SELECTMEN’S PUBLIC MEETING
December 5, 2005
Call to Order
Chairman Harding called the meeting to order at 6:06pm. 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 at 6:07pm under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Zoning Violations; (e) – Pending Litigation. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes; Selectman Nelson – yes; Chairman Harding – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Harding closed the non-public meeting at 7:08pm. Second by Selectman Nelson. Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the meeting will remain confidential until, in the opinion of the majority of the members, the circumstances no longer apply.
Introduction of Guests
Old Business
A. Flooding at the Central Fire Station
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls was present to speak with the Board about his written request to rectify the standing water in the “Peanut Trail” along side the Central Fire Station. The Newton Learning Center, which is located next to the Central Fire Station, is preparing to hot top their parking area and the excavation they have done has created a large amount of water along side the Fire Station. If and when this freezes, it will be very difficult to get to the fire pond behind the station and the water is also impeding on the fire station’s leach field.
Office Manager Mary Winglass informed the Board that when this written request was received in the office it was discussed with the town’s Road Agent Frank Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs then looked at the area and wrote up a proposal to fix this problem which included a Plan A and a Plan B. As the Peanut Trail is maintained by the Conservation Commission, they were informed of the problem and Mr. Gibbs attended the December 1st Conservation Commission meeting to discuss the two proposed options. Selectman John Ulcickas stated that he attended the Conservation Commission meeting as the Selectmen’s liaison and it was agreed to go with Plan A.
Chairman Harding motioned to authorize Gibbs Construction to fill in the standing water pools in the Peanut trail by the Fire Station and the money is to come from the Conservation Commission budget for a total of $2,144.0. Second by Selectman Nelson. Discussion: Selectman Ulcickas stated that he thought that the Recreation Commission was going to pay half. Office Manager Mary Winglass added that she spoke with Conservation Commission Chairman Trisha McCarthy today and she did not mention Recreations involvement, only that the Conservation Commission agreed to plan A. Vote: Unanimous.
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls publicly thanked Road Agent Frank Gibbs on behalf of the Fire Department for his assistance with sanding on Thanksgiving Day and this past Saturday.
Review the 2005 Annual Town Report Bids
The Board reviewed a spreadsheet comparing the 10 bids received for the printing of the 2005 Annual Town Report. The company’s that sent in bids were Kase Printing of Hudson, NH, T. Pine of Lebanon, CT, The Yankee Printer of Hampton Falls, NH, SelectPS Print Solutions of North Brookfield, MA, Town and County Reprographics of Concord, NH, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, The Bacon Otto Press of Newburyport, MA, Riendeau Printing Corp of Hudson, NH, Commonwealth Printing, Inc. of Newburyport, MA and Northeast Offset Commercial Division of Chelmsford, MA.
After much discussion, the Board decided on the lowest bid of $2,599 from The Yankee Printer.
Selectman Nelson motioned to accept the bid for the 2005 annual town report from The Yankee Printer 113 Lafayette Road Hampton Falls, NH for the amount of $2,599 which includes a black and white cover. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Continue the discussion of the 2005 budgets and warrant articles
Warrant Articles
Vision Chapter and to update the Land Use Chapter and the Capital Improvements Plan
The Board discussed the memorandum dated November 22, 2005 from RPC regarding the targeted block grant awarded to the Town of Newton and warrant article #25 for $12,000 appropriated at the 2005 Town Meeting to complete the Vision Chapter and to update the Land Use Chapter and the Capital Improvements Plan.
The Board of Selectmen stated that they will encumber the appropriated $12,000 to ensure that the projects listed and the granted targeted block funding awarded to the town can be completed by RPC’s project deadline of June 30, 2006. The Board requested that a memo to be sent to the Planning Board with this information.
Sad Cafe
The Board discussed that the Sad Café will be included in this years social service warrant article due to a petition warrant article passing this past year.
Gale Library
Chairman Harding read the Gale Library proposed warrant article to see if the town will raise and appropriate, as proposed by the Gale Library Board of Trustees, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to be placed in the existing Capital Reserve Fund called the “Gale Library Building Fund” created in 1982. The Board agreed to include this warrant article on the warrant.
The Board decided to hold a budget meeting on Thursday, December 8th starting at 6:30pm in order to continue the budget review. TA, Wrigley requested that the Board meet with Assessor Andrea Lewy on Thursday night to review her 2006 Assessing Proposal. The Board agreed to meet with Andrea at 6:30pm.
The Board discussed encumbrances and the plan to review all department requests at the December 19th meeting.
New Business
A. Scheduling conflict of the 2006 Budget Public Hearing on January 12th
The Board discussed that there is a scheduling conflict of the 2006 Budget Public Hearing on January 12th as this is the same day that the Sanborn Regional School District has planned to hold their Public Hearing. The Board agreed to change the town’s budget Public Hearing to Monday, January 16th with a snow date of Tuesday, January 17th starting at 7pm at the Town Hall.
Announcements
Chairman Harding announced that the 2005 Town Reports will not be mailed this year. Copies of the 2006 budget and warrant articles will be available at the Town Hall and at the Deliberative Session. The 2005 Annual Town Report will be available to be picked up at the Town Hall on Thursday March 2, 2006 and on the official town website www.newton-nh.gov. Chairman Harding stated that we are printing much less this year in order to conserve.
The Board discussed the site walk of the new high school that they attended on Sunday, December 4th and that the structure is very impressive and enormous. Selectman Nelson stated that the athletic fields are very impressive and the whole thing is something that the community will be very proud of and the building is definitely coming along.
Selectman Nelson stated that he has been working on the Flood Insurance Plan warrant article to be presented to the Planning Board. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley added that the Board has only until December 15th to present it to the Planning Board as this is the deadline per state law to submit a petition warrant article. Selectman Nelson stated that he has almost completed it and will make sure the Planning Board has it by December 15th.
Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
Reports from Department Heads
Office Manager Mary Winglass discussed with the Board that she received a request for the Grange to have its own page on the town’s official website. The Board agreed to this request. The Board asked Office Manager Mary Winglass to keep track of her hours that she puts in on the website in order to better understand the hours needed to maintain the website.
The Board discussed the furniture stored in the upstairs hall of the Town Hall. This furniture was given to the town and we have been unable to use it. Selectman Nelson stated that he will contact the Principal of the Middle School and Memorial School to see if they could use it.
Review of Action Items
Adjourn
Chairman Harding motioned to adjourn at 8:43pm. Second by Selectman Nelson. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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