TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Monday - November 19, 2007
356 Main Street, Farmington, NH
Selectman Present: Chairman Gerry McCarthy, Paula Proulx, and Joan Funk.
Selectman Absent: Martin Gilman (with notification) and Joel Chagnon (without notification).
Town Staff Present: Town Administrator Tony Mincu, and Public Works Director Joel Moulton.
Public Present: Charlie King (Chairman of the Planning Board), Stephen Dean, Mark Guilmette and John Theriault.
Chairman Gerry McCarthy opened the meeting at 6:08 pm and those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
A. Public Comment:
1. Stephen Dean questioned if Santa will be coming in on the fire truck again this year for the tree lighting. Gerry responded that the Parks and Recreation Department and the Fire Station work together on that project and they would be the appropriate people to see about that. Mr. Dean also asked if the new smaller rope has been purchased for the downtown flagpole. Joan responded that Mr. Dean should speak with Fire Chief Rich Fowler about that also.
B. Review of Minutes:
1. Joan Funk motioned to accept the public minutes of 10/29/2007 as written, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
2. Joan Funk motioned to accept the non-public minutes of 10/29/2007 as written, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
3. Joan Funk motioned to accept the public minutes of 11/5/2007 as amended for dollar amount corrections on 3.A and percentage correction in 5.C, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
4. Joan Funk motioned to accept the non-public minutes of 11/5/2007 as written, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
C. 2007 Tax Rate:
Gerry moved this item up on the agenda so that interested parties could attend the School Board Meeting if they wanted to.
Tony stated the Selectman have the warrant in front of them to sign that verifies the tax rate for 2007 to be $19.11. He reported that the original tax rate was $19.50 but the Selectman held a special meeting last Friday in which they agreed to apply $233,000 in surplus to bring the down the tax burden and set the rate at $19.11. Tony commented that the 2007 rate include a town rate of $6.42 ($6.32 in 2006), a county rate of $2.15 ($2.05 in 2006) and a school rate of $8.72 ($6.35 in 2006). Tony stated that in researching the 30% increase to the school rate he was unable to identify any outstanding reasons for this huge jump.
Paula asked how much the unexpended fund balance was. Tony responded $1,533,000, and though the Town ideally likes to keep the fund balance at 12%, the Selectman agreed to use $233,000 to buy down the taxes, which brought the fund balance to 10%. Charlie King questioned what the fund balance was in 2006. Gerry responded the balance was at 7%. Charlie commented then the Town is headed back up to the desired 12% and the Board all responded yes.
D. Public Works Department (Director Joel Moulton presenting):
1. Joel brought with him an amendment to the contract for the professional engineer services of CMA Engineers to continue their work at the landfill regarding groundwater and recycling for the remainder of 2007 and all of 2008. Joel commented that he recently had a landfill inspection by NHDES and the Town received an A. Joan Funk motioned to accept the amendment proposal from CMA Engineers, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
2. Gerry reminded the Board how successful the Free Demolition Debris Day was at the landfill in the summer and suggested there be another such day in the next couple of weeks. The Board was in agreement and Joel will set one up for the upcoming weeks.
3. Joan commented that she has received many calls from residents stating they are please that the striping on Chestnut Hill Road is complete.
4. Highway Dept. Budget Proposal -
Joel commented that his major increases are petroleum based in which he has no control over. Paula questioned the remaining balances in 2007. Joel responded that he has just completed a lot of work and does not have the final bills yet. He expects to have those bills in the next few weeks and that some of the work he planned for could not be completed because of the tremendous amount of flood damage work but that he would like to encumber those funds to do the work next year.
a. Gerry questioned how many tons of salt is purchased. Joel responded about 1600 tons and that last year the cost was $42.00/ton and this year it is $45.86/ton.
b. Joel stated line 91- guardrails - reads 0 spent but he has spent some of that and would like to encumber those funds.
c. line 85 - new equipment - Joel would like to purchase a 6" wood chipper at $13,000 and a $3000 pole saw.
d. line 82 - hwy part/repairs - Joel stated this line is up primarily because the price of steel is up and the trucks need a little more care to keep them going.
e. line 72 - contract sweep - contractor price is up.
f. line 68 - road repair - Gerry asked if Joel has a plan. Joel responded yes and he will forward a copy to the board.
g. line 93 - sidewalks - Joel stated he has plans to do some work in the next few weeks on the sidewalks but would like to encumber funds from 2007.
Joel commented that if he were able to encumber some of the funds then he would be able to bring down his proposed budget. Joan asked if any of the items would be encumbered with FEMA monies and Joel responded primarily the culverts and catch basins.
5. Landfill Proposed Budget -
This budget is down 4.51% and the Selectman were pleased.
6. Bridges/Railings Proposed Budget -
Joel commented he would like to keep this at $50,000, the Board was in agreement. Joel informed the board that the Ten Rod Road Bridge repairs are complete and that the final test will be done on Wednesday and the bridge should open after that. Joel also stated that the River Road work is almost complete and should be done by the end of next week.
7. Army Corps of Engineers Update -
Joel informed the Board that the river dredging should be complete next week and that he will be meeting with them tomorrow to see if he can get them to go a little further downstream.
E. Trustees of the Trust Funds Discussion:
1. The Trustees reported that the Town Clock is in need of repair and that there is money in the trusts to cover the costs of the repairs but that they would need the Town to move forward on the work. Tony will seek bids for the work and bring them back to the Board.
2. The Trustees requested that their bookkeeper be paid as he/she used to be with a line item in the Town budget. The Board agreed and Tony will research the going rate for a bookkeeper at 2 hours a month and budget appropriately.
F. Updates/Correspondence:
1.Cherub Estates - Joel Moulton stated that he was contacted by Peter Rizzo (developer of Cherub Estates) and told the work was completed in the development. In turn, LC Engineering was contracted to review the work and compiled a "punch list" of remaining items Mr. Rizzo needs to address before his bond can be released. These items included a sinkhole, the cross slopes, a 5' gravel shoulder and unpaid invoices. Joan asked if Mr. Rizzo saw this report by LC Engineering and Joel responded yes and that he is going to set up a meeting between LC Engineering, Mr. Rizzo and himself to finalize the work remaining.
John, Theriault, resident in Cherub Estates, thanked the Board for their continued effort to get the developer into compliance and stated he is still concerned with the safety of the residents and being able to get help in a storm situation. He questioned what he could do to help the process along. Gerry responded that the Town is working diligently to get the project complete.
Mark Guilmette, resident in Cherub Estates, commented that none of the traffic signs (i.e. stop signs) have been installed within the development. Joel will add to the "punch list."
2. Computer Work Order - Tony informed the Board that when DeVa Systems came to update the computers in the municipal offices it was noted that certain town personnel would like to have access to their computer files from home so that they could work from home. DeVa Systems put together a proposal to set up such a secure system to allow access from home in which the cost would be approximately $200 for software and $300 in labor. Joan commented that the employees should be resting at home and not working and she would not be in favor of this system. Paula and Gerry both agreed they also would not be in favor unless they were given good reasons as to why it would be necessary.
3. Economic Development Committee Appointment - Joan Funk motioned to appoint Sylvia Arcouette to the Economic Development Committee for one year, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
4. Paula stated the Budget Committee is looking to start reviewing the town budgets in December and asked if they would be ready. Tony responded that there are only a few small departments left and that he will find out which budgets the Committee would like first.
Joan Funk motioned to adjourn, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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Chairman, Gerry McCarthy Vice-Chairman, Martin Gilman
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Paula Proulx Joan A. Funk
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Joel Chagnon
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