NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Selectman Melvin opened the meeting at 6:03pm. In attendance were Selectman Charles R. Melvin, Sr., Selectman Robert S. Donovan, Jr. 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 Raymond D. Thayer was not in attendance.
Selectman Melvin motioned at 6:04pm to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) - Fire Department Employee Evaluations. Second by Donovan. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Selectman Melvin motioned to close the nonpublic session at 6:12pm. Second by Donovan. 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:
- to approve an increase in pay to Zakk Castellano to Grade XV, step 2 effective date September 4, 2013
- to bring Jeffrey Gersbach to Grade XVII, step 8 effective June 17, 2013.
Selectman Melvin called the public meeting back to order at 6:13pm.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated December 30, 2013 and January 13, 2014
- Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated December 30, 2013
Melvin and Donovan held off approving the minutes since Chairman Thayer was not in attendance.
A. Fire Department Re: Gas Price Comparison
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls presented to the Board the option of purchasing gas and diesel fuel at a fixed price through the State. The town vehicles would have to travel to the state shed on Mill Road and Route 111 which is a 12 mile round trip. A discussion took place that in the past no one was turning in slips and the town was written up by the town auditors. Now we have a system that works for Estabrook submits the slips monthly to the town with the invoice. There is a savings with the state program but would take the sale of fuel out of the community. The Board decided to wait to make a decision so Thayer can vote on this item. The Board asked Fire Chief Ingalls to find out how many gallons the Fire Department purchased last year.
B. Update on the Trinity Ambulance Contract
Fire Chief Bill Ingalls explained that he has not received a final contract as of yet but should in the next couple of weeks.
C. Update on the intersection improvements to Rowe’s Corner
Selectman Melvin announced that Senator Nancy Stiles worked with NHDOT to include intersection improvements to Rowe’s Corner (Route 108/Maple/Amesbury Road) on the States Ten Year Plan. The plan includes $850,000 for improvements at the intersection, construction in 2022; this project was ranked 46th by the MPO.
The Board asked to send Senator Stiles a thank you note.
D. Road Agent Re: Transfer Station Fence
Road Agent Mike Pivero received a quote from Fences Unlimited to change out the privacy slats at the Transfer Station. The slats currently in place are only 50% privacy slats and the Board had a concern. After reviewing the quote the Board decided to look at putting in bushes and shrubs as per the original plan.
E. NMCC Re: Rescind appointments of 3 members
Melvin read an email from Jim Doggett on behalf of the NMCC requesting to rescind the appointments of Robert Donovan, Jr., Bradley Cardoso and Frank Gibbs as members of the NMCC Committee. Since Raymond Thayer was not at the meeting, Donovan did not feel comfortable voting to rescind his own appointment. The Board then made the following motion:
Selectman Melvin motioned for the NMCC Committee to send a letter to Frank Gibbs and Bradley Cardoso inquiring on their status as a member of the committee and whether they plan to continue as a member of the committee. Second by Donovan. Motion passed.
F. Town Report Dedication
The Board decided on whom to dedicate the 2013 Town Report to and Town Administrator Wrigley will contact friends and relatives to prepare a write up.
- Deliberative Session is on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 9AM; Snow date is Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 9AM
- Recreation Commission is offering discount ticket to Amesbury Sports Park. Tickets are $18 each and sold at the Town Hall
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
- The Board signed a thank you letter to Jessica Brasier, Recreation Commission
- The Board signed a Welfare Manifest in the amount of $265.33
- Selectman Donovan motioned to approve the Vendor Manifest dated 1/20/2014 in the amount of $1,000,040.73. Second by Melvin. Motion passed.
Selectman Melvin motioned to close the public meeting at 6:55pm. Second by Donovan. Motion passed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary B. Winglass, Office Manager
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