The Town of Northwood, New Hampshire - Highway Advisory Committee Minutes

Roll Call: Present were Joe Holmes, Fred Bassett, John Lane, Marion Knox, Alden Dill, Jim Wilson, Steve Bailey and Robert Bailey – Jean Lane, recording. Absent was Paul Belliveau.

Approval of minutes of August 26th meeting: Fred Bassett questioned, on page 2, the width of the Bennett Bridge emergency road. It was agreed the minutes should read 16 feet instead of 12 feet. Bob Bailey motioned to accept the minutes as corrected and Fred Bassett seconded the motion. Motion was approved by the committee.

Road Agent Report:

Paving of Old Turnpike Road: Jim reported paving is scheduled to start the day after Columbus day, the 13th. If we started on Columbus Day, which is a holiday, we would have to pay the police officer holiday pay. It will take about one and a half days to grind it and grade it, then paving will be done.

Mowing: The Selectmen approved the bid from Chatter Brook Farm and mowing is in the process of being done.

Grading: Jim has a purchase order ready for the Selectmen to approve for 80 hours of grading by Hodgdon. Bob Bailey asked that Sunset Drive not be graded as it has ditches already. Jim stated he was not going to do that road and also a section of Canterbury Road that appears to be okay. He indicated that the worst road is Range Road. Jim thought the purchase order could be approved on October 6th, but Alden informed him the Selectmen’s first October meeting will be on the 13th. Jim will work around this situation.

Budget for Year 2010: It was agreed that the project for 2010 is Blake’s Hill Road. Jim stated he has done some figuring, using 2009 prices as prices for 2010 are not available at this time. To reclaim the entire two miles of road with 2 ½ inches of pavement would be $328,245. John Lane asked if the top layer would be done later, and Jim stated yes. John was concerned about the heavy loads on this road and whether the initial pavement would be sufficient. Jim asked Wolcott about this and Wolcott stated the 2 ½ inch base would contain more rocks and has more strength and would hold up as well if not better than a 2 inch base and one inch top. After discussing chip sealing the road later, the committee agreed to a 2 ½ inch pavement. Jim also presented figures using UNH information and only reclaiming and paving from Route 4 to the sharp corner near the Boy Scout Camp, which would be 1.2 miles. The figure for this would be $163,000. He stated the rest of the road .8 mile to the end would have to be done the next year. Marion found figures from UNH that totaled $149,338 for only one inch of pavement – figures were from 1994.

John Lane stated that we program for the work and then some crisis comes up which takes money from our program and we are left with not enough to complete the project. Alden Dill stated if we do half of Blake’s Hill Road in 2010, that leaves the rest to be done in 2011, which will bring us farther behind our planned schedule. The question was asked, what are the next roads on the program. Reply is Jenness Pond Road and Lucas Pond Road. Remarks were made that we need to stick to the planned program if possible.

Jim informed the committee that in reviewing his budget with Sandy he discovered that at the first of 2009 he had encumbered money for cutting trees and ditching Blake’s Hill Road, and that money is still available. Alden indicated this could be discussed at the next Selectmen’s meeting. Joe Holmes spoke up stating that the Road Agent should be able to get his work done without having to get approval of the Selectmen for everything. His budget is his to use as long as he stays within the bottom line. He knows what work needs to be done and has the responsibility to see that it is done, the Selectmen should not second guess him.

Bob Bailey asked what figure the committee wishes to be placed in the 2010 budget for paving and reconstruction – should it be level funded? Discussion included the fact that there is a five year plan what is to be followed. However, flooding, etc. has taken funds from the plan and the plan is now at least a year behind. It was agreed that this section of the highway budget should be level funded at $256,667.75 (or $256,668.)

The balance of the highway budget was reviewed and discussed. The committee agreed that the whole budget should be level funded. John Lane asked, with a level funded budget, how much have we accomplished and how far behind are we. Steve Bailey said according to the five year plan we are behind, but we are also ahead on a lot of things. We got $25,000 from FEMA, $18,000 of that went to the beach and roads. So in reality we got that money last year and we used it to plow snow, so we made money on it. He said everyone keeps saying they are taking money from the highway budget when actually it was used. Joe Holmes asked how you can use money that has been encumbered for something else. Steve said it was used for highway expenses, for plowing. Alden stated we are taking money from one part of the highway budget and using it in another part of the highway budget where it is needed. John Lane said we are just shifting priorities. Steve continued that because of FEMA we have made improvements to roads we would have not done for the next 100 years. John stated we are just getting behind on some things and ahead on others. Marion asked if the committee is going to adjust figures under the administration portion of the highway budget, or let Jim do that. Alden indicated that the salaries may be discussed by the Selectmen, and if changed the bottom line of the administration part of the budget will be altered. John Lane asked if there are any indications from the state relative to the monies that will come down to the town. Marion stated she heard that the highway money will stay the same, and the business profits money will not be coming at all. Motion by Bob Bailey, seconded by Alden Dill to level fund the Highway Department budget for 2010. Motion carried.

Other Business:

Bennett Bridge Bid: Alden stated the awarded bid was from J. Parker & Daughters Construction, but the contract has not been signed yet - there is an easement issue. The owner of the land that abuts the area where the culvert will be installed, did not receive an abutter’s notice and an easement is needed from him. This matter is in the hands of the selectmen and town counsel at this time. The contractor is set to begin work in mid October. The state will start drawing the lake down shortly. The causeway work will be started first.
DES letter re: New Southeast Watershed Alliance: Marion informed the committee of the DES letter and what this new Southeast Watershed Alliance purpose is – water quality issues within the watershed. Marion stated she did not feel this is anything the committee would be involved in, and suggested that she turn the information over to the planning board and selectmen. The committee agreed.

Gulf Road: Bob Bailey asked if anyone knew anything about the dam work to be done on Pleasant Lake – will the road be closed to traffic, etc. Marion stated she has heard the work is to be done in October. She asked Alden whether Andy Robertson from Deerfield has more information, and Alden stated he would ask for an update this week. Bob Bailey remarked that Northwood had to open Bennett Bridge Road to provide a way for residents to travel from their property and at this time the state has not made any provision for the residents of Pleasant Lake to travel out to Route 107 while the dam culvert is being replaced. General discussion of an emergency route around the back side of the lake ended with no immediate solution.

Woodman Park - Lucas Pond Road: Jim Wilson briefed the committee on the work that he feels should be done to correct the drainage problem. From Lower Camp Road the water travels to the lake and by ditching and putting in a new catch basin this situation can be corrected. Also adding a swale from the path that crosses to the parking lot and adding a ditch that will take the water to the woods on town property will help. Also the steps at the pond should be replaced. Jim indicated he is getting information from local contractors for this work.

Next meeting date – October 28 – Community Hall – 7:00 p.m.

Adjournment: Motion by Alden Dill, seconded by John Lane to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marion J. Knox, Member/Secretary

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