Present: Jack Sapia, Chair, Paul Sullivan, Fred Childs (Selectmen) and Russell McAllister (Town Administrator).

Mr. Sapia opened the meeting with a moment of silence.

The TA read a letter of thanks to Chief Consentino.

Scenic & Cultural Byways Program

The TA introduced Mr. Watson explaining that responsibility for the Scenic & Cultural Byways Program had recently been transferred from the Office of Energy and Planning to the Department of Transportation because federal funding for the program came from the Federal Highway Program. Mr. Watson also explained that he was recently charged with responsibility for the program. Mr. Watson provided a synopsis of the NH program as outlined in RSA 238:19. He noted that NH on average received ½ million dollars annually in funding for cultural resources. The funding source was part of the 1996 Federal ISTEA legislation and the intent of the program was to preserve, celebrate or encourage tourism. Federal grant funding was available and fell into eight categories. The most used funding category, initially, was for the development of a management plan to address the long-range use of and improvements to the designated area. The Board queried Mr. Watson about signage limitations on designated areas. Mr. Watson noted that commercial billboards were not permitted. The Board acknowledged that Town ordinances did not permit that type of signage. Questions and discussion ensued with several comments offered by those in the audience. Mr. Watson explained the process of approval noting that the Scenic and Cultural Byways Council still needed to meet and approve the Town’s application. If all approvals were completed in a timely manner the Town could possibly make the federal deadline for grant submission. The TA explained that if the Board was interested in meeting the deadline, then a vote by the Board to approve the designation was necessary. Brief discussion ensued. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to accept the designation of that portion of Route 121 (Main Street) described in the application into the Scenic & Cultural Byways Program. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Minor addressed the Board relative to signage posted on telephone poles. He explained that the Town had a sign ordinance and wondered who was in charge of enforcement. Board members explained that this was a recurring issue that every Board faced. It was true that the Town had a sign ordinance, but the telephone poles were private property. The owner of the poles didn’t allow signs on its poles. In previous years utility workers climbed the poles and regularly took the signs down. No one, however, climbed poles anymore because pole and line maintenance was conducted via bucket trucks. Therefore, signs aren’t removed as often as they once were. More discussion ensued with Ms. Minor suggesting that a better sign ordinance be crafted and she suggested that Mr. Sapia help work on it. The Board agreed to take the issue under advisement in order to further review the issue.

Mr. Latham addressed the Board as both a citizen of Atkinson and as a veteran. Mr. Latham observed that there existed no central location designated for memorial plaques and tablets commemorating military service. It was further observed that there was an ongoing dispute between several factions over the placement of current memorial panels. Mr. Latham suggested that a central location for memorial plaques and tablets might well be a means of avoiding future conflict as well as settling the current one. Mr. Latham proposed a Veterans memorial Park for the Town similar to the one found in the Town of Salem. He next proceeded to present a compass rose design that included resting benches, flags representing the five branches of the military, and a unifying theme of a monument or gazebo. Discussion ensued about the concept and the necessity of such a concept receiving approval at Town meeting. Mark Acciard was acknowledged. Mr. Acciard began to speak to the issue of the Vietnam Memorial. The Chair reminded Mr. Acciard that the Board was currently discussing Mr. Latham’s proposal. The Board continued their discussion with Mr. Latham. The formation of a committee to research and develop the proposal was discussed and Mr. Sapia urged Mr. Latham to Chair such a committee.

Dave Wemouth provided a status update to a number of activities he was overseeing. Mr. Weymouth noted that he would be meeting with a representative from Letoile Roofing to review warranty work associated with the Police Department roof job of a couple years ago. Discussion of maintenance issues relative to north facing clapboards on the current Kimball library were also discussed.

Kaye Galloway, Eleanore Feuer, and Library Director Katie McDonough provided a status update to the Library Project. Of the five pre-qualified bidders one had dropped out because of scheduling conflicts. Drawings and specifications were made available to the pre-qualified general contractors. Advertisements directing interested subcontractors to the pre-qualified general contractors had been sent out. The deadline for bids was 8:00pm August 30^th.

The Board reviewed an administrative abatement for 00021-000001-000022 (Woodside Way). The TA explained that the property had inadvertently been listed as having a house on it when it did not. The supplemental billing addressed the invoicing of the property to insure proper billing for the second half of the tax bill.

The TA noted that Mariner Tower had sold to SBA and that shortly after the conclusion of the sale SBA had filed suit in Federal District Court in Concord against the Town. The TA provided the text of SBA’s suit in the Board’s agenda packet.

The Board reconvened at 9:25pm. Mr. Stewart recommended that the lowest bidder. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to award the bid to Busby Construction in the amount of $310,310. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved. Mr. Stewart provided a brief synopsis of department activities.

The TA read correspondence including a letter from Mr. Latham suggesting the creation of a Veterans memorial park and a perambulation schedule with Salem.

The Board noted that they had completed interviews for the Assistant Clerk position. Mr. Sullivan made the motion to hire Kerry Pass as the part-time Assistant Town Clerk at a starting rate of pay of $13.75/hour working no more than 30-hours per week. Mr. Childs seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved.

Mr. Sullivan extended his thanks to Jim Miller for putting-up the Lion’s sign advertising the refent special town meeting. He also thanked the TA for helping put the sign-up with Mr. Miller. Mr. Sullivan spoke briefly about a pandemic planning session that he attended on July 16^th where the speaker addressed the issues of community preparedness and the steps necessary to do so. Mr. Sullivan was one of the representatives of the six communities attending. Mr. Sullivan next provided a synopsis of the July 20^th meeting where the architect’s contract was discussed relative to insurance coverage of the Town. Mr. Sullivan directed the TA to follow-up with Primex with respect to the issue. The TA agreed to do so.

Mr. Childs thanked the anonymous Samaritan who returned his lost checkbook.

Mr. Sapia spoke about the planned wall behind the school and the need for review and dialogue with the school board. Ms. Killam suggested that the Town’s engineer review the plans for the wall.

Mr. Sapia briefly addressed the issue of the mediated settlement and court order that was signed by the opposing parties in the Vietnam War memorial noting that it was available for review at the Town Office.

Mr. Sapia made the motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91:3, A:2 (b) to discuss the possible hiring of an assistant town clerk. Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and so moved at approximately 10:00pm.

There being no further business to come before the Board Mr. Sullivan made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Childs seconded. The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30pm

Respectfully,

Russell McAllister

Town Administrator

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Jack Sapia, Chair

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Paul Sullivan

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Fred Childs