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January 8, 2013 Board of Selectmen Minutes
NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD

PUBLIC MEETING

  • Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman McCarthy opened the meeting at 6pm.  In attendance were Chairman Trisha J. McCarthy, Selectman Raymond D. Thayer, Selectman 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.

  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Introduction of Guests
  • Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
  • Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated November 5, 2012, November 13, 2012, November 20, 2012, November 26, 2012 and November 27, 2012
  • Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated November 5, 2012, November 20, 2012, November 26, 2012 and November 27, 2012
Minutes were not addressed at the meeting.

  • Scheduled Business
  • 2013 Holiday Schedule
The Board reviewed a 2013 Holiday Schedule prepared by Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Milner.  The Board discussed that they want to review and update the Personnel Policies and Procedures in the near future.

  • Continue review of 2013 budgets, default budget and warrant articles
Transfer Station Manager Kevin Jolicoeur was present to review with the Board the reductions made to the Solid Waste budget by the Selectmen.  Jolicoeur stated that he did his best to cut back on the 2013 budget by presenting $9,044 reduction compared to the 2012 Default Budget.  Jolicoeur explained that the additional cuts to his budget by the Selectmen could affect the proposed 2013 voucher system.

Budget and Default Budget

The Board reviewed each department budget and proposed default budget outlined on the 2012 - 2013 Budget Spreadsheet.  Some changes were made and all were in agreement with the final figures and the Board asked for the spreadsheet to be made available on the website and for the Public Hearing scheduled for January 14, 2013.

Resident Dan Dodson commended the Board on their outstanding work to reduce the budget and added that for the record the school budget will also be under the default budget.

Warrant Articles

The Board reviewed the list of proposed warrant articles explained by Town Administrator Wrigley and a warrant article pre-review from Department of Revenue Jeanne Samms.  The articles were reviewed with many changes based upon the decision of the Board of Selectmen and recommendations by the State of NH Department of Revenue Administration.

The Board discussed that potentially Selectman Melvin will be unable to attend the January 14, 2013 Public Hearing.  The Board decided that if Melvin is unable to attend on the 14th then they would recess the public hearing and resume the hearing on January 15th in order to include Melvin in the vote to recommend or not recommend each warrant article.  

The Board reviewed a petition warrant article submitted by Resident Russell Riccio.  

The first line of the petition warrant reads “1. Are you in favor of the adoption of an Amendment to Zoning Ordinances as proposed by the People of the Town of Newton as follows?”  The Board discussed that they have no authority over Zoning Ordinances for that falls under the purview of the Newton Planning Board.  Since the Planning Board was currently meeting in the main hall upstairs, Selectman Melvin took a copy of the petition to them for their input and comment.  The Planning Board agreed to send Mr. Riccio a letter explaining the procedure for submitting a petition warrant article for zoning.
The Board of Selectmen asked Office Manager Winglass to send Mr. Riccio a letter explaining that the Board has no authority over petition warrant articles for zoning.
  • 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting Schedule
The Board reviewed and approved the proposed 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting schedule as prepared by Office Manager Winglass.  

The Board then reviewed the 2013 Payroll and Vendor Manifest schedule as proposed by Bookkeeper/Payroll Administrator Rick Milner.  Office Manager Winglass explained a proposed change to the Vendor Manifest schedule by Milner in order to keep the vendor manifest on opposite weeks as payroll.  The Board decided to leave the vendor manifest schedule per our past policy to follow the Selectmen’s Meeting schedule on the first and third week of each month.  Since the payroll and vendor manifest do not fall on the same week until May, let’s leave it as is for now and see how things are in May

  • Announcements
  • Monday, January 14, 2013 at 7pm Public Hearing on 2013 Budget and Warrant Articles
  • January 8, 2013 Last Day to submit Petitioned Warrant Articles
  • January 9, 2013 from 2pm to 7pm- Red Cross Blood Drive at Town Hall
  • January 23, 2013 - First day for candidates to file for candidacy
  • February 1, 2013 - Last day for candidates to file for candidacy
  • February 2, 2013 1PM- Saturday DELIBERATIVE SESSION at Town Hall; Snow date is Saturday, February 9, 2013.
  • Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
  • The Board initialed a memo from the Payroll Administrator Rick Milner stating that two Transfer Station employees were paid holiday time in error.  The adjustment will be made on their next paycheck.
  • The Board signed response letters to the Auctioneers who interviewed with the Board for the sale of 2 Amesbury Road.
  • The Board signed a letter to Dale Putnam thanking him for his many years of service on the Newton Fire Department.
  • Chairman McCarthy stated that she has prepared a proposed 2012 Annual Report from the Selectmen and asked for input from the other Selectmen.
  • The Board asked for both the Town Custodian and Road Agent to continue snow removal at 2 Amesbury Road.
  • The Board reviewed an email from Newton Baseball Association asking to meet to discuss the storage/concession building at Greenie Park.  Town Administrator added that she is working on obtaining information from other towns on their policy for managing their facility.  Due to the fact that the Board is in the middle of town meeting and we are looking into a contract/policy for this building, additional time is necessary.
  • The Board discussed meeting with the Local Government Center on Friday afternoon at 3pm to discuss employee training/concerns in a nonpublic session.
  • The Board approved hiring Kent Septic Services to conduct a septic inspection at 2 Amesbury Road.
  • The Board reviewed proposed language for a road bond for 57 Heath Street, Map 4-6-3-18.  Lot owners and/or their agents are required to post a $5,000 Road Bond upon the application of a driveway permit.  The bond is to cover any potential damage to Heath Street along frontage of said lots during construction phase of their lots.  Once construction has been complete an inspected by the Road Agent and a final determination and recommendation will be given before the release of said funds.  Office Manager Winglass stated that she has spoken with the Road Agent and he approved the language but all agree that since this is the first lot in the subdivision we should receive legal counsel on the proposed language of the road bond.  Once we have the approval of legal counsel on the language of the road bond it will be able to be used for the remainder of the lots. The Board agreed to contact legal counsel for this purpose.
  • Office Manager Winglass is working on scheduling training for employees.  Chairman McCarthy has been working on a new schedule at the Transfer Station and is working on an additional Transfer Station policy.
  • Chairman McCarthy showed Selectman Melvin a 2004 Press Lease on the Peanut Trail explaining the liability to the town regarding the nuisance clause.  The Board asked to send Robert White a letter inviting him to the February 5, 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting.
  • Adjourn
Chairman McCarthy motioned to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) - Personnel and (b) - Fire Department at 9pm.  Second by Selectman Melvin.  Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

Chairman McCarthy motioned to close the nonpublic meeting at 10pm.  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 unanimously approved to give Selectmen’s Office Manager Mary Winglass a 5% merit increase retroactive to her anniversary date of October 18, 2012; Grade XXIII, step 7.  
  • The Board unanimously approved the Fire Department Officer’s recommendation to accept the application of Ronald Jackson for a six month probationary period at the Fire Department rate of pay of $11.70 per hour to primarily work as a daytime driver/pump operator effective January 8, 2013.  
In public session the Board made the following motion.

Motion made by Selectman Melvin that Jack Kozec and Bonnie Burnham is authorized to make deposits to Town Hall at the end of a shift.  Both are to have keys made for them for the Town Hall thus allowing their names to be added to the current authorized employees with keys.  Second by Selectman Thayer.  Motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Chairman McCarthy adjourned the public meeting at 10:08pm.

                                                        Respectfully Submitted,


                                                        Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager