NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Donovan called the meeting to order at 6pm. In attendance were Selectmen Robert S. Donovan, Jr., James L. Doggett, Matthew A. Burrill, Lawrence B. Foote, Charles R. Melvin, Sr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. The nonpublic meeting minutes were transcribed and typed by Town Administrator Wrigley and the public minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Donovan moved to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) - Fire Department; (c) - Donation; (a) - Performance Evaluations at 6:02pm. Second by Doggett with a unanimous roll call vote; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Donovan moved to close the Nonpublic Session at 6:58pm. Second by Foote with a roll call vote; Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye. The Selectmen reserve the right to keep all matters confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members, the circumstances no longer apply except to announce the following:
- The Board unanimously voted to take Diane Morin, Cable Station Manager from Grade X, step 3 to step 7 effective date of June 4, 2014
- The Board unanimously voted to promote Justin Winsper, Transfer Station Attendant from Grade V, step 2 to step 3 effective September 12, 2014
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Scheduled Business
- Cliff Sinnott, RPC Re: Update on Plaistow Commuter Rail by DOT
Cliff Sinnott was present to give an update on the Plaistow Commuter Rail Extension Study. The purpose is to evaluate the extension of the MBTA Haverhill line commuter rail service from Haverhill, MA to Plaistow NH and determine if approved project should go forward based on the likely benefits, costs and impacts.
A Public Information Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 7pm at the Plaistow Town Hall to review refined site alternatives for a possible station and layover facility.
Melvin asked “Where does Newton come into play”. Sinnott responded that residents might use the service but that is all.
- Meeting schedule for November
Due to the State Election on November 4th, the Selectmen decided to set a substitution meeting on November 10th and the Board changed the budget review schedule to include this date.
- ZBA Appointment for Michael Connolly
Burrill moved to approve the appointment for Michael Connolly to the Zoning Board of Appeals with an expiration date of March 31, 2017. Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
- Gale Village Road Speed Limit
The Board of Selectmen reviewed the speed limit on Gale Village Road again due to the State laws RSA 47:17 and 265:63 requires that whenever local authorities determine on the basis of an engineering or traffic investigation may decrease the speed limit not less than 25 miles per hour.~
Police Chief Streeter was present and offered to conduct a survey next week so the Board can review it at their next meeting on October 21st.~ Once this is done then the Selectmen must hold a Public Hearing before officially changing the speed limit.~ If/when the Board decides at the Public Hearing to reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hour then the signs will be purchased and posted.
Burrill moved to have the survey done so the Board has the information. Second by Doggett with a unanimous vote.
- Cont review of Grounds Maintenance bids
Town Administrator Wrigley asked the Board to consider putting the landscaping at Greenie Park under the General Government Buildings budget versus the Recreation budget. Wrigley is working with Bookkeeper Rick Milner creating a new chart of accounts to put town services under General Government Buildings i.e. Internet Services etc.
Doggett moved to sign the Town Buildings Grounds Maintenance Agreement with T&M Property Maintenance without mowing the back field at the Police Department for 2015 in the amount of $6,580.00 and 2016 in the amount of $8,690.00. Second by Foote, motion passed with Melvin abstaining.
Doggett moved to sign the 2015 and 2016 Grounds Maintenance Agreement for Greenie Park with T&M Property Maintenance in the amount of $6,375 annually. Second by Foote, motion passed with Melvin abstaining.
Doggett moved that we move within the budget (Recreation-grounds) cost of mowing Greenie Park to the General Government Buildings budget (Grounds-Summer) beginning with the 2015 budget. Second by Foote, passed with a unanimous vote.
Selectman Donovan referred to the Newton Baseball Association in the past contributed to the cost of grounds maintenance at Greenie Park.~He stated that it happened some time ago and asked to contact Newton Baseball to request information on past practices and to ask if they are willing to contribute to the cost of maintenance.
- Parking concerns on Wilders Grove Road
Police Chief Streeter was present to discuss correspondence received from the residents at 78 Wilder’s Grove Road. The trouble they are having is with ice fisherman parking along both sides of the causeway to “Hoyts Island” including in front of the Fire Department’s hose hook-up pipe. The road there is very narrow and is on a curve and when there are parked cars makes it difficult to drive past and the concern is getting Fire Apparatus past the parked vehicles. This usually happens when the ice fishing tournament takes place other than that there is no other issue to date.
