FARMINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2003
(Public Session)
Attendance: Chairman John Fitch. David Hall & Gerald McCarthy
Staff: Ernest M. Creveling, Town Administrator & Dale Sprague, Director of Public Works
The meeting convened and was called to order by Chairman Fitch at 6:00 p.m. Gerry said regarding this evening’s agenda, there are two applicants for the Planning Board who cannot be interviewed this evening, since the Planning Board terms are not yet expired.
Minutes
The Board agreed to table approval of previous meeting minutes for March 3rd, for the addition of some missing vote results.
Other Business
Gerry said in looking over the re-write of the pay scale for the Police Dept. he feels as though what is being done is the unused portion of the Police Dept. payroll is being divided up within the dept. John said if there’s any leftover money it goes back to the general fund. Ernie addressed the Selectmen and said the current pay scale for the Town of Farmington is very competitive and comparable to other agencies and the $2,500 longevity incentive implemented by the Selectmen “bumps” the pay up to above the norm.
John said this stipend only applies if the department stays with a staff of 12 officers, not with the 13th officer being petitioned for. Ernie said this particular petition warrant article is only an advisory article and the hiring, or not, still remains the final decision of the Board of Selectmen. He said the truth of the matter is, the Town of Farmington is competitive with other area communities. David asked if the number of officers per capita of town population is on line and Ernie said he believes it is, since the research of newspaper reporter, John Nolan, noting Farmington is tied with the city of Dover, in the number of officers per 2, 000 of population. Gerry sought confirmation that once the stipend is received the Town of Farmington is above many of payroll wages for
other communities.
John asked his fellow Board members to return to the proposed pay scale for the Police department and then made a motion to table the proposal. Gerry said there is no need to make a motion because the proposal is only for their information, not for the Boards’ approval.
Public Comment
Brad Anderson said the State is planning to remove a box culvert on the Dames Brook on Rte #75, noting the Conservation Commission is looking closely at the State’s application and have noted there are no plans to widen the culvert. Brad said the Commission feels there is a big problem with flooding in this area and this is due, in part to the under size of the bridge. He said Berry Survey & Engineering concurs with this analysis. Brad said he feels this deserves another look. Gerry asked Brad why replacing the culvert is a problem and Brad said the Cocheco River back floods into this area and it’s hard to get the Dept. of Transportation (D.O.T.)to move on such things. He said he just wants the Selectmen to be aware of the Commissions’ intentions. Brad said there are
definite problems for property owners in the area and if the culvert is being replaced it should be made larger. Gerry asked if NH Dept. of Environmental Services (DES) has been consulted and Brad said they won’t inspect the situation unless they are requested to and don’t really have anything to do with flooding, unless it involves primary wetlands. He suggested the Selectmen get involved in this.
Brad said the next issue he wished to discuss with the Selectmen is the Paulson Road project. He said they have made progress. John asked if Farmington is in possession of the grant paperwork and both Ernie and Brad said yes. Brad passed a handout he drafted, which states how he will be trying to make an amendment the night of Town Meeting to try to add $97,000 to the budget, which will be 100% reimburseable by the grant he and the 500 Boys & Girls Club have applied for. He then explained how the money is appropriated by amendment on Town Meeting floor. He said the property deed would be placed in escrow by Pike Industries and when and if the grant monies are received, the deed would then be transferred. Brad said this puts the money in the operating budget, specifically restricting
the increase for the purchase of the land, after which the reimbursement is then received, with no impact to the tax rate. Ernie said the only problem he has with this is, the grant project has been without discussion with the
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Budget Committee, without a petition warrant article and without discussion with the Board of Selectmen. He said his creates an unpleasant surprise on Town Meeting floor and put people/voters in the position of making a decision of this magnitude with no real opportunity for discussion. Gerry said if all precautionary measures have been taken to ensure there would be no liability to the Town of Farmington, then he’s in favor of this grant proposal. Barry Elliott asked how much property is involved, noting it looks like two parcels. Brad said it’s for a total of 24 acres of wetlands for a buffer zone and 19 acres for the 500 Boys & Girls Club. Gerry wondered if it would be helpful to provide a letter from Pike Industries available for Town Meeting.
Landfill Closure
Dale told the Board he was present this evening to discuss a few issues with them. First, he said, is the proposal for the landfill closure. He said it is his recommendation the Selectmen review this new proposal very carefully and then discuss this further with the new full Board compliment of five members. Dale said this proposal has many new positive features, which would enable the Town to create a tremendous revenue stream and includes money saving proposals too. He said Casella Management would operate, expand and close the landfill with a 30-year maintenance, all by themselves. Dale said this would mean free disposal to the residents of the Town of Farmington for another five years. He said some other positive; with this particular proposal is they are advocates of strong public
relations, which would only serve to benefit the community. Dale said if they undertook the public relations effort it could be very helpful. He said they would also handle the sludge and screenings, which would save a tremendous amount of money. He added that they would host the household hazardous waste collection right here in town, which would also mean more participation in this disposal program, as well as offering to provide funds for a Town employee to oversee the facility, the monitoring the funds, etc., all so there would be no additional out of pocket expense to the Town.
Dale did feel it fair to note a few drawbacks however, such as liability and contamination, but said this presentation is much better than their first one. Dave suggested copying Dale’s report for all the Selectmen to review, including the new Board members. Discussion then ensued regarding traffic flow to and from the landfill. John said he wants to know what happens to the equipment this company utilizes after five years and Dale said that is one of his questions concerning this proposal too. Gerry said his only concern is of the adjoining properties and himself all of whom would hate to see Farmington turn into Rochester Neck road. He said the possibility of expansion scares him. How small and narrow the bridge on Watson Corner Road is, was then discussed, and whether or not it would be
able to bear the load of heavy truck traffic.
Dale said there are a lot of advantages with this new proposal and it would behoove the Board of Selectmen to review the proposal very carefully. He said there would be significant savings in cash and savings in closure costs. David said he’d hate to get away from the original plans for a more comprehensive facility, inclusive of a health facility for the landfill employees. Dale said this is also up for review and discussion.
Next Dale discussed with the Selectmen the fact, he needs their signatures before Friday, for the Water Dept. Emergency Plan. He said it’s the “same meat and potatoes” as before. Gerry asked if Dale’s plan works along with the Emergency Management Director’s and the Health Officer and Dale explained how his dept. plan is of more reference and concern to drought conditions, and in that regard, how it might affect assisted living residents with regards to notification and procedures. Dale said the Selectmen could review the plan this week, but he hopes to have their signatures by Thursday, if at all possible.
Lastly, Dale discussed the 1.0 million gallon tank up on North Main Street. He said he had divers inspect the tank 10 years ago, in order to get it back into service and now it is time to have this service performed again at a cost of $2,850.00. He said the issue he wants to discuss with the Board is the internal leakage within the tank. Dale said he has had the company repair the tank numerous times, but to no avail. He said there has been no real loss of water, but he would like to have the company meet with Ernie and the Selectmen regarding discussion of a long range plan to drain the tank down to initiate repairs and to talk about a means with which to accomplish this, when it would be the least problematic and to formulate a plan to implement the cost for the next budget cycle. He said
he would schedule the diving for sometime in the spring and he would need a ladder truck to access the tank. Dale asked for the Selectmen’s permission to allow him to sign the contract for these services. He said the money is already in his budget. Gerald McCarthy motioned to allow Dale Sprague permission to sign the contract for diving services for the 1.0 million gallon water tank. David Hall seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
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Ernie said he’s drafted an informational supplement regarding the warrant articles to help voters better understand what will be brought before them at Town Meeting. He then reviewed informational explanation. He said he’s attached photos of the bridges covered in Article #9 and he said Article #11 needs to be discussed further at Town Meeting, so the voters would have a better grasp. He then explained the petition warrant articles #’s 17-21. He said the present budget has $1.83 impact to the tax rate before the unanticipated revenue, which would reduce it to $1.06 with the applied fund balance. He said however, he found a few things the auditor missed, which means the unanticipated revenue could be as much as $1,000,000. Ernie said the Town should be able to buy the tax rate down
to about .71 per thousand on the municipal side, without the passing of the petition warrant articles, which would drive it up by as much as .75 above and beyond the .71 per thousand. He said this supplement is merely informational and objective.
Other Business
Ernie said every year the New Hampshire Municipal Assoc. (NHMA) sponsors courses and this year they are offering a leadership course, which he said he’s interested in taking, if the Selectmen would permit him.
He said Town Meeting would be televised this year and broadcast on Channel 12. He told the Board he’s supplied Metrocast with a diagram of the set-up in the gym for Town Meeting. Barry Elliot asked if the Moderator would be placing all non-residents in the back of the room during Town Meeting. Gerry said he didn’t know and everyone would find out that night. Gerald McCarthy made a motion to allow Town Administrator, Ernest Creveling to attend two municipal leadership courses, Level I & Level II. David Hall seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Gerald McCarthy motioned to adjourn. David Hall seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn C. Seaboyer
Admin. Asst.
APPROVED
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Chairman John Fitch
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David Hall
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Gerald McCarthy
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