VILLAGE DISTRICT OF EIDELWEISS
FEBRUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER
COMMISSIONER NEWS
Adam Leiser and Kathy Koziell were sworn in as new Commissioners on Tuesday February 26 at their first Commissioner’s Meeting. Kathy will serve for three years, Adam for two. Adam was selected by the Commissioners to serve as Chairman for 2019. Nancy Cole also informed the new Commissioners and the public in attendance that Ralph Lutjen (the 3rd Commissioner with 1 year remaining on his term) provided verbal notice of his resignation. Kathy and Adam discussed naming a replacement and will be discussing options in an upcoming meeting. Anyone interested in being considered should contact the office as soon as possible. (email: office@vdoe-nh.org)
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS
Dinah Reiss was re-elected to another 2 year term as Treasurer.
Nancy Cole was re-elected to another 2 year term as Clerk.
COMMISSIONER MEETING SCHEDULE
Most Commissioner meetings will be scheduled on weeknights and weekends from this point forward. A regular schedule will be established in the next few weeks. Please check the website for meeting information and locations (www.vdoe-nh.org). The next two meetings will be held on Saturday, March 9 at 9 AM at the Madison Public Library and Tuesday March 12 at 9 AM at the VDOE office.
PUBLIC COMMENT and SCHEDULED APPEARANCES
As promised, the new Commissioners voted to immediately restore Public Comment and Scheduled Appearances without prior Commissioner approval to all Commissioner meetings. Anyone wishing to address the board is welcome to speak and ask questions during the Public Comment section of any Commissioners meeting. Property owners are also welcome to schedule an appearance before the board in advance by contacting the office. (email: office@vdoe-nh.org)
PUBLIC HEARING A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 8:00 PM. Location TBD. The Commissioners will be discussing changes to two ordinances regarding Huttwil Parking Lot and the public beaches. More information will be provided prior to the hearing
MEETING MINUTES
The Commissioners voted to post draft minutes to the website for all meetings within 48 hours barring any unforeseen circumstances.
WATER RATE
Based on the warrant articles approved at the annual meeting affecting the operating and project budgets, we anticipate that the water bill will be set at or near $485. Water bills will be due on May 1.
DRIVEWAY SNOW REMOVAL & PLACEMENT
While we are aware that snow removal is very challenging this season, please keep in mind that it is a violation of NH Law to plow or push snow onto the roads and is a fineable offense. Driveway plow operators who push snow onto or across the roads narrow the travel surface and create extra work for the DPW. Property owners are responsible to insure proper snow removal at their property. Our DPW have worked tirelessly this winter, many times through the night, to keep the roads plowed, salted and sanded in order to insure the safety of all residents and visitors to Eidelweiss. We commend and thank them for their heroic efforts and hard work!
KAYAK & CANOE RACK REGISTRATION
We are reviewing and anticipate a renewal of the kayak rack process that was established last summer. Further communication and a registration form will be sent out in the next few weeks.
COMMITTEES
Four new committees are being created to involve the community in solving the issues facing our district. The committees will be Roads, Water, Environmental and Communications - more detail follows. The Commissioners encourage any property owner (full or part time) who wants to help and believes they can contribute to contact the office at any time now or in the future to volunteer. If a committee is full we will let you know and contact you when an opening occurs. Also, the Asset Management Committee has been dissolved. The Commissioners appreciate and thank all of those who served on this committee.
Roads Committee
Mission: The Roads Committee is to advise, assist and recommend to the Village District of Eidelweiss (VDOE) Board of Commissioners (BOC) policies and projects involving the improvement, maintenance and repair of roads in the VDOE. The recommendations of the Roads Committee shall be based on their collective judgment as they balance the needs of the community with available financial resources.
Goals: To help make our roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, cars and pets in both the short and long terms
Water Committee
Mission: The Water Committee is to advise, assist and recommend to the Village District of Eidelweiss (VDOE) Board of Commissioners (BOC) policies and projects to maintain and improve the district’s water system assets. The recommendations of the water committee will enable the district to manage the district’s water resources for the common benefit and assure stability in the sustained use by the citizens we serve.
Goals: To ensure safe drinking water for the VDOE community and their guests
Environmental Committee
Mission: The environmental committee encourages collaboration of government and community members so we can eliminate or at least reduce the growing threat to human and environmental health posed by toxic chemicals and irresponsible practices.
Goals: To find ways to make our ponds cleaner and our land prettier.
Communications Commiittee
Mission: The communications committee encourages and facilitates communication between and among members of the commissioner’s office and the property owners of Eidelweiss. It does this by evaluating current methods of communication while providing tools, guidance, and resources to aid all discourse and improvements for successful communication practices in a timely, informative and thoughtful manner.
Goals: Restore confidence in the BOC so that the property owners know what is happening in the district and so that the BOC can create warrant articles that will be passed and completed each year.
SIGN REMOVAL
With the election complete, all political signs should be removed as soon as possible.
TRUCK FIRE STATUS
On January 25, the Terrastar truck was destroyed by a fire. The final cause is considered undetermined. Fortunately, no one was injured. We are anticipating final information this week about the claim from the district’s insurance company. Upon receipt, we will formulate a plan for replacement of the truck and notify the public.
ASSIST A NEIGHBOR
As many of you know, Melissa Moulton, one of our Eidelweiss neighbors, tragically lost her life on February 15. Her friends and family have set up two Go Fund me accounts to help with the expenses for her funeral, her dog and her beloved daughter. These are links to the fundraisers for those who would like to contribute. Thank you.
https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-expenses-for-missy
https://www.gofundme.com/6w79e9k
ANNUAL MEETING — WARRANT ARTICLES RESULTS
For those who did not attend, you can access a copy of the final warrant that was discussed and voted on last Saturday evening at this link:
https://vdoe-nh.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-Warrant-Final-1.pdf
The results of the warrant article votes are listed on the following page. Please refer to the final meeting minutes (will be posted upon completion) or the meeting video that will be posted at Madison TV for more details. The tallied results for the elected officials are:
Commissioner 3 Year Seat Commissioner 2 Year Seat Kathy Koziell: 89 Adam Leiser: 70
Other Write-Ins: 27 Michael Smith: 47
No Vote: 1
Treasurer Clerk
Dinah Reiss: 92 Nancy Cole: 62
Other Write-Ins: 10 Jay Buckley: 53
No Vote: 15 No Vote: 2
For any additional information, please contact the Clerk (Nancy Cole).
| # | Topic | Approved Amendments | Results |
| 1 | Elected Officials | See above | |
| 2 | New Truck Bond | Failed | |
| 3 | Reinach Tank Replacement Bond | Inc to $869,400. Fund from taxes. | Passed |
| 4 | DPW Electrical Upgrades | Passed | |
| 5 | Summit Pump House Electrical | Passed | |
| 6 | Chocorua Pump House Electrical | Passed | |
| 7 | Operations/Hwy Budget | Increase to $552,542 | Passed |
| 8 | York Rake Replacement | Passed | |
| 9 | Asphalt Road Preservation | Passed | |
| 10 | Gravel Road Preservation | Passed | |
| 11 | Thusis Culvert Replacement | Passed | |
| 12 | Engineering for Grandval & Burgdorf | Failed | |
| 13 | Water Budget | Increase to $183,755 | Passed |
| 14 | Muddy Beach Tank Replacement | Failed | |
| 15 | Upper Lakeview/Rigi PRV | Decrease to $2,000. | Passed |
| 16 | Water Tank CRF Deposit | Passed | |
| 17 | Water System Pipe Replacement CRF Deposit | Passed | |
| 18 | Water System CRF Re - Deposit | Passed | |
| 19 | Water Extension Fund | Passed | |
| 20 | Petitioned - Healthcare Employee Contribution | Failed | |
| 21 | Petitioned - $250,000 to Water System CRF | Decrease to $100,000 | Failed |
| 22 | Petitioned - Transfer funds to Water System CRF | Failed | |
| 23 | Petitioned - Replica of Article #18 | Failed | |
| 24 | Petitioned - Executive Salaries $6 for year | Failed | |
| 25 | Petitioned - Commissioners on Committees | Failed | |
| 26 | Petitioned - Agent for CRF accounts | Failed | |
| 27 | Petitioned - Posting of all meeting minutes | Failed | |
| 28 | Any Other Business | No |
2020 ANNUAL MEETING - SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2020
The new Commissioners made a motion and approved a shift of the Eidelweiss annual meeting from the last Saturday in February to the first Saturday in March in order to avoid school break week. They hope to facilitate more attendance and participation.