Selectman's meetings minutes here. Jun-Jul-Aug 2008 NEWBURY UPDATE Newbury Update is published by the Town of Newbury to offer residents a view of the town government operations and activities. Copies are available at the town office, library and transfer station, but we strongly encourage you to ‘get your copy’ at the town website: www.newburynh.org. If
you would like to receive a copy via e-mail, please send your request (and any
comments or suggestions) to: newburyupdate@gmail.com. Newbury Board of Selectmen: Jim Powell, Dick Wright, and
Gary Budd. Town Administrator: Dennis Pavlicek Newbury Harbor Pedestrian Improvement Project In early June, KVPartners reviewed the final open issues on the sidewalk project with the board of selectmen. After KVP’s conversations with NH DRED Forests Division it was decided which plantings would work best for this project. They considered salt tolerance, plant zones and planting heights. Asked about the granite curbing and whether it would survive a winter of plowing, Mike Vignale of KVP said that it will be 12” under ground and 6” above ground; it will be a vertical granite curb that he believes will survive the winter months. The board agreed on the proposed plan. During June and July Vignale continued
shepherding the project through state and federal agencies for approval – state
highway and bridge sections, an Army Corps permit, ROW certificate,
environmental documents, an updated estimate and revised plans – until it was
ready to send off to the federal highway group for the final signoff. At the end of July, the
town signed a bidding/ construction services agreement with KVP to cover its
work on the next phase of the project. In early August, with receipt
of federal highway approval, the project was put out to bid. Sealed bids were
invited for work that includes the construction of a proposed concrete
sidewalk, pedestrian bridge, culvert extension, drainage, streetscape elements,
landscaping, ornamental street lights, parking lots, intersection improvements,
signing, striping and miscellaneous work. The board of selectmen will select a firm, which must then be approved by the state before a contract is signed. It is anticipated that construction could begin this fall and be completed by next June. BRIDGE WORK – Straight from a recent
status report by Dubois-King, the firm doing the survey and engineering for the
Village Road and Sutton Road bridges: On May 8 the firm’s scope-and-fee
agreement was approved by NHDOT and the notice to proceed was issued. The
ground (field) survey was completed in early June and a draft base map of each
bridge was prepared. The subsurface borings were completed at each bridge site
in mid June. There was a field visit and kick-off meeting with town officials
and a review of past flooding on Sutton Road. At the town’s request the vendor
also met with Sutton Road abutters to discuss concerns. They are now working on the geotechnical
report and the hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and study. A site visit /
wetland delineation is scheduled for September along with a presentation to the
NHDOT cultural resource committee. Dubois-King reports that to date no major
problems or issues have been identified on the project that require resolution. SENIOR HOUSING PROPOSAL – On June 16 David Kinsman, John Eller and Ralph Littlefield approached the selectmen to discuss their proposal for a senior housing project in Newbury. Littlefield, executive director of the local Community Action Program (CAP), explained that CAP provides services for low-income families with young children and for senior citizens. This project would be for senior citizens aged 62 years and older with an income not to exceed $24,500 for one person and $28,000 for a couple. The project would be under the management of CAP, very similar to its project in Warner. The first step is getting funding from HUD for the affordable housing. The proposed project would be an independent-living facility located on the Kinsman property on South Road. The project would include up to 34 units placed on four acres and the rest of the 30 acres leased from Kinsman would be placed in conservation. The one-bedroom units would be clustered in single-story buildings and 10% of the units would be set aside for handicapped accessibility. Littlefield said that to proceed with the HUD process for obtaining a feasibility study grant, there must be initial support of the town. He said that a basic letter of support from the board of selectmen would be needed to get the project off the ground. The board agreed and has submitted a letter of support for the project. SHORELAND
ACT WORKSHOP
– In response to a request from a resident at the summer information meeting, a
workshop on the state’s new Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA) will
be held in Newbury on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the town office.
The new rules, effective July 1, 2008, have resulted in some confusion and the
state has been running workshops around the state. One was recently held in New
London.
OIL/HEATING EMERGENCY PLAN – The selectmen are working with town safety services to have a plan in place to check on people, especially seniors, who might need assistance in an emergency. A near-term possibility is those at risk because they can’t afford fuel for enough heat throughout the winter. At a July 23 meeting to formulate a plan for the town response, the group looked at identifying residents who may need to be checked on. They also discussed sources of heating assistance, including a state program that distributes federal ‘pass-through’ money, wood the town collects from cuts in the right of way, and even the possibility of a ‘wood bee’ was mentioned. There will be another meeting in September to track progress.
