TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Monday, December 17, 2007
Selectman Present: Chairman Gerry McCarthy, Martin Gilman, Paula Proulx, Joel Chagnon and Joan Funk (arrived at 7:37 pm).
Town Staff Present: Town Administrator Anthony Mincu, Town Clerk Kathy Seaver, Parks & Rec. Director Don Gagnon and Parks & Rec. Program Coordinator Carla Smith
Chairman Gerry McCarthy opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.
1. Review of Minutes:
a. Paula Proulx motioned to accept the public minutes of 11/26/07 as written, 2nd Joel Chagnon. Motion carried with Marty Gilman abstaining because he was absent.
b. The minutes of 11/19/07 were tabled until Joan Funk arrived so there would be a quorum.
c. Paula Proulx motioned to table the minutes of 12/10/07 so the Board has time to review them, 2nd Marty Gilman. Motion carried with Joel Chagnon abstaining because he was absent.
2. Discussion with Coast Bus Representative Rad Nichols:
Mr. Nichols explained that COAST runs their fiscal year from October to September to help municipalities with their budgeting process so they are now in fiscal year 2008 and planning for 2009. Mr. Nichols expressed the 2009 funding request is decrease and will be $14,403 which is 3.9% of COAST’s total budget.
Gerry stated that the Town was promised two bus shelters last year and only given one. Mr. Nichols apologized for the inconvenience and promised to look into the second shelter.
Marty questioned if there will be any schedule changes to the Town’s run or any routes deleted in 2009. Mr. Nichols explained that routes would only be deleted in the event that COAST does not receive full funding from a town.
Gerry questioned how many people on average use the buses. Mr. Nichols explained that there are about 42 passengers a day with on average 3-4 riders on each run.
3. Discussion with PSNH Representative Kathleen Lewis on Street Light Conversion:
Mr. Lewis apologized for the process taking so long and explained that as soon as the contract is signed PSNH will commence the work. She explained they are currently looking to begin the third week of January. There are 190 fixtures in town and the savings are based on the rate/fixture and is estimated at an annual savings rate of $14,229 and a monthly bill savings rate of $1,185.75. It was also noted that the savings are based on the current rate, which is suppose to increase in January. Once the increase is published the contract will be amended. The Board agreed to review the contract for the smart program and forward it to Kathleen Lewis.
4. Department Heads:
A. Recreation Department -
1. The new Parks and Recreation Director, Don Gagnon informed the Board that his first few weeks have been great, he has met a lot of people and they have all been very supportive. Don then introduced the new Program Coordinator, Carla Smith that he hired. He explained that she will be overseeing the small children and after school programming and will be starting on January 2, 2008.
2. Don explained to the Board that in his first few weeks with the Department he has noticed one area that he felt was lacking and that is a point of sale system. Right now there is no accountability for the revenue that is taken in for different projects, trip, etc and he proposed purchasing a system. Don explained that he has been working with Kathy Seaver to find the most cost effective way to do so and with her help discovered the best way to go would be to have VETA and DEVA systems installed on the Rec. Department computers that he wired up himself. The estimated cost on the high side is $4500 and Kathy and Don will train the employees on the system to save the Town money. Don proposed utilizing funds from the Technology Fund to do
this. The Board was in consensus that this has been a long time coming and commended Don for his work. Marty Gilman motioned to approve the computer upgrade proposal by Don Gagnon and Kathy Seaver for the Recreation Department in the amount of $4500, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
B. Tax Collector Office -
1. Kathy Seaver informed the Board that she understands they changed the tax due date to 12/27/07 at last week's meeting but explained that they can not really do that. The computer is already set with the due date and to change it would be very difficult. However, residents will not be charged a late fee anyway if the pay by 12/27/07 because they waive the small interest anyway. Paula Proulx motioned to reset the tax due date to 12/26/2007, 2nd Marty Gilman. Motion carried with all in favor.
5. Other:
A. Gerry questioned if Tony responded to the Farmington Country Club regarding their letter referencing the levee. Tony said no that he was doing it this week.
B. Gerry questioned if Tony researched what Primex does for the unemployment compensation contract the Town has with them. Tony explained that Primex basically handles the claim and all the paperwork that goes with each one and that their cost went up to $3800. He received a quoted from LGC for $2376 for the same service, so he would recommend changing to LGC. Marty Gilman motioned to contract LGC to act as the Town's agent for Unemployment Compensation claims, 2nd Joel Moulton. Motion carried with all in favor.
6. Budget Review:
A. Tony informed the Board that the tax rate as it stands now for next year's budget is a $0.04 increase over this year's but he just received the library budget and they have a $41,000. With the library increase the tax rate would be a $0.12 increase from the rate prior to the Board buying down the taxes with the extra funds.
B. Paula stated that lines 21-24 under the Executive department still need to be adjusted for four elections.
C. Gerry stated line 36 under Administration needs to be verified.
D. Paula stated line 35 under Administration should reflect the benefits for the three new proposed full-time fire positions. The Board further discussed the three new proposed positions and asked Tony to get a breakdown of what the salary and all benefits would be for each position so that they can vote on them.
Joan Funk arrived at 7:37pm.
E. The Board discussed that they would like to meet with all the department heads again and Pam Merrill so that they can finalize the budgets. Tony will make sure they are all present on December 26, 2007 at 5:30pm for a meeting.
F. Tony informed the Board that he added line 34 under Administration for Personnel Separation Compensation as a result of last week's discussion. He explained that he would like to use this line to establish a trust fund and that it would be brought forth as a warrant article. Joan commented that the Preservation Guild should be a warrant article also.
G. Tony stated that line 46 under Administration should read $6240, he was not sure why it did not print because it was added.
H. Paula asked Tony to have Pam change the description under the Trustee Payback line 45 so that future selectmen will know what the line was for.
I. Tony stated that line 33 under the Insurance block was increased to $2000 to more responsibly budget. Paula questioned if the three accidents have been taken care of this year and Tony responded that he would look into them.
J. Paula questioned where the funds would come from to do the repairs needed to the Paulson Road Bridge. This will be discussed next week with Joel Moulton.
K. Gerry asked for the balance of the Trust funds and Tony reported the numbers for each fund; 1. Technology fund ($24,805), 2. Highway/Motorized Equip. ($44,646), 3. Highway Garage ($5,152), 4. Road Improvement and Paving ($79,921), 5. Bridge and Road Design ($128,293), 6. Public Safety Building ($168,633), 7. Public Facilities/Maint. ($33,373), 8. Emergency Medical/Motorized Equip. ($42,297) and 9. Fire Vehicles/Equip. ($38, 764). Paula requested the most recent trust report for next week's meeting.
L. Tony reported that he added $10,000 to the police and fire budgets for building maintenance.
M. Tony reported that Joel Moulton is proposing $31,000 in repairs to the grader to extend its life and push off the replacement.
N. Paula questioned if police line 106 for the School Resource line reflects the salary for a whole year or 20%. Tony explained it is for the whole year and then the revenue from the school is put back in.
O. The Board discussed the Health Agencies and Hospital budget lines were all set, except for the Greater Wakefield line which needs to be removed.
P. Paula questioned where the vehicle maintenance used to come from that is now in line 145 under the Recreation budget. Tony explained that the funds came from line 141 before.
Q. Tony stated that the gasoline line in the Rec. budget shows a decrease because Don is planning on trips that are closer.
R. Gerry questioned if Tony found of what line 141- equipment was for. Tony explained that he talked to Don and he doesn’t know of anything that is being done at the skateboard park but would like to purchase outdoor equipment.
S. Paula questioned if line 102 under Emergency Management will be sufficient with just $500 knowing that the riverbank maintenance is now mandated.
T. The Board discussed the HIPPA laws and how they relate to releasing information about personnel insurance costs. Tony will call LGC and get their opinion on the matter.
7. Updates/Correspondence:
A. Paula Proulx motioned to allow the Chair, Gerry McCarthy to sign the PSNH Smart Start Contract once Tony has had a chance to update the contract with a prorating plan (nothing in the current contract allows for prorating if the work is not completed in 90 days) and a statement that states what will happen to the savings when the rate change goes into effect, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
B. Paula questioned what the town hall rental expense ($1125) under the general government buildings in the expense report. She stated that she understands the money was expended to from the weight watchers rental fee and used to paint the wall that was scarred up from chairs, etc. Tony stated that this is correct information, as he understands it. Gerry asked Tony to research what money comes in for the Weight Watchers rental
C. The Board requested an updated budget with the fire updates for the 12/26/07 minutes.
D. Joan Funk motioned to approve the public minutes of 11/19/07 as written, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with Marty Gilman and Joel Moulton abstaining because they were absent.
E. A new flag has been donated for the Municipal building and will be installed.
Marty Gilman motioned to adjourn, 2nd Joan Funk. Motion carried with all in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 9:17pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
__________________________ _________________________
Chairman, Gerald McCarthy Vice-Chairman, Martin Gilman
__________________________ _________________________
Paula Proulx Joel Chagnon
__________________________
Joan A. Funk
| 
