Chichester Board of Selectmen
Minutes of Meeting
Tuesday February 5, 2019
Members Present: Tom Jameson, Ed Millette, Richard Bouchard, Jodi Pinard Town Administrator Kristy Barnouski Administrative Assistant
Budget Committee: Marlene Hammond, Stephen MacCleery, Don Peterman, Mike Williams, Tom Houle.
Attendees: Chief Clarke, Chief Quimby, Zach Boyijian, Jason Weir, Todd Hammond, Allen Mayville, David Pinckney, Evelyn Pike, Richard and Sandra Millette, Christine Millette, Kathy Doutt, Mary Castelli, Jon Taluba, Austin Wakefield, Ben Chaffee, Mr. Blaney, Jim Plunkett, Stan Brehm, Donna Chagnon and other members of the public.
Mr. Jameson called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
The Selectmen opened the sealed bids for Assessing from MRI, Avitar and Whitney Consultants and reviewed them individually.
MRI for 2019: $ 9,000.00
Avitar for all of 2019: $15,696.00
Whitney Consult for 2019: $ 9,600.00
The Board noted that Avitar’s quote was all inclusive and the other two companies sold other services separately.
Mr. Jameson made a motion and Mr. Millette seconded to approve the voting hours for March 12, 2019 from 10:00am-7:00pm. Motion passes.
Joint Board of Selectmen and Advisory Budget Committee Meeting
Public Meeting for the Proposed 2019
Mr. MacKinnon opened the public hearing for the proposed 2019 budget at 6:30PM. Mr. MacKinnon started in income and went line by line.
Mrs. Chagnon asked what the miscellaneous income was for departments. Mrs. Pianrd explained that it items such as copies made at the Selectmen’s office or pistol permit fees from the Police Department.
Mr. Weir asked about the Selectmen’s stipend and if that had been voted on. Mrs. Hammond stated that the budget committee did meet and decided not to pursue the subject of reducing the Selectmen stipend any further. Mr. Millette stated that there has been no vote on that or the budget yet.
Mr. Weir asked if there were any disagreements on the budget between the Select Board and the Advisory Budget Committee. He also asked if this was the Selectmen’s budget or did the Advisory Budget Committee have input?
Mrs. Pinard stated that the Selectmen and Advisory Budget Committee have met several times jointly.
Mr. Bouchard stated that when the Board met with the committee they went through the list of concerns of the budget committee and the feedback from the committee was ok at that point. He understands that the budget committee has concerns that they would like to revisit tonight.
Mr. Hammond asked for explanation of the Cemetery Sexton stipend that has not shown up until 2019.
Mr. Pickney stated that the Cemetery trustees all have full time jobs and are finding it very difficult to complete their duties. The cemetery sexton would be contracted out to do some of the duties such as mark plots and do sales. They are proposing a $3,000.00 stipend for the year.
Mr. Jameson asked what they sell plots for currently? Mr. Pinckney stated $260.00 which they are looking to reevaluate due to how low the cost is.
Mr. MacCleery asked if the Sexton would be an independent contractor carrying their own insurance. Mr. Pinckney stated it would be as the same as the lawn contractor and they would carry their own business liability.
Chief Clarke stated that he would like to discuss wages more. After looking at the compensation study there was discussion that wages had fallen behind. He stated that he was upset that some employees were only getting a 2% raise and with health insurance going up it was more like a cut in pay. Chief Clarke reserved the right to discuss his wages in public and not to enter into nonpublic discussion regarding this matter.
Ms. Doutt stated that she felt that a bump up in the Chiefs salary should be considered given the tremendous responsibility of his position.
Mr. Jameson stated that its not that they didn’t think that Chief Clarke didn’t deserve it, but the Board was trying put the employees that were very behind to be bumped up and he felt that Chief Clarke was lobbying for the patrolman.
Mr. Pinckney stated that the federal cola is 2.9%
Mr. MacCleery stated that the budget committee’s original proposal was for $17,000.00 to go towards the Police Department’s raises and to do away with the Planning Board Stipend, the Sexton and to cut money out of the road budget. Additionally when the budget committee saw that the patrolmen were getting a 5% raise and the Chief was only getting 2% there was a discussion on that.
Mr. Williams stated money should really be set aside to do a full comprehensive study.
Mr. Williams on behalf of the budget committee made a motion and Mr. Houle seconded to change Chief Clarkes salary adding 5%. Motion passes.
Mr. Mann asked what the situation was with the status of the ambulance coverage.
Chief Quimby stated that the Fire Department is currently covering Chichester 24/7. The contract is no longer with Loudon. Last year six months was covered and this year it will be twelve full months.
Mr. Weir stated that it was cheaper to contract with Loudon. Chief Quimby stated that was correct, but was not possible any longer.
Mrs. Pinard stated that when they put together the budget we were anticipating needing a building inspector for 20 hours a week. After watching this winter she feels that that could be reduced to 15 hours per week at $25 hour and that would bring that down to $19,500.00. She recommends the reduction of the Building Inspector line by $6,500.00.
Mrs. Hammond asked if this would include folding the code enforcement into this position.
Mrs. Pinard stated that it would include the code enforcement piece.
Mr. Hammond asked if there should be discussion on the raises for the Highway Department.
Mrs. Pinard stated that it’s very difficult with the 12% increase in health insurance on top of being underpaid.
Mr. Bouchard stated that we should get through the rest of the budget and address all of the raises at the end.
The Budget Committee recommended reducing the Highway budget by $20,000.00.
Warrant Articles-
#5 The Boards reduced the deposits into the capital reserve by $35,000.00. The new total will be $157,000.00.
Mr. MacCleery asked if Fund Balance would be used.
Mr. Jameson stated they were waiting to decide on surplus until after the budget hearings.
Mrs. Pinard stated that the Board can utilize $103,000.00 to stay at the recommended 5%.
#7 Mr. Boyijian stated that they have already raised $10,000.00 for donations and are working on more. The accurate amount needed to be raised by taxation will be adjusted on Town Meeting floor.
#9 A resident asked what a fire extractor machine is. Chief Quimby stated that it’s a fancy term for washer machine. It cleans all of the toxic chemicals out of the turnout gear.
#10 Chief Quimby asked for the amount to be increased to $295,000.00.
#20 Chief Quimby stated that this warrant article will allow the ambulance revenue to offset supplies and payroll for the ambulance.
#22 Mr. Mann stated that this is a means to get cars of the main road to utilize the Shaw pasture for conservation and recreation purposes.
No other discussions on warrant articles.
#24 Thie citizens petition brought forward questions of whether or not is would be too restrictive. Ms. Castelli thought it would prohibitive to people wanting to serve the Town. Ms. Doutt stated that it seemed personal. Mr. Millette and Mr. Weir debated whether or not this would only affect the Fire Department. Mr. Weir advised residents to dig more into this matter.
Mr. Chaffee asked if an assessment has been done to who would actually have to step down given this passes.
Mr. Weir stated that he hadn’t done one.
Mr. Chaffee asked if we would handicap the Town if this passes.
Mr. Weir stated that he can only think of one position but there may be another.
Mr. MacCleery stated that he doesn’t feel it will handicap the Town because that person would have one year to step down from a position.
Mr. Williams made a motion and Mrs. Hammond seconded to add up to $20,000.00 for a wage study to line 4130-90. Motion passes.
Mr. Williams made a motion and Mr. MacCleery seconded to add 5% across the Board raises to all employees and to remove the Planning Board and Sexton Stipend. Motion passes.
Mrs. Pinard stated that the bottom line for the budget is $2,591,650.00 up 8.45 % with a total of $202,006.00.
The Board of Selectmen and the Budget Advisory Committee took at vote on recommending warrant articles. Both Boards voted in favor to recommend warrant articles #4-#19.
Mrs. Hammond stated that the Advisory Budget Committee would like to request a debrief after Town Meeting as another joint meeting. The Board agreed.
Mr. Millette made a motion and Mr. Jameson seconded to to award the accessing bid to Avitar for a one year term. Motion passes.
Non-Public Session 91-A: 3 II.~(c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an open meeting. This exemption shall extend to any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine, or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant.~
A motion was made by Mr. Jameson and seconded by Mr. Millette to enter into non-public. Jameson Aye, Millette Aye, Bouchard, Aye. Motion Passes.
A motion was made by Mr. Jameson and seconded by Mr. Millette to exit non-public session. Jameson Aye, Millette Aye, Bouchard, Aye. Motion Passes.
A motion was made by Mr. Millette and seconded by Mr. Jameson to seal the non-public meeting minutes indefinitely. Jameson Aye, Millette Aye, Bouchard, Aye. Motion Passes.
Other Business-
Mr. Jameson made a motion and Mr. Bouchard seconded to appoint Donna Chagnon as an alternate Cemetery Trustee as recommended by the Trustees. Motion passes.
Adjournment:
Being no further discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Jameson and seconded by Mr. Bouchard to adjourn the meeting at 10:13pm. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Not approved until signed
Kristy Barnouski, Administrative Assistant
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