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January 3, 2012 Board of Selectmen Minutes
NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD

PUBLIC MEETING

  • Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Thayer opened the public meeting at 6:07pm.  In attendance were Chairman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Trisha J. McCarthy, Selectman Lawrence B. Foote, and Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley.  Office Manager Mary Winglass was not in attendance.  The meeting was audio and videotaped; minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.

Nonpublic Session RSA 91 A:3 II (a) – Fire Department Personnel and (b) – Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator

Chairman Thayer motioned to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) – Fire Department Personnel and (b) – Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator.  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

Chairman Thayer motioned to close the nonpublic at 7:17pm.  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:

  • Chairman Thayer announced that they have hired Trisha McCarthy for 30 hours per week on a three month trial basis as the Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator effective January 4, 2012.  Selectman McCarthy clarified that this position is contingent upon the current Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator resigning her position.  Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley added that she has given her verbal resignation and she is willing to train.  Selectman Foote asked to get her resignation in writing tomorrow.  Selectman McCarthy added that we checked with the Department of Revenue Administration and it is not a conflict for a Selectman to do this part time job,
  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Introduction of Guests
  • Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
Scheduled Business
  • Fire Department Command Vehicle
Fire Chief Ingalls was present and stated that he was asked to justify the reason for a command vehicle.  The vehicle is from MHQ for a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe per the Massachusetts State Police Contract and the cost is $30,946 painted.  The vehicle equipment package includes lights, sirens and a laptop mounting system with a Captain Command Center (series of drawers at the back of the truck) and more.  Total equipment cost equals $8,290 with a total purchase price of $39,236.  The funds for this purchase to come from the Capital Reserve Fund with no tax impact to the residents.  

Justification for this purchase per Chief Ingalls is that he is currently driving a 2001 Crown Victoria, a hand me down from the Police Department.  It is eleven years old with 145,000 miles, no air conditioning, the battery and alternator needs to be replaced, gas cap does not work nor do most of the windows.  The biggest problem is that it is terrible in snow and ice even with snow tires.  Chief Ingalls added that he uses his own truck in the ice storm and snow storms and he has never charged the town for its use.  Chief Ingalls uses his own vehicle to go to Concord and North Attleboro for town business for he does not trust the car on the highway.  Ingalls added that his own truck has 108,000 miles and he does not feel that it should be used for town trips.  The car caught fire one night due to old, corroded wires.  With the addition of having the command center on the proposed truck allows the Chief to store equipment that is currently in the trunk of the car such as the AED, fire extinguisher, command center kit, cones etc.  The truck will also be equipped with an in/out Velcro board, which is a safety provision that shows who is in the building.  Chairman Thayer asked if it is capable of pulling the trailer.  The response was yes it has a hitch to tow the trailer.

Selectman Foote asked if we have looked at lease options.  The Board agreed to have the Chief look into a lease for this vehicle.  Selectman McCarthy talked about a conversation that she had with the Road Agent to keep an eye out for a free vehicle through the Federal Government Surplus Program but with the special needs on this vehicle we still would need to include the command center kit, radio and lights.

The Board discussed the option of paying a lease out of the budget over five years versus paying it out of the Capital Reserve Fund.  The board was more comfortable with paying it out of the budget with a five or six year lease option.    

  • Area-Wide Selectmen’s Meeting – February 16, 2012 at 7pm
Selectman Foote read an invitation to the next area-wide Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, February 16th at 7pm.  The Board will check their schedule.

  • Petition from residents at Packer Meadows
        
Chairman Thayer read a petition from 16 residents of Packer Meadows as follows;
“It was said to some of the Packer Meadow residents that there was to be gift card given to us from the town at a Christmas party in 2009.  The party was cancelled due to bad weather and was to be held in 2010 as a “Christmas in July” party, which also never took place.  The signatures of these people do not recall ever getting gift cards in either 2009 or 2010 from the Town of Newton, NH.”

Chairman Thayer added that first of all the Town of Newton never put on a party for the residents of Packer Meadow.  In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 residents sponsored a Christmas Party where they received a $25 gift card and a free meal donated by businesses and residents in the community.  The party in 2009 was cancelled due to bad weather, which was true, and the party was held in 2010 and we have a newspaper clipping to prove that it took place.

Selectman Foote asked why the Packer Meadow residents felt that this was a town event.  Chairman Thayer responded that is probably due to it being supported by residents, himself, friends of the Gale Library, Newton Baptist Church and it was never stated as a town party.  Selectman McCarthy added that she did see the newspaper article link and it was in January and gift cards were given out.  

The Board questioned what the residents were looking for which may have been the gift cards.  Chairman Thayer added that they also had a small cookout with the caretakers in the summer time and there were a few gift cards left.

The Board decided to respond to the petition by sending a copy of the newspaper articles for they were not sure what else to do.  Chairman Thayer added that he has no problem writing a letter; Selectman McCarthy added that the letter should come from the Board of Selectman and outlined how the letter is to be worded to include: we are in receipt of the petition and enclosing a copy of the newspaper article from the Eagle Tribune.  If there is anything else we can do….

Town Administrator Wrigley asked where did all the gift cards go.  Chairman Thayer responded that Mike Pivero of Eastern Seaboard donated $500 in gift cards, Early and Sons donated $500 in gift cards, and before the party he brought the gift cards to Eastern Seaboard and had him write down all the serial numbers to prove that they were still there and the same thing with Early.  Selectman Foote asked if Chairman Thayer kept track of the gift cards.  Selectman McCarthy added that since this was not a town function we do not have any list showing what came in and what went out and to whom.  Chairman Thayer added that he has a ledger showing what was taken in and given out and he was asked to produce the ledger to show them would help.  Chairman Thayer stated that he would try to have a copy of the ledger for the next Selectmen’s Meeting.  