SCHOOL DISTRICT – On July 14 Daniel Wolf, Newbury’s representative on the Kearsarge Regional School Board, and the school district’s new superintendent, Jerry Frew, met with the select board to discuss any concerns they had with the schools. Wright mentioned that he was very concerned with the transportation costs and wants to know what is planned to keep costs down in this area. He said that something needs to be done to keep costs down because the school budget just keeps doubling. Frew says that he is aware of the school burden on the local taxpayers. He said that he is hoping to keep the school budget more efficient without taking anything away. Wolf mentioned that when someone brings school concerns to the board of selectmen they should forward it to the school board so they realize there is an issue. Powell asked about putting a checkbook ledger online so that all taxpayers can see where the money is spent. Wolf said that he will look into such a program. GO ON IN, THE WATER’S STILL FINE The water sample results for the beaches at the harbor and Blodgett's Landing have been well under the state limits for bacteria levels this summer. The limit is 88 and ours have been running 2-4. The readings are checked every 2-3 weeks through the summer. MUNICIPAL
FACILITIES PLANNING Town
Property Feasibility Committee: Selectmen Jim Powell, Dick Wright and Gary
Budd; Dennis Pavlicek, town administrator, Police Chief Bob Lee, Fire Chief
Hank Thomas, Pat Sherman and Brian Bostic As the next step in the
planning process for the town center and future needs for municipal facilities,
the Town Property Feasibility Committee has taken two steps approved at town
meeting. Ads were put in the newspaper in early
August for bids for the demolition and removal of two buildings at the Bald
Sunapee and Camacho properties. At a walkthrough for prospective bidders
on Aug. 12 it was stressed that all materials must be removed from the site.
Some 20 firms were represented. Bids are due by noon on Aug. 15
and the work is to be done some time after Labor Day. At their July 28 meeting, selectmen approved the text for a request for qualifications for architectural / engineering firms for developing concepts to best use the existing buildings and the new site and meet the needs of the safety services departments and the community.
At a walkthrough on Aug. 11, firms
were provided a recently completed site plan of the Bald Sunapee and adjacent
property with survey, topographic, wetland and boundary data. The
report on the town center visioning sessions and the recently completed master
plan were also available for background. Fee proposals are due at 12 noon on Aug. 29. The building committee will review the proposals and develop a short list by Sept. 19. Interviews of short-listed firms will be held Sept. 30 and selection will be made by Oct. 6, 2008. In the RFQ ad, Newbury
requested fee-and-scope proposals for the services of an architectural and
engineering team to assist in the committee’s planning process. The selected
firm will analyze the space needs of the police, fire and
emergency management departments, all of which need to be
upgraded to comply with state and federal codes in addition to meeting future
town needs. The next step would be determining if it would be cost effective to
renovate the existing building for any department, and the best use of the 3+
acres of acquired land. Potential gravel reserves on that site and water and
septic requirements will also be assessed. The bid request also mentions that the Veterans’ Memorial building is an underused historic structure
that would provide additional community space if it was relocated to a more
accessible site. N.B. At the Aug. 2 summer information
meeting a resident expressed concern about additional town money going into
additional municipal building improvements, and whether future upkeep costs are
taken into consideration. Chief Lee immediately stepped up and assured the
group that the town officials consider all future costs on any projects being
considered, and that they also look into more efficient ways to proceed on any
municipal project. Selectmen would also like to point out that this is not
short-term planning being done. They want to start now to have time for
well-considered, thorough examination of the options. INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE – The South Newbury Union Church started strong in its first year of sponsoring the town’s 4th of July parade. Town administrator Dennis Pavlicek said it was the largest number of people, in and watching the parade, that he’s ever seen there. Kudos to Selectman Gary Budd’s appearance as Uncle Sam. OLD HOME DAY – Feedback on this year’s community event has been positive. Pavlicek estimates that approximately 600 people were served dinner. The extra chicken was given to the fire department and the extra hot dogs were brought to Fishersfield Recreation Area to be put in the snack bar’s freezer for future use. The organizing committee held a recap meeting on July 31, and the first planning meeting for next year will be in October. Mark your calendar now for July 11, 2009 because some interesting new elements are already being lined up. VELIE MEMORIAL PLAYGROUND – Ever since the Old Home Day grand opening, complete with speeches, thanks and ribbon cutting, this play area has been the place to be for the young set. This is a gift the town will long appreciate. SUMMER INFORMATIONAL MEETING
– The town personnel almost outnumbered its 10-person
audience at the annual summer informational meeting on Saturday, Aug. 2. The full range of town activities and
departments were reviewed and questions answered. These are all covered under
the appropriate headings in this issue. Among the queries there were various
expressions of thanks and appreciation to town departments and personnel for
services rendered, improvements made, programs offered and time and effort put
forth. WATERSHED WORK – June Fichter made a presentation to the selectmen on July 28 on the work of the Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition (SAWC). She reported that the watershed management plan is complete and distributed copies. She said that it is important to focus on limiting the phosphorus loading into the lake. The group’s next steps will be trying to control erosion, looking into septic systems and making sure there is education and compliance within the community. Blodgett
Wastewater Treatment Facility
In
early August Stantec Engineering completed the full report on the feasibility
study for the type of plant to use at the Blodgett Wastewater Treatment