The Board has the option to post the area “No Parking” permanently, seasonally or do nothing at all. The consensus was to post it a full time permanent no parking area which would require an ordinance and a public hearing.
Doggett asked Chief Streeter to contact the residents to let them know that the Selectmen are taking it under advisement and working on a solution.
- Generator at Newton Junction Fire Station
Office Manager Winglass addressed the current status of installing a replacement generator at the Newton Junction Fire Station at 29 West Main Street. The town received a proposal for an all inclusive price for a functional system which came in over $9,000 which included a cement pad, electrical and propane hookup. Chairman Donovan added to have one contractor do the entire job would require them to subcontract out the work therefore he is in favor of receiving quotes of each part separately for it will save money. The Board agreed to move forward as proposed by Donovan.
Winglass added after researching it further, currently there is a gas pipeline going to the existing generator but we need to have the line checked. We need to hire someone to pour a pad and columns around the generator for safety and get a price from an electrician to change it from a manual to automatic transfer switch.
After further discussion Donovan offered to measure the generator in order to determine the size of the pad. Winglass will check with the Building Inspector for any regulation on the size of the pad and number of columns. The Board asked to get a price from the Road Agent. Winglass will contact the gas company to have them check the line and contact an electrician to get a price to install the automatic transfer switch.
- Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds
- the amount of $70.00 to the Newton Food Pantry from the Newton Historical Society
Foote moved per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $70.00 to the Newton Food Pantry from the Newton Historical Society . Second by Burrill, passed with a unanimous vote.
- the amount of $3,532.65 from HealthTrust representing the Member Group’s share recovered by HealthTrust
Melvin moved per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend the amount of $3,532.65 from HealthTrust representing the Member Group’s share recovered by HealthTrust. Second by Doggett passed with a unanimous vote.
- Town Hall is CLOSED on Monday in observance of Columbus Day
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Doggett moved to sign the Welfare Manifest dated 9/29 in the amount of $750.00. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Welfare Manifest dated 9/30 in the amount of $360.00. Second by Donovan with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Payroll Manifest dated 9/26 for the pay period 9/7 - 9/20. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Payroll Manifest dated 10/10 for the pay period 9/21 - 10/4. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 9/15 in the amount of $400.00. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 10/6 in the amount of $24,376.42. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 10/2 in the amount of $117,182.53. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to approve requisition #2506 from the Cable Committee to purchase (12) Kopul Premium Performance 3000 Series XLR Microphone Cables in the amount of $137.88 paid from the Cable Revolving Fund. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to approve requisition #2507 from the Cable Committee to purchase batteries for the wireless microphones, no more than $100 paid from the Cable Revolving Fund. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to accept the revised amount on requisition #2504 for wireless microphones from $7,124.00 to $7,128.00 to be paid from the Cable Revolving Fund. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
The Board reviewed an email from the Town Administrator regarding the purchase of Arborvitae Trees to plant in front of the new gate at the Transfer Station. $2,000 was budgeted this year for this project and the town’s custodian Tony Romanowski found online a discounted price of $59 for each tree, usually they sell for $149 each. Romanowski recommends purchasing 25 trees which bring it under the bid price but we need make a decision now in order to place the order; this cost includes delivery and planting in the ground.
Melvin responded that the area needs to be cleaned in preparation of planting the trees.
The Board recommends asking the Road Agent to dress the area in front of the fence between the gates, clearing out the roots and rocks.
Donovan moved to purchase the Arborvitae Trees for the Transfer Station not to exceed $1,500.00. Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the State of NH notice to the inhabitants of the Town of Newton in the County of Rockingham, NH. You are hereby notified to meet at Newton Town Hall, 2 Town Hall Road on Tuesday, the fourth day of November, 2014. The polls will be open between the hours of 8am and 8pm to act upon the following subjects: To bring in your votes for Governor, United States Senator, United States Representative, Executive Councilor, State Senator, State Representative and County Officers Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Donovan motioned to close the public meeting at 8:25pm. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Winglass, Office Manager
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