SELECTMEN’S PUBLIC MEETING
December 14, 2009
Chairman McCarthy called the meeting to order at 5:34pm. In attendance were Chairman Trisha J. McCarthy, Selectman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and BOS Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Meeting was video taped; minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to go into Nonpublic Session at 5:35pm under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) –Transfer Station. Second by Selectman Thayer. Roll Call Vote: Chairman McCarthy – yes; Selectman Thayer – yes; Selectman Donovan – yes. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to close the meeting at 5:59pm. 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 the following;
- The Board unanimously approved to move Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicouer from Grade XV, step 1 to Grade XV, step 7, $17.31 per hour effective as of yesterday’s date.
- The Board unanimously approved to increase Thomas DiFalco from Grade VI, step 9 to Grade VII, step 9, $12.31 per hour effective as of yesterday’s date. With this promotion puts Thomas DiFalco as Lead Attendant with a six month probationary period.
- Introduction of Guests
- Old Business
A. 2010 Budgets
Chairman McCarthy thanked all the Department Heads for attending tonight’s meeting and discussed the town’s efforts with completing the Hazard Mitigation Plan and thanked those who worked on it and for submitting their Prioritized Projects tonight.
Chairman McCarthy explained the reason for asking the departments to attend tonight’s meeting when some budget are requesting level funding for next year is to ask if there is any way we can reduce each budget.
Cemetery Budget
Cemetery Trustees Bill Landry, Chair and Ron Saunders were present. Landry explained that the Trustees did not increase their budget and did their part to be fiscally responsible; 94% of the cemetery budget is for the care of the grounds using contracted labor. The remaining 6% covers the repairs to the monuments plus funding for Memorial Day. Landry added that the Trustees looked at everything that needed to get done and decided to hold off on some projects to keep the same budget. The contract for the grounds maintenance is still lower than the lowest bid the town received last year.
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the 2010 Cemetery budget of $11,410.00 which is a zero percent increase. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Health Department
Health Officer Bob Leverone presented a 2010 budget reduced by $4,800.00 under the 2009 budget.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2010 Health Department budget of $10,200.00 which is lower by $4,800.00 under the 2009 budget. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Cable Budget
Board of Selectmen Office Manager Mary Winglass stated that the committee is asking to level fund this budget for we are not sure of next year’s needs for the cable access channel.
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the 2010 Cable budget of $5,500.00 at which is level funded. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Code Enforcement
Board of Selectmen Office Manager Mary Winglass stated that Code Enforcement Officer Steve Duncanson is requesting a level funded budget for 2010.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2010 Code Enforcement budget at $15,000.00. Second by Selectman Thayer. Discussion: This is a zero percent increase over the 2009 budget. Vote: Unanimous.
Care of Trees
Tree Warden John Owens was present to discuss his request to increase the 2010 Care of Trees budget by $3,000.00 in order to include the cost of police details and the size and scope of hazardous tree removal. Owens discussed the high cost to remove hazardous trees; recently a tree was taken down on Hadley Road which cost the town $2,500 with the additional cost for a police detail. With a total budget of $4,000 this left him with approximately $1,200 which he hopes to encumber for next year. With the proposed 2010 tree budget of $7,000 will allow him to handle two and one half trees and to pay the police detail; there is a list of trees that should come down. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley added that the town has a police services line item for any event that requires a police detail
which should include tree removal. After discussing this option, the Board decreased the 2010 Care of Trees budget, with Owens in agreement, by $800 for police details will be paid out of the police services line item.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2010 Care of Trees budget at $6,200. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
Elections, Registration and Vital Statistics
Present was Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough.
Selectman Thayer asked if the Town Clerk State Fees can be reduced; McCullough agreed to decrease it by $3,000. Merit increases were discussed and the Board recommended that any increases proposed for next year should be in the budget. McCullough recalculated the Deputy Town Clerk’s payroll to include a merit increase. McCullough explained other changes in the budget include the removal of the AccuVote Machine contract of $175; the typewriter contract has been cancelled, telephone line item reduced; Vital Records increased due to an increase in activity this year. Based upon these changes, the total Elections, Registration and Vital Statistics budget is $79,350 which is an increase of $376.00 over the 2009 budget.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2010 Elections, Registrations and Vital Statistics budget at $79,350. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous
Emergency Management
Present was Emergency Management Director Larry Foote who handed in a proposed warrant article for the Boards review. Chairman McCarthy responded that the Board is reviewing warrant articles at their next meeting.
EMD Director Larry Foote talked about his new budget for this year to include two budgets. One is for Seabrook at $19,350.00 which is 100% paid to the town from Seabrook with no tax impact. The second budget is for the town at $17,000 which is to cover payroll, travel expenses for training in Concord, upgrade the software and internet security, cell phones for when on duty, petty cash for supplies and to have on hand if an emergency happens and we need something right away.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to approve the 2010 Emergency Management budget for Seabrook for $19,350 with no tax impact. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the 2010 Emergency Management budget for the town in the amount of $17,000. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Financial Administration (includes five budgets)
Accounting, Auditing and Assessing budget
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley explained that she is still waiting on a figure for this budget to include new mylars for the tax maps. Wrigley explained that we cannot read the numbers on the tax maps for they have been copied too many times and she is checking with Cartographics to find a solution to this problem.
Treasurer/Bookkeeper budget
Present were Treasurer Jennifer Gaines and Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kim Hughes whom each explained their portion of this combined budget.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the Treasurer/Bookkeeper budget for a total of $15,917 with a total increase of $455 over the 2009 budget. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Tax Collector budget
Present was Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough.
