last night and met with George Sansoucy to determine the steps necessary to hold the special town meeting. The Committee discussed establishing a Village District for residents who are actually on the system. Mr. Sansoucy will research this further as to how to accomplish this.

 

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Deeded Property List Pending
    APPLICATIONS and WARRANTS
  2. Intent to Cut: Tax Map R13, Lot 6— Dan Mullen

(GL) Motion to approve Intent to Cut Tax Map R13, Lot 6. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Intent to Cut: Tax Map R52, Lot 2 – Isadore & Theresa Piaseczny

(GL) Motion to approve Intent to Cut Tax Map R52, Lot 2. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Intent to Cut: Tax Map R54, Lot Ii – George Teloin

(GL) Motion to approve Intent to Cut Tax Map R54, Lot 11. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Timber Tax Levy: Tax Map R52, Lot 2 – Piaseczny – $2,099.39

(GL) Motion to approve Timber Tax Levy, Tax Map R52, Lot 2. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Dog License Civil Forfeiture Warrant

(MW) This is the Warrant for unregistered dogs; currently, there are 181 dogs that are not licensed.

(AD) Motion to approve Dog License Civil Forfeiture Warrant. (DB) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Tax Abatement: Tax Map U01, Lot 88 – Riel

(GL) Motion to approve Tax Abatement Tax Map U01, Lot 88 – $462. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

BREAK: 6:15 P.M.                             RESUME: 6:18 P.M.

 

CHECKS and MANIFESTS

(GL) Motion to approve Payroll and Direct Deposit. (DB) Second. Carried 5-0.

(GL) Motion to approve Accounts Payable and Checks Register. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

MINUTES

  1. Public Session Minutes June 2, 2015

(GL) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of June 2, 2015. (NH) Second. Carried 5-0.

  1. Non-Public Session Minutes June 2, 2015

(GL) Motion to approve Non-Public Session Minutes of June 2, 2015. (NH) Second. Carried 5-0.

PUBLIC INPUT

Jim Pritchard: When (GL) was talking about helping Jesse Pacheco, Building Inspector and his request for help, he forgot to mention that I was working with Jesse and we have already resolved three issues. I do not know what (GL) was talking about regarding the use of the computers; we had to use his computer.

Tracy Huvck: Is it my understanding that the parking ban is Town-wide? The Chief has seemed to concentrate on the downtown area. Are we being targeted? (EN) It is a Town-wide parking ban. (NH) It is being enforced Town-wide. Tracy Huvek: Why was there no Public Hearing? When I heard about the ban, I walked the downtown area and there are only two businesses open that would be affected – Jitters and Molly’s. I am not opposed but I do not think this was thoroughly thought out. (EN) We did have a Public Hearing on this. It wasn’t just discussed and made into an ordinance.

Tracy Huvck: I think you should have done more advertising. I do not read the Sun. 1 do not see how the parking ban is promoting business.

 

Zachary Wentworth: I just find it shifty. Immediately after the Public Hearing, the Board voted on it and you did not tell the public before this except via the paper. I had to park at my mother’s house. We do not have a parking area. The landlord said we do and then said we do not. It is a challenge to parking and is going to be a problem. I really wish we had heard about this in a more public way. Was it on the Agenda on the Website?

Adam Gauthier: The parking ban does not affect me though I disagree with it. I do not get The Sun and it was not on the Website and the only other option would be the Town Hall. (MW) It was also posted at the Post Office.

Adam Gauthier: Mike, I am sorry to see you go. You have been an asset to this Town. Are they going to advertise for a new one? (EN) There will be someone on an interim basis to fill in. (MW) My last day is July 2 and I will be available on an interim basis. Adam Gauthier: When are they going to start the process?

Jim Pritchard: You mentioned the Public Hearing at which Paul Rogers also made all the points that were mentioned tonight. My concern is that at the Public Hearing someone from the Board requested more time to evaluate this but the rest of the Board did not agree.

Diane Levesaue: I did not see it in the paper and I read it religiously and maybe I did read it and did not understand. I have received all these warnings (she had about 7-8 warnings which she showed the Board) and from my point of view, I do not want to break the parking ban every day.

(EN) We offered parkers a 30 day grace period and there were just warnings left on vehicles.

Diane Levesciue: I met with the Chief and still got the warnings. We have tried checking with our landlord but he has not responded. This was a bad weekend for me stress wise. I want to stay in Town but there is no parking in Town and nothing available to rent. I do not want to be a bad tenant and break my lease but I have nowhere to go. The impact on me is huge. The major thing that concerns me is the notices. I have not dealt with these type of things before. Everyone I talk to reacts strongly and sees my point of view. I do not know what to do.

 

Dan Schroth. Welcome Denis Beaudoin and Nick Hayes to the Board of Selectmen.

