TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
DECEMBER 1, 2004
Selectboard Present: Steven Neill, Brenda Ferland, Jon LeClair
Staff Present: David Edkins, Administrative Assistant
Keith Weed, Highway Superintendent
Edward Smith, Police Chief
Robert Davis, Transfer Station Superintendent
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chairman Steven Neill called the meeting to order at 7:34 P.M. following a Non-Public Session. Everybody was welcomed and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Brenda Ferland moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of November 17, 2004, as printed. Seconded by Jon LeClair. All in favor, so voted.
Brenda Ferland moved to approve the Minutes of the non-public Selectboard meeting of November 17, 2004, as printed. Seconded by Jon LeClair. All in favor, so voted.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Highway Department: Keith Weed reported that the Unity Stage Road was graded last Monday; the rain today made it rough. The Summer Street sidewalk project has been paved and is finished for the winter. The Department has been working on the plow routes that have changed a little bit. When there is snow on the ground the work hours will be changed to two shifts to provide twelve-hour coverage: Some employees will work from 4:00 am to 12:00 noon and others from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The Selectboard agreed to give the new schedule a try.
Keith Weed noted that there is a resident in Hidden Valley who has a drainage swale between his property and his neighbor. He would like to put in a culvert and have the Town pay for it. There was a consensus to wait until the request is received in writing.
Keith Weed and Dave Duquette attended a FEMA Grant seminar last week in Concord. There will be another seminar in December to put the paperwork together for the grants so he asked the Selectboard if he should pursue the 75/25% grant for the downtown drainage project that has to be submitted by the second week in February or wait until the next round next year since no engineering work has been done yet. Following a discussion, there was a consensus of the Selectboard to have Keith Weed wait for the next round. Funding has to be set-aside for the Town’s 25%. The proposal from M & W Soils is for more than the town has funding, therefore, Steve Neill recommended that Keith Weed negotiate with them to see what they can do with the funding that is available now with the remainder to be done
next year.
Today there was a meeting at 1:00 P.M. at the Fling Road Bridge to try to get that project going again with some alternatives. Keith Weed, Dave Edkins and Steve Neill attended along with the four contractors who originally bid on the project and others who had expressed an interest in it. The notification went out to the public as a whole. They provided ideas on what the Town would like to see done and, hopefully, we can move forward with some sort of a plan.
Transfer Station: Robert Davis had nothing new to report. Brenda Ferland feels that there is a need for new handouts on recycling.
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith reported that Todd Lyles graduated from the Police Academy on November 19th and is now working for the department. There are snow tires on the cruisers. The Police Association agreed to put up funding for the computer project so they are going to get started on that soon and will be reimbursed when next year’s budget is passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Frank Delorier: Frank Delorier provided some information about making himself available for the Recycling Committee. When he checked into this vacancy the only requirements are to be a resident and to be available. It did not specify any expertise for other committees.
Fireworks: Dave Edkins advised that he and Chief Smith have been working on gathering information for a policy. It is in progress and it will be in place before the summer season. Frank Delorier volunteered to assist if needed.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There were no Selectboard comments at this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Speed Limit on Taylor Hill Road – Petition: Chief Smith asked that the Selectboard let him see if he can use the Sheriff’s speed trailer to obtain information on Taylor Hill Road on the low-and-high speeds and the times of day when there are violations. He would like to do some of his own enforcement before a decision is made regarding the Petition to decrease the speed limit to 15 MPH. Some vehicles do not stop from any direction. There was discussion relative to the four-way stop sign intersection vs. a two-way stop sign intersection.
Non-Profit’s Use of Town Buildings: There is concern that there be a consistent policy for non-profits, in-Town and out-of-Town, using the Town Buildings. The insurance carrier has raised the issue of liability and the fees need to be addressed. The Selectboard agreed that some homework has to be done before a policy is presented for adoption. Steve Neill recommended that it be put on the continuing Agenda.
Policy on Health Coverage for Surviving Spouse of Retiree: Some paperwork was received from the Municipal Association on how the Town deals with health coverage for surviving spouses of retirees. There are three choices. Dave Edkins noted that the retirees pay for the cost of the health coverage themselves; it is at no cost to the Town. There was a consensus to check No. 3 (The Group does not offer coverage for the surviving spouse of the deceased retiree except as required by COBRA). Steve Neill checked the box and signed the document on behalf of the Selectboard.
Amendment to Police Dept. Rules & Regulations – Transfers & Assignments: A memo was received from Chief Smith with his recommendations regarding pay rate changes when duty assignments are modified. This amendment will be under Section 15, sub-section 133(a) and effective this date. The Selectboard approved this amendment.
Primex – Return of Contribution and Multi-Year Discount Program: Dave Edkins advised that each year Primex calculates what their profit is for the insurance and they return a percentage to their members. This year the amount is $2,871.99. The Selectboard can either request a refund check or have it applied to the next year’s premium.
