Town of Buxton
Minutes for September 10, 2008 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Dianne Senechal
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Clifford L. Emery, Robert C. Libby, Daniel T. Collomy and Linda W. Pulsoni.
Others Present: Peter Burns, Larry Miller, Peter Pinkham, Keith Emery, Jack Hanna, Steve and Lori Anthony.
Business Meeting Agenda
1. Call to Order.
The Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes September 3, 2008. Approved 5-0.
3. Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – Bruce Mullen – provided an update of the Fire Department. Discussed the old Chief’s Vehicle
4. Review of Correspondence.
· Letter from Simpson Road residents – Re: Gravel pit use and maintenance
· Representative Don Marean Weekly Update
5. Review of Projects and Issues.
Selectman Libby reported that he has been working on the tax rate and it will be set at $9.90 per thousand.
Selectman Collomy reported that the re-shingling of the Town Hall will be started within the next two weeks. The roofing company will remove the shingles during the day on Thursday and Friday and do the shingling on Saturday and Sunday due to the noise.
Selectman Emery reported that he is working with Dodge Oil on the pricing of fuel for this winter. He also stated that the contractor may be putting in the cement floor in the new garage on Friday.
Selectman Harmon stated that a non-binding question will be placed on the November ballot asking the voters if they want to change the charter for a Town Manager/Selectmen form of government. Selectman Harmon also reported that the assessment of the Police Department cost $13,972.
6. Old Business.
Selectman Collomy announced that Hazardous Waste Day will be held on September 27. He listed the items that are considered hazardous and what will be accepted on the 27th. Collection of material will take place at the Transfer Station from 10:00 – 2:00 p.m.
7. New Business.
None
8. Executive Orders.
E.O.080909006 – An order to approve 8 hours of vacation time for Fred Farnham.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909007 – An order to approve Bruce E. Mullen’s attendance at Codes – Residential Sprinklers workshop. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909008 – An order to approve the interest rate on prepayment of taxes not yet due or assessed at 2% per year. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909009 – An order to appoint Greg Heffernan to the Keep The Heat On program committee effective until December 31, 2010. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909010 – An order to appoint Fred Farnham to the position of Code Enforcement Officer effective until April 30, 2009. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909011 – An order to appoint Fred Farnham to the position of Licensed Plumbing Inspector effective until April 30, 2009. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909012 – An order to appoint Peter Gordon to the position of Code Enforcement Officer effective until April 30, 2009. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909013 – An order to appoint Peter Gordon to the position of Licensed Plumbing Inspector effective until April 30, 2009. Approved 5-0.
9. Executive Orders by Initiative.
E.O.080909014 – An order to set the tax rate for fiscal year 2008-2009 at a rate of $9.90 per thousand. Approved 5-0.
10. Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants.
E.O.080909004 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #11-09. Approved 5-0.
E.O.080909005 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#11-09. Approved 5-0.
11. Next Meeting of the Board.
Twelve Town Meeting Monday, September 15, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
12. Other Business.
Selectman Emery stated that the Fire Chief had discussed the old Fire Chief vehicle and wants to keep it as a service vehicle as there was no trade in value. The Selectmen will be discussing this issue.
Selectman Harmon reported that the Selectmen are accepting bids on the Recreation bus.
13. Public Comments and Questions.
Steve Anthony presented his idea for a name for the new elementary school. He would like to see it called the Buxton Center Elementary School.
Steve also had a question regarding the question that will be placed on the November ballot asking the residents if they want to change the charter to a Town Manager/Selectman form of government. He said this was a big change and he would like to know the financial impact and what the duties of the Selectmen would be.
Steve questioned the new Sick Time Policy that was implemented earlier this year. He wanted to know when the policy was created and where the idea came from. Selectman Harmon stated that the Sick Time was part of the Police Union negotiations and it came from that process. The maximum amount of time that an employee can accrue is 240 hours. Any time over 240 is lost. There are very few employees who qualify for the benefit. If an employee leaves employment after 10 years they are eligible to get 33% of their sick time and 50% of any sick time after 15 years of employment.
Steve asked what the rate of pay for the sick time would be. It is the rate the employee was making at the time they left employment with the Town.
Steve asked how much the roof re-shingling job was costing the Town. Selectman Harmon reported the job is not to exceed $36,000.
Peter Pinkham asked how much the Town Manager form of government would cost per year. Selectman Emery stated that the salary for the position would be $65,000 or more. Selectman Libby stated that the position with salary and benefits would be at least $100,000. The Selectmen explained that the question on the November ballot would be non-binding and it is designed to get feedback from the residents before they invest time into going the next step and preparing a job description and everything else involved.
Keith Emery stated that the sick time policy has no incentive for an employee to build up their sick time as they will only get 50% of the time if they leave after 15 years of service. If they use the sick time they will get full benefit of the sick time.
Larry Miller made the statement that he was in favor of the two stage process of the public voting on the possibility of moving to a Town Manager/Selectman form of government. Larry would like to see all the detail of how the Town Manager form of government would work, how much the salary would be, how the Departments would operate. Larry stated that he would not be afraid to vote “yes” in November and get the details later prior to the June vote.
14. Executive Session.
None
15. Adjournment.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:45 p.m. Approved 5-0.
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