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

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

Approval of minutes of September 30th: Steve Bailey requested that the word “road” be added to the title of the Woodman Park – Lucas Pond section of the minutes, as whatever is done will impact the road. Motion by John Lane to approve minutes as amended, seconded by Alden Dill, and confirmed by the committee. Steve also had a question, can Alden make a motion? Alden stated as far as he knows he is a member of the committee and can make a motion. There was no one that disagreed with him.

Report of Road Agent: As Jim Wilson was absent, Alden Dill provided the following information:
Old Turnpike Road: Paving is done and came in at $131,036, about $10,000 under the bid. Docko is now doing the shoulder work, and the guard rails will be done next. John Lane asked if they are going to match the pavement with the shoulder. Alden stated he assumed that is what they are doing now. He said the residents are pleased with the road. General comments about people on other roads wanting theirs to be like this one.

Bennett Bridge Road: Contract was signed last Friday morning. Mr. Parker has had emergency foot surgery, but anticipated beginning the prep work this week. Fred Bassett asked if the lake is being drained and the reply was it was down but it rained again. Alden said there are three or four prep days before the actual work is started. Alden praised Jim Wilson for working the easement acceptance with the last abutter, by giving him three parking spots. This is recorded on the easement paper.

Mowing: Jim had obtained two job bids that the selectmen asked for, and Briggs of Chatter Brook Farm was selected. Briggs stated he will go all around the town for the price given, but will not return to fix anything. Briggs has two jobs ahead of ours, but there is no deadline date on the approval. This is on the back burner at this time.

Grading: Purchase order was signed on Monday and work will be done next week. The condition of Old Barnstead Road was mentioned, along with the fact there are not many gravel roads that need grading this fall. Bob Bailey mentioned Winding Hill Road and the fact that the State is doing logging in that area. Alden spoke of some extra work that might be done. Alden inquired about the procedures in place for requiring a bond for logging operations on town roads. John Lane stated that the law was changed a while ago for hauling certified loads on good highways. These loads are 20% more than a legal load and require more axles – tandem loads. He questioned the damage that might be done with this type of load on town roads. Bob Bailey referred to the logging the State is doing on Winding Hill Road, and the road damage that could occur come Spring at the entrance to Winding Hill Road. After a long discussion that included looking at tax maps of the whole Old Mountain Road area, it was decided that because the road agent receives a copy of each intent to cut, that should he decide a road should be bonded he will so indicate on the form. Marion asked if the committee wished to make a motion relative to the bonding of roads. It was agreed there is already a procedure in place and the control will rest with the R/A and Selectmen.

Woodman Park – Lucas Pond Road: Steve Bailey stated nothing has been done on this yet. Jim Wilson, David Stack and Steve talked today on this. Jim has some of the needed materials now and was getting prices from various contractors for parts of the work. Steve and David asked Jim to get three prices from the contractors for the complete job, instead of doing the job piece-meal. Marion spoke of the memo received the day after the committee’s September meeting from Linda Smith, Conservation Commission. The memo inquired about the work and indicated that the Conservation Commission anticipated the work would be completed by the end of 2009. Marion spoke to Steve about this and he requested she send a memo to Linda before the next Conservation Commission meeting, informing them the project is a “work in progress” project. The funds are secure in the hands of the Trustees of Trust Funds, and the work would be done as soon as possible. Alden stated that at Town Meeting it was voted that the $43,800 for the Facilities Committee Expendable Trust Fund come from surplus. The money for this project ($10,800) is now in the fund and is not lost. Steve will follow up on this matter.

New Business:
NALMC – Old Mountain Road: Steve Bailey stated he asked that this item be placed on the agenda. He has participated in the group that put together Discovery Day which, with a grant, produced a study and booklet about the 6000 acres that includes and is around the Northwood Meadows State Park. In the middle of this area is Old Mountain Road and the report suggests that perhaps the road could be reclassified as a 1A trail, which would help eliminate road traffic that now uses the class 6 road. He spoke up and stated he did not think that was a good idea. He suggested instead of a trail, looking into making it an emergency road for accessing the back part of the park, like Bennett Bridge Road (class 6 section) was upgraded. If that road is closed, like Gulf Road was, we are going to create a headache. Nalmc’s concern appears to be the amount of erosion along the road because of the traffic.

