SELECTMEN’S MEETING
June 5, 2006
Call to Order
Chairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:19pm. In attendance were Chairman Gary. F. Nelson, Selectman John P. Ulcickas, Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Mary B. Winglass.
Chairman Nelson motioned to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Possible Zoning Violation and Transfer Station Operations; (a) – Recreation Commission. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Roll Call Vote: Chairman Nelson – yes, Selectman Ulcickas - yes, Selectman Donovan – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Nelson motioned to close the non-public meeting at 6:58pm. Second by Selectman Donovan. 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 except to announce that the Board decided to send letter to two residents with possible zoning violations; the Board decided to set up a meeting with Roger Clark to discuss Transfer Station operations; the Board motioned to increase the Recreation Commission Secretary Lisa Babcock from Grade II, step 4 to Grade II step 8, $9.19 per hour effective retroactive to April 30, 2006.
Introduction of Guests
· Representative Kim Casey, Representative Mary Allen and NH Senator Maggie Hassan RE: Legislative Update
Representative Kim Casey informed the Board that the legislature has been busy this year with over 1200 pieces of legislation. Rep. Casey informed the Board that Senator Maggie Hassan would like to come in at another time to meet with the Board with information and a broader sense of state assistance to the towns concerning West Nile Virus and EEE.
Rep. Casey then went on to inform the Board of two pieces of legislation affecting towns; change with voting procedures and the administration of the low and moderate income homeowner’s property tax relief. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley informed Rep. Casey that the administration is going well with the low and moderate income homeowner’s property tax relief and we have had a good amount of residents applying for assistance. Rep. Casey asked the Selectmen if they had any questions and/or if any residents have any questions or need assistance to please contact her at her home or office.
The Board requested that the office contact Senator Maggie Hassan to see if she would be available to attend the next Selectmen’s meeting on June 19, 2006.
Old Business
A. Payment authorization for the Offsite Improvements for Smith Corner Road and
Peaslee Crossing Road
The Board reviewed a packet to be sent to each of the three developers involved with the offsite improvements for Smith Corner Road and Peaslee Crossing Road. The packet included a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen requesting funds to be released to the Town Treasurer Cheryl Nelson for payment of work performed on the offsite improvements. Attached to the letter was a copy of the invoices to be paid, a spreadsheet outlining their proportionate share with the remaining balance of the account and a second spreadsheet showing the overall total cost of the improvements and each developer’s proportionate share.
Office Manager Mary Winglass informed the Board that she worked to prepare the packets with Treasurer Cheryl Nelson. Ms. Winglass questioned the Board on the handling of payments to find out if it is necessary to put the authorization of payments on future agendas for approval by the Board or would the Board motion to authorize the Chairman to sign for the payment authorization.
The Board questioned if all invoices are being reviewed by Altus Engineering and recommended for payment. Ms. Winglass responded that all invoices are reviewed by Altus Engineering and the town will receive a written authorization for payment of services from Altus before any paperwork is processed.
Selectman Ulcickas motioned to authorize Chairman Gary Nelson to sign the payment authorization letters for the offsite improvement of Smith Corner Road and Peaslee Crossing Road as recommended by Altus Engineering. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
B. Continue review of new ordinances
The Board reviewed minor changes to the four new ordinances; Parking ordinance – Country Pond Road, Peddling and Soliciting Ordinance, Noise Ordinance and Park and Recreation Areas Ordinance. The Board agreed to the changes and discussed the Public Hearing to be held on June 19, 2006 starting at 7pm. The Board requested that each department and town organizations receive a copy of the ordinances and a notice of the Public Hearing.
C. Selectmen’s Summer Meeting Schedule
The Board reviewed their meeting schedule for July and August and decided to not make any changes at this time, there is only one meeting schedule in July and that is on July 17, 2006.
New Business
A. Memo from Police Chief Lawrence Streeter RE: Town Building Maintenance
Requests
Police Chief Lawrence Streeter was present to discuss his request for two expenditures paid from the General Government Buildings budget. The first is for the installation of an automatic transfer switch for the police department’s generator. The new switch would finally complete a three (3) year project that would make the generator operational. The Board reviewed a proposal from Scherbon Consolidated Inc. for the installation of automatic transfer switch and start up for a total of $3,800.00.
The second is repairs to the rear entry steps at the police department. The cement stairs have corroded and are beginning to disintegrate. Selectman Donovan went down and looked at the stairs and discussed possible repairs with the Chief. Chief Streeter stated that he is looking to temporarily repair the stairs similar to what was done at the Newton Junction Store. The Board requested that Chief Streeter get a written proposal for the Board to review.
Chairman Nelson motioned to approve the payment of $3,800 from Scherbon Consolidated Inc. for the installation of an automatic transfer switch for the generator for the Police Department to be taken out of the General Government Buildings repairs budget. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Gale Library Repairs
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley requested that the Board review a request from Library Director Theresa Caswell received today at the Selectmen’s Office as it is a request for work to be paid from the General Government Buildings budget. The improvements and repairs were submitted last year to be included in the 2006 General Government buildings budget.
The first proposal was from “Concrete with a Heart” for the brickwork that is needed for the front porch for a total of $1,075.00. The second proposal from “Don’t Move, Improve” was for the library decorative windows to be scraped and painted for a total of $470.00.
Chairman Nelson motioned to approve the proposal of $1,075 to repair the pillar and to point up rest of brick foundation as needed at the Gale Library to be taken out of the General Government Buildings budget from Concrete with a Heart. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Nelson motioned to approve the proposal from "Don’t Move, Improve" to scrape and paint four windows for $470 at the Gale Library to be paid out of the General Government Buildings budget. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Nelson signed the proposals.
B. Appointment for Kathleen Marino as a Member of the Family Mediation Board of Directors
Chairman Nelson motioned to appoint Kathleen Marino as a member of the Family Mediation Board of Directors until a successor is appointed. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
C. State of NH Dept of Safety RE: (18) Portable Radios allocation from the Homeland Security grant program
Chairman Nelson announced that the Fire Department received on behalf of the Commissioner of Safety and the Fire/EMS Radio Interoperability committee, an allocation of eighteen (18) Motorola two-way communication radios. This allocation is part of the Homeland Security program and will be preprogrammed with the statewide Fire/EMA Interoperability channels allowing for state wide communications.
Announcements
Chairman Nelson thanked all those involved with the Memorial Day parade including the Recreation Commission, Representative Mary Allen, Veterans, Baseball Commission and all those who marched.
Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
· May 6, 2006 Selectmen’s Site Walk Minutes
Chairman Nelson motioned to accept the May 6, 2006 Selectmen’s Site Walk Minutes as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
· May 15, 2006 and May 23, 2006 Selectmen’s Public Meeting Minutes
Chairman Nelson motioned to accept the May 15, 2006 and the May 23, 2006 Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous
· May 15, 2006 Selectmen’s Non-Public Meeting Minutes
Chairman Nelson motioned to accept the May 15, 2006 Selectmen’s Non-Public Meeting minutes as written. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Reports from Department Heads
· Update of the Verizon contract
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley informed the Board that she has been working with Katherine Miller, Esq. from DTC Lawyers on the Verizon franchise agreement. TA, Wrigley asked Ms. Miller to put the review of the agreement on hold for now for she was told by the Cable Committee Chairman Andrew Morse that Verizon does not want to sign a contract with Newton at this time for they landed a large job in New York. Mr. Morse confirmed that Verizon has put things on hold for now, which includes the funding for the new cable office. Mr. Morse asked the Selectmen for permission to use the cable equipment fund to build the new cable office. Mr. Morse added that this fund was set up in 2001 for $32,400 for the purpose of providing cable equipment and the implementation of services and the money came from franchise fees and a one
time grant from Adelphia Communications. The Board agreed to have Mr. Morse get bids/proposals for the work to complete the new cable office.
Review of Action Items
Adjourn
Chairman Nelson motioned to adjourn at 8pm. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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