Note from the MCA:We have included additonal information to the Meredith News article covering this issue from the last selectmen's meeting so our readers can see this issue in proper context. Article 12 as well as the entire excerpt from the Selectmen meeting in February 2008 where the article was approved preface the newspaper article.
MCA
“The voters expectations should be followed,” he said. “It was made clear to them what they were voting on.” Hollis Austin, Letter to Selectmen
From Town Warrant 2008 :
ARTICLE 12
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine hundred ninety two thousand dollars ($992,000.00) to reconstruct Ossipee Park Road, a 7,200 linear feet Town road. The sum of Six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000.00) to come from a donation already made by CG Roxane to offset the cost of construction the balance of Three hundred ninety two thousand ($392,000.00) to be raised by taxation.
From the Selectmen's Meeting Minutess, February 14th, 2008:
Karel read the article and commented that Ossipee Park Road is a Town road, which is in very poor condition and has not had reconstruction in many years. She feels it is a liability issue to the Town. CG Roxane has donated $600,000 towards the repair of the road, resulting in the Town having to raise $392,000 to pay for the balance. Karel added that LRCT has not offered to pay for any of the cost. Ed expressed his disappointment that LRCT hasn’t offered to pay a share of the repair. Al Hume commented that the Town will continue to be financially responsible for the road which will have a life expectancy and suggested turning it over to CG Roxane. Ed stated that he and Betsey have explored this and as the Town has a cemetery on the road; it still needs to maintain a road or at least a right of way. The Selectmen were asked if there had been an agreement between CG Roxane and LRCT about sharing the responsibilities for the road. Karel stated that she is not aware of any agreement. There was discussion about bonding the road during mud season and the necessary requirements. Natt King expressed his feeling that it is unfair that LRCT is blamed for not funding the road, adding that they contribute by preserving over 7,500 acres of open land in Town. The Selectmen were asked if LRCT pays taxes and they stated that they are exempt as they are a charitable organization. Karel asked for a vote. Recommended by Selectmen, 4-1. (Betsey)
The Meredith News July 3rd, 2008
BY ERIK ZYGMONT
EZYGMONT@SALMONPRESS.COM
MOULTONBORO — A couple residents have expressed disapproval of the selectmen’s May decision to amend the proposed plan for reconstructing Ossipee Park , exchanging a closed drainage system for a modified version of the current system. On May 22, the selectmen voted unanimously to modify the design, a move that Chair Karel Crawford had said would save the town approximately $100,000. At Town Meeting, voters had appropriated $992,000 for the reconstruction project, with $600,000 of that amount to come from C.G. Roxanne, a bottling company located on Ossipee Park Road. Some residents have said that truck traffic from C.G.Roxanne is a major contributor to the road damage. At the Thursday, June 26, Board of Selectmen meeting, resident Hollis Austin read a letter in which he criticized the board’s recent decision in light of what was said at Town Meeting. “The $600,000 contribution from C.G. Roxanne was portrayed as being contingent on the acquisition of the total amount of $992,000, which was identified as necessary to properly repair the road,” Austin wrote.“We were warned that if less money was approved by the voters, the $600,000 goes away.”......
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Austin also wrote that Ossipee Road project was represented to voters as having a closed-drainage system. “The voters expectations should be followed,” he said. “It was made clear to them what they were voting on.” Crawford said that the selectmen had always had two ideas for the drainage system, and that the full $992,000 amount included a $100,000 “contingency” in the event that the town would decide to go with the closed drainage. Resident Natt King echoed Austin’s comments, and added that Moultonboro’s Master Plan has identified water quality as a very high priority among residents. “It was represented to voters as closed drainage,” he said. “Austin makes a very valid point.” Resident Eric Taussig said that Police Chief Scott Kinmond had told voters, on behalf of the Road Agent, that there would be a closed drainage system. Arguments about liability on the town’s part, if it didn’t contribute the full $392,000 portion of the $992,000, were also made by town counsel, Taussig added. “I have nothing against saving $100,000,” he said. “I’m just wondering how come we can now reduce it.” Selectman James Gray said that the open drainage system appeared to be a better option for the town. ”It appeared to me that the (closed) drainage system would cause more problems than it would solve,” he said, adding that the town’s engineering firm, the Louis Berger Group, “couldn’t show us that we were getting anything for the extra money.” “We kind of pinned them down,” said Gray. Selectmen Joel Mudgett added that in his opinion, a closed drainage on Ossippee Park Road offers no environmental benefits over an open system. “You get all the water and dump it in one place,” he said. “(The Louis Berger Group) couldn’t show us how it wouldn’t affect one person’s property tremendously,” added Gray. Selectman Betsey Patten added that the town would have had to obtain easements, costing additional time and money, in order to accommodate a closed drainage system. Mudgett also noted that with rising material costs, especially asphalt, the town may wind up paying close to the voter-appropriated amount anyway, despite the less expensive drainage system.
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