ECRWSS Eighth graders look back, ahead: See page A2. PRESORT STD U.S. Postage PAID The Baysider Postal Customer The Baysider THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008 COVERING ALTON, BARNSTEAD, & NEW DURHAM - THEBAYSIDER.COM FREE Insurance issue resolved? Fire Department Study Committee hears of possible resolution BY BRENDAN BERUBE to the fact that BFRInc. is an Staff Writer autonomous entity, and does BARNSTEAD — Select- not give the town a say in the men’s representative Jim election of its officers. Barnard informed the Fire According to the letter, the Department Study Commit- LGC equates the relationship tee during its June 18 meeting between the town and of a possible resolution to the BFRInc. to the relationship issue of rising insurance between a school district and costs on the buildings and a bus company (which is con- equipment being leased to the tracted to provide a service to town by Barnstead Fire-Res- the district, but functions as a cue, Inc. (BFRInc.). separate entity under its own Explaining that the select- management). men chose to heed the com- Pointing out that the town mittee’s advice last month could save $6,000 a year on in- and send a letter to the Local surance by attaching BFRInc. ■ BRENDAN BERUBE Government Center (LGC) to the LGC policy,Barnard as- “We love you” asking if the LGC would be sured the committee that the This affectionate group of Kindergarten graduates ended a celebration held in honor of their promotion to the first grade at the Alton Central willing to reinstate BFRInc.’s board of selectmen “will do School on June 16 with a performance of “The Good-Bye Song,”made popular by the children’s program “Sharon, Lois, and Bram’s Elephant Show.” policy (which they picked up whatever it takes to get this in 2004, but dropped in 2005 done,” and asked BFRInc. based on information from President Nick Rott what the board of selectmen that would be needed in order to BFRInc. was operating as an satisfy the mortgage holder Office staff gearing up for start of SAU 86 unlicensed private fire com- on the Parade Road Fire Sta- pany), Barnard reported that tion (which has asked to be BY BRENDAN BERUBE Pine Tree storage facility on without complications. ceived for the replacement of the selectmen recently re- designated as the initial loss Staff Writer Route 28, Compton said the “I’m excited,” he said, eight windows in the ceived a response from the payee on any new policy). BARNSTEAD — With the office was “almost ready to adding that the start-up costs school’s “D” wing which LGC. Rott replied that he would official start date of SAU 86 go.” were “well within budget.” have fallen into a severe state The response, which have to call the mortgage just over a week away,Super- Compton also expressed Compton also reported to of disrepair, creating a safe- Barnard read in full, states holder. intendent William Compton appreciation to the owner of the board that Barnstead ty hazard. that while the LGC can cover Having already renewed informed the school board on the storage facility, who he Elementary has been fully The bid, from Granite the leased buildings and BFRInc.’s current policy June 23 that he and the office said gave him a key to the of- approved by the state De- State Glass (the school’s pre- equipment under the town’s (which the town has funded) staff were ready for their fice and allowed the staff to partment of Education ferred contractor for win- policy, it cannot grant for the coming year and set first day. start moving in three weeks (DOE) through June 30, 2011, BFRInc. membership in the Offering personal thanks prior to the actual start of the and that the DOE also SEE BARNSTEAD PAGE A10 Property Liability Trust due SEE FIRE PAGE A13 to Christine Blouin, admin- district’s lease. recently gave the school a istrative assistant for SAU 51; As of June 23, he said, glowing Wellness Report, Mike Hatch, the buildings the furniture, Internet serv- calling the Wellness policy and grounds director at ice, and phone lines were up “very thoughtful and com- Planners review landscaping plan for Barnstead Elementary and running, and the first prehensive.” School; and Walter Gaides, priority for himself and proposed elderly housing development the school’s technology coor- Business Administrator Window repairs dinator, whose efforts have Amy Ransom was ensuring Business Administrator BY BRENDAN BERUBE plan prior to the board’s the outside engineer had been instrumental in setting that the new district’s Peter Roche presented the Staff Writer April business meeting. looked at the report. up the new SAU office at the first payroll goes through board with the only bid he re- ALTON — Developer In an effort to further re- Turning to the newly-sub- Ryan Heath returned to the duce the proposed develop- mitted landscaping plan, planning