Chichester Board of Selectmen
Minutes of Meeting
December 8, 2009
Members present: Stephen MacCleery, Jeffrey Jordan, and Richard DeBold
Others Present: Nancy Tanner (Town Administrator), Pat Clarke, Richard Halloran, John Martell, Mike Paviglio, John Dever, Stephen Stock, Alan Mayville, Bette Bogdan, Richard Moore, Jim Plunkett, Donna Chagnon, Walter Sanborn, Thomas Houle, Doug Hall, Brian Boyer
Chairman MacCleery opened the meeting at 7:00PM.
Department Heads
Police Department
Chief Clarke is working with Chief Vien to have the fire vehicles winterized to make room for storage of the cruisers and mule. Mr. Plunkett has a two car garage from Wood Master that he would be willing to donate. It contains four walls and the trusses. There is no roof. It is either 24X24 or 24X30. It would need to be put on a slab. Chief Clarke and Mr. Plunkett will put a cost estimate together.
Highway
Depot Street Bridge has been sealed. The guardrails that were scheduled are up. Mr. Plunkett provided the Selectmen with a copy of a letter he has written to a resident concerning a beaver dam on their property. The Selectmen agreed for Mr. Plunkett to send the letter.
During the last snow one sander was not calibrated correctly and was dropping too much salt. Mr. Plunkett has recalibrated the equipment and rectified the situation.
Mr. Plunkett reports that people have been coming to the shed for sand. Mr. DeBold received a phone call from a resident who was not able to get into the shed after hours for sand. There was much discussion about locking the town garage area after hours. It was decided that it would be left open on a trial basis so that residents could access the sand. Residents are welcome to sand, but not salt.
Building Inspector/Health Officer
Mr. Dever sent a letter to the Healthy Buffalo regarding an addition to their sign without a building permit. Mr. Dever will be leaving for vacation on the 12th.
Forestry
The Fire Department will be doing a live burn this weekend. The water tanks on the forestry trucks have been drained.
Forest Warden and Deputy Warden appointments
Mr. DeBold went on record last week with some of his views. Mr. DeBold stated that we have a Warden who wants to be reappointed. He is strictly by the book, which is different than other Wardens we have had in the past. Previous Wardens have been easier going. Steve has ruffled some feathers, but he is holding people accountable to the law. Mr. DeBold said he sees no reason not to reappoint Mr. Stock with the caveat that Mr. Stock try to work with the citizens and help them more.
Mr. Jordan was concerned about the number of complaints he has received. There was much discussion about the complaints as many of them were never brought to the whole Board or to the Warden. Mr. Jordan feels that Mr. Stock has been too aggressive.
Mr. Stock reports that he has been honest and fair and he is willing to work with the Selectmen on guidelines for fines.
Chief Clarke added that his department also has to act as enforcers and this can make the public unhappy at times. He said that education is important and suggested that the permits include a section regarding the consequences of an illegal burn such as the fees.
There was discussion about the issuance of permits and fees.
Mr. Paveglio pointed out that fire permits are one part of the Wardens job and the Selectmen should take into consideration Mr. Stock’s performance review from the Ranger. Warden Stock provided a copy of his evaluation to the Selectmen. Each Selectman reviewed the evaluation.
Mr. MacCleery suggested a non-public session. Mr. Stock questioned the reason for the non-public. The nonpublic session was not moved at this time.
Mr. MacCleery stated that he had the same concerns as Mr. Jordan and felt there should be more discretion. Mr. Sanborn reported that when he was the Warden he had to use a lot of discretion. Mr. Stock pointed out that the warning process is different now. Mr. Stock has a problem with the Selectmen addressing his concerns now at the time of reappointment and feels these issues should have been discussed before hand in order to give him a chance to work with the Selectmen. Mr. DeBold asked if the other Selectmen intended to work with a new Warden when they have not given Mr. Stock the opportunity for guidance. Guidance and the need for policy procedures were discussed in June, but it was never followed up on. There was much discussion about discretion and liability. Mr. DeBold reported that Mr.
Stock’s evaluation from Ranger Miner was good. He received all “acceptables” and the comments were good including that Mr. Stock has shown to be an asset to the Town and Fire Service. Discussion again took place regarding the complaints received by Mr. Jordan and the complaint process.
Ms. Bogdan reports hearing positive remarks about Warden Stock from several other residents.
This lengthy discussion ended with Mr. MacCleery saying that he would like to see Warden Stock tone the authority down and work with the citizens better. Warden Stock said that he would and he will schedule a time with the Selectmen to work out procedures. With that being said Mr. MacCleery is now in favor of reappointing Mr. Stock.
At this time Mr. MacCleery asked for a nonpublic session to discuss one of the deputy wardens.
Mr. DeBold made a motion seconded by Mr. MacCleery to nominate Stephen Stock as Warden for a three year term. Motion passes.
Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (c), a motion was made by Mr. MacCleery and seconded by Mr. DeBold to enter into non-public session to discuss a personnel issue. A roll call vote was taken: MacCleery – Yea, Jordan –Yea, DeBold - Yea. Motion passes.
Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, a motion was made by Mr. MacCleery and seconded by Mr. DeBold
to exit the non-public session at 10:00 pm. A roll call vote was taken: MacCleery – Yea, Jordan – Yea, DeBold - Yea. Motion passes.
Mr. MacCleery made a motion seconded by Mr. DeBold to nominate as deputy wardens Matt Cole, George Cooper, Randy Harris, Frank Hatch Jr, and Gilbert Vien. Motion passes.
CIP
Members of the CIP Committee were present to go over the CIP report with the Selectmen and the Department Heads. The CIP Committee received 5 million dollars worth of submissions over a ten year period or roughly $500 thousand per year. The committee felt this number was too much to ask the voters to support. The committee felt $250 - $300 thousand per year was a better number. Richard Moore felt the number should be based on historical data; which would make the number approximately $126 thousand per year. Mr. DeBold had concerns that the CIP is too heavily weighted with highway projects. He is worried at the lower dollar level we will not be able to take on new projects that are not highway related. The CIP committee would like to look at road sections instead of whole roads. This may lower
total cost projections.
Chief Clarke
Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II(a), a motion was made by Mr. MacCleery and seconded by Mr. Jordan to enter into non-public session to discuss a personnel issue. A roll call vote was taken: MacCleery – yea, Jordan yea, DeBold-yea. Motion passes.
Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, a motion was made by Mr. MacCleery and seconded by Mr. DeBold
to exit the non-public session at 9:07 pm. A roll call vote was taken: MacCleery – Yea, Jordan – Yea, DeBold - Yea. Motion passes.
Other Business
Comcast
The Selectmen have chosen either the 16th or the 21st as possible date for the Comcast meeting. Nancy will contact Brandon Giuda.
Unanticipated Revenues
Mr. MacCleery made a motion seconded by Mr. Jordan pursuant to RSA 31:95-b, the Board of Selectmen shall accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $50.00 received from The Country Quilter in support of the Food Pantry. Said funds to be made payable to the Food Pantry Coordinator, Donna Chagnon. It shall be the responsibility of the Food Pantry Coordinator to maintain an accurate record of all funds, detailing their expenditure, and that such records shall be made available upon request. Motion passes.
Mr. MacCleery made a motion seconded by Mr. Jordan pursuant to RSA 31:95-b the Selectmen shall accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $2,681.12 received from the State of New Hampshire as grants for the provision of DWI Hunter Patrols that were conducted during the 2009 calendar year. Motion passes.
Holiday Pay
There was discussion about the Holiday Pay policy. The ideas discussed included: making the holiday pay a maximum of 8 hours, paying the employees for all holidays no matter what day they fall on, giving the employees who are not scheduled to work on the holiday another day off in lieu of. Nancy will meet with the department heads to come up with a policy that will be equitable to all.
Selectmen’s Budget
The Selectmen reviewed their budget with Nancy. Individual line items were discussed and adjusted.
Nancy will schedule a meeting with the Department Heads and Avitar to review the mapping software and determine the Town’s needs.
Accounts payable and payroll were approved in the amount of $834,637.63. Mr. DeBold commented on signing such a large check for the county tax in the amount of $722,288.00.
A motion by Mr. MacCleery and seconded by Mr. DeBold to adjourn the meeting at 10:34 pm. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Not Yet Approved
Nancy Tanner
____________________________ ___________________________ __________________________
Stephen MacCleery, Sr., Chairman Jeffrey Jordan Richard DeBold
| 
