Chichester Board of Selectmen
Minutes of Meeting
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Member Present: Jeffrey Jordan, Richard DeBold, Michael Paveglio, Town Administrator Jodi Pinard
Others Present: Jim Plunkett, Michelle Plunkett, Lucille Noel, Donna Chagnon, Tom Jameson, Chad Roberge, Philip Hitchcock
Call to Order: Mr. DeBold called the meeting to order at 7:01pm
Appointments:
Road Agent Wages
Mr. DeBold stated this agenda item is a request from a selectmen and while putting the agenda together Mrs. Pinard asked if we would be taking public comment. It was decided that no public comment would be accepted. I would like to state for the record I am not in favor of going against the town as I believe this was decided at town meeting. I feel that there were plenty meetings that this could have been brought up. At the budget public hearing there were questions regarding the increases and it was stated who the raises were for and who was getting what amount. We went through the public hearing it was voted unanimously in favor. We then went to town meeting and during the budget discussion Mrs. Chagnon made a motion to reduce the market increases to half of what was purposed. There was discussion and it was voted down and the market
increases passed. Then the budget was passed. This was not a merit raise these are market increases to keep the good employees we have. The town had the opportunity to lower these increases and it was clear they did not want to. I am not in favor of even speaking about this tonight.
Mr. Paveglio stated I completely stand behind the wage study. This is an elected position and I wanted to point that out that I feel it is different from those other positions. I made the mistake and did not mention this during the budget process. I have had a couple of concerned citizens approach me about this subject. They were going to bring it up on town floor. I convinced them not to as I do not think it is for 120 people to debate and decide. That is the selectmen’s job. At town meeting it was proposed to reduce all the town market increases. I think that in talking to people they are not comfortable having this conversation in such a public setting as town meeting. I think that we had some issues over the past year and they had to do with Canterbury Road and salt issues. We have made adjustments in the purchasing policy and we
have done that so these things will not happen in the future.
Mr. Jordan stated I respect your position and I think if we were going to do something it should have been done before now. We knew Canterbury Road was going to be paved. I wish he had come to us before it too. He had $84,000 in that line what did we think he was going to do with it.
Mr. DeBold stated we do not have a performance evaluation policy in town so this makes it difficult to judge on performance. I can’t disagree with your points but I think we learned from these incidents. I believe that the purchasing policy is clear as a bell now and I hope that these types of things do not happen again.
Jim Plunkett stated since this conversation has come up I have done some research. Once the line item is approved at town meeting that is the amount that is paid to the Road Agent.
Mr. DeBold stated I disagree with that statement. For example if we budget $300,000 for roads that does not mean every penny must be sent on the roads.
Mr. Plunkett stated that there is a difference between that and administrative wage lines.
Mr. DeBold stated that he disagreed with that statement.
Mr. Plunkett gave the board information that he researched regarding qualifications for elected officials. The board cannot set qualifications of the job. The salary was reduced when I was first elected due to qualifications. This was a $60 difference in wages for 30 weeks. I talked to the DOL and they said if I wanted to go after it I could. You cannot put qualifications on an elected job. That is what has happened.
Mr. Plunkett stated the line in that budget is what has been paid out. I am just bringing it out on the table. I think it has to be put forth what can and cannot be done.
Mr. DeBold stated that maybe this is incumbent of this board to have something in place to hold our department heads accountable too. I believe there were opportunities to bring this forward and I agree with Mr. Paveglio that town meeting was not the place to have this discussion. The town had the opportunity to cut that back and they did not.
Mr. Paveglio stated I believe that the town voted that way because of all of the information that we give out and keeping the good people that we have. We keep the town very well informed of what we are doing and what is happening.
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Jordan to keep the 5% wage increase of the Road Agents position as authorized and approved at town meeting. Motion
Passes. 2 yea and 1 nay
General Business/Board Discussion
Abatements
Mr. DeBold stated he thought that the assessor has done a very good job and that the information was presented very well.
