NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
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 6:03pm. In attendance were Selectmen Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Chairman, 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 taped; draft minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.
Donovan moved to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (a) & (b) - Fire Department & Cable Committee; (b) - Emergency Management; (d) - Lease Agreement. Second by Foote, motion passed with a unanimous vote: Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye.
Donovan moved to close the nonpublic at 7:22pm. Second by Foote, per a unanimous roll call vote, Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Melvin - aye. 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:
- Unanimous vote to hire Christopher Liquori as a one year temporary employee effective today with a monthly schedule not to exceed 12 hours at $25 per hour.
- Unanimous vote to step approve for Connor Leavitt, Cable Operator from Grade IX, step 1 to step 2 effective January 2, 2015
- Unanimous vote to hire Debra Alcaidinho as part of the Emergency Support Staff effective February 17, 2015 at Grade XIV/Step 1, $14.22 per hour.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated January 26, 2015 and February 3, 2015
Foote motioned to approve the February 3, 2015 public minutes with removing the discussion and only leaving the motion to approve the release of the bond. Second for discussion by Doggett.
Foote moved to hold off from accepting the February 3, 2015 Public Meeting minutes to our next nonpublic meeting and have the letter from the Local Government Center available at that time. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved accept the January 26, 2015 Public Meeting minutes as written. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved that in the future the minutes posted on the town website are only the approved minutes due to making amendments. Second by Foote. The minutes would be available for review but not published in order to prevent something like this from happening in the future. Motion passed with a unanimous vote. Office Manager confirmed that the minutes are posted with the Bookkeeper, Town Administrator and the Town Clerk/Tax Collector therefore they are allowed to leave the office prior to the Selectmen approving the minutes.
- Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated February 3, 2015
Foote moved to accept the Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated February 3, 2015. Second by Burrill, motioned passed with a unanimous vote.
Road Agent Mike Pivero was present to address the current financial status of the Highway Budget. Pivero talked about the catastrophic winter we have had and the detrimental impact to the budget. Any issues the Selectmen may have needs to be addressed now and not in April or September for this will all be forgotten by then. The Board reviewed the current year-to-date expenditures regarding winter operations. This meeting is to bring the Selectmen up to speed on the finances to date. Burrill questioned what happens when we blow the budget. Pivero responded that two things can happen:
1. We have no funds for any summer road repairs/paving and we then go deeper into that hole, a vicious cycle for we are already behind.
2. With little effort we will spend on half to 5/8 of the highway budget this winter. No one knows where this ends for we are not done with winter yet. The major blizzard has been named Juno and all documentation has been sent to FEMA and at this point we have not heard whether any Federal funding will be made available to the towns. Therefore the question is where do we draw the line and how do we proceed from here?
Town Administrator Wrigley talked about the option of requesting the use of emergency funds from the Department of Revenue Administration but that is a wait and see if we receive Federal funding from Storm Juno.
Pivero asked at what point does he start to tailor back the essentials. We are no different than the other town’s but wants to make sure the Selectmen are all aware of our current state of financial affairs. Snow keeps coming and our winter budget is over expended. Site distance at intersections need to be continually addressed and Pivero added that he has a resident on Sarah’s Way concerned with access to her land and wants to know when he will open up that area. The Board was in agreement that as the Road Agent he should not be opening up anyone’s property. Pivero stated that he agrees but prefers to discuss it now before letters start coming into the Selectmen’s Office.
A discussion took place on how the Highway crew is very efficient when removing snow from the roadway and opening up the roads. Snow pushed across roadways is ending up on neighbor’s property yet it is not the responsibility of the Highway crew to remove it. This has caused difficulty with line of site out of private property and it is against the law. We put a notice out on the web and Pivero contacted the Police but there is not much we can do other than what we are doing.
Pivero recommends a letter to go out to all the town’s hired trucks on town letterhead, a thank you for there was not one time that the town had to close a road due to a winter storm, we never had to shut down a road in all the storms we have had which is not the usual. We are one of the few towns’ that can say that.
Burrill added that everyone needs to slow down for it is difficult to see coming out of driveways and intersections. If you see a car edging out then beware that they cannot see you until they are out some distance.
- 2014 Emergency Operations Plan
Doggett moved to adopt the 2014 Emergency Operations Plan. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
The Board signed the MS-535 to be sent to the State of NH Department of Revenue Administration
- Update on Generator Service Contract dated 12/23/2014
The Board signed a letter to Power Products, System LLC terminating the contract with the town effective February 12, 2015.
- Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $200 to the Food Pantry from Video Care & Repair (Paul & Carol Szot)
Doggett moved Per RSA 31:95-b to accept and expend unanticipated funds in the amount of $200 to the Food Pantry from Video Care & Repair (Paul & Carol Szot). Second by Melvin with a unanimous vote.
- Announcements
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Doggett moved to sign the Payroll Manifest dated 2/13/15 for the pay period 1/25 - 2/7. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 2/17/15 in the amount of $138,921.03. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
- Burrill announced Right to Know training on Thursday, March 12th 7-9pm at the Plaistow Town Hall. The Board approved for the Selectmen’s Office to close at 6:30pm in order for personnel to attend this training session. Doggett and Donovan plan on attending; the others will check their schedule.
- The Board signed a Complaint Policy & Complaint Form Cover Page
- The Board signed a letter to the Town Bookkeeper regarding Comcast Franchise Fee dated February 2, 2015 in the amount of $21,547.30.
Donovan moved to adjourn 8:20pm. Second by Foote, motion passed with a unanimous vote.
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