Gorham selectmen make no decisions yet on tax deeding
Written by Debra Thornblad
By Debra Thornblad
GORHAM – Gorham selectmen reviewed an updated list of properties eligible for tax deeding Monday, but made no decision on taking any property that night.
The first report, reviewed two weeks ago, included all properties owing taxes, even if they weren't eligible for deeding at this time and the list was by property number, not street address. This update included just the properties eligible for deeding and their street address.
The report shows a total of 41 properties that could be deeded. It does not include property owned by Munce, which is in bankruptcy, or by John Gleason, which the Internal Revenue Service has liened. The total amount owned by the 41 properties is $267,024. Munce owes $115,000 and Gleason $25,000.
Frost said she had hoped to have everything selectmen needed to make a decision that night, but she was still waiting for some information from legal counsel to make sure the process is done correctly.
Selectman Bill Jackson said he is concerned about how the town has traditionally handled taxes owned in the mobile home parks, particularly Gateway.
"A certain number of properties get in this situation. We sit down with Gateway and take our lumps," he said. "Trailers get run down, are hauled off, the town is out tax money, Gateway gets the lot, a new trailer goes on and it starts over again," he said.
Frost said when all the information from the attorney is in, the board will have to look at the property, see if there are any special circumstances with it (such as environmental issues), and make a decision on whether or not to take it.
Regarding the Currier property, Frost said Building Inspector John Scarinza and Fire Chief Rick Eichler have already been up there looking the property over in anticipation of the town taking it. They are working to find out what exactly is on the property and the town is also trying to find out what to do with personal property on site, Frost said.
Speaking about late taxes, Jay Holmes, owner of Jay's Quick Lube, placed blame on the economy.
"You'll be seeing a lot more if you don't get your spending under control," he said.
He suggested the town stop door-to-door service for things like garbage collection on property where the streets are privately owned and instead collect garbage at a central location. He said he was worried about Gorham becoming more of a thru town for those interested in ATVs.
"If Berlin gets a motel, they're going to trump us," he said.
He urged selectmen to take a stronger stand than they have to date in favor of allowing ATVs to access downtown area businesses. The town was built on manufacturing, but that's gone. It needs to focus on being a destination, he said.
Conway has been branded as the Mount Washington Valley. He urged selectmen to support labeling Gorham as the Upper Mount Washington Valley.
Selectmen said they have been supportive of allowing ATVs to access the town. But the board said it is waiting to hear from N.H. Trails Bureau head Chris Gamache, who is working on OHRV trails in the North Country, on his recommendations for Gorham.
In other business, selectmen approved a plan for sewer, water and roadwork on Third Street. The water and sewer department is extending service up that street and at the same time public works will work on drainage issues.
GORHAM – Gorham selectmen reviewed an updated list of properties eligible for tax deeding Monday, but made no decision on taking any property that night.
The first report, reviewed two weeks ago, included all properties owing taxes, even if they weren't eligible for deeding at this time and the list was by property number, not street address. This update included just the properties eligible for deeding and their street address.
The report shows a total of 41 properties that could be deeded. It does not include property owned by Munce, which is in bankruptcy, or by John Gleason, which the Internal Revenue Service has liened. The total amount owned by the 41 properties is $267,024. Munce owes $115,000 and Gleason $25,000.
Frost said she had hoped to have everything selectmen needed to make a decision that night, but she was still waiting for some information from legal counsel to make sure the process is done correctly.
Selectman Bill Jackson said he is concerned about how the town has traditionally handled taxes owned in the mobile home parks, particularly Gateway.
"A certain number of properties get in this situation. We sit down with Gateway and take our lumps," he said. "Trailers get run down, are hauled off, the town is out tax money, Gateway gets the lot, a new trailer goes on and it starts over again," he said.
Frost said when all the information from the attorney is in, the board will have to look at the property, see if there are any special circumstances with it (such as environmental issues), and make a decision on whether or not to take it.
Regarding the Currier property, Frost said Building Inspector John Scarinza and Fire Chief Rick Eichler have already been up there looking the property over in anticipation of the town taking it. They are working to find out what exactly is on the property and the town is also trying to find out what to do with personal property on site, Frost said.
Speaking about late taxes, Jay Holmes, owner of Jay's Quick Lube, placed blame on the economy.
"You'll be seeing a lot more if you don't get your spending under control," he said.
He suggested the town stop door-to-door service for things like garbage collection on property where the streets are privately owned and instead collect garbage at a central location. He said he was worried about Gorham becoming more of a thru town for those interested in ATVs.
"If Berlin gets a motel, they're going to trump us," he said.
He urged selectmen to take a stronger stand than they have to date in favor of allowing ATVs to access downtown area businesses. The town was built on manufacturing, but that's gone. It needs to focus on being a destination, he said.
Conway has been branded as the Mount Washington Valley. He urged selectmen to support labeling Gorham as the Upper Mount Washington Valley.
Selectmen said they have been supportive of allowing ATVs to access the town. But the board said it is waiting to hear from N.H. Trails Bureau head Chris Gamache, who is working on OHRV trails in the North Country, on his recommendations for Gorham.
In other business, selectmen approved a plan for sewer, water and roadwork on Third Street. The water and sewer department is extending service up that street and at the same time public works will work on drainage issues.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 22:33
Hits: 137
Council approves park plans
Written by Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN – The city council gave its blessing Monday night to two proposals for projects that will create small parks in different sections of the city.
One, at 3 Glen Avenue, will clean up the southern entrance to the downtown and provide general and handicap parking. The other, at 115 Mason Street, will expand an existing park to provide a small playground and community garden space. In both cases, the land was or will be obtained from demolishing dilapidated buildings the city obtained through tax deed.
Housing Coordinator Linda White reported that Cross Excavation was the low bidder, at $36,952, to demolish the building at 3 Glen Avenue. Part of the lot will be surfaced with concrete pavement or pavers and the rest will be used to create a total of 11 parking spaces with three handicap slots to accommodate the patrons of the Holiday Center. White said she met with officials from the Holiday Center and they have agreed to shovel and keep the paver area picked up. The city has talked about placing a bench there and some landscaping. White said she has also met with Don Rivard, who owns the other abutting property and he is happy with the plans.
The lot has 80 feet of frontage and the planning board approved a 24-foot curb cut.
White said she has about $67,000 for the project, including the demolition, in Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant funds.
She said the project will improve the appearance of the Glen Avenue entrance to the downtown, provide needed handicap parking for the Holiday Center, and provide additional downtown parking.
Councilor Roland Theberge asked about lighting for the area and White admitted she hadn't thought about the need for lighting there. Mayor Paul Grenier suggested the city wait to see if lighting is needed. If so, he suggested maybe the city could get permission to attach a light to the Holiday Center building. Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme said if it is determined a light is needed, the Moving Downtown Forward committee might be willing to cover the cost.
Grenier said demolishing the building and creating the small park/parking lot will completely change the complexity of the downtown.
White said the project should get underway by early June.
The other project, developed by city staff, calls for a mixed-use park and community garden area at 115 Mason Street. Former Housing Coordinator Andre Caron created a small park area a couple of years ago at the corner of Granite and Mason Streets but the city postponed developing the park further because it appeared the city would obtain the 115 Mason Street property by tax deed. The city did get the property and earlier this year demolished the building.
The city has $26,750 left from its first NSP grant for the project. White developed a budget that includes some playground equipment, picnic tables, and fencing for the park. She also include in the budget money for summer playground staff time and park maintenance. Money for the raised garden beds and soil will be covered by funds from a Healthy Eating Active Living grant.
There will be parking at the site for three cars. Initial plans call for 12 to 14 raised garden beds that will be assigned to interested residents through Berlin Parks and Recreation.
White said she hopes to get the project underway immediately so the park can be available for use this summer. The council formally voted to approve both projects.
One, at 3 Glen Avenue, will clean up the southern entrance to the downtown and provide general and handicap parking. The other, at 115 Mason Street, will expand an existing park to provide a small playground and community garden space. In both cases, the land was or will be obtained from demolishing dilapidated buildings the city obtained through tax deed.
Housing Coordinator Linda White reported that Cross Excavation was the low bidder, at $36,952, to demolish the building at 3 Glen Avenue. Part of the lot will be surfaced with concrete pavement or pavers and the rest will be used to create a total of 11 parking spaces with three handicap slots to accommodate the patrons of the Holiday Center. White said she met with officials from the Holiday Center and they have agreed to shovel and keep the paver area picked up. The city has talked about placing a bench there and some landscaping. White said she has also met with Don Rivard, who owns the other abutting property and he is happy with the plans.
