Skip Navigation
This table is used for column layout.
 
September 13, 2011 Board of Selectmen Minutes
           Office of the Board of Selectmen
   2 Town Hall Road, Newton, NH 03858
   Tel: 382-4405 ext. 10 * Fax 382-9140

NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
TIME: 5:30PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD

PUBLIC MEETING

  • Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Foote called the meeting to order at 5:37pm.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  In attendance were Chairman Lawrence B. Foote, Selectman Raymond D. Thayer, Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley, Office Manager Mary B. Winglass, Police Chief Streeter and Jennifer Klopotoski.

Selectman Trisha McCarthy arrived at approximately 5:50pm.

  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Introduction of Guests
  • Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
  • Scheduled Business:
  • Trick or Treat
The Board received an email from resident Jennifer Klopotoski asking for the Board to schedule the date and time of Trick or Treat.  After a brief discussion the Board made the following motion;

Selectman Thayer motioned to hold Trick or Treat on Monday, October 31st from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.  Second by Chairman Foote.  Vote: Unanimous.




  • Fire Department Payroll Change
The Board reviewed an email from Fire Chief Bill Ingalls stating that Deputy Fire Chief John Owen’s corrected service date is June 1, 1988 and corrected pay grade is Grade XIX/step 9 retroactive to May 1, 2011

Chairman Foote motioned to accept the correction in regards to Deputy John Owens service date as June 1, 1988 at Grade XIX, step 9 retroactive to May 1, 2011.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  Motion passed.

  • Police Department Re: Potential Grant Award
Police Chief Streeter explained the potential grant award that was to be awarded in July but has been postponed until the end of September.

Chief Streeter added that he filed a FCC License Application on June 3, 2009; began negotiating with Cell Tower Company in March 2010.  On September 8, 2010 the town was granted a radio license 151.16 and on January 20, 2011 NHDOS a grant was submitted for a July Award to install a radio communications system.  The problem with the license granted on September 8, 2010 is that they give us a year to complete the project; a 30 day extension was filed.  We cannot wait until the end of September for the grant to be awarded for this communication system for our license will expire and we will have to start over.  Therefore the best way to handle this is to allow 2-Way Communications to implement a low grade repeater system on the tower which will cost around $5,000.  Chief Streeter added that due to personnel changes i.e. leave of absence and resignation, he is able to cover the $5,000 cost from his budget.

The Chief asked the Board to authorize the expenditure of $5,000 to install the repeater on the tower without following the bid policy due to this equipment coming from a specialized source.  

Selectman McCarthy motioned to approve the $5,000 invoice from 2-Way Communications for the Radio Communications System for the Tower based upon a specialized purchase from this service provider and will be paid from the Police Department budget.  This purchase is for a safety channel that can be used town wide.  Second by Chairman Foote.  Selectman Thayer stated that he is leery of doing it for we are not sure we have the funds for it.  Chairman Foote explained that this is a safety issue.  Police Chief Streeter explained that once this is done then if we do not get the grant then we can work on it little by little.  Chairman Foote again explained the safety issue; Selectman McCarthy added that the town has faced past emergencies in town and this item is #1 on the Hazard Mitigation Plan, we can split the cost with other safety departments if the grant is not awarded.  Vote: Chairman Foote and Selectman McCarthy – aye, Selectman Thayer abstained.  Motion Passed.

  • Memorial School PTO 5K Race
The Board reviewed an email from Kathy Lynch, Memorial PTO asking for the town to help with hours needed for a police detail from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.  Police detail to patrol walkers/runners/wheelchair at major intersections as determined by Chief Streeter.  May need a police presence to start the procession of runners and/or to control incoming traffic for vehicle parking.

Chief Streeter responded that he will look at the information and could provide one person with a cruiser for this event.  The Police Department budget will cover the cost of the detail.

Chairman Foote motioned to forward the information to Chief Streeter for his review and due to the time restraints he will do the best he can to get an officer out there to assist with traffic and Chairman Foote will check with the Fire Department to see if there is someone that could help with a Fire Truck.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  Vote: Unanimous.

  • Cont Review of the Social Media Policy
Police Chief Streeter was present and discussed that the Police Department has formed a committee within the department and is working on a Facebook page in conjunction with twitter.  Due to the fact that the structure of communications has changed and people want information as it happens, this type of forum will allow us to put out the information as a way to communicate with residents.  The Police Department submitted a list of comments and questions in regards to the policy.  The Police Department is in the process of developing a policy to maintain the Facebook/Twitter account that will deal with who can use it, maintenance, what subjects are permitted and how will it be used by the department.  They envisioned daily postings of Police Department and community information.  To include road way closures, dog licenses, school emergency issues and/or bus accidents to keep people away from emergency scenes.  Community burglary issues, wild animals, recovered and/or stolen property, suspicious activity reporting’s, sex offender inquires, etc.


Based upon the proposed Social Media Policy under review, the Selectmen (Governing Body) are the only one with the authority to vote to allow any department to maintain social media communications.  The Board discussed that they need to know what is going on and this policy will allow them to control what and how information is released.  


Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley discussed a proposed change from Rick Milner, Planning Board Administrative Assistant to change “employees” to town personnel and make sure the definition encompasses all intended areas i.e. employees/commissioners/committee members/ volunteers.  Wrigley agreed with this change as did the Selectmen.

After reviewing the policy with some minor changes, the Board made the following decision.

Selectman McCarthy motioned to accept the Social Media Policy with the understanding that this is a living document that may be tweaked from time to time, the amended Social Media Policy.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  Discussion: Get the policy out on the website.  Vote: Unanimous.

  • Dept of Environmental Services Re: Preliminary Large Well Siting/Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permit Application
The Board reviewed a Preliminary Hydrogeologic Report and Large Ground Water Permit Application, Granite Fields Golf Club received on September 8, 2011.  Per RSA 485-C: 21, the deadline to request a public hearing for this project if fifteen days (15) days following receipt of the Preliminary Application or Final Report.

Chairman Foote motioned to send the Preliminary Hydrogeologic Report and Large Ground Water Permit Application, Granite Fields Golf Club to the Conservation Committee for their review and based upon their recommendation the Board of Selectmen will decide whether to schedule a public hearing; request input from the Conservation Commission.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  Vote: Unanimous.  

  • Letter of resignation from Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kimberly Hughes
Chairman Foote read letter of resignation from Kimberly Hughes, Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator effective November 17, 2011.  

Chairman Foote motioned to regretfully accept the resignation from Kimberly Hughes.  Second with regret from Selectman McCarthy.  Vote: Unanimous.

The Board reviewed a prepared Help Wanted advertisement for the part-time position of Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator.  The Board decided to advertise for this position immediately.
 
  • Announcements
  • Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
  • The Board signed a letter to Twombly Road Nominee Trust asking them to move forward with the acceptance of Twombly Drive as a town road before winter.
  • The Board reviewed three corrected Irrevocable Letters of Credit from Puzzle Lane, 125 Development NH Corp.  Two of the documents are being handled by the Planning Board; the third one is for $110,615 to secure the repairs or improvements for the original Puzzle Lane Road from Route 108.  This letter of credit expired on August 1, 2011 and the Board of Selectmen issued a cease and desist order on Puzzle Lane until it was renewed for the full amount.
Chairman Foote motioned to lift the cease and desist order on Puzzle Lane due to receiving a Irrevocable Letter of Credit dated August 1, 2011 from 125 Development NH Corp for a total of $110,615.  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Vote: Unanimous.  

The Board directed the staff to contact 125 Development Corp to inform them of their decision tonight and to follow up with a letter to be hand delivered by the Police Chief.  

  • The Board reviewed an agenda for the next Regional Selectmen’s Meeting on Thursday, September 15, 2011.   
  • Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicoeur was present to discuss a revision to the Solid Waste bid specifications.  Jolicoeur discussed the need to change the rental of (2) 4-yard compactors to (2) 2-yard compactors and (2) 50-yard closed containers to (2) 42-yard closed containers.  Basically the set up at the Transfer Station does not allow for larger units.
  • The Board reviewed an Employee Anniversary Report for the month of September.  The Selectmen stated that they will conduct an employee evaluation on Chief Building Official Ron LeMere.
  • The Board signed a Timber Tax Levy for Map 011-010-005 for a total of $298.47.  
  • The Board signed the Payroll Manifest for the period of August 28th – September 10th.
  • Police Chief Streeter informed the Board that he is working on a new proposal on the Bearce property.   
  • Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Public Assistance and Resident Complaint
Chairman Foote motioned to go into nonpublic under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Public Assistance and Resident Complaint at 7:32pm.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  Chairman Foote – aye, Selectman Thayer a- aye, Selectman McCarthy – aye.  Vote: Unanimous.

Chairman Foote motioned to close the nonpublic session at 8:25pm.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  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.

  • Adjourn
Chairman Foote motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:26pm.  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Vote: Unanimous.

                                                Respectfully Submitted,


                                                Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager