3/31/2020: Selectmen's Update

The Selectmen have cancelled the March 31st Selectmen’s Meeting.  It will be postponed until the end of April.
 
-If you would like to talk to any of the Selectmen, please feel free to email any questions or concerns you may have to townadmin@jackson-nh.org.
-If you would like a Selectmen to call you, please send your contact information to townadmin@jackson-nh.org and you will receive a call back.
-You can also leave a voicemail message at 603-383-4223.
 
The Selectmen are continuing to come in to the office to sign checks weekly.  Other things that they will need to sign this week include:
-A Veteran’s Tax Credit
-Forest Land Improvement – Agreement – Don Johnson is retiring, so the new town forester will be Timothy Nolin
-Eagle Mt House – Request for Extended Liquor License (for weddings May 1st-November 1, 2020)
-2020 Assessing Services Agreement – with Northtown Associates
-Request from North Country Angler – to use the Jackson pond for children to learn casting and to have a kids fishing day  on June 6, 2020
-Building Permits:
-BP# 10 – Nelson – 65 Ridge Road – Add ¾ bath in Mater bedroom, add exterior stairs to existing back deck, install new Rinnai boiler.
BP# 11 – Fichera – 33 Cameron Drive – Construct an additional garage attached to existing garage
BP# 12 – Eagle Mt House – 179 Carter Notch Rd – Addition to the tavern – gas fireplace, wood flooring, light fixtures
 
-Correction to last meeting-
FYI  - From Ken Kimball - at the last selectmen's meeting on 2/25/2020 the selectmen had voted to take the Forest Mgt Plan funds from the Conservation Fund which it turns out is not legal. 
From the last selectmen's draft meeting minutes of Feb 25, 2020: ....: "Forest Management Plan update- The Conservation Commission was asked to update the Forestry Plan which gets done every 10 years or so.The Forest Land Improvement folks have put in a proposal to do the update and were the ones that finished the prior plan. The cost is $3,000 and the funds will come from the Conservation Commission Money Market Account. The update will make suggestions for improvements for the future. Selectman Campbell made a motion to support the update; seconded by Selectman Bennett. Motion approved unanimously."
Per the RSA on Conservation Commissions at Section 36-A:5 (attached) the Conservation Commission is the legal entity to determine the expenditure of funds from the Conservation Fund (not the selectmen), w/ certain exceptions when purchasing lands. In summary the Conservation Commission is more than just advisory when it comes to expanding its own funds. The selectmen cannot legally vote to spend money from the Conservation Fund and you are correct to direct the funds to come from the Baker Fund (established for that purpose as we determined at the last meeting) .  

Section 36-A:5 "..Money may be expended from said fund by the conservation commission for the purposes of this chapter without further approval of the town meeting.
II. The town treasurer, pursuant to RSA 41:29, shall have custody of all moneys in the conservation fund and shall pay out the same only upon order of the conservation commission. The disbursement of conservation funds shall be authorized by a majority of the conservation commission. Prior to the use of such funds for the purchase of any interest in real property or for a contribution to a qualified organization for the purchase of property interests under RSA 36-A:4-a, I(b), the conservation commission shall hold a public hearing with notice in accordance with RSA 675:7."    

The selectmen need to correct their last vote and request the $3,000 for the  Forest Mgt Plan to come from the Baker Fund (intended for such purposes)  from the Trustees of the Towns Funds. (Most of the Conservation Funds dollars were derived  from the penalty when lands were taken out of Current Use is my understanding - 50% of the penalty goes to the Town and 50% to the Conservation Commission's Conservation Fund.)
 
-There is a complaint about a damaged post at 84 Whitney Hill Loop that the Selectmen will look into.
 
** Please make sure you have a current Transfer Station Sticker**
 
Thank you,
 
Jackson Selectmen
John Allen
Barbara Campbell
Dick Bennett