Chichester Board of Selectmen
Minutes of Meeting
Tuesday January 15, 2019
Corrected
Members Present: Tom Jameson, Ed Millette, Richard Bouchard, Jodi Pinard Town Administrator Kristy Barnouski Administrative Assistant
Advisory Budget Committee Members Present: Marlene Hammond, Stephen MacCleery, Doug Hall, Don Peterman, Tom Houle & Michael Williams.
Attendees: Chief Clarke, John Martel, Zach Boyijian, Matt Cole, Kathy Doutt, Carolee Davison, Evelyn Pike, Ruth E. Hammen, Mark McIntosh, David Pinckney, Linda Fisher, Tammy Jameson, Ewen McKinnon, Stan Brehm, Jim Plunkett, Amy Farnum and other members of the public.
Mr. Jameson called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
The Board asked Amy Farnum to come before the Board to introduce herself as an interested party for the BCEP appointment. Ms. Farnum discussed her background in finance and budget and expressed her desire to appointed.
Mr. Millette made a motion and Mr. Bouchard seconded to appoint Amy Farnum as a budget representative member of the BCEP. Motion passes.
Cemetery-
Mr. Pinckney who is the Chairman of the Cemetery Trustees gave an explanation of the proposed sexton and increase in the budget from 11,915.00 to 13,500.00 with an increase of $1,585.00 to add a prosed stipend of $3,000.00.
Mr. Pinckney pointed out that all of the Cemetery Trustees have full time jobs and have found it very difficult to do the regular duties as well as work on projects they would like to complete throughout the cemeteries. He stated that they are all happy to serve but have found it frustrating not having the time to always be available. They are also concerned about the consistency of knowledge over time for burial and mapping. There are also a desire to develop Leavitt Cemetery to add more plots as there are very few left to sell. He stated that the sexton would be a person that would complete the mapping for the cemeteries and also be a point of contact for everyone.
Mr. McIntosh stated that there is encroaching on graves that needs to be addressed as well as the fact there is a lot of work to do with the new “green space” burials.
Mrs. Pike asked if the opening and closing of graves would be the sexton’s responsibility or still the funeral home.
Mr. Pickney stated that the Trustees go out and mark the graves then the grave digger goes out and digs the graves.
Mrs. Pike stated that in the past the Trustees have performed these duties and now because the new trustees work full time you want someone else to perform these duties for you all even though you knew what the responsibilities were when took the job, Is that correct?
Mr. Pickney stated that he did a write in campaign because no one else was running and the same with Mr. McIntosh. They then recruited the others. Unfortunately they are not as available as the positions need which is why they are asking for help with a sexton.
Mrs. Fisher stated that other boards have help with secretarial work and they are only asking for the same.
Mrs. Pike showed concern that other Boards such as Library Trustees might follow suit saying they need help as well and everyone will be looking for a stipend.
Mrs. Hammen stated that she was a former Trustee and she always made the time to do the work herself and didn’t think the volume of work required such a stipend.
Highway-
Mr. Plunkett stated that he met with the Road Advisory Committee (RAC) last night and they voted to award busby the bid for Kelly Corner and Webster Mills Road. The Library parking lot was also awarded to Busby. He stated that the other parking lots can wait until next year. It is recommended that Merrill be awarded the Grange Parking lot.
Mr. MacCleery asked why they did not recommend the lowest bidder.
Mr. Plunkett stated that the committee voted and chose to accept a higher bidder based on the quality of workmanship they have done over the previous years and projects.
The Board discussed prices of fuel for the budget and decided to price unleaded at $2.50 and diesel at $3.00.
Library-
Ms. Doutt presented the Library budget and stated that there is a line added for the lift inspection. There are no other changes since being previously submitted.
Fire Department-
Chief Quimby was not in attendance of the meeting and the Board decided to hold off until the following night to discuss Fire.
Mr. Williams handed out some information and did a small presentation on the events that took place leading up to the changeover from Loudon providing day ambulance coverage to the switching over of per diem shifts and Chichester taking over coverage. Mr. Williams would like an investigation to be done by the Select Board.
Planning Board-
Mr. Brehm presented the proposed Planning Board budget. He stated that he has two warrant articles that he submitted, one to keep working on the zoning and the other to help finish the Master Plan with the help of Central NH Regional Planning Commission.
CIP-
Both Matt Cole and Doug Hall who are both on CIP presented the worksheet to the Board. They both stated that CIP started very late in the season so this was simply a compilation of all of the requests so far.
Parks and Recreation-
Mr. Boyijian stated that parks and recreation is doing very well and has collected over $10,000.00 in donations so far for the new playground. They have submitted a warrant article asking for the remainder to be approved by the Town.
Mr. Jameson stated that tomorrow night will be Fire Department, Selectmen and Police Department at 6:00pm. He stated they will be going into nonpublic and there will be no business after.
Mr. Jameson made a motion to recess and Mr. Bouchard seconded. 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.
Mr. Jameson made a motion and Mr. Bouchard seconded not to accept Chief Quimby’ s letter of resignation. Jameson, aye. Millette, aye. Bouchard, aye. Motion passes.
Adjournment:
Being no further discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Millette and seconded by Mr. Bouchard to adjourn the meeting at 9:43pm. Motion passes.
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