Pelham - Windham News
April 23, 2010 - 6
Restructuring- continued from front page
Charlie
Outdoors
with
Chalk
Getting “Ready to Roll”
Soon, you can head out into the great outdoors to camp! The
following tips will help ensure that your trip is as carefree and enjoyable as possible by making sure you, and your gear, are “ready to roll.” The key to any enjoyable camping trip is planning, and although a decision where to camp all depends on your personal preference, a little pre-trip planning can help avoid preventable mishaps. So the question is, “Where to start?” You might want to look through state campground directories, travel guides, national directories, state tourism boards, and other Internet sites. Another good source of information is local stores that sell camping equipment. Many stores provide bulletin boards that note useful information—and talk with other RVers and campers. Wherever you choose to go, make sure that the park meets
your and your family’s needs. Certain parks will specialize in family activities, and include many kid-oriented programs. Do your research in advance, and book as far in advance as possible, as many parks book up for summers and popular time periods months in advance.
Charlie Chalk can be reached at
outdoorswithcharlie@areanewsgroup.com
Town of Pelham
Building Permits Issued Week Ending April 16
• Sousa Realty & Dev. Corp., Lawrence Corner Road, 1/5-104-18, 28 x 38 two-story colonial, 14 x 20 family room, 24 x 24 two- car garage, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. • Edward & Linda Peters, 16 Fletcher Drive, 29/7-27-9, 18 x 33 x 52 above-ground pool.
• Eaves Family Revocable Trust, 1 Hearthstone Road, 22/8-156, Septic System Replacement In-Kind. • John Hodge, Jr., 61 Patriot Drive, 40/6-185-13, Replace existing 18 x 33 oval above pool with a 15 x 30 above-ground pool. o Donald Durand, 1 Lisa Terrace, 28/7- 179, Add second floor to home. Was a 2-bedroom, will now be a 4-bedroom. • Francine Baldwin, 6 Holstein Drive, 14/4-136-6, 15 x 30 above-ground pool. • Anthony & Kristen Desimone, 21 Ballard Road, 24/12-192-7, 10 x 18 shed. • John & Deborah Stanisewski, 391 Old Gage Hill Road, 25/12-20, 8 x 10 shed. • MZL Realty, LLC, 10 Bridge Street, #2, 41/10-236, Four temporary signs “Grand Opening,” “Opening Soon,” “Open House,” & “Hours” • MZL Realty, LLC, 10 Bridge Street, #2, 41/10-246, Three separate 15-inch x 6-foot banner-style signs, “Back 2 Basic,” “24 HR Keyclub,” and “Fitness CTR,” one above each window & door, 2 on the front sign, 1 each side. Two 8 x 70 “Back 2 Basic Fitness CTR”
“Customers won’t get served in the same timely manner as with a full-time secretary,” Gray said. “This proposed cut doesn’t serve the taxpayer well.” In response to Gray’s comments, Scott said, “We all perform customer service duties. The phones will still get answered. The customers will still be helped.” Scott said she feels that the proposed restructuring will allow for the most efficient operation of the department. “It’s not aimed at any existing staff,” Scott said. “The same work that gets done now will get done with more efficiency under the new proposal.” Phil Lochiotto, Chairman of the
Windham Planning Board, said he feels that the addition of a full-time code enforcement officer/ZBA administrator is a crucial component. “It’s not a personnel issue,” he said, “but a department organizational issue.” “This is an urgent need,” Lochiotto said, adding that he hopes selectmen will consider adding the new position this year.
Selectman Roger Hohenberger said he
doesn’t see any “new tasks” being taken on under Scott’s proposed restructuring plan. “These are just different people with different job titles doing them,” he said. “I’ve heard a similar speech since 1986,” Hohenberger said, when he first became involved in planning for Windham. “I see
plan review is $500, while the engineering escrow cost for subdivision or major site plan review is $1,000. Members of the public questioned two of the other fees. Jim Tremay said that he doesn’t think $60 is a high enough charge for the Zoning Board Of Adjustment (ZBA) to issue a variance. Tremay recommended that the fee be set at $150 instead. Scott said that the fee is “not intended to generate revenue,” but only to cover the cost of the service. The other issue questioned by a resident
was the elimination of the $20 fee previously charged for a Sunday License, by which a business can operate on
nothing here that says work on the master plan.”
Scott said the new proposal would allow more time for both the town planner and the community development director to tackle productive tasks, such as working on the master plan. “These are on my list already,” she said. “Right now, I’m picking up a lot of the slack for the ZBA, planning, and code enforcement instead of doing community development planning,” Scott said.
Hohenberger said he feels that Scott’s proposal is no more than the “status quo.” “I want to see major changes,” Hohenberger said. “I want to see a specific list of goals; a set of metrics to grade the department against.”