Bob Bailey stated it is a rough road with many deep gullies and steep areas. Alden Dill stated he will not vote to discontinue any class 6 roads. He stated there was a reason for the road as far back as the 1700s, a class 6 road is still a legal right of way. Fred Bassett stated we cannot gate it off. Marion read information from DRED in 2001 which stated the road was to be used only by ATVs and snowmobiles. Marion asked if the road is still considered an emergency road for fire and rescue/accidents. It appears that vehicles, mountain bikes, ATVs, etc. are now using the road.

Steve stated NALMC would like to know if the town would be willing to participate, if grants could be obtained, would they go along with Nalmac’s ideas for use of the road. Alden stated if you improve the road you will have more vehicles on it. General conversation about things that have happened in the past on the road, vehicles stuck, accidents, etc. There was no definitive response from the committee to Nalmc’s request.

Annual Report in Town Report: General discussion was held relative to the draft report presented by Marion for the committee members to review and make changes in. Additions, changes and deletions are due at the November meeting. Also discussed was the inclusion in the annual report of the 5-year plan schedule that would show the completed work and cost, plus the planned work for the balance of the plan. It was agreed to include that information in the annual report.

Budget Meeting with Selectmen: Marion informed the committee that both the highway department and highway advisory committee are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:00 p.m. with the Selectmen to discuss 2010 budgets.

Town Hall Lights: Bob Bailey asked about the lack of outside lighting at the Town Hall. He was quite vocal in expressing his concerns that the outside lights do not work and have not been replaced. His main concern is people leaving evening meetings with no adequate lighting. Alden Dill informed him that the Selectmen signed a purchase order two weeks ago for new lighting, and that it would take three weeks for the lights to arrive. This matter should be taken care of within the next few weeks.

Updating of five year plan: Alden Dill suggested that the committee work on projecting the present five year plan into the future by three to five years. He also would like to see a capital improvement plan that would include equipment such as trucks, etc.

Jenness Pond Road intersection with Route 107: Alden Dill informed the committee that the town will be placing hot top in the area of Jenness Pond Road where it meets Catamount Road (Route 107) in order to eliminate the uneven connection of the two roads.

Gulf Road: Bob Bailey provided the committee members with a map of the section of Winding Hill Road that includes the town’s 50 foot right of way and 10 acre lot. Bob described the area where a new road could be constructed and what the land is like. He stated he dig test holes on the right of way to the 10 acre parcel, down 8 to 10 feet to ledge, so he feels there would be no problem doing a road. Bob walked the area with Don Rhodes and Don suggested doing a fly-over in order to get the typography of the land for a cheaper price than having a survey team do the work on ground. The fly-over would cost about $2000. John Lane said the fly-over would just be the beginning, that it would be best to plan ahead when asking for funds, and include all that would be needed to get the project ongoing. Perhaps a feasibility study cost.

Bob stated he owns about 32 acres and the simplest way to go is through his pit as Steve Anthony owns to his pit. He has not spoken with Steve Anthony, but feels Steve would be in favor of such a plan. Alden Dill questioned the ownership of the lands and whether Bob and Steve would give the town land, or would it be a sale to the town. Bob indicated he has no material left on his land, but Steve does, and it would be best if the town purchased what Steve has.

John Lane asked about placing a line in the budget for engineering services. He feels the size of the road budget warrants the inclusion of money for unexpected engineering services. Steve Bailey asked if perhaps Strafford Regional might have a fly-over map of the area already.

Steve stated any improvements would have to begin at the mailboxes on Gulf Road and end at Winding Hill Road, and the road should be made to class 5 specs. John Lane said that paving should also be included of the entire length of the roadway. Bob stated the distance from the existing class 6 road to Winding Hill road is about 1300 feet.

It was agreed that Bob would get a price for a fly-over and that this item would be presented to the Selectmen on Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:00 p.m. as a proposed warrant article for the 2010 warrant and capital outlay budget.

Next meeting date – November 18th – 7:00 p.m. – Community Hall.

Adjournment: Alden Dill moved to adjourn at 8:23 p.m. Seconded by Fred Bassett.

Respectfully submitted,

Marion J. Knox
Member/Secretary

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