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: MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011
TIME: 5:30PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
MEETING AGENDA
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman McCarthy called the meeting to order at 5:35pm. In attendance were Chairman Trisha J. McCarthy, Selectman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Lawrence B. Foote and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
- Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Tax Deeding
Chairman McCarthy motioned to go into Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Tax Deeding. Second by Selectman Foote. Roll Call Vote: Chairman McCarthy – aye, Selectman Thayer – aye, Selectman Foote – aye. Vote: Unanimous.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to close the nonpublic meeting at 7:06pm. Second by Selectman Thayer. Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the meeting will be kept confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
Selectmen’s Public and Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated April 5, 2011
The Board asked to have the nonpublic meeting minutes at the public meeting so they can be signed.
Selectman Thayer motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Public and Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated April 5, 2011 as written. Second by Selectman Foote. Vote: Unanimous.
- Scheduled Business:
- Review request from Cheryl Saunders, Deputy TC/TC Re: Full Time Status
The Board reviewed documentation from the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office showing a cost comparison for part time to full time 35 and 40 hours per week. The major increase to full time status is the health/dental and retirement cost that almost doubles the total cost to the department.
The Board discussed that they are not sure the impact to other departments for this would be a policy change for the town. Library Trustee Kathy Meserve spoke on the precedence set by the Selectmen that all changes from part time to full time must go to a Town Meeting vote.
Selectman Thayer motioned to deny this request at this time. Second by McCarthy for discussion. Discussion: We should talk about it with the department to review the option of a warrant article for a full time 40 hour per week position. Selectman Thayer rescinded his motion; McCarthy rescinded her second.
Selectman Thayer motioned to table this discussion until we have a chance to review it with the Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough and Deputy Cheryl Saunders. Second by Selectman Foote. Vote: Unanimous.
- Review of Gale Library Electrical Inspection
The Board reviewed a memo from the Department of Building Safety outlining a list of electrical safety violations that require immediate attention. The Board then reviewed a letter from the Gale Library Trustees with their concern of having to disconnect the dehumidifier in the basement due to improper connection and yet they face a moisture/mold problem in the basement. The Trustees requested an expedited correction to the electrical problem.
Selectman Foote motioned to accept the work order listing the electrical violations at the Gale Library. Second by Thayer. Discussion: The Board asked for Chief Building Official Ron LeMere and Office Manager Winglass to move forward with securing a contractor for this work to be paid from the General Government Buildings budget. Vote: Unanimous.
- Review Military Leave Policy
The Board tabled this discussion until next Monday.
- Area Selectmen’s Meeting, Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Office Manager Winglass asked to confirm who will be attending the Area Selectmen’s Meeting in Atkinson on May 3, 2011. Selectman Foote and Selectman Thayer will attend; Chairman McCarthy will be out of town.
Selectman Thayer asked to have this item on the agenda and asked if there are any details on when the parade will be held. Chairman McCarthy responded that she is still waiting to hear from the Veteran’s but will send out another email. Selectman Thayer added that Recreation is working with the Girl Scouts for the refreshments.
- Landscaping Maintenance Contract for Town Buildings
Office Manager Winglass informed the Board that she prepared a contract for the Town Buildings Grounds Maintenance as approved by the Board on December 9, 2010. The two year contract was written to clearly define the approval from the Board based upon the sealed bid proposal from T. Hajjar Maintenance Services. Chairman McCarthy signed the contract as written; the Board signed the attached Grounds Maintenance Addendum.
- Open Greenie Park Field Maintenance Bids
The Board opened the sealed bids received for the Greenie Park Field Maintenance from the following companies:
- T & M Property Maintenance, Amesbury, MA – $7,150
- Green Grass, North Hampton, NH - $13,600 but may be reduced to $11,235 by removing optional and suggested items.
- Green World from Hampstead, NH for irrigation and fertilizing/weed control only for a price of $4,165.00 (This company works with Cantone Landscaping, LLC)
- Cantone Landscaping, LLC of Atkinson, NH for mowing/trimming only for a price of $7,500.00
The Board asked for a spreadsheet to clearly outline the services and price from each contractor; the Board will review this at their next meeting. Selectman Thayer asked if a bid was received from John Marden Landscaping; Winglass responded that no bid was submitted to the Selectmen’s Office.
- Announcements
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
- Chairman McCarthy read a request from the town’s Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Kimberly Hughes asking to include in the Selectmen’s Meeting minutes dated March 29th under Department Head Meeting, Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator the following addition;
During the 2010 Audit, it was brought to my attention by the Auditors that the following items remain to be a deficiency among the departments. In order to rectify these issues, please: Include purchase receipts when submitting Purchase card (Staples, Walmart, Sam’s, Home Depot) & Credit Card invoices for payment. All gas credit cards, including businesses that the Town has an account with (i.e. Estabrook’s Garage) must have the individual purchase/service slips attached to the bill. Payment will not be made from a Statement. Please request an invoice copy from the vendor and submit for payment. Please be cognizant of remitting your department’s bills in a timely fashion. We’re being assessed for finance charges and late fees that can be avoided.
The Board decided to add this note to today’s minutes for they felt more clarification was given in the write-up than what was actually said at the Department Head meeting.
- The Board signed the invoice from The Coach Company for the Indian Head Resort transportation for a total of $845.00.
- The Board reviewed a memo from the Planning Board informing the Board that on April 12, 2011 they unanimously recommended for the Selectmen to take the actions necessary to increase the Cell Tower Removal Bond from $6,795.62 to $16,500.00 based upon the Town Engineer’s evaluation.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to approve the recommendation of the Town Engineer to move forward and request that the Cell Tower Removal Bond to be increased to $16,500. Second by Selectman Foote. Vote: Unanimous.
- The Board signed a letter to the Department of Safety in response to their request for an update of the town’s policy for handling permissible fireworks.
- Selectman Foote motioned to appoint Robert Miller as a Commissioner for the Rockingham Planning Commission to start of April 18, 2011 to expire on April 15, 2014. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Vote: Unanimous.
- Chairman McCarthy motioned to appoint Sheila Bergeron as a member of the Trails Committee as of April 18, 2011 to expire on April 15, 2013. Second by Selectman Thayer. Vote: Unanimous.
- The Board signed the Vendor Manifest dated April 18, 2011 for the amount of $51,198.63.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to adjourn at 8:04pm. Second by Selectman Foote. Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
| 
