Date:  April 28, 2008
Time:  7:00 pm
Place:  Town Office
Present: Selectmen Richard Rockwood, Daniel Donovan, III and William Condra and Recording Secretary Peggy Arn.

1) Chairman Richard Rockwood moved to adjourn the regular meeting and call a non-public meeting per RSA 91-A:II© with all in favor.

2) The regular meeting was called to order at 8:05.  Linda and Larry Platte attended the meeting concerning outstanding taxes owed.  They stated they have not paid their taxes because of a pending court case.  They asked the Board to not deed their home until their case has been settled.  The Board agreed that they would not deed the property and that they know the town will collect the back taxes when the case has been resolved.

3) Next on the agenda was William O’Brien, Executive Director of the NH Legal Rights Foundation and Attorney Robert Rowe from Amherst.  They attended the meeting to inform the Board of their work to have the Legislature redistrict so those towns like Wilton are properly represented in the NH House.  Mr. O’Brien stated that one constitutional amendment enacted in 1942, required that at least once every 10 years every town would have a representative who is a resident of the town.  There was a legislature proposal that would have restored the prerogative of population qualifying small towns to have independent representation in the House.  The NH House did not vote to redistrict according to the new constitutional mandate with three out of the four representatives from Wilton’s House district voting against it.  The NHLRF believes that it is the duty of the Legislature to redistrict.  The Board of Directors has agreed to sponsor and finance litigation by volunteer lawyers to compel redistricting before the upcoming election.  They are asking disenfranchised towns, such as Wilton, to join the lawsuit as Petitioners.  Discussion ensued as to the reasons it would be beneficial for Wilton to join them as a petitioner.

Chairman Rockwood thanked them from coming to the meeting and stated that they would further discuss the issue and get back to them with a decision.

4) Stanley Young gave the Board pictures that he had taken on the sides of Putnam Hill Road showing how people have dumped garbage, old tires, furniture and other materials on the property.  He asked if the Board would consider approval of putting up a gate on the section of road and also put up a “No Dumping” sign.  Selectman Donovan stated that he would look into the possibility and the requirements to do so.

5) Chairman Rockwood stated that he would like some type of sign put up on Duling Lane to indicate that it is a private road and there is no turn-around at the end of the road.  The Road Agent will be asked to put up a private road sign.

6) The Board discussed further the issue brought to the Board on the redistricting proposed lawsuit.  Selectman Rockwood made the following motion, which was seconded by Selectman Donovan and passed unanimously:

MOTION:  The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wilton authorizes Attorneys retained by New Hampshire Legal Rights Foundation to files a petition on behalf of the Town in state court in New Hampshire seeking a declaratory that the upcoming primary and general election for state representative must be conducted in compliance with Part Two, Article 11 of the NH constitution, which was amended November 7, 2006 to enable towns with sufficient population to have their own representation districts.  This petition will also seek on order requiring such compliance.  This petition may be brought and pursued subject to the following conditions:
    1. No legal fees for representing the Town will be assessed to the Town by NHLRF or the attorneys it retains.
    2. Filing costs, discovery expenses and expert witness fees incurred by the petitioners will be paid by NHLRF:
    3. The only additional petitioners that may be added to the petition along with the Town are other New Hampshire towns, and past candidates for state
        representative and voters from towns that are adversely impacted by the failure to implement the 2006 amendment to Part Two, Article 11:
    4. No money damages will be sought from the respondent or respondents to the petitions, although NHLRF has the option to seek and retain reimbursement of
        legal fees and costs it incurs in pursuing the petition:
    5. NHLRF or the retained attorneys will keep the Town informed as to the filing and progress of the petition, and:
    6. NHLRF is entitled to terminate or settle the petition at such time and under such terms as the retained attorneys may advise.

7) Chairman Rockwood asked the Board if they felt that the Highway Department should clean up the debris on Putnam Hill and they agreed that they should.  Mr. Elliott will be informed of the board’s request.

8) After a discussion of Highway Department issues, the Board agreed that the Highway Employees should be asked to attend next week’s meeting to address these issues.

9) The Board signed an abatement request presented by town assessor Todd Haywood.  Two Intent to Cut Lumber forms were signed.  The bills and the payroll for the week ending April 26, 2008 were reviewed and approved.

10) The issue of purchasing the new truck for the Highway Department was discussed.  Chairman Rockwood stated that he wanted Steve to go back to the dealers and offer them $2,500 less than bid.  If they would agree to this reduction, then he would approve the purchase of the vehicle.

11) The correspondence and informational material received in the past week was reviewed.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion made by Selectman Condra, seconded by Selectman Donovan and passed with all in favor at 9:10 pm.

Respectfully submitted;

Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary