NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Thayer opened the meeting at 6pm. In attendance were Chairman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Charles R. Melvin, Sr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. The public meeting was videotaped; minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Selectman Donovan was not in attendance.
Selectman Melvin motioned to go into a Nonpublic Meeting per RSA 91-A:3 II (c) - Personnel Matters; (a) - Employee Evaluations; (c) - Tax Deeding. Second by Selectman Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Chairman Thayer motioned to close the nonpublic meeting at 6:15pm. 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;
- The Board approved a 2.5% increase for Welfare Agent Tina O’Rourke.
The Board took a brief recess and reconvened the public meeting at 6:40pm
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated May 7, 2013, May 8, 2013, May 10, 2013 and May 15, 2013
Chairman Thayer motioned to approve the Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated May 7, 2013, May 8, 2013, May 10, 2013 and May 15, 2013 as written. Second by Selectman Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated May 7, 2013
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated May 7, 2013 as written. Second by Chairman Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Bruce Mayberry Re: School Impact Fee Update - 2013
Bruce Mayberry discussed the proposed update to the school impact fee and the need to move forward for the last time it was updated was in 2005. The town has applied the impact fee to the direct debt associated with the construction of the new High School over the past years. Mayberry reviewed the assessment data and enrollment by addresses which are factors that adjust as the times change. Enrollment per housing unit is going down and there is not a whole lot of development left. The schedule is equitable based upon the average enrollment per unit. The Board will review the report and plan on holding a public hearing in July to accept the new fee schedule.
- Cheryl Saunders Re: Part time vacation and sick time schedule
Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector Cheryl Saunders discussed that as a permanent part time employee who has worked for the town for 5 almost 6 years @ 35 hours per week she only receives 5 vacation days per year. If she is sick she still needs to work since permanent part time employees receive no PTO (paid time off). Saunders spoke with prior longtime Payroll Administrator Kim Hughes and this vacation schedule is very old and Saunders added that it needs to be updated. As a permanent part time employee she receives no medical, dental or retirement benefits.
Selectman Melvin added that he would like to change the schedule. By making a change does not change the budget for the budget includes a 52 week per year gross wages. Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough agreed with Saunders for this schedule has been in place for years and never updated. We have good employees that work hard and need to pay their bills and put food on the table.
The Board discussed a proposed change to the schedule to revise the schedule starting in year 5 - 6 and to call it PTO versus vacation days. The Board asked for Town Administrator Wrigley to check on how many permanent part time employees would be affected by this change.
- Cable Station Manager Replacement
Selectman Melvin motioned to accept the resignation of Donna Judge as Station Manager and send a letter thanking her for the work she has done for the Town of Newton. Second by Chairman Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Selectman Melvin motioned to hire Diane Morin as the new Station Manager for cable at Grade X, step 3 not to exceed 15 hours per week effective today. Second by Chairman Thayer. Discussion: We need to make sure Morin is not exceeding 25 hours per week. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
- Open bids for Hazardous Waste Day
The Board opened two sealed bids from the following companies;
Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Braintree, MA
TRADEBE Environmental Services, Meriden, CT
A spreadsheet showing a cost comparison will be reviewed at the Board’s next meeting.
- Review information on the fence at the Transfer Station
The Board discussed additional work to be done in preparation for the installation of the fence at the Transfer Station. The side of the road needs to be cleared of brush and some trees and to install a new separate entrance way to the sand/salt shed. Office Manager Winglass informed the Board that she spoke with Road Agent Mike Pivero and the road crew can work on cleaning the roadside and removal of trees; the cost includes employees time and rental equipment. The entrance to the sand/salt shed will be over the bid price and we need to prepare specifications for the work to be completed. Winglass will ask Pivero to help with the specifications for this work.
Town Administrator Wrigley will check with the Department of Revenue Administration to find out if we can spend the funds from the warrant article for the roadside and entrance work.
- Fuel Program for Employees and Volunteers
The Board reviewed a proposed fuel program from Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil offered to employees and volunteers of the Town of Newton. This program is in place in other towns and has been successful. The Board agreed to allow employees/volunteers to participate in this program at no cost to the town.
- Cont review of RMON Networks quotes for upgrades to include a server, firewalls and antivirus
The Board reviewed a revised three year contract with RMON Networks to include IT Services plus a three year lease option on a new server, firewalls and antivirus for a total monthly cost of $2,160.08. The contract has an “Opt Out” if the town chooses to terminate the contract then the remaining balance of the server would be due in full. RMON will leave the antivirus and firewalls in place until replacement products are installed and will bill the town accordingly.
Cost breakdown as follows;
Unlimited Service Support - Monthly cost of $1,060.00
Server Lease - Monthly cost of $368.00
Firewalls - Monthly cost of $200.00 (2 - Additional DR Coverage)
Firewall Lease - Monthly cost of $450.00
Antivirus - Monthly cost of $82.08
Chairman Thayer motioned to accept the new three year contract with RMON Networks dated 6.3.2013. Second by Selectman Melvin. Discussion: For a total monthly cost of $2,160.08 for a term of 36 months. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Proposal to Counsel New Hampshire MS4 Coalition
Town Administrator Wrigley explained to the Board that she has been in contact with Town Counsel Sumner Kalman regarding a coalition of NH municipalities to stand together on the proposed EPA new draft permits for small MS4 in NH. The proposed permits contain a number of onerous and controversial requirements that would have significant impacts on small NH towns.
The concern is we do not know how many towns; 60 towns have been invited to join. 20 towns have signed with Sheehan Finney, leaving 40 municipalities unrepresented. Sumner hopes to educate those remaining municipalities to determine how many are interested in contributing, which would then give a per municipality cost. Wrigley suggested to the Board that they meeting with Sumner to get the pros and cons and to invite Town Engineer Mike Vignale who has helped the town prepare the 2013 MS4 Annual Report.
- Announcements
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
The Board signed a Vendor Manifest dated 5/30/13 in the amount of $28,690.10.
The Board signed a Vendor Manifest dated 6/4/2013 in the amount of $11,524.55.
The Board signed a Payroll Manifest dated 6/7/2013 for the pay period of 5/19 to 6/1.
Recreation Commission Annie Collyer was present to discuss the purchase of a new raft at the Town Beach. Collyer, a member of the Recreation Commission received quotes on behalf of the Commission; funding for this will come from the Recreation Revolving Account. The Board agreed to this purchased and requested the Recreation Commission prepare a revised requisition for the raft and a second one for the additional items needed to keep it in place.
Notice of Intent to Cut Wood or Timber - Pond Street Map 004-07-001 & 009
Resident Jay Pramberg was present to discuss the tree cutting taking place on the lot that abuts his property. The property is part in Newton and Kingston with a total of 82.8 acres in a conservation easement. The owner filed an intent to cut in Kingston a couple of weeks ago and they are monitoring the work. Today the property owner filed an intent to cut in Newton; Pramberg advised the Selectmen to contact Kingston to talk about what they are doing to monitor the cut and to properly relay to the logger in writing of the easement in place. Town Administrator Wrigley added that the State is visiting the property tomorrow and recommended holding off from signing until we receive their recommendation.
The Board signed a letter to Rick Milner, Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator regarding the Cable Revolving Fund.
The Board signed requisition #2408 in the amount of $500 for miscellaneous supplies for the swim program, per the recommendation of the Recreation Commission.
The Board signed requisition #2405 in the amount of $725.00 for swim buoy kit per the recommendation of the Recreation Commission.
Next meeting is scheduled for June 11, 2013
Chairman Thayer closed the meeting at 9:12pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
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