After reviewing the budget and making a few minor changes, the Board made the following motion;
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the 2010 Tax Collector’s budget as amended totaling $32,428 which is an increase of $724 over the 2009 budget. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Budgeting, Planning and Analysis budget
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley explained to the Board that she would like to look into a quote for a new lease for a copier at the Town Hall. The copier we have now is not working well and Wrigley discussed taking a proactive approach for next year. The Board agreed with Wrigley to prepare quotes to be discussed at the next meeting, therefore this budget will not be voted on tonight.
Board of Appeals
Present were Chairman Tom McElroy
After reviewing the budget and discussing the legal line item, the Board and McElroy approved a reduction to the legal line item by $2,000 for any lawsuits against the Zoning Board of Appeals is paid out of the town’s legal line item.
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the Zoning Board of Appeals amended budget of $9,080. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Executive budget is not yet complete due to the benefit portion of the budget. Benefits will be discussed later on in the meeting.
Gale Library budget
Present were Gale Library Trustees Marilyn Landry, Ch., Kathy Meserve, Sally Woodman and Library Director Theresa Caswell.
The 2010 proposed budget increased by $3,915; the increase is mainly due to no anticipated income to offset the budget ($2,500).
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the 2010 Gale Library budget of $101,358.00. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Highway Department
Present was Mike Pivero, Road Agent
Pivero presented a 2010 budget with no increase over the 2009 budget. Pivero talked about his plan to encumber funds for paving for next season.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2010 Highway budget of $346,536. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
General Assistance budget
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the 2010 General Assistance budget of $29,143 which is an increase of $4,150 over the 2009 budget. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Planning Board budget
The Board did not approve the Planning Board budget for Selectman Donovan had a question about the legal line item.
Police Department budget
Police Chief Streeter was present and discussed that his proposed budget includes IMC Maintenance fees for software for the cruisers due to increased activity and confirmed that the State approved two matching grants. This budget was not approved tonight for the benefits need to be finalized first (see below for the review of the Medical Insurance).
Recreation Commission budget
Office Manager Winglass informed the Board that Recreation Commission Chairman Rick Bailey was unable to attend tonight’s meeting but forwarded a message to the Board that he would have no problem if the Board decided to include $5,000 in the budget for Senior Events. The Board agreed to put the $5,000 in the budget versus a warrant article.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2010 Recreation Commission budget of $41,695. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
B. Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Board decided to review the Action Plan at their next meeting and asked for copies of the Prioritized Projects lists completed by Fire Chief Ingalls, Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kim Hughes, Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley and Office Manager Mary Winglass.
C. New Resident Sticker Samples
Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicouer was present and discussed his recommendation for the design of the new resident sticker. The Board agreed with Jolicouer’s recommendation and asked to have a price for their next meeting so it can be voted on.
D. Cont review of Medical Insurance
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley informed the Board that she checked with the Local Government Center regarding the Boards decision approving two POS health plans to be offered to the town’s employees; the town’s current plan and a three tier plan. Wrigley was informed that the town cannot offer two POS plans but could offer one POS and a second plan which must be a HMO plan. Wrigley checked with the employees that take the town health insurance and found that they are all in agreement to take the POS three tier health plan (Option 1). Wrigley added that the Board needs to rescind their motion made on December 7, 2009, if in agreement to offer only the one POS plan.
Selectman Donovan motioned to rescind the December 7, 2009 motion on the medical insurance and to make a new motion to accept the Blue Choice, Option 1 POS Three Tier Plan for all town employees. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
IV. New Business
1. Conservation Easement, Foy/Northland Property
Chairman McCarthy explained that last year the Conservation Commission approved an easement near the Quaker Cemetery on the Foy/Northland Property. The easement language required Foy to own the property for one year in order to comply with the easement due to a gain for tax purposes. The easement was purchased using the Conservation fund and does not result in any tax increase. Chairman McCarthy stated that in order for this to take place, the Board needs to approve the closing documents.
Selectman Thayer motioned for the Selectmen to sign the closing documents on the Foy property tonight for the 12.3 acres Conservation Easement. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
2. 2010 Proposed Warrant Articles
The Board received proposed warrant articles from the Road Agent, Police Chief and Emergency Management and decided to review them at their next meeting.
3. Road Agent Re: Stormwater Management
Chairman McCarthy informed the Board that Road Agent Mike Pivero is looking to purchase materials for culvert work by the end of this year.
V. Announcements
VI. Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
VII. Reports from Department Heads
VIII. Other Business
Felicia Drive
The Board reviewed a memo from the Planning Board stating that they voted unanimously on December 8th to recommend the release of the maintenance bond for Felicia Drive in the amount of $12,864.
Selectman Thayer motioned to release the Felicia Drive Maintenance Bond to Al Bailey of Deal Builders in the amount of $12, 864. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
2010 Statistical Update
Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley informed the Board that she has spoken with John McSorley of McSorley Consulting about the approved contract for the Statistical Update. Wrigley stated her concern is that McSorley does not own the Avitar software and planned on working at the Town Hall. This presents a problem for there is no work space at the Town Hall or computer availability during the work week. The contract included work completed by McSorley and once it is all put together then it is brought to the town with the final numbers to be approved by the Board. Wrigley added that McSorley is checking with Avitar to purchase the software; the Board decided to give him a week and if he does not have an answer then we may need to revisit this issue. Wrigley’s concern is to finalize this
contract and approve it before year end; she added that Town Assessor Andrea Lewy conducted a similar update in Stratham and she used a “mirror image” of the data to complete the update.
Selectman Thayer announced that the Gale Library is selling tickets for holiday baskets to be drawn this Saturday.
IX. Adjourn
Selectman Thayer motioned to adjourn at 8:35pm. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, BOS Office Manager
| 
