Selectboard Minutes

TOWN OF ANTRIM
Select Board Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 13, 2020
7:00 pm Town Hall

Board Members Present: John Robertson, Chairman; Michael Genest, Selectman, Robert L. Edwards, Selectman

Staff Present: Donna Hanson, Town Administrator

Others Present: Joan Gorga, Gregg Lake Watershed Management; Peter Beblowski, Conservation Commission

Agenda Items:

1.  Public Hearing Old Pound Road Land Acquisition

• Mr. Robertson opened the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.  Ms. Hanson read the public notice. Mr. Beblowski said they would normally ask the landowner to put the property in a conservation easement but because the road floods there, access to the property would be easier if the town owned it. There would be restrictions on the property if it was in a conservation easement. Mr. Genest asked if there was any upland on the property. Mr. Edwards suggested the Board ask Mr. Crowell, who owns the land but was unable to attend the meeting, to ask whoever did the plan provide an estimate of the uplands. Mr. Genest would like to know the value of the land before a decision is made. Ms. Hanson will speak with Mr. Crowell about this.  The discussion will be continued at the next public hearing.

2.  Approval of Minutes – Public

• Mr. Genest moved to accept the meeting minutes of January 6, 2020.  Mr. Edwards seconded. Passed 3/0  

3.  Approval of Non-Public Minutes

• Mr. Edwards moved to accept the meeting minutes as amended of January 6, 2020.  Mr. Genest seconded. Passed 3/0   

4.  Gregg Lake Watershed Plan Presentation

• Ms. Gorga gave an overview of the work that has been done by the Gregg Lake Watershed Plan Committee. The lake has been listed as impaired since 2004. The committee submitted a proposal at the end of 2016 to receive funding to identify the problem areas of the lake and how to correct them. Since they received word that it was being funded, they have been working on this for the past two years. Once they have an EPA compliant watershed plan the town can apply for grants. They are now in the process of putting together a plan to address many of the problems they have identified. The committee also suggests that the water level in the lake be lowered. A public hearing is required which will take place on February 24, 2020. The abutters will be notified. More information from the committee is attached.

5.  Warrant Articles/Budget Review

• Mr. Edwards said when he looks at what is recommended for the budget and what is spent, he wondered if there could be more fine tuning of the budget. He said we are up a little less than 5% from what was budgeted. Mr. Edwards suggested level funding the budget this year. Mr. Genest said it was a little late in the budget season to start that. Mr. Edwards disagreed.  Mr. Robertson said we have had a budget balance that we have been able to use without increasing taxes so he would not recommend level funding at this time. He feels every year prices increase so he doesn’t think level funding is realistic. Mr. Edwards said we should ask the department heads if they can tighten their budgets. Ms. Hanson explained that the increase in the police budget is due to the proposed sixth officer which also increases the benefit line.  The road agent budgets for a full crew but did not have one for most of the year which affects several line items in his budget resulting in not spending the total budget. Mr. Edwards asked if we could get as close to level funding as possible. He would like to ask the Library Trustees to level fund and supplement their budget with trust funds if necessary. Mr. Genest said the planning board could reduce their budget by $7,000 since they haven’t spent more than 65% of their budget in the last five years. There was discussion regarding long term planning for Government buildings, for example, the fire Station and the Highway and Transfer Station.
• Mr. Edwards moved to transfer $17,813.30 from the Highway Department to the Welfare Department. Mr. Robertson seconded. Passed 3/0

6.  Meetings Attended

• Mr. Edwards attended the parks & recreation meeting. Minutes can be found at https://www.antrimnh.org/node/6294/agenda/2020.
• Mr. Edwards attended the water & sewer meeting with Antrim and Bennington regarding the cost allocation for Bennington.

7.  Town Administrator Update

• Ms. Hanson reported that the Antrim School Trust Funds money was received from the school.
• There is a small crack on the gym floor. Danaher Floors have been notified. We are waiting for Matt Danaher’s response.
• The Select Board town report was approved.
• The letter to the school board requesting reimbursement for 50% of the cost of sanding of the floor was reviewed. Mr. Edwards doesn’t think the letter should be sent because he doesn’t think it is going anywhere. Mr. Genest disagrees because at the last meeting everyone agreed to send it and to have documentation that the letter was sent.
• Mr. Genest moved to decline a request from a resident to waive the interest on his tax bill. The resident claimed he did not receive his tax bill. Mr. Edwards seconded. Passed 3/0
• Ms. Hanson said Mr. Rick Davis will be coming in at some time to talk about resurrecting the Chamber of Commerce. He would like the support of the Select Board.
• There was discussion regarding the “The Antrim Community Board” project Gordon Allen and Kristen Vance are working on. Ms. Hanson was surprised they haven’t come before the Select Board since their discussions involved changing the master plan.  Mr. Edwards said he was invited to attend their first meeting and he didn’t think that was the direction they intended to go with the project.

8.  Adjournment

• Mr. Genest moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 PM; Mr. Robertson seconded. Passed 3/0

Respectfully submitted,
Donna Hanson, Town Administrator