SELECTMEN’S PUBLIC MEETING
December 6, 2010
Chairman McCarthy called the meeting to order at 6:05pm. 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. The public meeting was videotaped; minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Selectman Thayer motioned to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) – Performance Evaluations and (b) – Police Department. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Chairman McCarthy polled the members which resulted in a unanimous roll call vote.
Selectman Thayer motioned to adjourn the nonpublic session at 7pm. Second by Chairman McCarthy. 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;
- To move Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicoeur to Grade XV, step 10 effective November 3, 2010
- To hire Sabato LoRusso as a Part-Time Certified Probationary Officer at Grade XIII, step 3 with an EIP Bachelors Degree.
- To move Selectmen’s Office Manager Mary Winglass to Grade XX, step 10 effective October 18, 2010
7pm - Per RSA 31:95-b, the Board of Selectmen held a Public Hearing to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $87,298.03 from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The Town of Newton received $67,147.26 from FEMA #1892 for the major disaster declaration due to the February Wind and Rain Storm event that happened during the period of February 23 through March 3, 2010. The second declaration FEMA #1913 reimbursed the town $20,150.77 for the incident period of March 14-31, 2010; both declarations reimbursed the town for expenses incurred due to severe high winds and heavy rains causing road wash outs, road closures, downed trees and some power outages.
Chairman McCarthy opened the Public Hearing at 7:12pm.
Chairman McCarthy read the public hearing notice and Emergency Management Director Larry Foote asked if there are any questions concerning the acceptance of these funds.
With no questions or comments from the public, the Board made the following motion;
Selectman Thayer motioned per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $87,298.02 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the town as a reimbursement for two major disasters FEMA #1892 and #1913 . Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kim Hughes asked to further the discussion by reviewing an overview of the two disasters declared for there is a balance of $17,684.16 in expenses incurred by the Town. A discussion proceeded with the option of paying this balance from the Emergency Operations Center Expendable Trust Fund and/or Town Disaster Management Expendable Trust Fund or the third option of using the Town Budget. The Board held off from making a decision until we have the balances of the Trust Funds. Hughes responded that she will be on vacation next week so please let her know by the end of this week if the Board has any questions.
Selectman Thayer motioned to close the public hearing at 7:17pm. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
- Introduction of Guests
- Old Business
1. 2011 Proposed Solid Waste Budget
The Board met with Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicoeur and reviewed his proposed budget. Some reductions were made to the budget; Kevin will come back to the Board with a revised budget to include an update to the salaries line item.
Town Administrator Wrigley asked the Board if they would be in favor of changing the revenues received from the Bulky Item Fees to go into the General Fund versus the separate account set up for this purpose. Wrigley would like to check R.W. Gillespie & Associates to see if they have any reservations with making this change. The Board agreed to have Wrigley contact Gillespie for their review and comment. This budget is to be finalized on December 27th.
2. 2011 Proposed Recreation Commission Budget
Recreation Commission Member Rick Bailey was present and discussed the proposed budget for 2011. After reviewing each line item in an effort to reduce the budget, the Board decided to leave the budget at level funding and put in a warrant article for Elderly Events. The Board discussed having the fees collected from swim lessons to come back to the town to offset the cost of the swim program versus depositing in the Recreation Savings Account. This budget is to be finalized on December 27th.
3. Town Hall Guardrails
The Board reviewed a quote for the installation of a wooden guardrail on the side of the Town Hall used for parking. Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley requested a quote from Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction for the labor, equipment and materials for this installation.
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the price of $2,100.00 for the labor, equipment and materials for the installation of a wooden guardrail from Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction for the safety of the town employees. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous. To be paid from General Government Buildings budget.
4. Gates at the Transfer Station
The Board reviewed a quote for the installation of gates at the Transfer Station from Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction. The quote is for the supply and install of (2) 23’ 2” gates with 6” steel posts for a total of $2,900.00.
Selectman Thayer motioned to install (2) 23’ x 2” gates with 6” steel posts at the Transfer Station for the sum of $2,900 to include labor, equipment and materials. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Work to be done by Eastern Seaboard to be paid out of General Government Buildings budget. Vote: Unanimous.
IV. New Business
A. 2011 Proposed Emergency Management Budget
The Board reviewed this budget with Emergency Management Director Larry Foote. No changes were made to the proposed budget. This budget is to be finalized on December 27th.
B. 2011 Proposed Police Department Budget
Police Chief Lawrence Streeter presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining his proposed budget for 2011 with a budget variance of $2,469.00 over the 2010 default budget. The overage is for 2.5% merit increases for the department employees. Streeter submitted employee evaluations for each of his employees and discussed his analysis of the surrounding towns which showed that Newton is staffed below area police departments in officer per population ratio. The department first became accredited in 2007 by the State of New Hampshire and recently completed its three year reaccreditation process last month. Accreditation means that the department must meet 143 various administrative, operational, training and other standards. These standards include approximately 266 mandatory compliance bullets. The Board
asked about a few line items in the budget which were explained by Streeter; no changes were made to the proposed budget.
Chief Streeter will revise the proposed budget with the updated health and dental figures. This budget is to be finalized on December 27th.
Financial Administration – Treasurer/Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kim Hughes discussed her portion of the budget to include increases to postage due to the change from .44 to .46 starting in January 2011. Other items affecting her budget is an increase to the ADP contract for payroll services and printer cartridges. This budget is to be finalized on December 27th.
Financial Administration - Board of Appeals
The Board reviewed this budget and had some questions with a few of the line items in the budget such as postage, advertising, and legal fees.~ The Board asked to send an email to Chairman Tom McElroy to see if he could attend the Monday, December 13th meeting to review the budget.~
VI. Accept Minutes of Selectmen Meetings
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting Minutes dated October 4, 2010, October 12, 2010, October 18, 2010, October 22, 2010, October 25, 2010 and October 27, 2010
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Public Meeting Minutes dated October 4, 2010, October 12, 2010, October 18, 2010, October 22, 2010, October 25, 2010 and October 27, 2010 as written. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
- Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting Minutes dated October 4, 2010, October 25, 2010
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting Minutes dated October 4, 2010, October 25, 2010 as written. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
VII. Reports from Department Heads
VIII. Other Business
The Board reviewed a memo from Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kim Hughes recommending that the Board consider establishing a new department budget titled “Information Technology – IT” and suggests that a contract between our IT Consultant and the Town be established for 2011. By creating an IT budget, all related expenses would be posted to this budget only. Tracking the flow of expenses would be easier and planning for future needs and requirement more efficient. Computer supplies would remain in each individual budget. This budget is to be finalized on December 27th.
- Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
- The Board signed the Payroll Manifest dated November 21, 2010 through December 4, 2010.
- The Board signed the Vendor Manifest for a total of $506,817.66 dated December 6, 2010.
IX. Adjourn
Selectman Thayer motioned to adjourn at 10:17pm. Second by Selectman Donovan. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Winglass, Office Manager
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