TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN
SELECTBOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 2, 2005
Selectboard Present: 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: Brenda Ferland called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. She noted the absence of Chairman Steven Neill at this meeting.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S):
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the Budget Hearing on January 17, 2005, as printed. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried.
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the Nonpublic Selectboard meeting of January 17, 2005, as printed. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried.
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the regular Selectboard meeting of January 19, 2005, as printed. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried.
Jon LeClair moved to approve the Minutes of the Nonpublic Selectboard meeting of January 19, 2005, as printed. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried.
ALBERT ST. PIERRE, MODERATOR – Town Meeting Organization:
Mr. Edkins noted two changes. Since the January 17th meeting one article was deleted but another one was added. In the past somebody always stood up and made a motion each article; is that necessary or just a procedural step? At the Moderator’s Workshop meeting they did not feel it was necessary. At School meetings the Moderator reads the Article and then opens it up to the public. Mr. St. Pierre will check on this. If it is not necessary, Mr. St. Pierre just needs to know who is going to speak to each Article.
Articles #1 and #2 - These do not need to be addressed.
Article #3 – Budget – Rick St. Pierre, Chairman of the Finance Committee, will present the budget.
Article #4 – Optional Veterans Tax Credit – Jon LeClair will speak on this Article.
Article #5 – Backhoe – Jon LeClair will speak on this Article along with other members of the Solid Waste Committee.
Articles #6 and #7 – Highway Equipment / Dump Truck and Excavator – Mr. Edkins will contact Bruce Putnam, Chairman of the Highway Advisory Committee, to see if he will speak on these Articles or, if not, ask him to designate another member of that Committee.
Article #8 – Bakery Building – Brenda Ferland will speak on this Article.
Article #9 – Mr. Edkins noted that according to the Town attorney the Library does not need a Town vote to spend the money from the McPhee bequest. This Article is replaced with the carpeting for the Library in the amount of $10,000. Either Kate Brenton, Chairperson of the Library Trustees, or Sandy Perron, Librarian, will speak on this Article.
Article #10 – Compressor / Air Pack Station – Gary Stoddard, Chief of the Fire Department, or his designated alternate will speak on this Article.
Articles #11 and #12 – Renovations to the Pool – Bill MacDonald, Chairman of the Recreation Committee, or his designated alternate will speak on these Articles.
Article #13 – Capital Reserve Fund for New Town History – Brenda Ferland will speak on this Article.
Article #14 – County Prosecutor – Police Chief Ed Smith will speak on this Article that is non-binding. It is an opportunity to see if the voters are interested in joining the Sullivan County Regional Prosecutor Program in 2006.
Article #15 – Budget Committee - By Petition – One of the Petitioners will speak on this Article.
Article #16 –Other Business – It is anticipated that Bruce Pilvelait will speak about the proposed school bond issue under this Article.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Transfer Station: Bob Davis asked if the Selectboard would like to receive a report on the tonnage that goes through the facility at the end of each month. Brenda Ferland and Jon LeClair felt it would be a good idea. Bob Davis reported that the transmission in the 1978 loader is gone. He checked with Keith Weed and he could use the highway backhoe when necessary to try to keep up with things. He asked for direction from the Selectboard. The Selectboard agreed to have Bob Davis look into a rental for now as they do not want to put any money into the loader and a decision on a new machine will be made at Town Meeting.
Highway Department: Keith Weed reported that there were two storms last week and the crew did a good job. He waited to salt the roads because it was so cold but they are in good shape now. He had some vendors pricing out the equipment items noted in Articles 6 and 7 so more information will be available before the Town Meeting. The line painting specs are almost done; the street sweeping proposal is done. He is working on the pre-construction of the Unity Stage Road. He asked if the Selectboard wants to schedule a workshop to go over the figures for the roads; the prices should be pretty close to last year. Jon LeClair asked if the road with the oil injection process is holding up okay? Keith Weed responded “yes”, we are getting what we thought we would
get. A new windshield was put in the new Chevrolet one-ton truck.
Brenda Ferland discussed the On Board Diagnostic (OBD) issue now before the Legislature.
Dave Edkins advised that the Planning Board is working on an update of the Master Plan and is beginning to work on the Community Facilities, Services and Utilities Chapter. Each member has chosen a department so they will be contacting the Department Heads to gather information on their resources, needs, etc. Sharon Francis will be contacting the Highway Department and Dave Sussman will be contacting the Solid Waste Department.
SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE:
Jon LeClair reported that the Solid Waste Committee met last Wednesday afternoon. One proposal they will be bringing before the Selectboard is that Whelen Engineering has approached them about the possibility of the Town hauling their trash. After analyzing the whole situation the Committee felt that the Town already handles their trash as it comes into the Transfer Station and we charge them $90/ton. The proposal is that we could haul their trash directly from their plant to the Wheelabrator incinerator and that we charge $100/ton to take it to the incinerator on Wednesday every other week. The Transfer Station will still get all the cardboard. It is estimated that about $10,000 will be generated as revenue for cardboard. There was a lot of discussion on this proposal. The Committee
does not want the Town to be made a hauler but we already handle this trash and they came to us with the proposal. Jon LeClair also advised that the Committee would like to make recycling corrugated cardboard mandatory effective April 1st, 2005. In the spring the Committee would like to recommend an increase from $90/ton to $95/ton for tipping fees. There was discussion relative to developing an agreement with Whelen and PAC to hold the Town harmless in terms of liability when we are on their property. Jon LeClair read a list of the product and amount of tonnage that went through the facility last year. There was a consensus to carry this agenda item over until the next meeting when Steve Neill will be present.
BOY SCOUTS – USE OF TOWN HALL:
William Fowle, Leader of the Boy Scouts, was present. Dave Edkins explained that on occasion the Town Hall has not been left in good condition after the Boy Scouts have met there. There have been some broken windows upstairs and trash discovered the morning after they met. Mr. Fowle was not aware of any broken windows or trash. He attends most meetings and they try to leave it neat and to put the chairs back. He thought they stopped playing basketball upstairs several months ago. Sometimes there are other kids upstairs when they are using the building. A few weeks ago a group was practicing for a play. Mr. Fowle noted that they traded offices with the Cemetery Department and are having trouble with the deadbolt lock. Dave Edkins will ask Ron LeClair to check on the
lock. Brenda Ferland asked Mr. Fowle to let Pat Royce know when there are other people in the building, as they might not have permission to be there.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment at this meeting.
SELECTBOARD COMMENT:
There was no Selectboard comment at this meeting.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS (Continued):
Police Department: Police Chief Ed Smith advised that there are problems with the old cruiser. An axle seal is broken and the estimated repairs are about $900. He asked them to hold-up on the repairs until he discussed it with the Selectboard. Chief Smith is going to the New London Police Department to look at the Crime Star Computer Program. Brenda Ferland noted that the Selectboard received a letter from some people who had a daughter that was involved in an accident and they said that the police officer and dispatcher were excellent and that Charlestown has a department they should be proud of. They hope that the Selectboard will work on updating the facility. Brenda Ferland acknowledged receipt of a letter relative to obtaining grants that she gave to Chief
Smith.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no Old Business at this meeting.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION – Payroll, Purchase Orders, Vouchers, Warrants, Abatements, Etc.: The payroll was approved and signed by the Selectboard.
Purchase Orders: The Selectboard approved and signed the following Purchase Orders: 1) Water/Sewer Departments – USA Blue Book $348.09; and 2) Water/Sewer Departments – Batchelder Brothers $913.00 for repairs to the dump truck.
Tax Lien: The Selectboard approved and signed a Release of a Tax Lien as the taxes were paid.
Notice of Intent to Cut: The Selectboard approved and signed a Notice of Intent to Cut on the Old Claremont Road.
Forest Fire Report: The Selectboard signed a Forest Fire Report that is being sent to the State for reimbursement.
Bids for Computer Networking: Two bids were received for network wiring to be done in the Bakery Building as follows: Competitive Computers in the amount of $765.50 and Arcomm Communications Corporation in the amount of $1,327.00. The Office Manager recommends that the Selectboard accept the low bid from Competitive Computers.
Jon LeClair moved to accept the low bid from Competitive Computers in the amount of $765.50. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried.
APPOINTMENTS, PERMITS, LICENSES, AND RESOLUTIONS:
There were no appointments, permits, licenses or resolutions presented at this meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE:
There was no correspondence presented at this meeting.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Dave Edkins reported that everything was covered earlier in the meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Conservation Commission – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair will attend the Conservation Commission meeting this month. For the past few months he was unable to attend due to Finance Committee meetings.
CEDA – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that CEDA has not yet met this month.
Planning Board – Steve Neill: In the absence of Steve Neill, Dave Edkins reported that the Planning Board met last night and approved a three-lot subdivision for Andrew and Lori Cook on the Langdon Road. Last fall they actually subdivided out one lot that was approved and then came back for approval to subdivide two more lots. The Board put the final touches on a Community wide questionnaire that will be used in conjunction with the update of the Master Plan. It will be mailed to all residents. The Board discussed starting on the Community Facilities chapter and each of the Planning Board members has been assigned one or more Department Heads to interview about projects, equipment, personnel, etc. for the next ten years.
Solid Waste Committee – Jon LeClair: Jon LeClair said the report from the Solid Waste Committee was discussed earlier in this meeting.
Heritage Commission – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland advised that the Heritage Commission met at the end of January and adopted their Mission Statement that will be published in the Our Town edition next month. It is their intent to educate the public about the Town’s heritage.
Ambulance Department – Brenda Ferland: Brenda Ferland reported that the Ambulance Department has not met since the last Selectboard meeting.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION – RSA 91-A:3 II
At 8:00 PM Jon LeClair moved to enter into Non-Public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II(a) to discuss personnel. Brenda Ferland seconded the motion and, on a roll call with all in favor, the motion carried. Police Chief Ed Smith will attend.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Recording Secretary Approved,
Steven A. Neill, Chair Brenda L. Ferland Jon B. LeClair
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the Minutes of the February 16th, 2005, Selectboard meeting.)
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