Town of Winchester 1 Richmond Road Winchester, NH 03470
MINUTES of the
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Wednesday
May 26, 2010
Work session
Board Members Present: Sherman Tedford-Chairman; Roberta Fraser; Gustave Ruth; Theresa Sepe and Kenneth Gardner. Also present is Town Administrator Robert Gray. Also attending is Leroy Austin, building inspector/code enforcer and Rick Meleski, sewer department superintendent. The meeting convenes at 10:00AM.
1st Order of Business: Open Meeting and Acceptance of Minutes
Minutes of the May 17, 2010 work session minutes: Selectman Ruth makes a motion to accept the minutes. Selectman Gardner seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
2nd Order of Business: Discussion with Mr. Andrew Symington regarding 7 Dubriske Ct.
Mr. Andrew Symington addresses the board explaining his reason for meeting with the Board today:
On March 28th he sent the board a booklet outlining what he thinks the issues are of 7 Dubriske Ct. Prior to purchasing the property Mr. & Mrs. Symington had discussions with the realtor and with Leroy Austin to find out everything they could about the property. The sewer goes into a holding tank that needs to be pumped frequently. Leroy said that would still be permitted as long as the alarm is fixed on it so the occupants know when it needs to be pumped. The Symington’s were aware of this before the property was purchased. The problem started when he tried to rent it out. The neighbor was against them renting it out until the septic was fixed. He also claimed that the house was condemned years ago. From having more conversations with Leroy and surrounding neighbors it became clear that 7 Dubriske Ct was condemned at some time. Mr. Symington began to investigate the issues. All orders to vacate must have been recorded in the court. There are no records of it. Neither Mr. Symington nor Leroy has found anything to substantiate that the place was condemned, just what is known from Leroy and others. Selectman Gardner asks if an order to vacate was actually issued. Leroy responds not by him, by former health officer Bucky Jones. Leroy explains that there was an issue with the holding tank when the Porter’s were at the place. They did not pump it regularly. Leroy claims that property was part of the “dirty dozen” Selectman Tedford asks if the property is in compliance with everything right now. Leroy answers yes and he has issued a Certificate of Occupancy based on the fact that Mr. Symington was going to pump the holding tank regularly. Mr. Symington states that he may not have purchased the property if he had known about these issues. Selectman Ruth asks if that property was part of the original hookups. Selectman Tedford states that there were lines but no lateral. He asks if the original plans were created for Dubriske Ct. or Broadbrook Rd. Leroy claims it was for Broadbrook Rd and one property at 7 Dubriske Ct. Mr. Symington states that the town is under the obligation to take care of the property since an order to vacate was issued. Mr. Symington has a map that shows the areas that were supposed to be serviced and he claims Dubriske Ct is a part of it. Selectman Ruth questions where the lateral is. Selectman Ruth states there is a place for Mr. Symington to hookup, the manhole and that it is the responsibility of the landowner to provide the lateral for the sewer. Mr. Symington disagrees. He feels it is the town’s responsibility to provide the lateral. Selectman Gardner asks if there is ledge on the property. Leroy answers yes. Selectman Tedford asks where the water line goes and Rick answers it goes up Broadbrook Rd. and goes parallel across the road and runs in front of all the houses on Dubriske Ct. Rick is not aware of ledge.
There is discussion about when the Ashuelot sewer project was funded and what area was supposed to be connected. It was funded in 1990. Some paperwork cannot be found. Original plans are in office, but the as- builds cannot be found. Rick cannot find the plans showing anything on Dubriske Ct. Mr. Symington explains that the road is on a hillside and there is not ledge, it is fill so it wouldn’t be hard to run the line. Mr. Symington has been working on getting easements from the property owners on Dubriske Ct. Selectman Tedford questions why a water line was put in and not sewer. Mr. Symington has hired an engineer to draw up designs. He will give those to the town to use. He is doing the legwork and would like the town to do the actual work. Selectman Tedford asks Rick’s Meleski’s opinion. Rick would like all three houses to hook up to sewer. If a main were put in then according to the ordinance the houses would have to comply and hook up. They discuss how the lateral would be put in if there were ledge. Selectman Tedford asks about the cost for test boring. No one is sure about that. Selectman Gardner asks about the design plans that Mr. Symington had done. Does it take into account ledge, and it does not on the designs. Rick has looked at the plans. There are extras in the plans that the town may not do. The plans would have to go to Steve Roberts at the DES to approve. Selectman Sepe questions the approved septic systems at the houses. Mr. Symington does have a compliant system right now that just has to be pumped out frequently. Selectman Sepe questions if a line has ever been extended on a road at the Town’s expense before. Leroy says yes it has, Goamko Dr and most recently Snow Brook Rd. Selectman Tedford wants to know the depth of the lateral. The manhole is 10ft deep. Rick will go get the plans. A ten-minute recess is taken at 10:50am.
Meeting reconvenes at 11:00am.
