NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013
TIME: 6:15PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Thayer opened the meeting at 6:46pm. In attendance were Chairman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman Charles R. Melvin Sr., Robert S. Donovan, Jr., 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.
Chairman Thayer motioned to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) - Employee Matters and Evaluations. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Chairman Thayer motioned to close the meeting at 7:17pm. Second by Selectman Melvin. 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.
Chairman Thayer called the public meeting back to order at 7:25pm.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
Senator Nancy Stiles Re: Letter from Department of Transportation regarding Rowe’s Corner
Senator Stiles referenced the letter from the Department of Transportation dated September 30, 2013 with their evaluation and option for improving the Rowes Corner intersection. Five alternatives were looked at by the State and Senator Stiles asked the Board which option is the top contender. The Board agreed that they prefer the four way stop intersection; Selectman Melvin discussed the need to elevate the road to be even with the height of the other connecting roads. Senator Stiles responded that a cost estimate would be beneficial, in the meantime she will work to get this part of the 10 year DOT plan.
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated September 3, 2013, September 17, 2013, September 25, 2013 and October 1, 2013
Chairman Thayer motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated September 3, 2013, September 17, 2013, September 25, 2013 and October 1, 2013 as written. Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated September 3, 2013, September 17, 2013, September 25, 2013 and October 1, 2013
Chairman Thayer motioned to accept the Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated September 3, 2013, September 17, 2013, September 25, 2013 and October 1, 2013 as written. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Scheduled Business
- 2014 Proposed Budget: Emergency Management, Conservation Commission, Tree Warden and Town Assessor
Care of Trees Budget
Selectman Donovan motioned to accept the 2014 Care of Trees budget in the amount of $4,000 which is the same as last year's budget. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Conservation Commission Budget
Office Manager Winglass stated that she spoke with Peter Mears, Chair of the Conservation Commission who plans on submitting the budget next week after the commission’s meeting.
Emergency Management Budget
Emergency Management Director Larry Foote was present and explained that the Emergency Management has two budgets; Town Budget and Seabrook Budget. The Seabrook budget is offset by reimbursement from the State. The State budget fiscal year is July to June which makes it hard to determine the exact amount to budget therefore he uses past budgeted amounts to estimate this budget. The town budget is level funded.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 Town Emergency Management budget in the amount of $17,290.00. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote. There is no increase in the town’s portion of emergency management.
Selectman Melvin motioned to approve the 2014 Emergency Management Seabrook budget of $27,030.00. Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Town Assessor’s Budget
Town Assessor Andrea Lewy presented the Board with the 2013 Tax Warrant for their review and signature. The total amount to be collected is $6,349,151.20. The Board signed the warrant.
The Board reviewed the 2013 certified tax rate of $25.30 from the State Department of Revenue Administration.
The breakdown is as follows;
|
|
|
|
2013 Tax Rate |
2012 Tax Rate |
Town Rate |
$ 3.21 |
$ 3.11 |
Local School |
$18.95 |
$17.49 |
State School |
$ 2.20 |
$ 2.34 |
County Rate |
$ 0.94 |
$ 0.97 |
Total |
$25.30 |
$23.91 |
2014 Municipal Assessing Proposal
The Board reviewed the proposal presented by Town Assessor Andrea Lewy. The proposal is for the same services provided in 2013 for the same cost: General Assessing and Data Verification in the amount of $42,900.00.
Selectman Melvin motioned that we sign the 2014 contract for the Assessing and Data Verification in the amount of $42,900. Second by Thayer. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The Board reviewed the current bulk item fee schedule and decided to make no change at this time.
- Updated Cable Committee By-Laws
Cable Committee Chairman Mary Winglass informed the Board that the cable committee recently updated their by-laws and asked for the Board to review them.
- Job Description for Transfer Station Attendant/Maintenance
The Board reviewed a revised job description prepared by interim Transfer Station Manager Tom Difalco. Selectman Donovan will check with Tom on the maintenance schedule.
- Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $21.76 to the Newton Food Pantry from Planet Aid on behalf of the Newton Learning Center
Chairman Thayer motioned per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $21.76 to the Newton Food Pantry from Planet Aid on behalf of the Newton Learning Center. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The Board will review sample policies and will give feedback to the Town Administrator.
- Announcements
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
- Emergency Management Director Larry Foote dropped off the RERP Plan (Radiological Emergency Response Plan). The plan is complete and only needs the Selectmen to sign off on it. The Selectman will review it and put it on next week’s agenda.
- Road Agent Mike Pivero was present and discussed the ever growing brush pile at the Transfer Station over the past number of years due to the increase in storms. FEMA has reimbursed the town for some of the cost over the years but it looks like the threshold for storms will increase and FEMA may not be able to continue to help the towns. Pivero is meeting tomorrow with the Newton Fire Chief and State Fire Warden to obtain a Class IV burn permit. The plan is to monitor the pile and burn on a smaller scale. The Board agreed to Pivero’s plan to burn the brush versus paying to remove it.
- Road Agent Mike Pivero discussed the new Transfer Station fence and recommended for the Board to change the plan to have sliding gates and instead install a swing gate. A swing gate will eliminate any problem that could occur with the uneven terrain and snow. The Board is in agreement with installing swing gates.
- Health Insurance - the Board was given documentation on the 2014 health and dental rates. The Board will review the information and will discuss it at their next meeting.
- The Board answered an inquiry regarding Wilders Grove Road stating they are moving forward.
- Selectmen’s Office Manager Winglass informed the Board that the town received a letter from NH Department of Environmental Services and they are giving the town until December 20, 2013 to submit the town’s Transfer Station Operating Plan.
- The Board reviewed a letter from Jason Khalil announcing the 5th annual 5K Turkey Trot racing event on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 2pm starting at 85 South Main Street. For more information contact www.newtonnhturkeytrot.com
- Town Offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2013 in observance of Veteran’s Day.
- The Board read a Proclamation from Governor Hassan: November 2013 is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month
- The Board approved the Payroll Manifest for the period of 10/20/2013 to 11/2/2013
- The Board approved a Vendor Manifest in the amount of $64,895.33.
Chairman Thayer closed the meeting at 8:50pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Winglass, Office Manager
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