SELECTMEN’S MEETING
March 6, 2006
Call to Order
Chairman Harding called the meeting to order at 5:48pm. 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 (c) – emergency situation and (a & b) – hiring and compensation for road laborers. Second by Selectman Nelson. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Nelson – yes, Chairman Harding – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Harding motioned to recess the meeting until tomorrow night at 5:45pm. Second by Selectman Nelson. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Nelson – yes, Chairman Harding – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Harding motioned to keep the minutes of the meeting to remain confidential until, in the opinion of the majority of the members, the circumstances no longer apply except to announce the hiring of William S. Crowell as a Road Crew Laborer Assistant at Grade IV, step 8, $10.13 per hour effective March 5, 2006 and to move Robert S. White to Grade V, step 9, $10.90 per hour effective March 5, 2006. Second by Selectman Nelson. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Nelson – yes, Chairman Ulcickas – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Introduction of Guests
· Mr. David Morgan of Valley Drive RE: Concerns with snow plowing on Valley Drive
Mr. David Morgan of 7 Valley Drive spoke on concerns he has with the snow plowing at the front of his property. Mr. Morgan lives at the dead end on Valley Drive and the plows pass by the front of his property and continue onto Overlook Drive. During a snow storm on January 23, 2006, Mr. Morgan wrote and delivered a letter with photos to the Selectmen’s Office outlining his concern with not being able to get out of his driveway until 1pm. The storm started in the morning which accumulated to about six to ten inches. Mr. Morgan added that he contacted Road Agent Frank Gibbs six times last year due to snow plowing concerns on his street.
Road Agent Frank Gibbs was present and discussed that this storm shut down portions of 93 and 95 due to a very heavy and fast moving snow storm. The strip in front of Mr. Morgan’s house is a dangerous situation for it requires backing the trucks up and the operators have a hard time seeing what is behind them. Frank added that he spoke with the operator who plows this street to address Mr. Morgan’s concerns.
The Selectmen requested that Road Agent Frank Gibbs keep an eye on this area to make sure that Mr. Morgan has access to and from his property.
· Coleman McDonough RE: Fire Sprinkler System Lot 3 Puzzle Lane
Mr. Coleman McDonough spoke about the Industrial Park on Puzzle Lane and that he is building a 22,000 square foot building that will be built into industrial condos and he does not expect any unit to be over 2,500 square feet. He has built a fire pond that is 200 feet from the building and plans on installing a dry hydrant for fire suppression in lieu of installing a fire sprinkler system. The building will be all metal and concrete.
Chairman Harding responded that the Selectmen’s meeting is not the proper venue to address this change. The Board reviewed the signed plan by the Planning Board and the plan specifies that a sprinkler system is required. To amend the site plan would require Mr. McDonough to go in front of the Planning Board, not the Board of Selectmen.
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls stated that we are getting away from fire ponds as they are not dependable and the additional concern with the mosquito population and EEE and the West Nile Virus. Chief Ingalls added that another problem is that we do not know what type of businesses will be going into the building.
Selectman Nelson asked Mr. McDonough how many units will be in the building. Mr. McDonough responded that there will be ten. Chairman Harding stated that he is not agreeable to the fire pond as this will be another spot that will need to be treated for EEE and WNV and in the end who would own the pond and maintain it. Chairman Harding added that the best course of action for Mr. McDonough is to work with the Building Inspector and the Fire Chief on the installation of a fire sprinkler system.
Building Inspector Mike DiBartolomeo spoke on the importance of knowing what type of businesses will be occupying the building for the sprinkler system will need to be unique to the occupancy. Since we do not have an interior design of the building, requiring Mr. McDonough to hire a fire protection engineer is not unreasonable.
The Board urged Mr. McDonough to address the safety concerns with the Fire Chief and the Building Inspector for they need to be addressed.
Old Business
A. Transfer Station Manager Roger Clark RE: Solid Waste Task Force Committee
Transfer Station Manager Roger Clark was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. The Board decided to not discuss this agenda item tonight but to put it on for the second meeting in April.
B. Progress Report from the Safety Complex Building Committee and expenses paid from the Capital Reserve Fund
Chairman of the Safety Complex Building Committee, Bob Bartlett discussed the process that the committee went through to find a parcel of land that met all the requirements of building a safety complex. One of the most reoccurring questions is why can’t we tear down the old central fire station and build a new one. Mr. Bartlett responded that if we were to do this and meet all the standards and requirements, there would be no parking spaces and there would be no room for expansion. As far as expanding the Police Department, the building is sitting in a wetland area, therefore it is not a feasible option.
Mr. Bartlett discussed the need to build it once and build it right for the next 50 or so years. The committee is working on spreading the word of their findings.
