10 February 2009

Stratham Municipal Center

OPENING:

Members present: Becky Mitchell, chair; Nancy Hansen, treasurer and secretary pro tem; MJ Werner, Planning Board rep.; Dave Canada, Selectman’s rep.

Meeting: Opened at 5:35pm; adjourned, 6:20pm.

Minutes: The minutes of 20 January 2009 were approved as written.

Treasury: The treasurer had no report.

Budget:

Dave Canada, Selectman’s rep reported that the HC’s reduced budget figure of $3750 was approved for 2009.
Becky turned in a $20 receipt for a Staples copying card (4619.100).
Members voted to approve database manager Deb Long’s suggestion to purchase a Kahlon battery for the laptop computer at a cost of $81 plus $8.50 shpg to be charged to the Survey budget subcategory 4619.225. Deb will obtain the battery.

Administrative: The chair completed writing the annual report (it is attached).

OLD BUSINESS:

Planning Board:

At the Selectman’s meeting 2/9 the $10,000 request to conduct work on the Gateway project, suggested as a warrant, was placed in the Planning Board budget in order to allow the continuation of the form-based zoning project under way in collaboration with the Rockingham Planning Commission.

MJ Werner stated that she intends to organize a meeting for all interested residents, location owners, and town boards/commissions to discuss the use of the town center as an integral part of the town’s vision and heritage.
Approved by Planning Board, a warrant that defines agriculture, in accordance with the relevant RSAs, so that the town remains farm-friendly for the purpose of attracting new farmers, preserving farms and their buildings, etc.
The chair reported that she attended the Farm and Forest Expo last Friday in Manchester and learned what town’s can do re zoning, easements, etc. and suggested that the Planning Board invite some of these experts to speak to the Board in the near future.

Survey of Historical Resources: A work session was planned for members and volunteers for 2/23 to determine (1) what elements of the DHR’s Individual Inventory Form to retain and which are not immediately relevant to our survey field work parameters and (2) which elements need graphic information for volunteers’ benefit. The chair will contact us regarding final date and meeting place.

Demolition Review: The chair continues to work with town planner, Chuck Grassie, to establish standard operating procedures for demolition review.

NEW BUSINESS:

Spring Planning and Zoning conference: Will be held in Manchester on 5/2. The DHR is planning sessions relevant to Heritage Commissions.

Resident Town Voting: Spring voting will take place on 10 March (Tuesday) at the Municipal Center; the Heritage Commission will meet in the building that evening at a location to be announced to the membership by the chair.

2009 Town Meeting: This year’s town meeting will be held in the SMS school on 3/13 at 7:30pm time. For additional information about candidate’s night or other forums visit www.wigginml.org.

Next Meeting: Municipal Center, Tuesday, 10 March 2009, 5:30pm;

chair to announce the location of this meeting via email