Facility. The state now has one month to review it and respond. The choice is
between an amphidrome (a newer concept) and a revised Imhoff tank (the type now
at the plant which is 50 years old). At the Aug. 2 summer informational meeting,
Tim Mulder, chief operator at the facility, explained the cost assessment,
bidding process and status of the refurbishment project. Asked what the money has been used for to
this point and what the fee for 2008 will be, the town administrator said that
the money has gone toward phase 1, such as lining the beds, and that repairs
have been successfully done. The fee for 2008 is not calculated yet, but it
looks to be a little less than last year. Asked about the potential for installing
meters and charging by usage, Selectman Powell replied that the board will look
into it. A Blodgett resident interested in the overall financing and reviewing
the sewer project, and concerned with future fees, was assured that all
information was public and accessible upon request. It was also pointed out
that the work currently completed has already reduced future fees. A resident inquired about the nitrate levels
and Mulder said that the levels continue to be addressed by the town and the
state. The weather hasn’t been helping, as rain increases nitrate levels. Meanwhile, the town has received the discharge permit for Blodgett facility, which is renewed every five years.
NEW BOATSLIPS – At the July 28 selectmen’s meeting, Pavlicek reported that Pennyroyal Hill surveyors had submitted its full report on water depths, the sideline boundary by Newbury Station Marina, et al. On behalf of the town Watermark Marine Construction is now going forward with the wetlands permit for additional boatslips at the harbor. Having the permit will leave the option open for another 5 years for the town to add up to 11 slips. A current proposal suggests four slips extending perpendicularly off the end of the existing dock, and seven off an extension of the boardwalk past the gazebo. When the harbor was worked on years ago, the state gave permission for more slips than the town ended up putting in at the time. This will just extend the approval should the town decide to proceed. Temporary Signs & Permits Selectmen have been dealing with several violations of the sign ordinance, particularly to do with temporary signs. To help clear up some confusion about temporary signs, here’s a summary of that part of the ordinance: -- In any residential district, one unlighted temporary sign is permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days in a calendar year, provided it doesn’t exceed four square feet in surface area. -- In the business district, one temporary sign is allowed as outlined below for a period not to exceed 180 days for a calendar year. A sign permit from the selectmen is required. --One free-standing temporary sign (two signs back against back shall be considered a single sign) is permitted for each business site. It can’t exceed 16 square feet in surface area, can’t be illuminated and can’t be placed within the public right-of-way; or --One building-mounted temporary sign shall be permitted for each business site. It can’t exceed 16 square feet in surface area, must be mounted flat on the face of the building and not be illuminated. -- In all districts, “For Sale” signs are permitted, specifically one unlighted sign (two signs back against back shall be considered a single sign) offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership. It can’t exceed four square feet in surface area and must be set back at least five feet from the property line. WOOD IN THE RIGHT OF WAY – The selectmen have instituted a policy to formalize how the town will deal with the disposal of wood in the town right of way. All wood that the town or any private entity cuts in the town right of way shall, at all times, first be offered to the owner of the property. If the owner wants the wood, it shall be the responsibility of the owner to remove the wood within two weeks from the town right of way. If they choose not to take it, then the wood will be picked up, cleaned up and stockpiled by the town at a central site for distribution to those in need in the community, or it will be used by town facilities. If the property owner offers any wood to any town employees, they will be informed that any wood can only be given to the town and not to individual employees. This policy became effective July 28, 2008. SCHOLARSHIP – On June 16 the trustees of the trust funds reported that Mia Marzelli had been awarded $50 from the Edith K. Eaton Memorial Scholarship Fund. INTENTS TO CUT – June 16, intent to cut approved for Harold Buker, map/lot 047-624-266. July 14, three buffer zone cut applications were approved: Joyce Barron, map/lot 007-220-332; Arnie Wood, map/lot 017-585-371 and Ralph Verni, map/lot 015-313-122. One buffer zone cut application, for Dar Aley, map/lot 019-163-462, was put on hold until further information could be obtained. July 28, intent to cut approved for Northwoodlands, Inc., map/lot 024- 647-336. T R A N S F E R
S T A T I O N At the summer informational meeting on Aug. 2, selectman Jim Powell announced that the transfer station has successfully increased recycling this year, and has been more efficient through reorganization and improvements, with more in the works. The board of selectmen and town administrator have been spending time at the transfer station to review the facility operations, see how changes are working out and what else could be addressed to improve the facility overall. After one such visit, selectmen decided on changes to improve traffic flow and make things more user friendly. Pavlicek is pricing concrete pads for several of the containers. The metals bin is now on dirt/gravel and when the ground is wet, it gets dug in, lopsided and harder to access. The wall by it needs to be reset and improved. It might make sense to have two metal bins with access in the middle so users can reach either if one gets filled. Concrete pads for the demolition area and resetting the stone wall with the bin nearer to it will make it easier for people to get up to it and make it more stable. Selectmen are also thinking about moving the tin cans / plastics bin near the entrance, with a pullover area to maintain traffic flow. The second compactor could then be moved over to where plastics are now, offset and behind the other compactor. Having it below ground level with a hopper will remove the need to lift trash bags up into it. It would be offset enough to pull out and empty without a problem.