I found out yesterday that my son is a wicked heroin addict. He is working in Northwood. The meth comes from Pittsfield (18 Chestnut Street). The battles of yesteryears are gone and what we have here is our new battle. Everyone knows who is doing this. It is the war that we have going on now. As you see I have a new sign – NO MO METH. Wake-up Town – they are not using flowers

(Poppies) anymore but rather chemicals instead to make the meth. I just wanted to bring it to your attention. We are at war. This is serious business and we are going to lose our Town if we do not do something.

Close Public Input

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

(GL) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 11(a) – The dismissal, promotion or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee or the investigation of any charges against him unless the employee affected: (1) Has a right to a meeting, and (2) Requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 6:38 P.M. Board returned to Public Session at 7:10 P.M.

NOTE: RSA 91-A (III) – Minutes of proceeding in non-public session shall be kept and the record of all actions shall be promptly made available for public inspection, except as provided in this section. Minutes and decision reached in non-public session shall be publicly disclosed within seventy-two (72) hours of the meeting, unless, by recorded vote of 2/3 of the members present, it is determined that divulgence of the information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than the members of the Board, or render the proposed action ineffective. In the event of such circumstances, information may be withheld until, in the opinion of a majority of members, the aforesaid circumstances no longer apply.

Shall the Minutes be publicly disclosed?        No.

 

Motion made by (CL) and Seconded by (AD) to not publicly disclose the Minutes because it is determined that divulgence of the information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of the Board. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

INTERIM TOWN ADMINISTRATOR

(GL) Motion to hire Earle Wingate, III, Esq. as Interim Town Administrator at a salary of $40,000 for six months. (DB) Second. Carried 5-0.

(GL) Motion to approve Interim Town Administrator Earle Wingate, III will receive no benefit package for Earle Wingate, III during his tenure as Interim Town Administrator. Starting date will be June 23, 2015.

(AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

NON-PUBIC SESSION II

(AD) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 11(e) – Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed against the Town or any subdivision thereof, or against any member thereof because of his membership in such body, until the claim or litigation has been fully adjudicated or otherwise settled. (DB) Second. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 7:12 P.M. Board returned to Public Session at 7:41 P.M.

NOTE: RSA 91-A (III) – Minutes of proceeding in non-public session shall be kept and the record of all actions shall be promptly made available for public inspection, except as provided in this section. Minutes and decision reached in non-public session shall be publicly disclosed within seventy-two (72) hours of the meeting, unless, by recorded vote of 2/3 of the members present, it is determined that divulgence of the information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than the members of the Board, or render the proposed action ineffective. In the event of such circumstances, information may be withheld until, in the opinion of a majority of members, the aforesaid circumstances no longer apply.

Shall the Minutes be publicly disclosed?        No.

 

Motion made by (GL) and Seconded by (AD) to not publicly disclose the Minutes because it is determined that divulgence of the information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of the Board and render the proposed action ineffective. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

ADJOURNMENT

(AD) Motion to adjourn. (NH) Second. Carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:52 P.M.

Approved: July 7, 2015

Eric Nilsson, Qliairni an                                                             Date

/

Attachment (1) Olympus: 1:09:56

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded by me on June 16, 2015, transcribed and publicly posted on June 18, 2015.

,-L.) ~~’ ax

e ores A. Fritz, Recording Secre

 

Page 1 of 1

From: “James Trovato” Subject: Fwd: parking ban

Sent dare: 06/16/2015 02:20:44 PM

To dianaIegIit

Sent from my IPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: James Trovato <jtcovatoimyfalrpoint.neL> Date: June 16, 2015 at 2:03:52 PM EDT

To: “itrovatomy1a:rpoinl.net’ ‘cjtrovatomyfairpoinl.nel> Subject: parking ban

To the Pittsfield Board of Selectman,

I am writing to give some feedback regarding the amended parking ordinance that was Swiftly enacted 2 weeks ago.

My wife and I own the building at 2 Depot St, which currently has 3 apartments and 2 commercial storefronts. While running 2 businesses and having three apartments rented, parking on the Street WSS never an issue for the businesses that operated there Even when the pittsfield players were putting on a show, we still managed to not have problems with finding parking on the Street

We bring this point up because one of the stated reasons for this overnight parking ban is to promote business I am a business and this does not help in any way, shape, or form. In fact, this will have such a negative impact on my rental business that I do not know how we will continue to find quality tenants to rent to. If I cannot rent my apartments, I will be unable to pay my taxes.

Its going to be difficult to promote economic growth In town when landlords cannot rent their apartments and we begin to see bankruptcies, foreclosures, and boarded up buildings.

I would respectfully ask the board to reconsider this parking ban until we can come up with alternative parking solutions for the many downtown buildings that were built prior to cars even being invented.

Thank you for your consideration James & Michelle Trovato Sent from my iPad

Attachment to Board of Selectmen,

Minutes                    t.. 4′, o
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