NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
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 6:03pm. In attendance were Selectmen James L. Doggett, Vice Chairman, Matthew A. Burrill, Lawrence B. Foote, Charles R. Melvin, Sr., Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass. The meeting was audio and video taped; minutes were typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Robert S. Donovan, Jr. was not present at the meeting.
Burrill moved to go in to Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (c) - Contractual Agreement; (a) - Performance Evaluation; (b) - Cable Committee; (d) - Lease Agreement; (c) - Key to Selectmen’s Office. Second by Melvin. Motion passed with a unanimous vote: Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Doggett announced one item to report out of nonpublic, per a unanimous roll call vote the Board moved to give Barbara White, Permit Clerk wage elevated from Grade VI, step 5 to step 6 effective August 30th 2014.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated January 13, 2015 and January 19, 2015
Foote moved to accept the Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated January 13, 2015 and January 19, 2015 as written. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
- Selectmen’s Public Hearing minutes dated January 19, 2015
Foote moved to accept the Selectmen’s Public Hearing minutes dated January 19, 2015 as written. Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
- 2014 Emergency Operations Plan
Emergency Management Director and Selectman Larry Foote talked about the need every five years to update the emergency operations plan. The plan has been updated with grant funding from homeland security. The final plan is in the office and Foote asked for each Selectman to review it in order for it to be accepted at our next meeting.
- Cable Committee Re: Upgrading equipment
Diane Morin, Cable Station Manager and Chris Liquori, Cable Consultant discussed the research they conducted over the past year evaluating the equipment in order to improve the broadcast quality of the local access channel 20. Morin explained that they have met with a vendor who has taken the time to come onsite to demonstrate upgrade possibilities. Liquori has completed an upgrade for other towns and is concerned that if we are forced to go with the lowest bidder then we could lose control of the project; a higher degree of control is beneficial with this type of upgrade. It is important for the cable committee to have one company who they can trust with this large project therefore the committee is asking to forgo the sealed bid requirement and instead get three quotes. The Board agreed to accept three quotes for
this upgrade which may come in at a cost of approximately $70,000. Morin and Liquori added that they are still working out some of the details but thanked the Board for hearing them tonight.
- Fire Department Re: Policies and Procedures and Job Descriptions
Selectman Larry Foote stepped down for this discussion since he is a member of the Fire Department.
Fire Chief John Alcaidinho talked about the revised policies and procedures that were put together after researching the surrounding towns and with the Board of Selectmen’s input. Chief also restructured job descriptions and posted the positions on January 27th for members to apply with a deadline of today. The names will go in front of the Selectmen in nonpublic for their approval at their next meeting. Chief Alcaidinho added that the Policies and Procedures came into effect on February 1, 2015; policies will be reviewed every six months to start per the Selectmen’s request and then move to a yearly review.
Burrill moved to endorse the Chief’s endeavors with the Policies and Procedures and request to review after six months as well as the job descriptions. Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
Chief asked to meet with the Selectmen in nonpublic at their next scheduled meeting regarding the candidates. The Fire Department is hosting an Autism Awareness Class next Tuesday at 7pm at the Central Fire Station for anyone that would like to attend.
- Letter from Dr. Blake, Superintendent of Schools Re: Location of the March 2015 Elections
Dr. Brian Blake, Superintendent of Schools was present to address a letter he sent to the Board of Selectmen in mid January requesting the Selectmen to consider moving the town election back to the Memorial School. The Memorial School has a separate entrance into the auditorium and is all on one level for accessibility, safety and has parking availability.
Doggett responded that there are reasons why the location was changed with one being that due to divorce situations some voters cannot be anywhere near their children. Burrill added that since the warrant has gone to print we cannot change it this year but suggested that we survey the residents this year in order to get an accurate measure from the voters.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector McCullough stated that we changed the location of the elections to Town Hall back in 2010 for multiple reasons. With the elections at the school we had to pack up all booths, chairs, ballots and supplies prior to and then break it all down after the election that evening which added a lot of additional work for the employees.
McCullough added that she checked voter turnout over the past years and the numbers are higher when the election was held at Town Hall. Holding the election at Town Hall allows election officials to have facilities such as a kitchen and she has not heard residents complain about the location. One concern addressed is the limited access to the restrooms and the fact that they are not accessible to the public.
Melvin moved to keep all the elections here at the Town Hall. Second by Foote, motion passed with Burrill opposed for he wants more data.
- NH Dept of Safety Re: Recognition of achievement
The Board recognized the dedication and teamwork demonstrated by the town’s emergency response personnel.
- Legal Opinion on Warrant Article #10 Master Lease-Purchase Agreement
The Board reviewed a legal opinion from Town Counsel Sumner Kalman regarding the proposed warrant article for the lease-purchase of a tanker truck. The lease-purchase agreement requires a legal opinion due to provisions from the Internal Revenue Service. The Board discussed that some of this information is premature for the article may or may not be approved.
- Complaints about Town Personnel, Employees or Administration Policy and Incident Report Form
Burrill moved to accept the form and policy for complaints about town personnel, employees or administration. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
- Twombly Drive Bond Release
The Board received a recommendation from the Planning Board to release in full the maintenance bond for Twombly Drive.
Foote moved to release the Twombly Drive Bond per the recommendation of the Planning Board. Second by Burrill. Motion passed with Melvin opposed.
- Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds to the Newton Food Pantry from the following; $24.60 from the Newton Learning Center; and $50.00 from Empower Martial Arts
Foote moved Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds to the Newton Food Pantry from the following; $24.60 from the Newton Learning Center; and $50.00 from Empower Martial Arts. Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
- Sanborn Regional School District Deliberative Session, February 4th at 7pm and the High School Auditorium
- 2015 Candidates Night, February 11th, 7pm at the Town Hall
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Melvin moved to approve the payroll manifest dated 1/30/2015 for the pay period 1/11 - 1/24. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Burrill moved to approve the vendor manifest dated 2/3/2015 in the amount of $985,215.75. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Burrill moved to approve the vendor manifest dated 2/3/2015 in the amount of $21,873.41. Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
Melvin moved to approve requisition #2603 in the amount of $700 for Amesbury Sport Park for $700. Second by Burrill. Town Administrator questioned the amount for she thinks they are only asking for $250. The requisition total is $700 but they are only asking for the deposit of $250. Wrigley stated that she has asked the Recreation Commission Chairman Annie Collyer for a letter from Amesbury Sports Park stating that they will reimburse the town for any tickets that did not sell.
Melvin moved to amend the motion for a deposit of $250 and approve the requisition. Second by Foote. Pending the letter from the Amesbury Sports Park to be reimbursed. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough requested the Board sign a “Contract with Independent Contractor with Confidentiality Agreement” with Sanders Searches, LLC to identify mortgagees for the purposes of notification of liens and or impending deeding. McCullough added that she is changing companies for this service and requires a signature from the Board of Selectmen.
Melvin moved to sign the contract with Sanders Searches, LLC. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Foote moved to adjourn at 8:19pm. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
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