PLANNING BOARD

MEETING

Monday, March 11, 2002

Belmont Town Hall

Belmont, New Hampshire

Members Present:  Chairman P. Harris; G. Flack, C. Patten, J. Pike, J. Marden and W. Brunkhardt.

Alternates Present:  C. Shibles.

Alternates Absent:  G. Bolduc.

Staff:  C. Daigle, R. Ball, and E. Murphy.

Board of Selectmen:  D. Harper, R. Caldwell, W. Peterson (PB ex officio) and D. McLelland, Town Administrator.

Master Plan Subcommittee Members:  J. Bolduc SEA, L. Frawley, S. Roberts, James. Pilliod, K. Knowlton, M. Condodemetraky and G. Wells Kay. 

The chairman opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

J. Bolduc, SEA, stated that the subcommittees are doing an excellent job with the Master Plan. There has been enthusiastic response with subcommittees exchanging information over the internet. The goals and objectives for March and April are to have each subcommittee review the draft Mission Statements and draft Goals and Objectives for all the subcommittees and to give input and guidance to each others.

C. Daigle stated that each subcommittee should be comfortable before the Master Plan is presented to the public. They should be discussing whether they would like to have another community gathering and what they would like to have available for that meeting. P. Harris wanted to know if statistics are being formulated. C. Daigle stated that there are two binders available in the Land Use office that contains all the data from the subcommittees and additional data that has been supplied to the subcommittees. She explained that not all data will be in the Master Plan but will be an appendix and available to the public.

P. Harris wanted to know about the time schedule. J. Bolduc stated that each member has the schedule and are meeting the proposed deadlines. At the next meeting new objectives will be set. J. Pike stated that the transportation subcommittee has appointed a new chairman, Nancy McCurry, and they plan to meet at the end of March.

L. Frawley distributed a news release about the value of volunteering. She noted that median value attributed to volunteers is $16.05 per hour. She has received positive feedback from the value of volunteering and those figures can be used when applying for grants. P. Harris stated that the article is good but he thinks that the $78,000 placed on volunteering can be confusing, people may think that the town spent $78,000 on the Master Plan. L. Frawley stated that this is a very standard way of calculating the value of volunteers and she used the standard form. There was discussion on the public misinterpreting the article and thinking that the subcommittee members are getting paid. Some suggestions were to change the headings to “Belmont Volunteers Save Belmont $ 78,000” or “Donated Time has Volunteer Value”. L. Frawley stated that she is worried that using the word “save” will create the image that surplus money is available to be used instead of it just being a volunteering value. J. Pilliod stated that L. Frawley’s wording is correct and can be used when applying for grants. The $78, 000 is not a savings but a Contribution in Time. P. Harris commented that the press release shows that a lot of expertise has been used in creating the Master Plan. L. Frawley stated that by keeping the press releases positive it will keep volunteering alive and shows that volunteering does have value.

C. Daigle reviewed the timeline and reminded everyone of the election on Tuesday March 12^th. The maps will be on display and any member of the subcommittees that would like to be available to answer any public questions just needs to be at the polls. J. Pilliod suggested having a list of the Master Plan volunteers available so that the public can recognize that it is their neighbor that is working on the Master Plan and may feel motivated to join the committees if they know someone on the committees.

L. Frawley stated that she has read about 65 Master Plans from around the state and wants to know why Belmont is not including an Economic Development Chapter in their Master Plan as most others have one. P. Harris stated that the Master Plan should be finished to see the impact it has on Belmont before having an economic development study done. He wants to make sure that the Master Plan doesn’t contradict the Economic Development. K. Knowlton stated that John Thomas is familiar with economic development and he could possibly review it. C. Daigle explained that there is an Economic Development Committee. C. Daigle explained that the information included in the 1992 Master Plan is at least 10 years old and needs to be undated before the Economic Development plan can be designed. L. Frawley doesn’t think that they can wait for the update before designing the Economic Development Plan. C. Daigle stated that there is an economic committee with two members and it would overwhelm them if they had to develop an Economic Development Chapter for the Master Plan at this late date. The Economic Development Chapter could be included in the Master Plan next year after the Master Plan is completed. The Master Plan provides goals and objectives that could be used to develop the Economic Development chapter.  J. Bolduc stated that Economic Development will be discussed when subcommittees are developing their goals and strategies. K. Knowlton stated that discussions have been ongoing and it should be put in writing. The people are already in place and the research they compiled can be put in forms. W. Brunkhardt wanted to know if an Economic Development chapter is what the town wants. G. Wells-Kay stated that they are looking for one. K. Knowlton suggested inviting the Economic Development Committee to a steering committee meeting. W. Peterson stated that both Economic Development committees have folded. The first step would be to develop the Master Plan goals and Objectives and review them next year for the Economic Development chapter. L. Frawley stated that the community has invested a lot in the Master Plan and should have an economic chapter. She stated that she is willing to call LRPC and BCED to gather information on creating an Economic Development chapter. 

JOINT MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION REGARDING THE PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING ACCEPTING AND MANAGING PROPERTY:

Board of Selectmen Present:  Chairman D. Harper, R. Caldwell, W. Peterson and Town Administrator D. McLelland.

Conservation Commission Present:  Chairman K. Knowlton, M. Condodemetraky, N. Wederski and D. Naiva.

P. Harris stated that they are here tonight to discuss the procedure the town will use when acquiring land. M. Condodemetraky stated that the Conservation Commission received an opportunity to acquire conservation land in December and did not know the procedure to follow.

C. Daigle explained that the Boards have received a draft of a procedure to follow when the Town is considering if they want to accept property. The Boards and Departments review the property to decide the pros and cons of the property and how the property can best be used. The information is given to the BOS who have the final decision on accepting the property. Management is another element to consider when reviewing the site. Who manages it and at what cost. K. Knowlton stated that the Town Forest would be a good site to test the process as numerous issues could be addressed.

The Boards and Commission agreed that a procedure should be in place to accept property and keep the communication lines open. Once all the comments are reviewed and the Town agrees to accept a site then property management can be addressed.

The Conservation Commission had concerns about accepting property that has already been clear cut and if they could put any restrictions on the land that would prohibit spoiling the land if they intend to convey it to the town. J. Marden stated that green area has to be 50% buildable, when the town accepts green area it can be used by the whole town and not just the few residents of that development.

MOTION: W. Brunkhardt moved to take the Property Evaluation & Acquisition Process under advisement and discuss it at their next meeting.        

The motion was seconded by J. Marden and carried. (6-0)

The Conservation Commission agreed to do the same.

OTHER BUSINESS:

BOARD'S ACTION-MINUTES:

MOTION:  On a motion by J. Pike, seconded by C. Shibles, it was voted to approve the minutes of the  February 25, 2002, meeting as submitted. (4-0-2) G. Flack and C. Patten abstained. 

STAFF REPORT:

A.        GREG & SANDRA CAULFIELD TAX LOT 215-003-001:  The chairman signed the three lot subdivision for the Caulfield lot on Province Road.

ADJOURNMENT:

MOTION:On a motion by W. Brunkhardt, seconded by C. Shibles, it was voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. (6-0)

Respectfully submitted,