Skip Navigation
This table is used for column layout.
 
February 28, 2012 Board of Selectmen Minutes
NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012
TIME: 4:30PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD

PUBLIC MEETING

  • Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Thayer opened the meeting at 4:32pm.  In attendance were Chairman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Lawrence B. Foote, Selectman Trisha J. McCarthy, Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass.  The meeting was audio taped; minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.  

Selectman Foote motioned to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) – Pending claim; (a) – Transfer Station.  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.  

 Chairman Thayer motioned to close nonpublic at 5:50pm.  Per unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the meeting will remain confidential until per the opinion of the majority of the members, the circumstances no longer apply.

The public meeting resumed at 5:52pm

  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Introduction of Guests
  • Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
  • Scheduled Business
  • Letter from Children’s Librarian Sue Mears Re: Scholarship from the Museum of Science in Boston
Chairman Thayer read a letter from Children’s Librarian Sue Mears stating that Gale Library has received a scholarship from the Museum of Science in Boston for a summer traveling program called “One Sky, Many Stories” on Wednesday July 18th from 1:30 to 4pm.  They are requesting the use of the Town Hall for this function for it can hold the 25x25x11 foot inflatable Sky Lab and has electricity.  Using the portable planetarium, children and adults Grade 2 and up learn useful tips to navigate the evening’s sky as they tour the solar system and beyond.  There will be two half hour presentations appropriate for 25 people each session.  
Selectman Foote motioned to allow the Gale Library to have their indoor space on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 from 1:30pm to 4pm.  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Vote: Unanimous.  The Board asked for a copy of their insurance to have on file.

  • Letter from Town Clerk/Tax Collector Re: Payroll Modification
Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough was present and Selectman Foote read her letter to the Board asking for Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector Cheryl Saunders to be paid her regular wages as Deputy when she works on election days.  Saunders works as both a backup to the Town Clerk/Tax Collector and as the ballot clerk for all elections.  Saunders incredible accuracy with the checklist allowed the Moderator to remove two ballot clerks in past years due to mistakes and inaccuracies.  For the past 3 years, Saunders has done this job alone with the blessing of the Moderator, Robert Dezmelyk which resulted in leaving an hour or two earlier than in previous years using 3 or 4 ballot clerks.  

Selectman McCarthy stated that she spoke with Town Moderator Robert Dezmelyk on Election Day and while they were counting he told McCarthy that Saunders always does an amazing job with the accuracy of the checklist.  

Selectman Foote motioned to accept Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough’s letter to pay the Deputy Town Clerk her regular pay on Election Days.  Second by Chairman Thayer.  Unanimous.

  • Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend donations of $130.00 in memory of Janice Lynn to the Newton Food Pantry
Selectman Foote motioned to accept and expend the donations totaling $130.00 to the Newton Food Pantry in memory of Janice Lynn per RSA 31:95-b .  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Vote: Unanimous.

  • Transfer Station Revenues
Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicoeur discussed the revenue that the town is receiving from the clothing recycling bins located at the Transfer Station.  Recently the town received a check for $891.00 which went to the Newton Food Pantry as it has been for the past year or so and Jolicoeur added that the Food Pantry special account is in good shape according to Welfare Agent Tina O’Rourke.  Jolicoeur asked if the Board would like to revisit the best use for this funding as it is revenue to the town and could be used to offset taxes.  

Another option for additional revenue is to accept TV’s from the company that owns the clothes recycling bins.  Many times they receive TV’s left outside the bins and Jolicoeur put together an agreement for the Board to consider tonight.  The town will charge the clothing company $5 per TV and we can recycle them for less and could use the revenue to help offset the budget.  Jolicoeur checked with the State and they are ok with this agreement.  Therefore if we do get decent revenue then we can pass the savings onto the residents.

The Board asked how many TV’s would the town receive from this company; Jolicoeur responded approximately 5 up to 25 per week.  The container at the Transfer Station can hold about 17 ton and since we are dealing with a new vendor we have not had the container emptied yet.  It will be a wait and see how much we are collecting versus what we will make from this agreement but worth trying in Jolicoeur’s opinion.  It may allow us to reduce what Newton residents pay for recycling their own TV’s.