board last week ment’s visibility from the Guldbrandsen asked the with a preliminary landscap- road, he presented a revised board to review it and make Candidates come forward ing plan for his proposed 53- plan to the board on May 20 suggestions, and requested unit elderly housing develop- that eliminated the pool, the approval and direction for ment on Route 140. community center, and the the next meeting. for ethics committee Heath first appeared be- maintenance building. The discussion centered BY GIGI GIAMBANCO volunteered to be on the the board ultimately decided fore the board in February Heath’s attorney, Melissa on traffic flow along the road Contributing Writer committee. to keep its hopes up for two with a site plan depicting a Guldbrandsen, reported dur- leading through the develop- NEW DURHAM — Sever- Board Chair Peter Rhoad- more weeks before choosing 57-unit elderly housing com- ing the board’s June 17 meet- ment, with some board mem- al more candidates put their es and Selectman Ron Gehl members. plex, including a community ing that she and project engi- bers expressing concerns names forward to serve on had said they hoped residents Jelley said she recently center, a pool, and a mainte- neer Tom Varney had a good about the amount of one-way the ethics committee after would come forward who moved to town from Florida, nance building, on 14.5 acres meeting last week with the road. reading an article in The were not already heavily where she started her own of land located at 182 Frank outside engineer who recent- Addressing the issue of Baysider, inspiring them to involved in municipal deci- business, served in town gov- C. Gilman Highway,next to a ly completed a boundary line guardrails, Guldbrandsen fill a void in town. At the June sion-making and politics, as ernment and was involved in former Irving Oil Co. storage and wetlands survey in ac- explained that while Varney 16 board of selectmen's meet- opposed to the ones who had a combined effort to stop facility. cordance with a request had shown guardrails on his ing, four residents told the come forward. Gehl had crime. She said she naturally In response to abutters’ made by the board. report, the outside engineer board why they chose to vol- said the board should try to thinks a lot about the choices concerns about the proposed Adding that a new felt there might be alterna- unteer for the 3-5-member appoint people to the com- people make and decided to density of use at the site, drainage report had been tives Heath could consider. committee. mittee who had no appear- offer to help the town. Heath omitted one of the submitted on June 16, she ex- At lease two of the four,in- ance of bias or personal con- Clark said when she read four-unit ranch-style resi- plained that more informa- SEE PLANNING BOARD cluding Debra Jelley, Marcia nections that could taint the article in the June 12 is- dential buildings from the tion would be available after PAGE A10 Clark, Barbara Hunter and their judgment. sue, she realized she was both Priscilla Lee, said they read While Bickford had said he available to serve and also about the board's conversa- didn't think people of that cat- tion in its previous meeting egory would come forward, SEE SELECTMEN PAGE A10 as to the description of the candidates who had thus far Historical society studies INDEX ▼ churches tonight Volume 4 • Number 26 BARNSTEAD — Continuing the theme of Barnstead 28 Pages in 2 Sections church histories, the Barnstead Historical Society will fea- ture at its June 26 meeting a slide presentation and talk Business............................A10 about the history of the Congregational Church of North Churches...........................A11 Barnstead. Ethel McConaghy of North Barnstead, daugh- ter of Rev. William McConaghy who was a summer pastor Classifieds .................B8 - B11 for the church for many years, will make the presentation. Included will be some pictures of folks who will be famil- Editorial Page......................A4 iar to folks who have been around for a while. Additional- John Harrigan .....................B7 ly, there will be a slide presentation about the Snackerty Meeting House including its removal and reconstruction Letters .........................A4 - A5 at Concord Academy in Concord, Mass. This church served the people of North Strafford and Barnstead. Obituaries .........................A11 Prior to the 7 p.m. program, there will be a potluck sup- ■ Public Notices.....................A6 per at 6 p.m. Folks are invited to bring a dish for the table JOSHUA SPAULDING as well as a place setting. Grill masters Sports ..........................B1 - B6 As usual, the meeting will be held at the Barnstead Town Prospect Mountain Principal Jay Fitzpatrick (left) and Assistant Principal John Houlihan grill up © Hall on Rte 126.