  • 2011 Equalization Municipal Assessment Data Sheets
The Board signed the 2011 Equalization Municipal Assessment Data Sheets prepared by Town Assessor Andrea Lewy.

  • Purchase and Sale Agreement between the Town of Newton and the Bearce Revocable Trust
The Board reviewed the purchase and sale agreement and found that the agreement outlined all the stipulations as previously discussed in a meeting and public hearing.  The Board signed the document as the buyer, Town of Newton.

  • E9-1-1 Address Conversion Submittal
Selectman Foote read the Address Conversion Submittal for implementation into the E9-1-1- database.  

The address conversion for the following roads will commence on January 10, 2012;

  • 15 through 27 Hickory Road to be renumbered 15 through 21 Spruce Lane
  • 4 Nichols Drive to be renumbered 15 Nichols Drive
  • 31 Nichols Drive to be renumbered 2 Nichols Drive
  • 7 through 11 Nichols Drive to be renumbered, 1 through 3 Aspen Lane
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls commented that he is glad it is getting straightened out for there was a call on 12/23 at 530 to 6pm for a gentleman was locked out of his house and there was some confusion due to the address.  

  • Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated donation in the amount of $100 to the Newton Food Pantry
Selectman McCarthy motioned per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated cash donation in the amount of $100 to the Newton Food Pantry.  Second by Chairman Thayer.  Vote: Unanimous.

  • Cont review of the 2012 Budget, Default Budget and Warrant Articles
Solid Waste Disposal budget

Kevin Jolicoeur, Transfer Station Manager was present to discuss his review of the default budget and his changes to the budget for disposal costs for there was a misunderstanding on what was going on.  Jolicoeur stated that a warrant article is going on the 2012 town warrant to use funding from the recycling fund to help offset the disposal cost.  Subsequently he reduced the disposal line item in his budget and was mistaken for it needs to be in the budget.  Basically the disposal line item is for household trash which can fluctuate and hard to pinpoint an exact number.  The price stays the same for the life of the contract but the tonnage varies.  Bulk goes to Mello and is varying and includes the unwanted items from the swap area, voucher system, debris brush and clean wood.  Jolicoeur added that we paid $2,500 to take care of the brush and clean wood pile and while it is not a lot it does affect the budget.  Selectman Foote added that Jolicoeur needs to give an estimate to get rid of the pile now so it can be submitted to FEMA for reimbursement.   Jolicoeur responded with an estimate of $2,500 for the removal of the brush and clean wood pile.

After reviewing the general ledger activity report he found that items that he thought were paid out of the disposal line item were paid from the recycling line item therefore not wise to lower this budget right now and should be brought back to the 2011 budget amount of $20,000 versus $10,000.  These changes need the approval of the Board of Selectmen for the 2012 proposed Solid Waste budget will now be increased by a total of $30,000.

Town Administrator Wrigley added that we are proposing on the 2012 Town Meeting to use $60,000 from the Recycling Fund but not knowing if the article will pass you still need to fund what is necessary in the budget.  Although if the article does pass then you best have $60,000 left in the budget at the end of the year.

Jolicoeur asked to clarify the Board’s approval for the warrant article for a safety fence at the Transfer Station.  Jolicoeur contacted Department of Environmental Services who said that the fence is mandated to keep those out by way of driving a vehicle or walking on foot.  Therefore Jolicoeur is looking at reducing the original proposed cost for this fence but it will come in less than installing a perimeter fence.

Town Administrator Wrigley asked to send over to Town Counsel the uniform fine schedule for his review and comment.  The Board agreed to have counsel review the wording and the public hearing requirement.  

A discussion took place on proposed warrant articles for the 2012 Town Meeting.

The Board approved the revised default figures for the Police Department budget.

  • Announcements
  • Public Hearing on the 2012 Town Budget and Warrant Articles, Monday January 16, 2012 at 7pm; Snow date on Tuesday, January 17th at 6:30pm
Chairman Thayer read the announcement for the Public Hearing.

  • Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
  • The Board signed a vacation request for Tina O’Rourke, Welfare Agent
  • The Board approved the 2012 Selectmen’s Meeting schedule
  • Selectman Foote read a memo from the Fire Department recommending the town adopt RSA 154:1 paragraph II as provided in paragraph 1 (b).  The Firefighters of the Newton Fire Department will recommend the Fire Chief for appointment to the selectmen by means of an internal election.  The appointment shall be for a three year term.  Selectman Foote will check with the Fire Department to clarify their recommendation.
  • The Board signed the Payroll Manifest dated January 3, 2012 for the period of December 18, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
  • The Board signed the Vendor Manifest in the amount of $239,688.94
  • Selectman Foote explained that he looked at different options for the new well at the Central Fire Station and after speaking with the Health Officer and based upon his recommendation the town should move forward with installing an artesian well as was approved at the December 27, 2011 meeting.
  • Care of Trees encumbrance approved at the December 27, 2011 meeting based upon receiving an invoice; Tree Warden John Owens was unable to obtain the invoice therefore this encumbrance is disapproved.
  • Selectman McCarthy informed the Board that when speaking with DRA it was recommended but not required to put all part time to full time positions in a separate warrant article showing the appropriation for this change in status.
Next Selectmen’s Meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2012

  • Adjourn
Chairman Thayer motioned to adjourn at 9:07pm.  Second by Selectman Foote.  Motion passed.

                                                        Respectfully Submitted,


                                                        Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager