NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Selectman Thayer opened the meeting at 6:07pm. In attendance were Raymond D. Thayer, Charles R. Melvin, Sr., 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.
Chairman Trisha J. McCarthy arrived at 6:37pm.
Nonpublic Session
Selectman Thayer motioned to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) - Waiver; (c) - Tax Lien Property; (a) - Employee Evaluations . Second by Selectman Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Chairman McCarthy motioned close the nonpublic meeting at 6:59pm. Second by Selectman Thayer. Per a unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the meeting will remain confidential until in the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply except to announce the following;
- The Board unanimously motioned to deny a request from a resident a refund of $51.21 for interest on taxes due to a late payment. Reason is everybody in town could come in with the same claim; we are all in the same boat.
- The Board unanimously motioned to draft a letter to a resident who asked to use her 2012 Voucher in 2013. We need to wait and see if the budget passes and if the budget passes then 2013 vouchers will be issued.
- The Board unanimously motioned to give a merit increase to Jack Kozec, part time Transfer Station Attendant from Grade V, step 3, to Grade V, step 9, effective date December 13, 2012.
- The Board unanimously motioned to approve a pay raise for Leonard Beauvais, Facilities Maintenance/Custodian from Grade V, step 5, to Grade XII, step 7 effective March 10, 2013.
Chairman McCarthy started the public meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance
Resident Dan Dodson from the School Budget Committee was present.
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Scheduled Business
- Security Team, LLC Re: Video Surveillance System Project
Office Manager Winglass informed the Board that Derek from Security Team was unable to attend tonight’s meeting and asked the Board to put in writing their questions regarding the quote for the video surveillance system or he would be willing to come down during the day to meet onsite with the Board to review the proposal.
The Board decided to set a meeting with Derek at the Transfer Station next Monday on March 11, 2013 at noontime.
- Open bids for Computer Support and Managed Information Technology Services
The Board opened bids received for Computer Support and Managed Information Technology as follows;
Botnaybay Technology, Portsmouth, NH
Twin State Technologies, Concord, NH
Kevin Shute, Amesbury, MA - bid was not sealed and it was not labeled correctly.
Thrive Networks, Lawrence, MA
EverSafe, Nashua, NH
RMON Networks, Kingston, NH
The Board stated that they are not revealing the prices tonight until we can compare apples for apples. Office Manager Winglass will prepare a comparison report of the bids. The Board decided to hold a work meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 4:30pm.
- Open bids for Gale Library Fire Escape
The Board opened the one bid received for the renovation of the fire escape at the Gale Library as follows;
Target New England Historical Restoration, Alton, NH for a price of $2,760.00
Selectman Melvin had a concern with the repair to the stairs and questioned if the stairs were up to code. The stairs are existing and this is a repair only or a “repair in kind”; if you took them down then new construction would have to be up to code. The Board decided to give the bid to the Building Department and the Fire Chief for their recommendation. The Board will review this again at the work meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
Chairman McCarthy read a letter to the Board of Selectmen from a resident thanking them for the help in her time of need which required immediate attention. The Board thanked the resident for her letter; the Board had an emergency nonpublic meeting to help this resident through a difficult time.
- Letter to the American Red Cross Re: Appointed Swim Director/Coordinator
Recreation Commission asked the Board to sign a letter to the American Red Cross appointing Maia Drucker as the appointed Swim Director/Coordinator for the Town of Newton for the year 2013. The Board signed the letter to the American Red Cross.
- National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Course
The Board read a letter from the State of NH Department of Transportation regarding the National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Course.
- Letter from Town Assessor Re: 2012 Equalization Ratio Results
The Board read a letter from Town Assessor Andrea Lewy regarding Newton’s 2012 Equalization Ratio. Newton’s 2012 Median Ration is 111.9% which is a measure of the assessments versus the market value of sale properties.
- Recreation Commission Re: Foxwoods Trip
Selectman Thayer read a memo from the Recreation Commission regarding an upcoming trip to Foxwoods. The upcoming trip is scheduled for April 23, 2013 and the cost for residents will be $25 and non-residents will be $30. The cost covers round trip transportation via motor coach, $10 lunch voucher, $15 Keno voucher and the gratuity for the bus driver. Funding to come from the Recreation Revolving Fund account to put the required $250 deposit down to lock in the date with the bus company. Monies collected will be returned to the fund. Recreation is estimating a minimum of 44 residents. If we have more, the funds will go into the Recreation Revolving Account. Should the Recreation not get enough participants, the remaining money will come from the program line item in the 2013 budget.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the payment of $250 for the deposit for the Foxwood Trip. Second by Selectman Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- 2 Amesbury Road Public Auction on Saturday, March 23rd at 10AM
- Voting Day at Town Hall on Tuesday, March 12th from 8AM to 8PM
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Patrolman First Class Christopher Thurlow was asked to join the Selectmen so they could present him with a copy of the 2013 Town Report for this year it has been dedicated to him.
Chairman McCarthy read the following dedication as listed in the 2013 Town Report.
Patrolman First Class Christopher Thurlow
The Board of Selectmen, for the Town of Newton, is proud to dedicate this year’s Annual Town Report to Patrolman First Class Christopher Thurlow of the Newton Police Department. Serving our country in combat tours in both, Iraq and Afghanistan, Officer Thurlow came home to Newton and became a decorated officer after being involved in the Drug Task Force incident in Greenland, NH. The Attorney General’s Office and State Police Major Crimes Unit has stated that his firearms engagement saved the lives of four of his fellow task force officers. The Newton Selectmen feel that Officer Thurlow exemplifies the meaning of community service and is grateful for his involvement with the Town of Newton. More of Officer Thurlow’s story can be found on page 134 of the 2013 Town Report.
- The Board signed and approved a list of (12) parcels for Land Use Tax Change in the amount of $30,800.00 and a separate one in the amount of $6,500.00
- Chairman McCarthy read the training notice for all town employees or volunteers to be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013 starting at 8am to 11am at the Town Hall. Training will include Preventing Workplace Harassment and Workplace Violence Prevention presented by Will Barron & Kim Burkland-Ward from the Local Government Center. Anyone that would like to sign up, please contact Office Manager Mary Winglass at the Town Hall.
- EPA Stormwater Management Report - requirement by the EPA yearly. This report is extensive and coordination is required from departments in town such as the Road Agent and Conservation Commission. The Board reviewed a letter from Town Attorney Sumner Kalman recommending the town attend an upcoming meeting on March 14th held by the EPA. The EPA has released a new draft of stormwater requirements which will affect Newton and surrounding communities. Some town officials and the town engineer will attend the hearing.
- Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the Vendor Manifest in the amount of $56,449.68. Second by Chairman McCarthy. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Chairman McCarthy motioned to adjourn at 8:32pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
| 
