NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Vice Chairman Doggett opened the meeting at 6pm. In attendance were Selectmen James L. Doggett, Matthew A. Burrill, Lawrence B. Foote, Charles R. Melvin, Sr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. Minutes were transcribed and typed by the Town Administrator and the Office Manager.
Chairman Robert S. Donovan, Jr. was not in attendance.
Melvin moved to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) - Performance Evaluations; (c) - Ambulance billing; (c) - Nonpublic Minutes of July 15, 2014; (d) - 8 Merrimac Road. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote: Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Melvin motioned to adjourn the nonpublic meeting at 7:31pm. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote: Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye. Per a unanimous roll call vote, the minutes of the nonpublic meeting will remain confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply except to announce the following:
- Burrill moved to give Scott DePanfilis, Graphic Designer for the Cable Committee a merit increase from Grade IX, step 3 to step 7 effective 7/13/2014. Second by Foote. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Selectman Melvin moved to increase EMD Secretary Melissa Adams rate of pay from IX/5 to IX/7 effective 06/22/14. Second by Selectman Burrill. The vote was unanimous.
- Selectman Melvin moved to increase Fire Department FF/ EMT Richard Dupre’s rate of pay from Grade XV/2 to XV/4 effective 03/12/14. Second by Selectman Foote. The vote was unanimous.
- Selectman Melvin moved to increase Transfer Station Manager Tom DiFalco’s rate of pay from a Grade XVII/4 to XVII/6 effective 07/06/14. Second by Selectman Foote. The vote was unanimous.
- Selectman Melvin moved to increase Facilities Maintenance / Custodian Tony Romanoski’s rate of pay from Grade XII/1 to Grade XII/5 effective 09/07/14. Second by Selectman Foote. The vote was unanimous.
- Selectman Melvin moved to excuse the cost of the ambulance ride and to do the “write-off” on this bill. Second by Selectman Doggett. The vote was unanimous.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public and Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated August 19, 2014
Burrill motioned to approve the Selectmen’s Public and Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated August 19, 2014. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
- Bill Landry Re: Update on Grant Application for curtain restoration
Historical Society President Bill Landry was present to give the Board an update on the grant for the curtain restoration. The Historical Society applied for the grant this year and awarded 80% of the cost for the restoration. The original estimate is $9,200 with the Historical Society pledging $500 which brings it down to $8,700. The town has been approved for $7,000 in grant funding and leaves us with a balance of $1,700 to complete this project.
A discussion took place on funding options available. The repairs to the Marshall House Museum Barn came in $1,500 under budget therefore a large portion of the cost is offset by this savings, except for $200. Selectman Melvin offered to donate his next Selectman paycheck to cover the remainder.
Burrill moved that we earmark the $1,500 from the Marshall House Barn repairs to the curtain restoration. Second by Melvin. Foote added that he would have the additional $200 come out of the general fund and let Selectman Melvin keep his pay. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Doggett asked Landry to take a lot of pictures during the restoration. Burrill suggested for Landry to ask one more time if they can shave $200 off the price. Landry added that next Monday is the next Historical Society meeting and will see if they will approve kicking in the $200.
- Road Agent Pivero Re: Wilders Grove Culvert
Road Agent Mike Pivero showed the Selectmen the plan prepared by Mike Vignale to repair the Wilders Grove Culvert. The plan has been sent off to the state and we have to wait before going out to bid for we must have a complete set of permits.
- Review schedule and preparations for State Primary Election, September 9, 2014
The Board discussed Primary Election Day on September 9th and the State requirement that we have a quorum of Selectmen present all day.~ Both Doggett and Foote opened up their schedules in order to be available all day.~ Burrill has a conflict in the morning but is available from 12 noon to the end of the day.~ Melvin is unavailable all day. The Board asked to send an email to Chairman Donovan to see if he is available to cover the morning hours. In a bind Burrill may be able to work the morning hours.
- Property-Liability Trust Re: Transfer Station Safety Survey
The Board read a letter from the Property-Liability Trust who recently conducted a safety survey at the Transfer Station. Safety concerns looked at during the survey include employee and patron safety, protective barriers, equipment hazards, hazardous waste, traffic flow patterns, fire hazards, appropriate signage, slip and fall hazards, entrapment risks, personal protective equipment, general facility housekeeping, patron supervision.
The report concluded that the management, maintenance and operations of the Transfer Station have created an environment that is safe in the context of risk management and congratulated the town and staff who is doing an exemplary job.
- Review Cleaning Bids for Town Buildings
The Selectmen reviewed two bids received from Design Tech Group and Richen Management.~ The Board made a decision to award the bid to Design Tech Group of Exeter which came down to cost.~ Design Tech Group came in at a yearly expense of $10,040 which was $5,100 less than Richen Management.~.~
Melvin motioned to award the cleaning bid to Design Tech Group for years 2015 and 2016. Second by Foote. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds from the State of NH U.S. Forest Service to the Division of Forests and Lands in the amount of $543.48 to the Town of Newton. The 2014 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant are federal funds were used to purchase handheld GPS.
Melvin moved per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds from the State of NH U.S. Forest Service to the Division of Forests and Lands in the amount of $543.48 to the Town of Newton. The 2014 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant are federal funds were used to purchase handheld GPS. Second by Burrill. This grant requires the town to match the amount of the grant. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Discussion on upcoming 2015 budget schedule
The Board of Selectmen decided to start the 2015 budget review in mid October.~ Last year’s budget meeting schedule worked well with most departments coming in level funded.
Burrill moved to adopt the 2015 Proposed Budget Meeting Schedule. Second by Foote. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Melvin moved to have the same spending freeze/cap as last year, not to exceed $500. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to use the same wording as last year for budgets and warrant articles but with the proper year. Second by Burrill. December 3, 2014 is the last day to submit proposed warrant articles to the Selectmen’s Office. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Announcements
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Foote moved to sign the NH Retirement certification form for Cory Drouin. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to sign the amended Vehicle Policy. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to sign the 2014 MS-1. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Resident Bob Faghan was present and informed the Selectmen that September is National Recovery Month per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and this year is the 25th Annual National Recovery Month observance.
Mr. Faghan asked the Selectmen to sign a template proclamation from Washington DC that the Town of Newton proclaims the month of September 2014 as National Recovery Month. Faghan stated that today Governor Hassan signed the proclamation in support and he asked the Selectmen to sign as well.
Melvin motioned to sign the Proclamation hereby proclaiming the month of September 2014 as National Recovery Month. Second by Foote. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to sign the Payroll Manifest for the pay period of 8/10 - 8/23. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 9/2/2014 in the amount of $72,352.40. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to approve requisition #2457 initiated by the Fire Chief to purchase a complete set of turn out gear in the amount of $1,775.80. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to approve requisition #2600 from the Recreation Commission to subsidize for the Castle in the Clouds Senior Trip paid to Fox Tours in the amount of $3,240 paid from Warrant Article #13. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with Doggett abstaining.
The Board reviewed documentation from NHMA regarding the 2015-2016 Legislative Policy Conference on Friday, September 26th in Concord.
Burrill moved to nominate Melvin as the town’s representative voting delegate at the Legislative Policy Conference. Second by Foote. The Board will meet on September 16th to review each proposal and to take a position on each proposal in order to give guidance to Melvin as the voting delegate. Motion passed with Melvin abstaining.
Burrill motioned to adjourn at 8:26pm. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
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