Jon LeClair moved that the Selectboard take the offer of $2,871.99 and apply it to next year’s premium for Workers Compensation. Seconded by Brenda Ferland. All in favor, so voted.
Dave Edkins said that Primex has also offered a 5% discount on the insurance premiums if the Town agrees to a multi-year commitment (three years). Primex and the Municipal Association both offer the whole package of insurances. Maybe this will be a good chance to pass on the 5% discount and required commitment to consider options and talk to the both of them about the entire package next year. They have both been good companies to work with and the Town has no complaints. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to pass on locking-into a multi-year discount next year.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION – Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc.: The annual Fire Department payroll was approved and signed.
Purchase Orders: The Selectboard approved and signed the following Purchase Orders: 1) Water and Wastewater Departments –Testing Agents $431.21; 2) Highway Department – St. Pierre, Inc. $1,350.00; 3) Highway Department – Atlantic Plow Blade $498.35; 4) Highway Department – Red Head Supply$2,268.75; 5) Highway Department – Sanel Auto Parts $352.23; 6) Police Department–Asetec Tire $359.35; and 7) Water Department–Nickerson Electric $6,800.00.
Warrant For The Collection of Water and Sewer Taxes: The Selectboard approved and signed the Warrant For The Collection of Water and Sewer Taxes in the amounts of $164,953.40 for Water and $82,150.66 for Sewer.
Warrant For The Collection of Property Taxes: The Selectboard approved and signed the Warrant For The Collection of Property Taxes in the amount of $2,375,790.17.
Extension of Purchase and Sales Agreement: Following the sealed bids on properties sold by the Town for delinquent taxes, the Selectboard extended the Purchase and Sales Agreement until January 3rd, 2005. The Town needs the extension for a few weeks to work out a minor title glitch before conveying the property.
Abatement - Water: The Selectboard approved the Abatement for Water Rent in the amount of $173.95 for a pump station easement.
Abatement - Inventory Penalty: The Selectboard approved the Abatement for an Inventory Penalty error in the amount of $10.00.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES, & RESOLUTIONS:
There were no Appointments, Permits, Licenses or Resolutions at this meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Community Alliance: The Board of Selectmen agreed to meet with the Community Alliance representative on Tuesday, December 7th, 2004, at 4:00 P.M. to discuss the cost of next year’s contract for welfare administration.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Delinquent Mobile Home Tax Sales: Dave Edkins reported that the Town has a few mobile homes in parks that did not sell during the Delinquent Tax Sales. A proposal was received from Fred Poisson to move them out of the parks so the Town will no longer be liable for rent. One will be moved to the Transfer Station to be demolished by our employees and the other one Fred Poisson will deal with. Steve Neill noted that the Town would need a Certificate of Insurance from Fred Poisson.
Jon LeClair moved that the Selectboard authorize Fred Poisson to remove the two trailers for $3,000 as per his proposal of November 16th, 2004. Seconded by Brenda Ferland. All in favor, so voted.
There is another unit that did not sell but is still occupied by the former owner, therefore, the Town will have to move forward with an eviction as a rent bill has been received from the Park. The Park owners were not charging rent while an effort was being made to try to dispose of it. There was a consensus of the Selectboard to have Dave Edkins contact the Park owner to see if they would like to own the trailer in exchange for the back rent that the Town owes.
Workshop: A Workshop was scheduled for next Wednesday, December 8th at 6:30 P.M. to finish up the personnel line items for the proposed budget.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair has been unable to attend the Conservation Commission meetings as there have been Finance Committee meetings on the same night.
CEDA – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland advised that CEDA has not yet met this month.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair reported that there has not been a full committee meeting but he and Robert Davis have talked about the proposed budget.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland said there would not be a Heritage Commission meeting until January.
Ambulance Department – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that there has not been a regular Ambulance Department meeting.
CEDS: Dave Edkins advised that CEDS would like some proposed projects because they need to be in their initial plan. He submitted an outline for the downtown area project, as the required project profiles were due today.
Planning Board – Steve Neill: Steve Neill advised that the Planning Board will not meet until next Tuesday.
PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued):
John Caramore: John Caramore explained that there is a drainage ditch between himself and his neighbor. He would like to put in a culvert to replace the ditch at the back of the property and cover the whole area. He asked if the Town would supply the culvert? It is a hazard the way it is. Jon LeClair and Steve Neill will look at the area with Keith Weed before making a decision.
Solid Waste: Robert Davis has been attending meetings on Solid Waste. They are trying to put together some plans for when Wheelabrator closes and are gathering some good information. These meetings are on Wednesday nights. The Selectboard feel that it is important for Mr. Davis to continue to attend these monthly meetings.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II:
Brenda Ferland moved to enter into a Non-Public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) to discuss personnel matters. Steve Neill seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. The time was 8:55 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary Approved,
Steven A. Neill, Chair
Brenda L. Ferland
Jon LeClair
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the Minutes of the December 15th, 2004, Selectboard meeting.)
| 