Village Planning Committee

Meeting Minutes 9-12-07

7 PM, Hancock Town Library

Present: Mary Covington, Jim Gamble, Mike Fallon, Kurt Grassett, Howard Mansfield, Tom Pisaturo, Dennis Rossiter, Carolyn Boland

Howard called the meeting to order shortly after 7:00 PM.

First on the agenda was an update on tree work. Dennis reported that, following discussions with Kurt, two trees were ordered from Our Town. Also Kurt coordinated with Broad Oak to finish up the trimming. All work will come in within the $3,000 budget. The committee agreed to proceed. Both trees will be by the MacAllister house. Dennis will take pictures. For future work, need to discuss overall tree plan, for example what lies within the Town’s purview vs. private property.

Kurt reported that the ground survey is complete. Committee is to discuss with Hancock Select Board about doing a public presentation. Dennis proposed that we record with the Registry of Deeds and will find out cost. Tom added that we should first determine if there will be any changes before recording. Kurt estimated 1 – 2 months to see if there will be any changes.

As a courtesy, Mary updated the committee on the work of the Hancock Improvement Association’s wires project. She said that 80 percent of the fundraising goal had been met to date.

Kurt reported on the drainage. He has messages in with CR Willike and needs to start plotting drainage, which requires coordination with the state.

Mary reported on efforts to get federal TCSP funding. Nothing was earmarked in the 2008 bill, but there still is some hope with the 2007 grant program. Senator Gregg’s office has been in touch with the D.O.T. on our behalf. Kurt pointed out that the information coming from the state is that nothing has been granted or denied as yet. He added that money from the state is not necessarily out of the question. The state is re-prioritizing and it may be a couple years until money is allocated.

Regarding the 2007 budget, Howard reported that there remains $250 left.

There was no new business.

The committee then reviewed the overall improvement plan.

Road reconstructions: Kurt said that the state of the street is okay for now and that it can wait for DOT money. We can do other things around the street, such as the edges, drainage, traffic calming islands, etc. There are different options for taking down the crowning – grinding or planing. The committee discussed whether there were any contingencies on the road re-construction. Possibilities included:

– cross walks, unless they are only indicated by lines; then there would be no contingency

– street edges – Kurt said we can put in curbs independently of the street work. The only issue is putting in curbs might affect whether we plane or grind.

– lighting – there could be a contingency depending on the circuitry used; that is, if it has to come across the street from existing feeds. But we could bore under the street.

Now that the survey is complete, everything else on the list can now be addressed independently of the street work.

Drainage: in process

Street edges: waiting for TCSP funding. In the meantime, we’re looking for antique granite

Wires: This is being done by an independent organization

Street lighting: We may want to leave in the current lights and add individual poles where there are dark spots. Money from Monadnock Community Foundation could be available. Need an application from the Town or from the Hancock Improvement Association. Tom is going to get a designer from Harrisville to look at lighting needs and come up with a proposed design and estimate. The committee is going to create a better description of what we’re lookgin for with the lighting. One suggestion was to make the light poles “memorial.” Tom and Howard to come up with a plan.

Walkways: on the north side, Kurt said it is better to do them after the curbing is complete. On the south side it will just be a restored cow path. This needs to be scheduled and cleared with the Town. The cow paths would not be maintained in winter. The committee will recommend to the Select Board that this work be put in next year’s budget.

Crosswalks: one is in place by the post office. A second one would be by Dot Grimm’s house and is slated for the 2008 budget. This will involve painting lines and removing curbing on the north side to meet ADA regulations.

Traffic calming: Mike suggested an additional traffic calming feature: putting an island in the middle of Main Street by the market. Kurt said this could be done by his crew. The committee will request Town funds for the island.

Other traffic calming islands at the edge of town (Rt 137 N. and Rt. 123 W) are pending TCSP money, but we can start working with the state DOT during winter.

Dennis suggested narrowing the edge lines along Rt. 123 to create a visual narrowing of the roadway, which would encourage drivers to slow down.

Parking: the diagonal lines disappeared, along with chip seal, over winter. Originally, painting the lines was figured into the budget for every other year. Now it will be planned for every year -- $200. Kurt also is looking into better techniques for chip seal.

Access to the library lot is a private road. Visibility is difficult, There is some discussion to pave Tombstone Territory back to the library lot. The Town has a right of way to pass to the library lot. This could make the lot more useful.

Common: edge control remains a big problem. Options: fence, curbing, boulders. The Town has to decide what it wants to do. The VPC recommends a small charette with the Common Commission and the Historic District Commission.

Welcome signs: Committee recommends that eh Select Board handle this with the Historic District Commission.

The meeting adjourned a little before 9:00 PM. Next meeting is set for Wednesday, October 10. At that meeting the committee plans to re-prioritize the project schedule based on tonight’s discussion.