Recycle and
save tax dollars Town administrator Dennis Pavlicek said that the expansion of accepted recycling materials has helped to aid the facility’s efficiency. For one thing, recycling is very important in offsetting the high cost of demolition. Demolition is the most expensive to get rid of, household trash the next. Those high costs are another reason to require vehicles to display transfer station tags, so that the people footing the bill are the only ones using the facility.
Plastic bags
don’t compost Selectman Dick Wright said there is a problem with people dumping their compost leaves without taking them out of the plastic trash bags. Please note, leaves must be emptied out of the plastic bags and the bags should be carried away and put in the trash. By the way, plastic bags are not recyclable. H I G H W A Y
D E P T. Highway administrator Cal Prussman reports that with the paving and shoulder work done, the reconstruction of the first half of Baker Hill Road is complete. Various roads in town have been ditched and the materials hauled to the upper area of Fishersfield Recreation Area for fill for future expansion. Weather permitting this will be ongoing. Mowing of roadsides is also being done at this time. Prussman said that the bids for salt are in with a cost of $64.75 per ton, an increase of $14.93 per ton over last year’s $49.82. There is little left in the salt budget, but we have zero salt on hand, so Prussman plans to get enough to at least get us through to January. The winter sand, which we’re getting from Willow Pond in Newbury (a savings on trucking it in), will be $7.00 per cubic yard, less than last year. The department’s fuel budget has taken a double hit this year with more road time plowing the record snowfalls and then the fuel price increase. Conservation measures are helping, including the anti-idling policy the town instituted this year, and limiting the moving of equipment to only the bare necessities. You may notice highway vehicles left at work sites overnight, for example. As part of their review of proposed road projects, the selectmen have asked Prussman to prioritize the projects by urgency and put together cost estimates. Prussman pointed out that the cost of asphalt has gone from $49/ton at the end of June when Baker Hill was paved to a projected $67/ton as of Aug. 18 per United Paving. H I S T O R I C A L
S O C I E T Y Board of
Directors: Shelly Candidus Alice Lynn, Deane Geddes, Dennis Pavlicek, Dick
Matte, Margie Weiler, Barbara Steward, Bob Morris, Bill Weiler The Newbury Historical
Society held its annual meeting on July 20 and re-elected Shelly Candidus,
Dennis Pavlicek and Barbara Steward as directors for three-year terms. A
unanimous vote changed the by-laws to permit dues to increase, effective in
2009, to $10 for individuals, $20 for families, $50 for businesses and $200 for
life memberships. The first phase of the
effort to catalog the society’s collection by Museum and Collector Resources
was nearly complete. It was noted that, thanks to final costs coming in
below estimate on the restoration and microfilming of Book C, $3,500 of the
$10,000 Moose Plate Grant was left to use on archival supplies for the
cataloging. Plans call for completing the second phase next summer with
assistance from volunteers. Several more applications
have been received for the historic house marker project. It was stressed that
this project in no way restricts a homeowner such as an historic district
designation might. A group remains busy
choosing photos for Newbury’s pictorial history book and the publisher accepted
the first selection. The final copy is due to the publishing
company by Dec. 30. Anyone with historic photos is still encouraged to
come forward and allow the society to scan them for the records. When the meeting
adjourned guest speakers Lynn Clark and Rebecca Courser presented Rural Free Black Settlement in
Post-Revolutionary New Hampshire: A study of Six Towns. The public is invited to all board meetings of the society. Sherman Hall is open by appointment from May to October. L I B R A R Y Between the programs and the weather, business at the library has
been good. One recent Wednesday they had 175 people and 205 checkouts. August is wrap-up time
for summer reading programs. The last of the Family Time Stories at the Library
on Mondays is called It’s the Berries! and kicks off at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18. On Aug. 11 the middle and
high schoolers who completed their summer reading logs by reading 1500 pages
and visiting the library four times, celebrated with a wrap-up party and silent
auction. They bid with ‘reading bucks’ for prizes provided by the Friends of
the Library. Word is that seven students read an impressive combined total of
17,549 pages. Poetry Jam – Poet Dianalee Velie is hosting
another entertaining afternoon of sharing original poetry on Sunday, Aug. 24,
at 3 p.m.
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T O W N C L E
R K /
T A X C O L L E C T O R Town clerk Linda Plunkett reports that beginning soon there will be new car registration forms, on safety paper with a watermark, one third of an 8-1/2 x 11-inch sheet. It has a barcode that can be read by police officers if their vehicles carry the equipment.
Unlicensed Dogs The town clerk delivered a list of non-registered dogs to the selectmen, who forwarded it to the police department. Under RSA 466.13, the owner of a dog not registered shall forfeit $25.00 to the town; if this fine isn’t paid within 15 days, then the owner can be fined $50. It’s not an issue of bureaucracy. It’s about rabies, for one very important thing, especially in a rural area. Verification of an up-to-date rabies vaccination is part of the licensing process. Free, Easy Prescription Discount
Card It’s offered through the association of
counties, there are no age requirements ... no income requirements ... family
coverage ... and you do not need to be a Medicare beneficiary to enroll.
You can use it any time your prescription is not covered by insurance. Easy...Simply pick up a card at the
town clerk’s office – no enrollment form, no membership fee, one card,
immediate use. Present your card at a retail participating pharmacy and save an
average of 20% on your prescription drugs. Finding a pharmacy is easy; 8 out of
10 pharmacies nationwide accept your discount card. (A list of regional
pharmacies is available at the town clerk’s office and includes Henniker
Pharmacy, Colonial Pharmacy in New London and 17 in Concord.) No Limits...You and your family may
use your prescription discount card any time your prescription is not covered
by insurance. Use the card if you don’t have prescription insurance, or if your
insurance doesn’t cover a medication your doctor prescribes for you. There are
no restrictions and no limits on how many times you can use your card. Extra Savings...As part of this
program you will also be eligible for higher discounts on select medications,
as well as high-tech and injectable drugs. For details of these programs and a
mail service program which offers an average of 50% savings on a 3-month supply
of select medications call the toll-free number or visit the website mentioned
below. For Pets Too...If your veterinarian
prescribes a medication for your pet that is also consumed by humans – such as
insulin or Celebrex – you can use the discount card at a participating pharmacy
to fill it for your pet. Stop by the town clerk’s office at the town office building for your card. This program is offered in a joint effort of Merrimack County and the National Assoc. of Counties (NACo). For more information call toll free 1-877-321-2652 or visit https://naco.advancerx.com. For other counties:
P A R K
& R E C R E A T I O N Recreation
committee: Inge Lee, Gail Bostic, Jane Pratt, Marilyn Hill, Kate Seabury The recreation department’s summer programs for kids had triple or better the turnout of last year. Swimming lessons, offered this year at both the harbor and Blodgett’s Landing, went from 8 participants to 40 and the ecology camp at The Fells increased from 6 to 26. Travis Dezotell, recreation coordinator, reports they also reduced the fees (swimming by $3, camp by $25) and still covered the costs. Over the course of the summer about 24 kids joined the new Tuesday afternoon camp program. Dezotell said that overall they took in more than $2,400 in fees and should end up with money for the recreation revolving fund. The success of the programs is very gratifying, but the recreation committee wants to grow incrementally so as not to outrun the ability to do them well.
Fall Festival & Fall Fling 5K Planning Under Way At the committee’s Aug. 11 meeting the focus was on fall planning and specifically the fall festival and 5K race. They are distinct events, committee members said, because the race is a fundraiser, and the festival is community outreach. One decision was to always hold these two events on the last Saturday in September, which makes Sept. 27 the date for this year. They are strongly considering Fishersfield Recreation Area as the site to showcase the newly opened community asset. It also has good parking and plenty of space for family fun and games. Marilyn Hill agreed to coordinate the fall festival markets (craft and farmer) and Dezotell will run the 5K. He has a goal of 75-100 entrants, and is thinking of incorporating teams. Options for children’s activities were discussed and it was mentioned the Newbury Beautification Committee and Center Meeting House have expressed interest.
Adopt-a-Trail Dezotell and Chuck Crickman, who created most of the trail network at the park with the help of Dale Jones, are hoping an adopt-a-trail program will catch on to maintain the trails. Each sponsor (individual, family or business) would take a half-mile section and weed whack it twice a year, say June and August, and do any other minor repairs in their section. Anyone interested should contact Dezotell (contact info below) or stop at the information table at the festival on Sept. 27. After brainstorming thoughts for winter activities, possibly even another festival, the committee closed the meeting by agreeing to nominate Jennifer Morris Sweet to the selectmen as a member of the committee. More volunteers are needed and anyone with interest is invited to the meetings; the next is on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in the town office. Travis Dezotell can be reached at 763-4940 x210 or travis@newburynh.org. P O L I C E
D E P A R T M E N T This summer has been about as boring as legally allowed according to Chief Bob Lee. At the Aug. 2 summer town meeting Chief Lee covered the low level of crime and property damage. Thefts and burglaries are also lower. Blodgett’s Landing residents expressed appreciation of increased police patrols in their area. Two Blodgett’s residents expressed concern about children’s safety with some residents driving too fast. Chief Lee encouraged neighborhoods to set a tone for safety levels and standards as a very effective solution. Traffic Sign
Challenge The digital traffic sign has positively decreased vehicle speed through the town/harbor area. Traffic slows down as people read the message. Clever copy catches the attention and registers more than the same old, same old, so Chief Lee has issued a challenge to the community to come up with some clever yet functional messages for the traffic sign. The last one was a ‘Burma Shave’ type ad that read, “If speeding through you must do”... “Then look behind & you’ll see blue.” The limits are three lines, 11 characters per line, and two messages that flip. They have to make some sense read in either order and on their own so as not to be too confusing. Submit your ideas to newburypd@newburypd.org. Telephone Call
Caution There have been some inquiries about telephone solicitations ostensibly for or from police or fire associations. Chief Lee advises that while some of these calls may be legitimate, not all of them are. He reminds us that you do not have to contribute over the phone to any organization. If you want to contribute to anyone you can do so locally. Simply tell the solicitor, “thank you and goodbye.” Polite, yet to the point. A S S E S S I N G
O F F I C E The assessors are continuing with their inspections of improved properties, as reported in the last issue, and assessor Normand Bernaiche points out this will be an ongoing, cyclical activity. He and Kris McAllister, assistant assessor, are finishing up the current property inspections prior to the town submitting its MS1, the municipal services inventory of taxable property, which is used by the state Dept. of Revenue Administration to set the tax rate for each town. It will be submitted shortly [mid to late August]. Expect your second tax bill to be in the mail toward the middle or end of October. The assessors are also staying on top of the real estate market. BUILDING INSPECTOR / CODE ENFORCEMENT Comprehensive
Shoreland Protection Act Paul LaCasse, building inspector and code enforcement officer, and Dennis Pavlicek have arranged for the state to run an informational session on Sept. 23 in Newbury on the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act that took effect July 1. Arlene Allen, shoreland protection outreach coordinator at the DES wetlands bureau, will be the guest speaker at the workshop. It will be run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the town office. This new state law more strictly controls any digging or excavating within 250 feet of the shore. Any such work now needs permits from both the town and the state. This affects septic installations as well; they will need a shoreland permit as well as a septic permit. LaCasse said there was a flurry of permit requests prior to the original deadline of April 1, from people wanting to get a foundation in to be exempt from the new rules. New Outdoor
Wood Boiler Regulation Another new state regulation effort, effective as of Aug. 10, deals with the sale, possession and use of outdoor wood boilers. HB1405 requires, for example, that these units be installed 100 feet from the nearest property line, that the smokestack must be at least 2 feet higher than any structure peaks within 300 feet, and also regulates the particle emissions, largely through limiting what units can be sold. F I R E & R E S C U E
D E P A R T M E N T
Old Home Day Members
of the Newbury Fire & Rescue Dept. were busy during the Newbury Old Home
Day festivities. In addition to displays of fire prevention information
available to Old Home Day attendees at the Safety services building and
equipment demonstrations, they hosted a number of other public safety
organizations. Again this year, a truck was on display from the Midwestern New
Hampshire Hazardous Material Response Team. New at this year’s event was the
Dartmouth-Hitchcock medical helicopter (DHART) and several vehicles from the NH
National Guard Civil Support Team. As in past years, the department coordinated
the fireworks display over the harbor and maintained a safety zone around the
fireworks barge with the fireboat. Department Calls The
first half of the year 2008 has been very active for fire and rescue activity.