The lot has 80 feet of frontage and the planning board approved a 24-foot curb cut.
White said she has about $67,000 for the project, including the demolition, in Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant funds.
She said the project will improve the appearance of the Glen Avenue entrance to the downtown, provide needed handicap parking for the Holiday Center, and provide additional downtown parking.
Councilor Roland Theberge asked about lighting for the area and White admitted she hadn't thought about the need for lighting there. Mayor Paul Grenier suggested the city wait to see if lighting is needed. If so, he suggested maybe the city could get permission to attach a light to the Holiday Center building. Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme said if it is determined a light is needed, the Moving Downtown Forward committee might be willing to cover the cost.
Grenier said demolishing the building and creating the small park/parking lot will completely change the complexity of the downtown.
White said the project should get underway by early June.
The other project, developed by city staff, calls for a mixed-use park and community garden area at 115 Mason Street. Former Housing Coordinator Andre Caron created a small park area a couple of years ago at the corner of Granite and Mason Streets but the city postponed developing the park further because it appeared the city would obtain the 115 Mason Street property by tax deed. The city did get the property and earlier this year demolished the building.
The city has $26,750 left from its first NSP grant for the project. White developed a budget that includes some playground equipment, picnic tables, and fencing for the park. She also include in the budget money for summer playground staff time and park maintenance. Money for the raised garden beds and soil will be covered by funds from a Healthy Eating Active Living grant.
There will be parking at the site for three cars. Initial plans call for 12 to 14 raised garden beds that will be assigned to interested residents through Berlin Parks and Recreation.
White said she hopes to get the project underway immediately so the park can be available for use this summer. The council formally voted to approve both projects.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 22:33
Hits: 151
Victim in 2012 Dalton shooting arrested for firing shotgun
Written by Barbara Tetreault
DALTON – The man wounded in a triple shooting in Dalton last year has been arrested on charges of reckless conduct, criminal threatening, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wayne Ainsworth, 55, of Dalton is alleged to have pointed a 20-gauge shotgun at a Dalton man and firing a single shot into the air at 205 Whitefield Road in Dalton on April 26 according to the Caledonian Record newspaper. Ainsworth was arraigned and ordered held on $30,000 cash bail. A probably cause hearing is scheduled for May 13.
In April 2012, Ainsworth's spouse, Joseph Besk, was killed and Ainsworth wounded by Christopher Smith. Police ruled Smith committed suicide after shooting the couple. The three men all lived in Dalton at the time.
Ainsworth and Besk were both convicted sex offenders who met while incarcerated at the Northern N.H. Correctional Facility in Berlin. The two married in a Jan 2010 ceremony at the Berlin prison shortly after New Hampshire allowing same sex marriages took effect. The pair was the first same sex couple to be married within the state prison system where Besk was still incarcerated at the time of the wedding. Ainsworth had been released from prison in July 2006, after serving close to 12 years for an aggravated felonious sexual assault conviction.
The wedding of Ainsworth and Besk was the subject of a Jan 22, 2010 story in the Berlin Daily Sun that generated considerable controversy. Many people objected to the decision to run the story on the front page.
Wayne Ainsworth, 55, of Dalton is alleged to have pointed a 20-gauge shotgun at a Dalton man and firing a single shot into the air at 205 Whitefield Road in Dalton on April 26 according to the Caledonian Record newspaper. Ainsworth was arraigned and ordered held on $30,000 cash bail. A probably cause hearing is scheduled for May 13.
In April 2012, Ainsworth's spouse, Joseph Besk, was killed and Ainsworth wounded by Christopher Smith. Police ruled Smith committed suicide after shooting the couple. The three men all lived in Dalton at the time.
Ainsworth and Besk were both convicted sex offenders who met while incarcerated at the Northern N.H. Correctional Facility in Berlin. The two married in a Jan 2010 ceremony at the Berlin prison shortly after New Hampshire allowing same sex marriages took effect. The pair was the first same sex couple to be married within the state prison system where Besk was still incarcerated at the time of the wedding. Ainsworth had been released from prison in July 2006, after serving close to 12 years for an aggravated felonious sexual assault conviction.