Office Manager Winglass added that she attended a budget workshop this past fall and the main portion of the discussion was for town’s to consider any and all additional revenues to help offset taxes.  Budgets will increase due to increase in costs therefore town’s need to be conscience of all that they can do to bring in additional revenues.  Selectman McCarthy responded that she feels the Food Pantry is a very important place to put revenue as the economy is getting tougher and feels there could be more using the food pantry.  Town Administrator Wrigley added that all revenue coming in from the Transfer Station goes into the special revenue account and she does not see why this would not be any different.  This is an extra revenue that Jolicoeur procured by working with this company and he has heard comments from residents that it should be used to ease taxes.  Chairman Thayer added that he spoke with O’Rourke and she told him that they are in good shape but she does appreciate the donations.  The Food Pantry has a special account that is not part of the General Fund therefore those funds can be used year to year.  Selectman Foote added that he would rather see it go into the Food Pantry special fund.  Selectman McCarthy added that if anyone thinks that $891 for half a year will help offset the taxes then they need to come in to talk to the Selectmen; $891.00 works out to be about $.001 per cent to offset taxes.  Town Administrator Wrigley added that if the Welfare Account becomes short of funds then the town will have to cover the difference.  Jolicoeur responded that this was only a proposal that he wanted to touch upon, for the Board to consider.  The Board decided to leave things as they are with the clothing recycling bin revenue going into the Food Pantry Account.

The Board then discussed the option of accepting TV’s from New England Clothing Recycling at a cost of $5 each on a trial period.  Jolicoeur will keep track on how many TV’s we receive to see if we can bring in additional revenues.  Town Administrator Wrigley added that all revenues the town receives for recycling goes into the special recycling account and is used to offset taxes if approved at Town Meeting.  The town currently has a warrant article on the 2012 ballot asking the residents to use $60,000 of the recycling fund to offset the cost of the 2012 disposal costs.

Selectman Foote motioned to allow the Transfer Station a one container trial period to receive TV’s from New England Clothing Recycling to see if the town can make any money from this deal.  Second by Selectman McCarthy.  Vote: Unanimous.

  • Transfer Station Type 1B Permit Modifications Application
Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicoeur updated the Selectmen on the permit with the State and right now we are not permitted to take certain items from surrounding towns.  The previous Transfer Station Manager did not receive permission from the State to take certain items therefore Jolicoeur is working on updating the permit and it is very extensive.  Jolicoeur will check with Gillespie on a few items as he is also working on updating the plan as well.  

  • Review of Greenie Park Septic System and Grounds Maintenance bids
Septic System
Brian O’Rourke, President of Newton Baseball Association stated that he is currently working with a contractor who is looking to get some items donated per the specs outlined in the septic design.  There may be an individual that may complete the septic installation as a donation but he is still working on it.

Grounds Maintenance
Office Manager Winglass asked the Board if they approve her contacting the one company that bid on the field maintenance but did not include the name of his company.  Winglass added that she took the sealed bid from the contractor so she is aware of whom the contractor is.  The Board agreed to allow Winglass to contact the contractor and have him come in and write his name on the bid submitted and to also date it.  

  • Newton Baseball and Softball Association Re: Storage Building
The Board reviewed an email from Brian O’Rourke, President of Newton Baseball and Softball Association a nonprofit, a 501c corporation that is made up of volunteers to run approximately 19 baseball and softball teams in Newton.  To have one key to the storage building is not practical.  To ensure a successful season for the families and the more than 250 Newton children playing in the league; access to the storage facility to obtain tools and materials to maintain safe playing fields is crucial.  NBSA has developed the following proposal.

Each NBSA board member (8 in total) will be assigned a key to the storage facility and will sign the key out at the Town Hall.

Once NBSA determines the number of teams, the appropriate number of keys will be distributed by the Town to the NBSA President and Vice President for distribution to the coaches.  One Head Coach and one Assistant Coach for each baseball and softball team will be assigned a key to the building.