Mr. Paveglio stated that he agreed.
Map 8 Lot 32
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to accept the Assessor’s recommendation and abate the amount of $41,600 in assessed value or $1,053.31 in taxes. Motion Passes
Map 9 Lot 79
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to accept the Assessor’s recommendation and abate the amount of $54,900 in assessed value or $1,390.09 in taxes. Motion Passes
Map 2 Lot 81
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to accept the Assessor’s recommendation and abate the amount of $107,800 in assessed value or $2,729.50 in taxes. Motion Passes
Map 4 Lot 150C
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to accept the Assessor’s recommendation and abate the amount of $208,100 in assessed value or $5,269.09 in taxes. Motion Passes
Map 3 Lot 85-26
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to accept the Assessor’s recommendation and deny the abatement the request. Motion Passes
Map 8 Lot 23
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to accept the Assessor’s recommendation and abate the amount of $48,100 in assessed value or $1,217.89 in taxes. Motion Passes
Mr. Jordan asked is we could discuss the view assessment on the properties.
Mr. Roberge stated the view assessment is when you go to a home and the view is something that is marketable compared to another house that does not have those views, the home with view will usually sell for a higher amount. This is also determined by sales. There are some adjustments that have to be made. The tough thing with Chichester is there is not a lot of consistence from property to property. What I did was I left the view value there and I would have done it as a site value but I agreed with the value. The view assessment was created in 2008 and the problem was it was created in 2008 but it was not updated.
Mrs. Plunkett asked where do you stand to see a view.
Mr. Roberge stated that it is from where the most common spot of where you would see that view.
Mr. Paveglio asked is if we will be able to adjust that before the next revaluation?
Mr. Roberge stated it will be updated.
Mr. Plunkett stated I do not disagree with the value but I think it is the difference between everything listed and I think it needs to be looked at.
Mr. Roberge stated I agree.
Outstanding Items:
Historical Society
Lucille Noel stated that someone purchased the orange chairs that amounted to $400 be deposited into the general fund. The Historical Society was given permission to over expend their budget by $400.
Library
Lucille Noel stated the library did not have water and the well cap was damaged. It has now been repaired. There was no pressure in the tank and now it has been fixed. Epping well recommended a larger tank be installed.
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded Mr. Jordan to pay the $280 invoice for Epping Well and Pump out of the Building Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. Motion Passes.
Selectmen Meeting Time Change
Mr. DeBold stated that Jodi had done some research in changing the time.
Mr. Paveglio stated why don’t we change it to 6:00 for 2 months or possibly to compromise to 6:30pm
Mr. DeBold stated to try the time at 6:30pm
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Paveglio to change the meeting time to 6:30pm. Motion Passes.
Mr. DeBold read a letter from the newspaper regarding Anja Rodrigues outstanding customer service.
Lucille Noel informed the board about the meeting the Heritage Commission will be attending which is the 24th New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Barn Historical and the new expansion of 79E revitalization for business or commercial use. She encouraged everyone to attend.
Philip Hitchcock stated agriculture commission partnered with the garden club and 30 people came to the backyard gardening workshop. Outside towns came as well.
Non-Public Session – 91-A:3 II (a) –The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Jordan to enter into Non-public under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) DeBold Aye, Paveglio Aye, Jordan Aye. Motion Passes
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Jordan to exit Non-public under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) DeBold Aye, Paveglio Aye, Jordan Aye. Motion Passes
A motion was made by Mr. DeBold and seconded by Mr. Jordan to seal the minutes indefinitely of the Non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) DeBold Aye, Paveglio Aye, Jordan Aye. Motion Passes
A motion was made by Mr. Paveglio and seconded by Mr. Jordan to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm. Motion Passes
Respectfully submitted,
Not approved until signed
Jodi Pinard, Town Administrator
Richard DeBold, Chair D. Michael Paveglio Jeffrey Jordan
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