MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE

MEETING

Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Belmont Corner Meeting House

Belmont, New Hampshire

Members Present:     Chairman L. Frawley; Town Administrator D. McLelland, Selectman D. Harper, Planning Board Chairman P. Harris, J. Marden, W. Brunkhardt, J. Pilliod, T. Carroll, R. Ashbaugh. 

Staff Present:  Jim Bolduc, SEA, C. Daigle and E. Murphy.

Chairman Harris opened the meeting at 7 p.m.

L. Frawley passed around the pictures from the November 2^nd Master Plan Community Meeting that Mrs. Ashbaugh had taken. She is still waiting for the video of that meeting and will let the committees know when it is available. L. Frawley stated that there are a few items from the October meeting that need to finished. The checklist and the review of the 1992 Goals need to be completed by each subcommittee. D. Harper, Community Facilities, stated that her committee has completed their review. J. Marden, Housing and Recreation, stated that Housing committee has not turned in theirs and the Recreation committee has. J. Pilliod, Land Use, stated that they have turned theirs in. W. Brunkhardt, Utility & Public Services, stated that they did not have a December meeting and have not had their January meeting. They have not turned in the checklist. C. Daigle explained that the Transportation committee has not turned theirs in yet and there is none for Construction Materials because it was not part of the 1992 Master Plan. J. Bolduc stated that any issues concerning the checklist and 1992 Goals review will be addressed when they review the new goals and objectives. L. Frawley stated that the Community Response Report has been compiled from the November 2^nd questionnaires including the 1992 Goal questions and an additional 10 questions plus all the individual subcommittees reports. C. Daigle explained that 120 response sheets have been received, 99 were the questionnaires handed out at the Nov 2^nd meeting and 21 were received since they appeared in the Belmont Better Times. The committee members have received a copy of the results. One surprise of the questionnaires was the number of residences that wanted to charge for building permits. Many other responses and input are consistent with the previous Master Plan and input that is received at Town Hall.

D. Harper stated that the Master Plan is doing great and is on target. They are narrowing it down and making it more user friendly. She explained that the document is a tool designed to meet the needs of the town and is a visionary tool for the future of Belmont. She congratulated C. Daigle for being available to answer the subcommittee’s questions and giving them guidance. She also stated that C. Daigle and R. Ball have done two presentations at the Senior Center helping to keep the public informed.  

L. Frawley stated that she has reviewed the 1970 Comprehensive Plan and it is a good measure on how

much Belmont has changed. J. Pilliod stated that there isn’t a Master Plan in the area that doesn’t want to preserve their rural characteristics. P. Harris stated that the statistics that the Master Plan gathers will help the Planning Board know what is or isn’t available when reviewing applications. W. Brunkhardt stated that it will also help when determining the density of a development knowing whether or not water/sewer are available or if wells and septics are needed. D. Harper agreed that all services need to be looked at to determine the impact and cost to the Town. They need to focus on the future and the total cost of having business and industrial as a tax base. L. Frawley wanted to know about the capacity of the High School. D. Harper stated that it is almost full. L. Frawley wanted to know if they could add on to it. D. Harper stated that it is her opinion that the school is already over taxed and another one is needed on the other side of Town. R. Ashbaugh stated that where he came from they had impact fees for building permits. The money was for plan reviews and inspections for code requirements. L. Frawley wanted to know if there were any reports on what surrounding towns charge for permits. C. Daigle stated that they do have a report on what others charge but each town uses different standards for calculating the fees. L. Frawley wanted to know if Belmont ever charged for building permits. D. Harper stated that they did and they also charged for inspections. P. Harris stated that there have been some legal issues concerning Impact fees. C. Daigle agreed that there have been some inherit problems with impact fees. They have to be substantiated in cost for construction and implementation of services within a short time period or the fees have to be returned with interest. L. Frawley wanted to know if they could make changes through legislation. C. Daigle explained that the Municipal Association can initiate that.