Expenses to be paid from the Capital Reserve Fund
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley discussed with the Board that as of the end of last year, the Capital Reserve Fund was set up by the Trustee of Trust Funds for the Safety Complex Building Fund. After the March 2005 Town Meeting and until the end of the year 2005, all bills paid out of the approved funding for the safety complex building was paid by the Bookkeeper and signed by the Board of Selectmen on the vendor manifest. Now that the capital reserve fund is held by the Trustee of Trust Funds, the Board of Selectmen must approve for the Trustees the payments from this fund.
Invoice from Samyn - D’Elia Architects for $10,069.90
This invoice has been approved by the Safety Complex Building Committee for profession services for the new safety building.
Selectman Nelson motioned to pay invoice # 4716 for project # 0521 for the feasibility study of the Safety Complex to Samyn - D’Elia Architects, PA for a total of $10,069.90. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Invoice from Brown and LaPointe, P.A. for $525.00
This invoice was not approved for payment by the Safety Complex Committee which is for the legal review of their proposed 2006 warrant article. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley stated that had the committee not requested the input of legal counsel for their proposed warrant article, this bill would not have been generated. It was important to determine if the proposed warrant article was legally written for the Selectmen to either recommend or not recommend.
Selectman Nelson stated that we do not submit every warrant article for legal review, therefore he feels that the cost should be paid out of the town’s legal budget.
Selectman Ulcickas motioned to pay the invoice totaling $525.00 from Brown and LaPointe, P.A. out of the town’s legal budget. Second by Selectman Nelson. Vote: Unanimous.
New Business
A. Letter from Merrimac Savings Bank RE: Town Hall Sign
Chairman Harding read a letter from President and CEO of the Merrimac Savings Bank John Meserve that they would be honored to contribute $1,388.00 to pay for the needed repairs to the town hall sign in the spirit of community involvement and investment.
The Board agreed that this was a very nice gesture and requested that we send Mr. Meserve a letter acknowledging his contribution and to thank him for this generous offer.
B. Road Agent Frank Gibbs to discuss weight restrictions on town roads
Road Agent Frank Gibbs requested the Board to allow him to post a seasonal load limit on town roads per RSA 231:191 in order to get the large gravel hauling trucks off the roads when the frost is leaving the ground. Frank added that this is done in the State of Maine as well as some surrounding towns and it will help reduce damage to the roads.
The Board asked Frank if he had talked to Chief Streeter about the enforcement of this violation. Frank responded no; the Board requested Frank to discuss this with Chief Streeter in order to bring him up to speed on the enforcement so he can educate his officers and be able to cite the violation.
Selectman Nelson motioned that we place a seasonal load limit per RSA 231:191 throughout the town as deemed necessary by the Road Agent. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Discussion: The Board reiterated the importance of informing the Police Department and for Frank to go down and discuss it with the Police Chief. Also it is important that we post a notice at the Town Hall stating that the Board of Selectmen give authority to the Road Agent to post a seasonal load limit on town roads. Vote: Unanimous.
Announcements
· Master Plan Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 2006, 7pm at the Town Hall
Chairman Harding announced that the Master Plan Committee is meeting to reactivate itself and there is quite a bit that needs to be done for the last update was in 1998. Any resident that would like to get involved, you are invited to the meeting at the Town Hall on March 8th at 7pm at the Town Hall.
· Voting Day is Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 8am to 8pm at the Memorial School
· Candidate’s night is tomorrow night at the Town Hall. It will be aired live on Channel 20.
· Town Reports are available at the Town Hall and it is also available on the website. Office Manager Mary Winglass added that a resident had a good idea to consider for next year if the Board decides to not mail the Town Reports again. To send a post card to each household informing them that the Town Reports are available at the Town Hall and to include the date, time and location of the Town Meeting Voting Day.
Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
· Public Meeting Minutes of February 6, 2006
Selectman Nelson motioned to accept the public meeting minutes of February 6, 2006. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. Vote: Unanimous.
Reports from Department Heads
Chief Building Official Mike DiBartolomeo informed the Board that the manufactured unit at the Middle School is almost complete and they are hoping for an occupancy permit to be signed next Monday. Mike thanked Selectman Nelson for his efforts to make this happen and Interim Superintendent Jim O’Neil for their collective efforts. Mike added that there were volunteers from the town who offered their services to make this happen and the Board may want to acknowledge them after the elections.
Review of Action Items
Adjourn
Chairman Harding motioned to go back into non-public session at 8:27pm that recessed earlier this evening under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) with Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mr. Raymond Thayer. Second by Selectman Nelson. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Ulcickas – yes, Selectman Nelson – yes, Chairman Harding – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman Harding motioned to close the non-public meeting at 9:02pm. Second by Selectman Ulcickas. 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.
Chairman Harding motioned to adjourn at 9:02pm. Second by Selectman Nelson. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass
Office Manager
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