Board of Selectmen Meeting, November 6, 2023
Several presentations were made to the board.
Food Pantry
The Nottingham Food Pantry is a 501c3 organization that is funded by donations and several organizations, including a small amount in the town’s budget.
In addition to providing food, the Food Pantry helps with utilities and car registrations.
The number of needy families in Nottingham served by the Food Pantry has increased by 50% in the past six months, from 20 to 30, of which 27 are elderly.
The Food Pantry is having a fund-raising concert Sunday, November 12 from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Usage of Impact Fees for Marston Well
A citizen questioned whether the town had improperly used impact fees to pay for the new well at the Marston Recreational Area. Impact fees are charged to owners of new dwellings to offset the costs of new capital projects needed due to population increases. These funds are escrowed for 6 years and if not used they are returned to the taxpayer. The citizen claimed that the well did not meet the legal requirements for impact fee usage. The board decided to obtain a legal opinion on the question.
Pawtuckaway Lake Milfoil Infestation
Representatives from the Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association gave a presentation about efforts to control invasive species at the lake - primarily Variable Milfoil.
Milfoil was first discovered in the lake in 2015. In that year divers removed 35 gallons of Milfoil. Since then Milfoil has spread to 16 areas in the lake. In 2022 458 gallons were removed. Until 2022 removal was all done by volunteers, but the ever-increasing volume required this to be supplemented with paid divers in 2022.
About half of the lake’s 900 acres are shallow enough to grow Milfoil.
By 2023 Milfoil growth exceeded manual containment efforts. The PLIA requested a grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services for treating heavily infested areas of the lake with ProcellaCOR.
ProcellaCOR is a Milfoil-specific herbicide that has been approved in NH since 2018 and has been used in 40 NH waterbodies. It has little to no effect on native vegetation or wildlife. It suppresses Milfoil for at least 3 years. So far only one NH waterbody has had to have a second treatment.
Following treatment ($37k) and an extensive effort to remove all other Milfoil from the lake utilizing divers supported by a Diver-Assisted Suction Harvesting boat ($6.5k), no signs of Milfoil were seen in the lake until September, when 3 plants were discovered. All costs were paid by the grant.
Currently, NH DES only offers partial grants for second treatments, which the lake will eventually require. The PLIA projects that this will be needed in 3 to 4 years and cost $60k - a future expense the town should plan for.
Other Board Issues
In response to a right-to-know request, the board voted unanimously to unseal the non-public minutes from its February 27 meeting. During this non-public session, former Fire Chief Jaye Vilchock filed an ethics violation against the town’s former Interim Town Administrator, John Scruton.
The Highway Department requested modifications be made to its new F350 utility truck to enable it to carry a sander. Selectman Morin objected, saying that the town’s former Director of Public Works said that this truck should never be used for sanding as it was not heavy-duty enough. The board rejected the request.
The new playground will not be installed until spring because it has become too cold to pour the concrete supports for it.
A private party has requested to lease one of the bays in the town’s old fire station, to be used for storing a port-a-potty truck and tanks. After a discussion about issues associated with liability and the use of the income, the board unanimously approved a trial 6-month lease.
The town received only one bid for the hydraulic sander, which the board deemed to be too low. The board instructed the Town Administrator to advertise it for $3,500.
Other News
The town is recruiting a Facilities Manager.
The November 2 Budget Committee meeting was largely just about procedures and background information. There will not be an article about it.
Watch the video:
As Doug pointed out, last year the $40k to pay a facilities manager was to come from the taxpayers. We don't know yet if the thinking on that has changed for this year--if it could be part of the budget or again a separate warrant article. Perhaps a member of the Facilities Management Committee could answer those sorts of questions--Paul Dallaire, Charlotte Fyfe, Gary Anderson, Barbara Draper, or Eric Danis...
Where does the money come from to pay the salary of a Facilities Manager?