Although the number of calls for the first six months of 2008 (97) is slightly
behind 2007, which was a record year, indications are that 2008 will turn out
to be one of the busiest in the department’s history. Newbury Fire & Rescue
continues to seek new members who would be interested in serving the town of
Newbury. Please stop by the safety services building any Tuesday evening to
pick up an application.
Street Address Numbering
On
Old Home Day, the Newbury Fire & Rescue Dept. kicked of the campaign to
provide street address numbers for every home and business in the town. In
1990, the Newbury Board of Selectmen enacted a town ordinance requiring that
street addresses be visible from the road and posted on every residence and
business in the town. The reason for this ordinance
was to enable police, fire and emergency medical responders to quickly find the
location in an emergency. Over the last eighteen years, a number of residents
have complied with the ordinance, but unfortunately the Newbury Fire &
Rescue Department has found on numerous emergency calls that many homes are not
numbered or the numbers are not visible from the street. The pro-active street address numbering
program will provide and install stick-on address numbers for each eligible
residence. The Lumber Barn has agreed to provide the numbers and the Plexiglas
backing for the sign at a reduced cost. Residents may participate in this
program by completing an application available at the town office or on the
fire department website: www.newburyfd.org. Upon
the receipt of an application, a representative of the department will contact
the property owner and determine a location for the signs. Department members
will do the posting of number signs on evenings and weekends.
Knox Boxes Newbury
Fire & Rescue is now fully operational on the Knox Box emergency building
access system. The department has installed and tested the Knox Box systems on
Engine 3 and Rescue 1and training has been completed. The fire department key
is secured in special Knox Box on the truck that can only be opened by
authorized personnel and all openings of the box are electronically recorded
There are already several Knox Boxes in service within the Town of Newbury. A Knox Box is a secure key box containing
building keys affixed to the outside of a business or home. If a fire alarm is
received or there is a report of other emergency when the building us
unoccupied, the fire department utilizes a secure fire department key, that
will open the Knox Box accessing the building keys. This eliminates the need to
force a door or break windows to enter the building or presume there is no fire
when nothing is visible from the outside. The ability to thoroughly inspect a
building will enable the responders to locate other problems such as electrical
hazards, heating problems and gas and water leaks set off an alarm and could
lead to costly other problems if not identified. Knox Boxes keyed to the Newbury system are
purchased by the building owner from the Knox Box company and are installed in
accordance with fire department specifications. Information on Knox Boxes for
your home or business can be found on the Newbury Fire & Rescue website and
is available at the town office. Knox Boxes can be ordered on line from the
Knox Box company www.knoxbox.com. Newbury is a registered department
with the company, so when you enter your zip code the proper key code is
assigned and the fire department is notified in order to coordinate the
installation of the Knox Box. Annual Auction Our
annual auction will be held on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the safety services building
from 11 a.m. until the items are sold. People wishing to donate items to the
auction should leave a message on the department’s voicemail at 763-4403 and
you will be contacted about a time for a pick-up. Please do not leave household
items at the safety services building or the Veterans Hall. Burn Permits Although
the summer has been very wet, permits are still required from the Forest Fire
Warden for any outside burning. Please contact Dave Smith, forest fire warden,
938-5925; Henry Thomas, fire chief, 938-5346; Ken Burnell, deputy warden,
763-4962; or Mike Croteau, deputy warden, 763-2679, to obtain a permit. Alarm Permits The
new alarm ordinance goes into effect in September and operating a central
station fire or security alarm system without the new alarm permit may result
in a $100 fine. The penalty for false alarms has also increased under the new
ordinance. There is no charge for an alarm permit and applications are
available at the Newbury Police Department, town office and on the Newbury Fire
& Rescue and town websites. Craftsmen’s Fair As
part of the department’s fire prevention activities, the Chief and Fire
Prevention Officer conducted the pre-opening fire safety inspection of the
annual NH Craftsmen’s Fair at Mount Sunapee. The inspection reviews the
installation and fire code compliance of the tents, electrical wiring, means of
egress, cooking safety and other factors. This year with the fireworks display
for the 75th anniversary of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen,
the department also provided a fireworks detail, as required by state fire
code, for the night of the fireworks. Tanker Truck The
contract for the new department tanker has been awarded to Valley Fire
Equipment of Bradford. The design is complete and the cab and chassis for the
new truck are now on order from the manufacturer and expected to be delivered
in the early fall. Once delivered Valley will install the water tank and
construct the tanker body. Depending on the delivery of the cab and chassis,
the truck is expected to be delivered in the late fall or winter. Wood Stoves With
the cost of heating oil at all time highs, many residents are installing wood
stoves and heating units. Residents are reminded that the installation of any
heating unit or furnace, wood, gas or oil, requires a permit and inspection
from the Newbury Fire Dept. All heating appliances must be installed in
accordance with manufactures specifications and the New Hampshire Fire Code.