J. Bolduc explained that he has given the subcommittees a generic guideline explaining how to draft a mission statement and the goals and objectives of each committee. After reviewing the drafts they can discuss and unify the goals and objectives of the Master Plan. He explained the need for flexibility in the Master Plan in order to meet the goals and objections. If a rigid timeline is used then the goals will not be met. C. Daigle explained the development outline consists of three parts, the description of the chapters, list of information from 1992 and additional relevant information for the 2002 Master Plan.  She explained the time line and that November is the tentative date to present the Master Plan to the Planning Board for review and public noticing for adoption. The date will not be finalized until sometime in October when progress has been reviewed and all the subcommittees are comfortable with their chapters. L. Frawley wanted to make sure the November dates are worked around the election dates. C. Daigle agreed that the public hearing would not interfere with any election dates. She explained that the Planning Board is responsible for a comprehensive strategy and CIP completed by 2003 for the 2004 budget at Town Meeting. Additional funds have been put in the 2002 budget to be approved at Town Meeting. J. Bolduc stated that the timeline is doable.

J Pilliod stated that new people are needed as some of the original committee members are dropping out. C. Daigle stated that she was unaware of any subcommittee that needed additional members because of members dropping out. J. Marden stated that his Housing Committee could use more input.

P. Harris stated that the Planning Board has agreed to dedicate part of its work sessions to the subcommittees to discuss the Master Plan. The Planning Board is dedicated to the Master Plan and welcomes input from the subcommittees and the public. The Planning Board work session is the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. They will provide the public noticing for these meetings and hope that someone from all the subcommittees will be at these meetings. L. Frawley recognizes the Planning Boards commitment and stated they have agreed to discuss the Master Plan during the first hour of their meeting. They would like each subcommittee to give a five-minute report followed by brainstorming and addressing any overlapping issues. The meetings will be held at the Corner Meeting House and maps will be on display. D. Harper wanted to know if all members of the subcommittees should attend these meetings. L. Frawley stated that it would be nice if they had at least someone at each meeting to provide the rest of the subcommittee with information on what the other committees are doing. P. Harris stated that the Planning Board could provide the subcommittees with new ideas and provide assistance when necessary.

L. Frawley reminded the committee of the important opportunity the March elections and Town Meeting are for promoting the Master Plan. A table can be set up in the hallway for the subcommittees to distribute handouts or questionnaires. She would like the committee members to sign up to man the table in the hallway to make sure that someone is there through out the day. L. Frawley stated that the video is an available tool to document people’s input. P. Harris will give a short five minute talk updating the Master Plan at the Town Meeting on March 16^th.

L. Frawley discussed the timetable stating that it is doable but she has concerns about the time restraints limiting the efforts of the subcommittees and the public’s input. D. McLelland stated that if they don’t try to finish within the timeline then the subcommittees and the public will lose interest. The Master Plan can be successful and will be appropriate for Belmont.

L. Frawley stated that she has reviewed the 1995 Civic Profile and feels it will be a benefit for the subcommittees to review. She explained that it is an update of the goals of the 1992 Master Plan. C. Daigle explained that it is midway between the 1992 and the 2002 Master Plan and the Planning Board discussed updating it but chose not to. L. Frawley stated that UNH has updated it three times since 1995 and would provide valuable information. C. Daigle agreed to provide committee members with a copy of the 1995 Civic Profile.

D. Harper stated that Belmont has always had an open door policy and accepts all public input. The Master  Plan has to be reviewed by the Planning Board and the Land Use Office to make sure it is in keeping with the spirit of Belmont today and tomorrow before it can be adopted.

L. Frawley stated that the next meeting will be Tuesday February 26^th at 7 p.m. at the Corner Meeting House. She will have notices and do promotions for the next meeting. She also reminded the committee of the Planning Board Worksessions on the second Monday of each month. 

W. Brunkhard informed the committee that the next Utility & Public Service meeting will be Wednesday, January 30^th at 7 p.m.  The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,