The wedding of Ainsworth and Besk was the subject of a Jan 22, 2010 story in the Berlin Daily Sun that generated considerable controversy. Many people objected to the decision to run the story on the front page.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 22:32
Hits: 209
Cooperative study committee begins work
By Debra Thornblad
MILAN – When the committee studying whether Gorham, Randolph, Shelburne, Milan and Dummer should form a new cooperative presents its finding to the five towns involved, residents can be sure it will be the result of a thorough investigation of the issue.
The committee held its first meeting Thursday night and it went beyond the usual first meeting of a committee where introductions are made, future meeting dates set and general information given out. The committee did all that, but also spent over an hour talking about why they were there, what the goals were and what the concerns of their respective townspeople were likely to be.
The members of the cooperative study committee are: Suzanne Demers, David Graham and Angela Brown, representing the GRS Cooperative towns; Dennis Theberge, Peter Donovan and Sandy Pouliot, representing Milan; and Jennifer Miller, Diane Holt and Sue Solar, representing Dummer.
The committee decided it would meet the second Thursday of every month and would move the meeting around to the different towns. The next meeting will be June 13 and will be held at the Dummer Town Hall.
The meeting began by electing David Graham of Gorham as the chairman. Members then went on to approve rules for operating the meetings and view a list of information Superintendent Paul Bousquet said he would bring to the next meeting for them to review from Berlin, Gorham and Milan. That list includes: census information, program of studies, co-curricular offerings, student/teacher ratio, dropout rates, student suspension information, information on bullying incidents, test scores, and financial information like budgets, assets and liabilities and debt.
Demers said she would like more information than just numbers on suspensions. She would to know the reasons behind the suspensions and how serious the incidents were. Bousquet said he wasn't sure he'd be able to get that specific of information from Berlin.
Sandy Pouliot said she'd like to see added to that list information about the number of families sending their children to other schools or homeschooling. She said she would also like information on out-of-district placement and special education services.
Miller said before the committee began looking at specifics she would like to discuss the committee's work more broadly.
“Why are we here, what prompted this, what's the goal, what are the benefits,” she said. “This is a pretty major decision for all the towns.”
Superintendent Paul Bousquet and Business Administrator Pauline Plourde both said they believed one of the main reasons the towns vote for this study was the desire to have a say in what is decided about the education of their children.
Demers said she believes transportation will be an issue, especially for Dummer. She said she was curious about how far away from Gorham some areas of Dummer were and recently took a ride. Some of those students will be on a bus an hour or more, she said. She wondered if parents would want this.
Other issues of concern to residents may be declining populations, and what that might mean for costs, as well as differences in curriculum between Berlin and Gorham.
Theberge said he felt a lot would come down to costs. He also said he didn't think many Milan residents realized they would lose control of the Village School with this option (the Milan school would be owned by the cooperative, as the Ed Fenn and Gorham Middle/High School are now).
“I'm open-minded to hear all the information available, but I did vote against (forming) this committee.We worked hard in Dummer to get choice,” Miller said, saying she wanted to be completely honest about where she was coming from. She added she would not put her children on a bus for another 20 minutes, but would pay herself to tuition them to Berlin.
“Our taxes have tripled in the last seven years. I want to make sure this is the right move,” she said.
Demers said she too intended to be completely honest about things, but noted Gorham residents had also gotten a big tax increase and she was concerned about what impact declining populations would have on costs with the vast majority of the costs with the existing cooperative based on student population.
She said she would also be concerned about the issue of “grandfathering,” that is allowing those students already in Berlin High School to remain there if they wanted to. Who would pay that tuition to Berlin?
Bousquet said that would be the subject of negotiations if the cooperative went forward.
Brown said when the GRS Cooperative was formed, if Randolph high school students had not been able to continue at White Mountains Regional it would have been a deal breaker for Randolph.
Brown then suggested the study proceed on the assumption that Milan and Dummer would join the cooperative and then as information came in, identify the pros and cons based on that assumption.
The group agreed with that process, noting it would probably be obvious at the end which towns a cooperative would work for and which towns it wouldn't.
A second committee will look at continuing the AREA agreement with Berlin. The first meeting of that committee will be next Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Milan Village School. Members of that committee include Milan selectmen George Pozzuto and Dick Lamontagne, Milan School Board members Patricia Shute and Stephanie Price and Berlin School Board members Donald Lebreque.
Last Updated on Monday, 06 May 2013 20:41
Hits: 125
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