Scott said that she expects the public and selectmen to hold her accountable in assuring that progress is being made. “It would be a disservice not to follow up,” she said.
Selectman Charles McMahon, who
serves as Board Chairman, said, “I am not in favor of cutting staff; not if we expect to get more work done and provide support to the public at the same time.” Selectman Ross McLeod, who served previously on the Planning Board, said that he has seen many changes come into play over the years and is “strongly” in favor of a new code enforcement position, but also
New Fees- continued from front page
Sundays. Resident Bob Coole said he feels that eliminating the fee “is throwing away a revenue source to the town.” Selectman McLeod asked why a town
“would arbitrarily handicap a business” by charging money to operate on Sundays. Sunday permits were a result of New Hampshire’s historic Blue Laws, which prohibit certain activities and sales on Sundays. “It’s nothing more than a roadblock for business,” McLeod said. Blue Laws “are not relevant in the 21st century,” he added, referring to them as “antiquated.”
Selectman Hohenberger explained that businesses are still required to get a
Sunday Permit in Windham—only the cost has been eliminated. Town Administrator David Sullivan said the most money that Windham generated from Sunday permits in years past was about $1,200. Many business owners don’t even come in to pick up their permits, he said, thereby avoiding having to pay the $20 annual fee. It was suggested that the Sunday Permits be made available in the future through the Town Clerk’s Office, rather than through the Planning Department. Selectmen said they would look into the feasibility of making the suggested change.
prefers keeping a full-time departmental secretary.
Selectman Bruce Breton, who serves as the selectmen’s representative to the Planning Board, said that he feels Scott’s proposal should be adopted as presented. “It is more effective, more efficient, provides a quicker response, and no more money will be spent,” Breton said. Breton’s motion to adopt the proposed restructuring failed to garner enough votes, however, and was defeated 4 to 1. Breton was the only selectman who voted in favor of his motion, while Hohenberger, McLeod, McMahon, and Galen Stearns voted against it.
McMahon said he didn’t think any action on the proposal should be taken that night. “It needs to become part of the strategic plan goals,” McMahon said. Hohenberger said he wants to see those goals prior to selectmen taking a vote on the restructuring proposal. “I want to see tangible, measurable goals,” he said. After further discussion, selectmen decided that they want two proposals to be put forth by Scott; one with a full-time departmental secretary, and the other with a part-time secretary. Selectmen also want to see the cost impact of any restructuring for the next three years.
Ruth E. Aubert
Obituary
Ruth E. (Kiernan)
Aubert, 84, of Pelham, died April 18, 2010, at D’Youville Senior Care in Lowell, MA. She was the wife of the late Roland R. Aubert who died in 1989.
Born in Lowell,
MA, November 20, 1925, the daughter of the late James P. and the late Alice (Burton) Kiernan, she attended Dracut, MA, schools and was a graduate of Dracut High School in the Class of 1943.
Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Aubert served for more than 25 years as Executive Secretary
to the Board of Selectmen in Dracut and Tewksbury, MA. She was also secretary to the Dracut Superintendent of Schools and to the manager of Beaver Brook Mills in Collinsville. She was a member of the Massachusetts Retired Municipal Employees and a former member of the Massachusetts Municipal Managers Association. Upon her retirement in 1985, she received many citations from state and local officials. She was a communicant of St. Patrick
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Church in Pelham, a member of the Women’s Guild and a former member and officer of the Catholic Daughters of America. Mrs. Aubert was also an accomplished musician. During her youth she was awarded the Dorothy Mahan Medal while a member of St. Rita’s Cadets. She studied trumpet at the Boston Conservatory of Music under George Mager and performed as a member of the Boston Youth Symphonic, Lowell Philharmonic and the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra.
She later toured
New England with musical groups such Lorden’s All Girls Orchestra, the Polkaretts and the Evergreens. She enjoyed playing dance music and most recently she performed as a member of the Come Back Kids from the Chelmsford (MA) Senior Center. Mrs. Aubert is survived by her “best friend” and daughter, Celine and son-in-law John T. King, Jr. of Pelham and their three children, Marlaina King and Zachary King, both of Pelham, and Aurilie McKenzie and her husband Michael of West Warwick, RI, who were all very close and loving with their grandmother, along with her great- granddaughter, Scarlett McKenzie. She is also survived by her son Steven and daughter-in-law Mary (Unger) Aubert and their two daughters, Nicole and Yvonne Aubert, all of Londonderry; a sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Willis Belleville of Londonderry, and a sister-in-law, Irene Aubert of Chelmsford, MA; also several nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral Mass was held April 21 at St.
Patrick Church in Pelham. Burial took place at St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. Those wishing may make a contribution in her memory to the Bishop Guertin High School Band Program, Development Office, 194 Lund Rd., Nashua, NH 03060. Arrangements by Pelham Funeral Home in
Pelham.
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