SELECTMEN’S PUBLIC MEETING
September 8, 2009
Chairman McCarthy called the meeting to order at 5:33pm. In attendance were Chairman Trisha J. McCarthy, Selectman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) – Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector; (b) – Cable Operator; (c) – Code Enforcement; (b) – Highway Department; (b) – Transfer Station. Second by Selectman Donovan. Roll Call Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to close the nonpublic session at 7:32pm. Per unanimous roll call vote the meeting minutes will remain confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply except to announce the following;
- increase Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector Cheryl Saunders from Grade XIII, step 3 to Grade XIII, step 5 effective July 31, 2009
- defined the status of Tom DiFalco as a permanent part time employee effective as of the date of hire.
- defined the terms of Peter Gagnon, Jr. with a permanent part time status and a 60-day probationary period. The 6-month probationary period as stated in the Personnel Policies and Procedure is still in tack. The Board clarified that the 60 day probationary period noted when hired is to allow the department head to determine compatibility with the town; a 60 day evaluation is to be completed by the department head and they are to bring this information to the Board as an update
- Gale Library Trustees Re: Library Director's~job position from Part Time to Full Time
Present were Gale Library Trustees Marilyn Landry, Carol Szot, Kathy Meserve and Sally Woodman
Marilyn Landry, Chair stated that the Trustees are here tonight to discuss Library Director Theresa Caswell going from part time to full time. Landry handed out a document listing the proposed increased hours for the Gale Library with the reasoning that the hours would allow patrons earlier visits on Monday, Tuesday and Saturdays and would accommodate schedules around kindergarten and early morning errands. Opening on Thursday would provide additional opportunity to visit the library after school and at dinner time. The total hours for the library would be increased by seven hours open to the public. The Trustees explained that increased patronage and circulation are indicators to offer more hours for patrons are using the library more often in today’s economic climate. Circulation for June/July 2008 was
4086; circulation for June/July 2009 was 5260 which calculates to approximately a 29% increase over last year.
The Board discussed that they have established precedence with other departments that any change from part time to full time status would require the voter’s approval through a warrant article. The Board explained that a full time employee works 40 hours per week and includes health and dental benefits, paid time off, retirement and short term liability insurance.
The Library Trustees explained that Director Terry Caswell has been working full time on a part time basis. She is very efficient and they do not want to lose her. Additionally they want to avoid the expense of hiring another director; the library has been through five (5) Directors in eight (8) years. The Trustees thanked the Board for making the time to meet them tonight.
- Review bids for Pump House Addition
The Board reviewed a letter of recommendation from Ron LeMere, Chief Building Official for the pump house bid. LeMere stated that after reviewing the (3) three final submitted bids, Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction met the available target funding of $25,000 for this project. LeMere added that he checked with the Secretary of State Corporate Division and found that this company is in good standing and recommends this bid on that basis.
Selectmen Thayer motioned to accept the bid proposed by Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction, Inc. on the recommendation of Chief Building Official Ron LeMere for the pump house addition at the Town Hall in the amount of $25,500; to be paid out of the special appropriation approved in year 2007 with the balance paid from the General Government buildings budget. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
- Continue discussion for a generator at the Town Hall
Office Manager Winglass informed the Board that she prepared the information as requested by the Board at their last meeting. The Board asked to determine the highest demand of electricity (amps) at the Town Hall which based upon a report by Unitil was during the month of February 2009 using 15.50 amps. When looking at the future usage for the upstairs at the Town Hall, air conditioning was considered and found that this would add 60 amps to the average summer usage of 41.60 amps.
The Board of Selectmen requested this information to help determine the size of a generator for the Town Hall. A 20,000 watt generator equals 83 amps and per the recommendation of Dan O’Reilly, Electrical Inspector for the Town of Newton, we should have balance of 10% not in use when running. This leaves the Town Hall with approximately 75 amps which could handle the winter months but not air conditioning for the upstairs at the Town Hall. The Board felt that a 20,000 watt generator would sufficiently handle the needs to the Town Hall. We now need to move forward with a recommendation from the Chief Building Official. Winglass will have the recommendation for the Board’s next meeting.
- Continue review of Channel 20 Cable Channel
Office Manager Mary Winglass informed the Board that she is working on scheduling training for the end of this month or the beginning of next month for Tom Gasse, Raymond Thayer and herself. We hope to have the town cable channel up and running by mid October.
- Repairs to town buildings
(a) – Painting at the Central Fire Station
The Board reviewed a recommended sequence from Fire Chief Bill Ingalls for painting the interior of the South Main Street Fire Station (Central Fire Station). The sequence for painting the interior is based upon three segments outlined by Nick Carelis for a total of $3,950
Selectman Thayer motioned to hire painter Nick Carelis for a total of $3,950 for repairs and painting to the South Main Street Fire Station. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous. To be paid out of the General Government Buildings budget.