Rick Meleski has the information of the depth of the stub for Dubriske Ct. It is approximately 10ft down and there is no bore testing that has been done. Selectman Tedford asks how the water line goes up Dubriske Ct. The water line is 5ft down. A sewer main would have to be on the left side of the Rd. A sewer line would go into a concrete sleeve to cross the water line. The board looks at the plans and discusses if it can be done. Rick explains that Mr. Symington can apply and run a 4-inch line to his house since there is a lateral so close. The question is where to run the line. There are factors to consider before moving forward with this. Need pricing on test boring, since it would have to be done. A decision would have to be made as to whether to add a line or a main. Need to confirm where the water line is. If the town puts a lateral in Mr. Symington is responsible for the line from the house to the Rd and he is aware of it. Selectman Tedford asks if we can get an idea of what it would cost to test bore and then have another meeting. Selectman Tedford asks if Mr. Symington would split the cost of test boring. Mr. Symington agrees to pay $500.00 of the cost. Selectman Tedford wonders if the town could dig to see how deep it is and never mind test boring.
Bob will get waivers signed from property owners and Rick will get Donald to dig for the water line. Rick will go from manhole to stub to determine where the ledge is. There is a discussion as to whether to add a lateral or a main and have everyone connect.
Selectman Sepe clarifies what will be done now, property owners will be asked for permission to dig, do the testing, and Mr. Symington will continue to pump the system he has now. Everyone agrees that is what is going to happen.
Another meeting will be held on June 16 at 7:00pm.
3rd Order of Business: Office documents
1.John Gomarlo’s vacation request was discussed and Bob will sign it.
2. Kristine Chestna, from Tata & Howard, brought a change order and the addendum to add Tata & Howard’s engineering cost for work for the headworks at the sewer plant. As soon as the approved addendum to the note from the DES is received these documents can be signed.
3. Abatement approvals- Avitar has given their opinion as to whether to approve or deny the abatement applications and the Selectmen need to approve or deny.
Selectman Tedford makes a motion to approve the abatements for:
M33-L24-1
M5 L 53-2
M8 L 53-1-6
M37 L 4-6
M8 L 44
Selectman Gardner seconds it. Motion carries.
Bob explains the denials.
Selectman Fraser makes a motion to deny for M33 L24-C Selectman Tedford seconds it, motion carries
Selectman Tedford makes a motion to deny for M20 L15 Selectman Sepe seconds it, motion carries
Selectman Gardner makes a motion to deny for M2 L28-1 Selectman Sepe seconds it, motion carries
Selectman Tedford makes a motion to deny for M21 L22 Selectman Gardner seconds it, motion carries
Selectman Gardner makes a motion to deny for M37 L16 Selectman Sepe seconds it, motion carries
Selectman Fraser makes a motion to deny M15 L15 Selectman Tedford seconds it, motion carries with Selectman Ruth abstaining since it is his property
Selectman Gardner makes a motion to deny M26 L59 Selectman Sepe seconds it, motion carries
Since the salt has already been paid for from the highway budget and that was included in expenses figured last week, Selectman Gardner would like to have High St. fixed and paved, as Dale had requested.
Selectman Gardner makes a motion to expend up $15,000.00 to pave High Street, to be finished and billed before June 15th. Selectman Ruth seconds it. Motion carries.
Selectman Tedford makes a motion to approve the transfer from the landfill budget to the highway budget. Selectman Ruth seconds it. Motion carries.
6 comments:
So, why is Leroy doing a homeowner inspection? And why would he give a thumbs up on a sale and then inform them that they have a problem after they buy the house. Scratching my head on this one.
Apparently hwy is to busy, or the backhoe is broken, or Puffer is to lazy to run it. Lawrence is digging across from Rite Aid when we have the equipment. Maybe there is a good reason, sorry to be so skeptical.
Reported in today's Sentinel, the Governor has told his people, cut, cut, cut. One can only hope that the Winchester Selectmen get the point.
To: Skeptical -
It was broken last month. Apparently they haven't repaired it. And Puffer isn't allowed near the equiptment (remember he doesn't have a CDL).
I am sure Lenny isn't disappointed with the work. After all, remind us Budget Committee Members, what he charges per hour? $75 per hour? Something like that?
Puffer was running the town backhoe the next day,Friday. Hope he didn't hurt himself, he assistant was doing all the heavy lifting as usual. Maybe the town equipment wasn't available on Thursday, but it just shows you how well Puffer plans his work if it was not an emergency. Like digging up the street in Ashuelot after it was paved. Puffer is just another example of a dept head that doesn't try to save us a dime.
From the Wednesday
June 2, 2010 - Selectmen Meeting
Selectman Ruth doesn’t think that giving ten sick days to the employees without the buyback option is beneficial. That would be over 220 days of unproductive time that the Town would have from employees. At least the buyback option gives employees incentive not to use the sick time.
Selectman Ruth makes a motion to continue with the current sick time buyback policy. Selectman Sepe seconds it.
I wonder if that is before or After factoring in Facebook and other time spent during the work day hours on the internet, for the personal benefit of the employee instead of for the benefit of us, of course-------The Taxpayer!!!!!!! Or as we like to be known as The Employer!!!!!!!!
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