NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013
TIME: 5PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Thayer opened the meeting at 5pm. In attendance were Chairman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Charles R. Melvin, Sr., Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr., 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.
Introduction of new Part Time Officers Scott LaValley and Aaron Mounsey.
Police Chief Streeter introduced two new Part Time Officers to be appointed tonight; Scott LaValley and Aaron Mounsey. These two candidates went through an exhausting hiring process which included a polygraph, an exam and they both just completed a 14-week training to become a part time officer through PSTC. They are both quality candidates and will be great for the town. Streeter respectfully requested for the Board to appoint both candidates tonight.
Chairman Thayer motioned to hire Officers Scott LaValley and Aaron Mounsey as part time Police Officers. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Chairman Thayer motioned to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) - Employee Matters & Performance Evaluations; (e) - Pending Litigation - Code Enforcement. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Chairman Thayer motioned to close the nonpublic meeting at 6:34pm Second by Donovan. Per a 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 decisions;
- to accept the resignation from Kevin Jolicoeur as Transfer Station Manager with the town paying his remaining PTO for 2013.
- to give an increase to Permit Clerk Barbara White from Grade VI, step 4 to step 5 effective date of August 30, 2013.
- to give a 2.5% increase to Laurence Middlemiss due to his yearly review to Grade XXIII, step 3 to step 4 effective date of August 7, 2013
- to increase Leonard Beauvais, Facility Maintenance/Custodian from Grade XII, step 7 to step 8 effective date of November 20, 2013
- to accept the performance evaluation for Selectmen’s Office Manager Mary Winglass and approve a 2.5% merit increase from Grade XXIII, step 7 to step 8 effective October 18, 2013
- the Board is mailing out a Notice of Violation
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Scheduled Business
- Review proposed 2013 Budgets: Library, Conservation Commission, Building Department, Legal, Financial Administration, Executive and General Government Buildings
Building Department
Chief Building Official Ron LeMere was present to explain the 2014 proposed level funded budget. After reviewing the budget a minor change was made to the Salary Administration line item reducing it to $6,000.00.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 Department of Building Safety Budget in the amount of $81,452.00. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Conservation Commission
The Board reviewed the proposed 2014 Conservation budget which is the same as last year. Town Administrator Wrigley talked about the maintenance contract on the copier in the back room with the cost to be shared by three departments; Recreation, Conservation and Zoning Board of Appeals. The Board decided to hold off from accepting the budget tonight in order for the 2014 budget to show a line item for the amount of the copier contract.
Legal Budget
Town Administrator Wrigley will prepare an expenditure report for the Board’s review.
Library Budget
The Board reviewed the 2014 proposed budget in the amount of $117,329.00 which is an increase of $2,301.00.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 Gale Library budget in the amount of $117,329.00. Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Executive Budget
Town Administrator Wrigley prepared the Executive budget with an increase due to changing to a five member Board of Selectmen.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 Executive budget in the amount of $191,175.00. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Assessing Budget
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 Assessing budget under Financial Administration in the amount of $42,920.00. Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Financial Administration
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the Financial Administration budget for 2014 in the amount of $90,840.00. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
General Government Buildings
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 General Government Buildings budget in the amount of $135,617.00. Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- RERP Plan (Radiological Emergency Response For Nuclear Facilities)
Selectman Donovan motioned to sign the Radiological Emergency Response For Nuclear Facilities Plan as recommended by the Emergency Management Director. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Review of 2014 Health, Dental and Liability Insurance
The Board reviewed documentation from HealthTrust and Property-Liability Trust. 2014 Health Insurance rates include a 7.4% overall increase; Dental rates have a 0% increase; Short-term Disability Rates methodology is changing effective January 1, 2014.