NBSA will provide the town with a list of coaches who have been assigned keys.  At the end of the season when the coaches return the equipment, NBSA will collect the keys from the coaches and return them to the town.
Since 2004 NBSA has had use of the building and there have been no incidents.  NBSA is currently working on a safety plan that is required by the Corporation.  NBSA volunteers complete an application, a copy of their driver’s license and must pass a background check conducted by Lexisnexis.  They must also go through a training process which includes basic coaching clinics as well as minor first aid.

Selectman McCarthy showed Brian a diagram of the storage building outlining a quick fix to the problem by installing a 36’ door (handicapped accessible) between the concession stand area and the storage area.  This will allow access to the irrigation system but removes the concern from the Health Department that the sink area will be used with no septic system in place.  If down the road you plan on installing a new storage building then everything can be moved to the new building.  This will alleviate the concerns of the town and will allow the continued use of the building for storage by NBSA.  The refrigerator and register will be kept in the concession stand for now which is the property of the NBSA.

Selectman Foote added that when we move forward with the septic system then access will be allowed.  Selectman McCarthy responded that the Board made a decision awhile ago to pay the $300 to the State to approve the septic design and then we would go out to bid to get the cost of the system.  Hopefully the option of NBSA receiving donations for the equipment and installation of the septic system will be an option.  At this point we are still waiting to see what NBSA can come up with or to find another way to fund this installation.  The Board discussed whether they need to get a price for the installation of a door to the storage building so NBSA can get into the building or maybe NBSA can get someone to do the work.  Brian responded that he can get a group of volunteers to do the job.  The Board agreed to buy the materials for the job and agreed to allow volunteers of NBSA to do the work for they have carpenters volunteering as part of NBSA.  Permits will need to be pulled and the work inspected.  After a discussion of who will complete the permit, Assistant Building Inspector Sam Zannini showed up at the Town Hall and informed the Selectmen that the volunteer doing the work would complete the permit at no cost.

Brian asked when the door is installed, is the Board of Selectmen okay with the proposal for the distribution of keys.  The Board agreed to Brian’s proposal as long as the list is given to the Town Hall and the keys are returned at the end of the season.  The door to the concession area will be rekeyed by the town.  

Selectman McCarthy added that NBSA has to be careful with parking on opening day for last year cars parked on both sides of the road and emergency vehicles would not have been able to pass.  Brian will contact Police Chief Streeter on the best way to handle the parking on opening day.

NBSA Safety Policy was discussed which covers the safe playing fields, fencing, field dimension, outside lines, and to make sure the field of play is in good condition.  It also includes first aid, ice packs, fire extinguishers etc.  The Board discussed having additional fire extinguishers at the storage building with the installation of the new door.
Brian added that he will send to the Selectmen a list of people associated with NBSA so the Board will be aware of any comments coming from those working for NBSA versus those that are not part of the program.

  • Newton Cable Retention Policy
The Board reviewed a proposed policy from the Newton Cable Committee regarding the retention of recorded meetings for three months only.  After this period they will be deleted from the system.

The Board asked to revise the policy to change it to “any and all” town or school board meetings and removing “including the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board, Recreation Commission and the Sanborn Regional School Board”.  One other change is to define it as “video” recordings for clarification.

  • Announcements
  • Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
  • The Board signed an approved abatement for Map 004-06-03-2 for a total of $71.17
  • The Board approved a grant application packet from the Department of Safety 2011 EMPG to purchase and install a new Motorola duel head mobile radio into the Fire Department’s Chevrolet Tahoe.  The total price for the purchase and install is $4,551.88; the grant has a 50/50 match therefore the town would pay only $2,275.94 to be paid from the Fire Department budget.  A soft match will be submitted of approximately $500 for the work completed to prepare the grant and to secure the estimates/cost.  The Board approved of the Fire Department submitting for this grant.
  • The Board approved and signed the Payroll Manifest for the pay period of 2/12 to 2/25.
  • The Board reviewed a new procedure prepared by Emergency Management Director Lawrence Foote showing the procedure for when holding a shelter or warming center at the Town Hall.  This includes all the forms needed to be completed and procedures to be followed.
  • The Board approved for the Police Department to use the AlertNow System to inform the residents when the Police Department moves to 8 Merrimac Road.
  • Adjourn
Chairman Thayer adjourned the meeting at 7:04pm.

                                                Respectfully Submitted,


                                                Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager