TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Monday, December 28, 2009
356 Main Street, Farmington, NH
Selectmen Present: Chairman Paula Proulx, Gerry McCarthy, Gail Ellis, and Charlie King.
Selectmen Excused: Joan Funk
Town Staff Present: Town Administrator Tony Mincu, Public Works Director Joel Moulton, Fire Chief Rich Fowler and Finance Administrator Pam Merrill.
Public Present:Steve Dean and Deb Christie
Chairman Paula Proulx opened the public meeting at 5:32pm.
Charlie King motioned to go in non-public session under RSA91A.3.II (c), 2nd Gail Ellis. Roll call – Paula Proulx (yes), Gerry McCarthy (yes), Charlie King (yes) and Gail Ellis (yes).
At 6:07pm the Board came out of non-public session.
1. Public Comment:
Steve Dean informed the Board that the flag on the downtown flag pole needs to be replaced again and questioned if the Board would like the American Legion to purchase one and then reimburse them. The Board was in agreement to have the American Legion purchase a new flag and then the Town will reimburse them.
2. Review of Minutes:
A. Gerry McCarthy motioned to table the public minutes of 12-14-09 in order for the transfer station section to be elaborated on, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
B. Charlie King motioned to accept the non-pubic 12-14-09 minutes as amended to reflect they were sealed, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
3. Department Budget Reviews:
A. Library Budget –
- Charlie asked what the drop in misc. income was due to that caused the Town apportionment to increase. Deb Christie replied that the library lost over 50% of the interest income with the economy, the Women’s Club donation was cut in half and the Gate’s grant is reduced because it is in its second cycle (next year this grant will be zero).
- Deb explained that the salaries have a modest increase in rates and three hours of staff time for the children’s room that they desperately need, especially to continue to provide the school summer literacy program. Gail asked what this entails and Deb explained the school gives the library grant money to provide literacy programming during summer school and the library sends a staff member up to the school once a week. Gerry asked if this is overextending the library to provide a service the public school should be providing. Deb replied that she doesn’t think so and that the library has a collaboration with many different programs and it is their goal to promote literacy and they need to work as a team to do so. Charlie asked if the Library is aware that the Board is proposing no salary increases
for all Town employees this year. Deb replied yes but they don’t have access to the same benefits the Town employees do like retirement.
- Paula asked if they have any major repairs in line for this year and Deb replied yes, they need to replace the roof but they have decided to pay for it out of the capital improvement fund. The approximate cost is $16,000-$20,000.
- Paula asked what the additional $300 for the grounds keeper is for and Deb explained it is based on actual costs because the line not only pays for the library grounds but also they are responsible for the maintenance of the Goodwin Cemetery off of Governor’s Road.
- Gail asked what the increase in the multi-media line is for and Deb explained this is to continued development of their home DVD collection.
- Gerry asked why there was a large increase in the licensing fees and Deb explained that they moved $2000 out of the book line to provide more online web-based resources that residents can access on the web even from home.
- Charlie commented that he would not be in favor of anything but level funding due to Tony’s memo of where the Town currently stands with the budget and the tax rate. Gail agreed.
- Gail asked if the book lines can be reduced and Deb said no, in order for the library to be effective they need to purchase current reading materials and resources.
- The Board was in consensus to level fund the library.
B. Fire Department –
- Rich informed the Board that he looked back at the staffing and it is more cost effective to have 2 full-time staff but he is under the impression that the Board wanted to stay with the three part-time people. The 2009 budget was $448,144, the 2010 proposal with 2 full-time is $429,427, the 2010 proposal with 3 part-time is $470,097 and the 2011 cost with a full year of 2 full-time would be $422,658. Rich explained that with either scenario he can operate with the same staffing level and provide the same service so he will be happy to go either way. The Board had a lengthy discussion on how the staffing and hours would be affected with the two different scenarios. It was noted that the Americorp position cannot be used to take the place of current staff positions per the grant requirements. The Board was
clear that they want to ensure there is no decrease in staffing and service. Rich replied that the two full-time would make his scheduling tighter but he is confident that he can make it work. Charlie stated that he is concerned that too many hours will be lost with the full-time people, especially if consistent staffing of the Americorp positions is not available. Rich will forward a copy of what the schedule will look like with the two full-time people and two per-diem so the Board can compare the schedules.
- Line 131 was reduced from $10,000 to $7500.
- Gail asked if the uniform line can be reduced to $1500 from $2000 and Rich replied yes. The line was reduced.
- Pam stated the health insurance line was incorrect and should be $13,173.
- Rich stated the vehicle maintenance line can be reduced to $8,000.
- Gail asked what the radio repair line is for and Rich explained it is to replace ½ the batteries for the radios that were purchased through the grant several years ago.
- Rich stated the building maintenance line can be reduced to $8000 because he just needs to continue to fill in the cracks and paint.
- Charlie stated he is concerned with the electricity costs and suggested Rich have PSNH due an audit and make recommendations. Paula then asked if the COAST bus still plugs in at night and Rich replied yes in the winter. Charlie suggesting putting this on a timer to cut down on the usage and Tony will look into the feasibility of this.
- Charlie asked what the EMS billing services number is based on and Rich replied it is based on the call volume.
- Rich informed the Board that they might want to discuss Middleton again because they have been there 35 times this year with them responding to us only twice. He is concerned with the liability issue because they are calling us last and therefore it is taking us 20-30 minutes to respond to an EMS call. The Board discussed that Middleton has had 2 years to address this situation and still haven’t. Tony will schedule a meeting with the Middleton Selectmen.
- The new fire department bottom line is $451,296.83.
At 8:14pm, Charlie King motioned for a short recess, 2nd Paula Proulx. Motion carried with all in favor.
At 8:22pm the Board reconvened.
4. Encumbrances:
A. Tony explained Joel suggested encumbering $26,830 from the 2009 Loader Repairs for two options; 1. lease a loader to compact the trash at $20,250 a year or 2. buy a compactor at $38,000. The Board agreed to wait on this to talk with Joel next week.
B. Gerry McCarthy motioned to encumber $1576.94 for the Selectmen Salaries from January to March, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
C. Charlie King moved to encumber $30,078.18 for highway salt, 2nd Gerry McCarthy. Motion carried with all in favor.
D. Charlie King Motioned to encumber $4734.47 from the Bridges/Railings line, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
E. Gail Ellis motioned to table the loader repair encumbrance, 2nd Charlie King. Motion carried with all in favor.
F. Gail Ellis motioned to encumber $14,000 from the Town Hall Generator line, 2nd Charlie King. Motion carried with all in favor.
G. Gail Ellis motioned to encumber $4000 from the Preservation Guild line, 2nd Charlie King. Discussion followed in which Tony explained Rick received a quote for the printing at $2056 per printing for the brochures and they are printed twice a year. Motion carried with all in favor.
5. Other:
A. Kathy Menici, new Planner, forwarded a request from the Stewart’s requesting to meet with the Board about subdividing their property which is located on a Class VI road. Gail commented it would be helpful to see a tax map for the properties. Paula asked if the Town is under any obligation to allow them to improve the road to a Class V standard because it could potentially burden the Town with more maintenance. Charlie stated he would also like a narrative of what the Stewart’s are proposing. Tony will address these concerns with Kathy.
B. Paula asked Tony if he sent out a letter regarding the abandoned equipment yet and Tony said no, but he will.
At 8:43pm, Charlie King motioned to go in non-public session under RSA 91A.3.II. (a) and (c), 2nd Gail Ellis. Roll call- Paula Proulx (yes), Gerry McCarthy (yes), Charlie King (yes) and Gail Ellis (yes).
Gail Ellis motioned to adjourn, 2nd Gerry McCarthy. Motion carried with all in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 9:49pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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Chairman, Paula Proulx Vice-Chairman, Gail Ellis
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Gerry McCarthy Charlie King
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Joan A. Funk
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