Ossipee selectmen approve warrants and land-use taxes; vote to place Deer Cove Road discontinuation on town warrant

Ossipee — The selectmen approved several routine financial items and agreed to place a proposal to discontinue part of Deer Cove Road on the upcoming town warrant.

At the meeting presiding official Unidentified Speaker 1 opened the session, recited the town’s public-input policy and called for public comment. Board members then approved the Dec. 1 meeting minutes following a motion by Unidentified Speaker 2.

Financial approvals included a monthly fire/hydrant warrant for $11,598.52 and a townwide water and sewer warrant for $21,003.11; both were moved and approved by voice vote. The board also approved a $40 fee related to 150 Moltenville Road (Map 90, Lot 44). The selectmen approved eight land-use change tax entries (individual map/lot numbers and amounts were read into the record) and three yield tax levies, and they authorized the assessor’s submission of an assessment review to the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (DRA). The assessor figures cited in the meeting were a coefficient of dispersion of 20.91 and a median ratio of 87.

During discussion of roads and emergency access, Unidentified Speaker 6 described problems plowing Deer Cove Road where property owners have constructed decks and low walls close to the pavement. Citing safety and winter-access concerns, Unidentified Speaker 1 moved to place a warrant article to discontinue Deer Cove Road from South Shore Road to the end of the road on the next town warrant; the motion was seconded and approved for inclusion. Speaker 4 said additional legal research would be done to ensure proper notice and conformity with applicable procedures before finalizing any discontinuation.

Near the end of the meeting the board voted to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II(c), later reentered public session, voted to seal the nonpublic minutes, and adjourned.

What happens next: The Deer Cove discontinuation question will appear on the town warrant; if voters approve discontinuation at town meeting the legal and maintenance status of that road section would change and the board indicated it will follow up with required legal steps and notices.