VPC Meeting, Feb. 28, 2007

Daniels Room, 7 p.m.

Present were Howard Mansfield, Tom Pisaturo, Kurt Grassett, Steve Pope,

Mary Covington, Jim Gamble, and Larry Schwartz.

Agenda:

1. The VPC members reviewed any preparation for Town Meeting. The

survey will be covered separately and the Hancock Improvement Association will

speak, if needed, about the burying of the wires on the Common. Other

than that, there is not anticipated any VPC contribution.

Quick Reviews:

2.Hancock Improvement Association (a 501(c)3) – Mary related that the committee has

made significant strides administratively and legally. Documentation

and materials have been prepared for fundraising purposes and formal

solicitations are anticipated in the near future.

3. TCSP – Mary said that the TCSP (Transportation, Community, and

System Preservation) grant request, which will pay for three of 10

infrastructure projects to correct defects in Main Street

transportation and drainage systems and to improve safety on Main

Street, needs to have formal backing from the stakeholders covered by

the TCSP request, i.e. from the Common Commission, historic commission,

conservation commission, the school, the Highway Department, the HPD,

HFD, the library and individual Hancock residents for the politicians

Senator Gregg and Congressman Hodes) to recognize the importance of

funding this project. Kurt, Tom, Howard and Jim suggested other groups

which would be beneficial to contact. Letters would be appreciated

within the next two weeks sent directly to Gregg and Hodes.

4. Survey warrant. – Kurt said that two firms were in consideration and

that NH state law prescribes how the selection be made. No cost was

determined prior to further discussion with the firms.

5. Project Schedule: Further questions and discussion. – Tom agreed

with Howard that until the survey is completed, the schedule is

conceptual and amendable.

6. Next Meeting: March 28, 2007

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Further Note: This notice will appear in the March Hancock Happenings:

VPC and ConCom secure $94,500 grant to repair Main Street drainage

The Village Planning Committee, in cooperation with the Hancock Conservation Commission and the NH Department of Transportation, has secured a $94,500 Watershed Assistance and Mitigation Grant from the Department of Environmental Services to improve Main Street drainage. This important grant marks another major step forward in the VPC’s work to preserve and enhance Historic Hancock Village.

Great thanks go to Kurt Grassett, Bill Elloitt , and Tom Pisaturo, who worked together to prepare and submit the grant, which will enable the VPC to move forward on repairing the drainage problems that have long plagued Main Street. The new system will eliminate the underground drainpipes that can no longer handle storm water from the roadway, resulting in large puddles and dangerous ice, and allowing polluting run-off to seep into Norway Pond and Davis Brook. Instead, the new drainage system will use infiltration basins to capture storm water and prevent run-off containing road salts and other pollutants from entering into our water systems. The Town Highway Department will be primarily responsible for implementing the drainage project.

This grant and the associated work to fix the drainage problem, come as a result of nearly five years of effort by the VPC. The foundation for this work is a conceptual plan developed by the VPC with Holden Engineering to address the seven major areas of concern that were identified in the original Hancock Vision-to-Action Forum in 2002. Based on feedback gathered from numerous meetings with residents, state authorities, and local experts, the VPC has followed a steady course of thoughtful and methodical planning to address the safety and aesthetic concerns of citizens, while maintaining the historic character and rural charm of Hancock Village. Moreover, we continue to research and explore all possible avenues of funding for these projects to minimize any possible impact to the tax base. The awarding of this grant is a prime example of how hard work and patience pays off.

What’s next? Most important, we need to have a ground survey completed to formally document the boundaries between Town property and private residences. Currently, no survey exists and boundary markers are approximate at best. The ground survey and completion of the drainage project will then set the stage for other projects the VPC is working on, including improving street edges to prevent erosion, adding lighting along Main Street for safety, improving walkways and crosswalks for safety, addressing additional parking needs. Other projects that the VPC has already begun include preserving the trees along Main Street, with removal and re-planting as needed, adding one crosswalk across from the Meeting House, testing walkway materials in front of the library, and adding new a new parking configuration in conformance to state recommendations in front of Fiddleheads, the Market, and the Manning house.

The VPC’s work, while carried out over a long time, is in keeping with the many years of work other towns have put into their own Main Street projects. We are all fortunate to have such a quintessential New England village to call our home. It is a historic place, worthy of the care and attention we have taken so far, and will continue to take as we look for the best possible solutions to improve the village for the enjoyment of many generations to come.

The VPC and the Open Space Committee will be holding a public information meeting about the grant. Watch the Happenings for the date.

If you have a question for the Village Planning Committee, email us at: hancockvpc@yahoo.com, or call any committee member. The minutes of our meetings and other VPC reports are on the town website at: http://www.hancocknh.org/OTOF/villageplanning.htm

-- Village Planning Committee: Howard Mansfield, Chair. Mary Covington, Mike Fallon, Jim Gamble, Tom Pisaturo, Steve Pope, Dennis Rossiter,