Property-Liability Trust rates and workers’ compensation program will see a change with a new fiscal calendar starting July 1, 2014. The rates and modification factor currently in place will remain effective for the extension period of January 1, 2014 - June 30, 2014.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the proposed 2014 Health, Dental, Short Term, Property Liability, Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Compensation Rates . Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Review Time Line for 2014 Town Meeting
The Board reviewed a proposed time line for the 2014 Town Meeting. The Board changed the start time of the Deliberative Session (First Session of the Annual Town Meeting) to 9AM on Saturday, February 1, 2014 (Snow date is February 8, 2014).
- Cont review of Wilder’s Grove Road
The Board discussed making a decision on renaming/renumbering Wilder’s Grove Road. A discussion took place on whether we need to hold another public hearing and notice the residents before making a decision. E9-1-1 will only support option 1 which is renaming/renumbering the entire road as Wilder’s Grove Road. Selectman Melvin stated that the Board already made a decision on September 17, 2013 that Newton is not interested at this particular time. We are going to work on our signage and ask Kingston to do the same. To change it now the Board would have to rescind their decision. Selectman Donovan stated that he will vote per the recommendation of Town Counsel.
Selectman Melvin motioned to go along with the Board’s first decision to have no changes in the Town of Newton in reference to Wilders Grove Road. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with Melvin and Thayer voting in favor; Selectman Donovan voted no.
- Town Clerk/Tax Collector Re: One Check Payments
The Board signed a letter to the Merrimac Savings Bank informing them that the Town Clerk’s Office will soon be accepting one check for motor vehicles registrations payable to the Town of Newton. Both Mary-Jo McCullough and Cheryl Saunders have the authority to direct Merrimac Savings Bank to transfer funds from the Town account to the State account whenever deposits are made. The tentative roll out date for this is January 2, 2014.
- Update regarding Wenmarks Road
The Board reviewed a response letter from Town Counsel regarding winter maintenance on Wenmarks Road. The Board decided to revisit this in the spring when Pica is back in town. The town will continue winter maintenance on Wenmarks Road until further notice.
- Quotes for printing of the 2013 Town Report
This item will be reviewed at the next Selectmen’s Meeting.
- Transfer Station no longer accepting Propane Tanks and units containing Freon until the spring
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
- The Board signed an abatement for Map 013-03-9-2 in the amount of $787.00.
- The Board signed an Veteran’s Credit Application for Map 002-03-012 which was denied for it does not qualify per RSA 72:28 V (g).
The Board signed a Payroll Manifest for the pay period of 11-3-13 to 11-16-13.
- Chairman Thayer and Selectman Donovan signed the Vendor Manifest in the amount of $256,759.70
- The Board signed a Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber for Map 011-02-005 on Chase Road
- The Board signed a Welfare Manifest in the amount of $687.00
- Chairman Thayer signed a Request for Payment for traveling expenses for Office Manager Winglass.
- Chairman Thayer and Selectman Donovan signed requisition #2451 in the amount of $5,875 for land clearing, grading and removal of logs at the Transfer Station in preparation of the new fence.
- The Board did not sign requisition #2374 from the Fire Department to install a remote battery charging system in A-1 in the amount of $1,479.79. The Board had questions and asked to have the Fire Chief in to discuss this purchase.
- The Board signed requisition #2372 for medical supplies for the Fire Department in the amount of $632.65.
- The Board signed requisition #2443 for the purchase of two computers for the Town Clerk in the amount of $1,439.80
- The Board reviewed the vehicle logs submitted for October. The Board asked TA, Wrigley to ask the Fire Department to include the destination and purpose.
- Selectman Melvin talked about the schedule for the Transfer Station employees on the Tuesday before Christmas and New Year’s Eve. After reviewing the options the Board came to the following decision. Transfer Station will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 9am to 3pm and Town Hall will close at 3pm.
- The Board reviewed the breakdown from Emergency Management on how to apply the reimbursement received from FEMA-4105-DR-NH (NEMO)
Chairman Thayer closed the meeting at 8:45pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Winglass, Office Manager
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