SELECTMEN’S MEETING
April 4, 2005
Call to Order
Chairman Harding called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. In attendance were Selectman John P. Ulcickas, Selectman Gary F. Nelson, Chairman Norman P. Harding and Town Administrator, Nancy J. Wrigley. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager, Mary B. Winglass.
Chairman Harding motioned to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) – Planning Board personnel. Second by Selectman Nelson. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes; Selectman Nelson – yes, Chairman Harding – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Harding motioned to recess the non-public meeting until after public meeting. Second by Selectman Nelson. Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of this portion of the non-public meeting will remain confidential until, in the opinion of the majority of the members, the aforesaid circumstances no longer apply.
Introduction of Guests
Rich Cram, Program Coordinator and Debra DeSimone, Co-Chairman, Board of Directors for Family Mediation and Juvenile Services
Mr. Rich Cram, Program Coordinator and Debra DeSimone, Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for Family Mediation and Juvenile Services discussed with the Board the programs that Family Mediation has that serves families seeking help with drug and alcohol abuse, anger management, tobacco education, community services and restitution programs as well as various workshops and presentations. They provide services to the towns of Atkinson, Danville, Hampstead, Kingston, Newton, Plaistow and Salem. Each town appoints two Board of Directors to serve from each community for one year. This past year Police Chief Streeter and resident Kathy Marino were appointed from Newton; Debra DeSimone requested that the Board contact them to find out if they still want to be on the Board and if not do they have someone they could
recommend. Chief Streeter was present at the meeting and stated that he has not had the time to attend the meetings this past year and cannot commit for this coming year. He added that he has helped assist the department and has participated with the language that went into a grant application last year. Debra DeSimone stated that Chief Streeter has been a huge part of the organization and would like to continue to count on him from time to time.
Chairman Harding asked Chief Streeter if he knew of any other interested candidate. The Chief did not but stated that he would put this item on the Police Department’s web site and on the cable channel. Rich Cram stated that most residents do not know that these options are available to them. He added that a Board member responsibilities are to attend a meeting once a month, on the third Wednesday at 6pm at the Family Mediation building on Academy Avenue in Atkinson and to participate in some fundraising. The Board requested that we contact Kathy Marino to see if she is interested in being appointed for another year.
Old Business
Continued discussion of official town website
Office Manager, Mary Winglass discussed with the Board the first stage in the project of the website is to select the design and colors for the website. Samples designs are on the Virtual Town Hall website and Selectman Nelson and Selectman Ulcickas viewed the designs online. After some discussion, the Selectmen decided to leave the final decision to Office Manager, Mary Winglass. Mary responded that she will keep the Board updated.
Letter from Waste Management Re: Final bill
The Board reviewed a fax from Patrick Griffith of Waste Management which outlined the town’s outstanding bills minus the credit of $7,000 as compensation for the town’s two compactor boxes and one open 40 yard box. Waste Management removed all their equipment in March of 2004 and in the process three boxes owned by the town were taken and never returned.
Road Agent, Frank Gibbs questioned whether the town should have Waste Management pay the monthly rental fee that the town currently pays to Mello Disposal. It was discussed that the compactors were old and the $7,000 was fair compensation.
Chairman Harding motioned to pay Waste Management a final bill of $3,834.91 which includes the balances owed on account numbers 276-21697 and 276-21696 plus a credit in the amount of $7,000 as compensation for the town’s two compactor boxes and one open 40 yard box. Second by Selectman Nelson. Vote: Unanimous.
New Business
Letter from Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil Re: Annual Heating System Tune-up
Chairman Harding read a letter from Bill Ermer of Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil Co. which stated that starting January 1st the standard annual heating system tune-up will include an inspection, monitoring and warranty program for our fuel oil tanks for $139.95. The inspection will include an annual ultrasonic inspection of our oil tanks and includes a $1,000 warranty program for the tank, which can be used to help cover the replacement of the tank. If any tank does not qualify for this warranty program, then the company will only conduct a oil burner tune-up and the town will be charged $109.95. If the town does not want this service, then we need to let them know when we go to schedule our yearly cleaning.
The Board questioned what would happen if an oil tank does not qualify for the program and if the tank at the Police Department that is buried underground could be inspected through this program. Chairman Harding stated that he would contact Bill Ermer to discuss this program and the Selectmen can then discuss this at the next Selectmen’s meeting.
Discussion of Selectmen holding office hours on Thursday nights
Chairman Harding stated that having office hours for the Selectmen on Thursday nights has been a thought he has had for along time and wanted this on the agenda in order to throw it out on the table for discussion. Selectman Nelson stated that he does not have a problem with it. Selectman Ulcickas stated that it depends on the actual time frame. After some discussion, the Selectmen decided that on a revolving basis, a Selectman will hold office hours in the Selectmen’s Office once a month on the last Thursday between 7pm and 8pm in order to be available to residents with any questions or concerns. Chairman Harding will hold office hours on April 28th; Selectman Nelson on May 26th and Selectman Ulcickas on June 30th. A notice will be placed on the cable channel.
Applications for Re-Appointment
The Board signed the following appointments;
Michael DiBartolomeo as Building Inspector; Ronald Lemere, Robert Morache and Kristopher Emerson as Assistant Building Inspectors; John Owens as Emergency Management Director and Dale Putnam as Assistant Emergency Management Director; Alan French as a member of the Board of Appeals; Connie Smith as Welfare Agent and Mitchell Smith as Deputy Welfare Agent; Trisha McCarthy and Alicia Raddatz as Conservation Commission members; Raymond Thayer as Boat Tax Collector and Mary-Jo McCullough as Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector.
The Board reviewed a letter from Rockingham Planning Commission regarding the appointment status of their member town representatives to the Commission. Christene LoVecchio and Charles Melvin’s appointments to the Commission expired at the end of March and the Commission requests that the appointments be renewed or make new appointments to maintain full representation on the Board. Chairman Harding stated that he spoke with Charles Melvin and he may be interested in renewing his appointment.
Announcements
PUBLIC NOTICE – On April 11, 2005, Dragon Mosquito Control will be checking vernal pools, swamps, catch basins, ditches, depressions and other areas of shallow, stagnant water for mosquito larvae and pupae.
Now seeking to hire a part-time Planning Board Secretary – interested candidates, please send resume in by April 15, 2005
Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
Selectmen’s Public meeting minutes of March 21, 2005
Chairman Harding motioned to accept the public meeting minutes of March 21, 2005 with the following changes; under Old Business Section A. Continued discussion of electrical repairs; to strike out “installing an outlet by the stage” and replace with “changing the outlet to the left of the stage which is the closest outlet to the side door; and to strike out “replace a socket on the chandelier” and replace with “moving one chandelier to repair a defective socket in another chandelier”. Second by Selectman Nelson. Vote: Unanimous.
Reports from Department Heads
Review of Action Items
Adjourn
Chairman Harding motioned to go back into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – possible zoning violations and (e) – pending litigation. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Nelson – yes, Chairman Harding – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Harding motioned to close the non-public session at 10:17pm. Second by Selectman Nelson. Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the non-public session will remain confidential except to announce the hiring of Christopher Van Hirtum as a full-time Police Officer effective Friday, April 1, 2005.
Chairman Harding motioned to adjourn the public meeting at 10:17pm. Second by Selectman Nelson. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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