(b) – Invitation to bid for repairs to the Town Hall front porch
The Board reviewed and made a few changes to the Invitation to Bid for repairs to the Town Hall front porch. The advertisement will go into the Carriage Towne News and on the town’s website at www.newton-nh.gov.
1. Joseph Ferrandi Re: Request to release road bond for Patriot Drive
Mr. Ferrandi never made an appearance at the meeting.
2. Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicouer Re: Transfer Station Repairs
Office Manager Mary Winglass informed those present that Tony from Councilman came by the office today and the price to relocate the service and wiring of the generator at the Transfer Station will be over $3,500, therefore we would need to go out to bid.
The Board reviewed repair quotes for the fence at the Transfer Station.
Selectman Donovan motioned to spend $1,200 to Parker Fence to repair 40’ of 8’ tall chain link fence attach to existing 6” gate post and repair to 10’ tall corner post and $200 to repair hinges and latch on inside gate and straighten three posts for a total of $1,400 with the stipulation of submitting a valid certificate of insurance. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
Kevin added that the shoots on the packer have some damage. One option is to weld the right side of packer #2 and fix it by sand blasting it then painting it. This would be a big project but a much needed project for it would buy us some time.
Kevin stated that he received three estimates for the recycling shed that hold the cardboard. The Board reviewed the estimates and it was determined that there was no funding in the Solid Waste budget to repair/re-hab this shed. Chairman McCarthy voiced her disappointment for when working at the Transfer Station during the recent fee free weekend, she noticed how deplorable the condition of the shed was in.
Chairman McCarthy added that the new building would not be made permanent (cement foundation) until we have completed an approved site plan. The Board decided that at this point in time all is on hold until we have a plan and to wait to see if funds are available at the end of the year.
3. 2010 Budget/Warrant Articles Meeting schedule
The Board discussed a scheduled department head meeting on Monday, September 21st at 7pm to review the following;
- Selectmen’s Meeting schedule for October, November and December. The Board plans to meet on October 5th, 19th and the 26th; November 2nd, 9th, 23rd (start time later) and 30th; December 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th.
- No more than a 2% increase in the proposed 2010 budgets
- Cost of Living to be placed in a warrant article
- Monday, December 14th by 4pm is the deadline to submit a department sponsored warrant article to the Board of Selectmen. Reminders are to be sent to each department and a hand out when they come in to review their budget.
- Conflict of Interest Ordinance
4. Vendor and Payroll manifest signing
Chairman McCarthy asked to have this item on the agenda for currently the vendor and payroll manifests are signed in the office; vendor on Monday and payroll on Tuesdays. After attending a Right to Know Meeting, we now know that these manifests should be signed in a public meeting. Most towns do not sign their manifests in a meeting due to time constraints. Chairman McCarthy offered some suggestions for changing it to work within our schedule by possibly holding Selectmen’s Meetings on Tuesday nights or another option is to have a 15 minute meeting every Tuesday late afternoon, early evening to only sign the manifests. The Board opted to think about it for now.
5. Letter of resignation from Rick Bailey, Recreation Commission
Chairman McCarthy read a letter of resignation from Rick Bailey effective December 31, 2009 from the Recreation Commission. The Board asked to put this letter on a December meeting agenda for there is a lot of things that could happen between now and then.
6. Memo from the Planning Board Re: Recommended changes to the sprinkler systems ordinance
The Board reviewed a memo from the Newton Planning Board with suggestive writing for the Selectmen’s ordinance that pertains to fire protection. The Board decided to flag this as a warrant article for the 2010 Town Meeting.
- Announcements
- Saturday, October 24th – Historical Society 3rd Annual Wine & Cheese Social,
4:30pm - 6:30pm at the Merrimac Savings Bank
- Free training “Crisis Leadership for Local Officials” by the Dept of Homeland Security on Sept 25th and 26th in Concord
- Newton Fall Fair, Saturday October 3rd, 10am to 3pm at Greenie Park
- Plan NH, September 25th and 26th help plan Newton’s future!
- Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes of July 20, 2009, July 27, 2009 and August 17, 2009
Chairman McCarthy motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes of July 20, 2009, July 27, 2009 and August 17, 2009 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
- Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes of July 20, 2009, July 27, 2009 and August 17, 2009
Chairman McCarthy motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes of July 20, 2009, July 27, 2009 and August 17, 2009 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
- Selectmen’s Site Walk Minutes of May 21, 2009
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Site Walk Minutes of May 21, 2009 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Chairman McCarthy abstained; Selectman Donovan and Selectman Thayer - yes. Motion passed. (Chairman McCarthy wrote the site walk minutes)
- Reports from Department Heads
- Adjourn
Before adjourning the Board discussed the urgency with repairing cardboard recycling building at the Transfer Station and after reviewing the general government buildings budget they made the following motion;
Chairman McCarthy motioned that we accept the bid from Bear Den Carpentry & Granite Inc. for a rehab of the waste paper receiving shed for a total of $3,850.00. Second by Selectman Thayer. Discussion: Contingent upon a valid Certificate of Insurance. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 9:32pm. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
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