For information contact the code enforcement officer at town office or Fire
Chief Hank Thomas. Permit applications are available at town office and on the
town website, www.newburynh.org. Alternative Fuels Safety Class In
conjunction with Fire Prevention Week in October, the Town of Newbury and the
Fire & Rescue Department will be holding an informational session on
installation, use, maintenance and fire safety associated with wood stoves and
other wood-burning appliances. Details on the date of the class and additional
information will be posted on the bulletin board section of the town
website. Future Facility Needs A committee
made up of fire, police, emergency management and town officials has been
formed to identify the future needs for space of the fire and police
departments. The committee will develop long-range plans for public safety
buildings using the town-owned Bald Sunapee property and the existing safety
services building. The town’s master plan has identified that the current
safety services building is too small to accommodate the future operations of
both the police and fire departments. Options under discussion include one of
the departments moving to a new building and the current building being
renovated to accommodate the other department or both departments moving to the
new location with the current building renovated for other town services. The
town will be hiring an engineer / architect to study the building and the site
and provide the committee with options for the existing and proposed buildings.
H E A L T H O F F I C E R
EEE / West Nile Virus The
wet summer weather has provided excellent breading conditions for mosquitoes
that have the potential for spreading diseases such as Eastern Equine
Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus. Although there have been no cases of
these diseases in the Newbury area, there have been in other parts of the state.
Standing water in yards is an excellent breading place for mosquitoes and
places where water can accumulate should be drained or emptied following
rainfall. Wear clothing that will cover skin areas during evening outdoor
activities to lessen the potential for insect bites. Remember that the
mosquitoes are active until the first frost in the fall and precautions should
continue to be taken during the late summer and early fall. Information of EEE,
West Nile Virus and other health hazards can be found on the Health Officer’s
page of the town website www.newburynh.org
Greater Sullivan County Health Region Jessica
Rosman, public health network coordinator for the greater Sullivan County
region, took part in Newbury’s Old Home Day, providing information on public
health programs available to residents of Newbury. She also had displays and
information on the work of the region’s health emergency planning committee. E M E R G E N C Y M A N A G E M
E N T
Emergency Preparedness This
summer has been a very active for emergency management throughout the state.
Frequent severe thunderstorms, flash floods, floods and even tornadoes have
impacted our state. Even though Newbury has not been directly affected the emergency
management director continues to monitor the weather conditions and receive
updates from the NH Dept. of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Press
releases and emergency information from the state are posted on the town
website as they are received. Information on personal and family emergency
planning can also be found on the website. Residents are encouraged to assist
the town following storms by clearing debris from the entrance to culverts on
their property and notifying the highway administrator of storm damage to town
roads. Communications Upgrade The
Newbury Emergency Operations Center (EOC) recently received a multi-channel
base station radio for the EOC through a grant from the state. This radio
will provide improved communications for emergency management and town
officials who would staff the operations center during a major emergency. The
new radio system will allow the EOC to communicate directly with the town’s
police, fire and highway departments, surrounding communities and state
agencies. Newbury Emergency Management continues to host the NH Marine Patrol boater safety classes that are held at the Newbury town office. According to the Marine Patrol, the Newbury classes have the highest attendance of any of the classes throughout the state. The
NH Marine Patrol advises that there are two boating safety classes planned for
Newbury in September: Contact the NH Marine Patrol at 267-7256 or 888-254-2125 for
registration information or if you have any questions. Winter Preparedness With
the substantial increase in the cost of home heating fuel there is a real
possibility that some residents, especially the elderly, may have difficulty
heating their homes this winter. A meeting of the select board and the town’s
public safety officials was held to develop a plan for assisting residents
through what may be a difficult period. One of the topics under discussion is
an automated telephone contact system that would periodically check with
elderly residents who may live by themselves to be sure that they are OK.
Other topics discussed include a community seminar on home heating and
winterizing a home and making information on heating assistance and related
topics available on the website and at town office. National Incident Management System One
of the mandates of the US Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS), following the Sept.
11 attack, was to develop a uniform system for managing major disasters and
other emergencies throughout the country. The National Incident Management
System (NIMS) was developed as the result of this mandate. Federal law calls
for all emergency responders and public officials to be trained and certified
in NIMS. The law also states that any community that has not received
certification is not eligible to receive federal grants. New regulations
specify that each community will have a NIMS coordinator who will coordinate
the training and certify compliance to the state and federal DHS. Newbury
Emergency Management Director Wayne Whitford, who is the NIMS coordinator for
the town, is working with Newbury department heads and the state to ensure
compliance with the training requirements.
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