NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
PUBLIC MEETING
- Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Donovan opened the meeting at 6:02pm. In attendance were Selectmen Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Chairman, James L. Doggett, Vice Chairman, Matthew A. Burrill, Lawrence B. Foote, Lisa L. Gonyer, 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 motioned to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (d) - Property Lease; (c) - Deeding; (a) - Performance Evaluations (FD & Welfare); (b) - Hiring (FD). Second by Foote with a unanimous roll call vote: Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Foote - aye, Gonyer - aye.
Selectman Doggett moved to go out of non-public at 7:14 pm, second by Selectman Burrill with a unanimous roll call vote to keep all matters confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply except for the Board’s decision to increase Corey A. Greaney, FD from Grade XV / Step 1 to Step 6, effective 05/03/14; John E. Kane, Jr., FD from Grade XV / Step 7 to Grade XVII / Step 10, effective 05/03/14; Lawrence B. Foote, FD from Grade XV / Step 5 to Grade XVI / Step 9, effective 05/03/15; to hire Scott Dole, FD at Grade XV Step 1, effective 05/03/15; and Tina O’Rourke, Welfare Agent, a 2.5% pay increase, effective 04/05/15. Donovan - aye, Doggett – aye, Burrill – aye, Foote – aye, Gonyer – aye.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Introduction of Guests
- Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
- Selectmen’s Public and Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated March 17, 2015 and April 7, 2015
Doggett moved to approve the Selectmen’s Public and Nonpublic meeting minutes dated March 17, 2015 and April 7, 2015 as written. Second by Burrill. Doggett asked to look at moving away from using “we” and instead use “the Board”. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Burrill asked to revisit the February 3rd minutes for there is a paragraph after the Twombly Drive motion that needs to be removed for what it references has been removed by the Board.
Burrill moved to remove the paragraph from the February 3rd minutes. Second by Doggett with a unanimous vote.
- Cont review of Fire House Software
Fire Chief Alcaidinho and Office Manager Winglass discussed their recommendation to sign a (5) year agreement for a cloud version of Fire House Software with two users. The cost per year is $1,899 which includes Fire House converting our existing data to the cloud and daily backups.
Burrill asked to check with Fire House on the wording under Section 14.2 Jurisdiction and Venue requesting a change from New York to New Hampshire to litigate any legal action in the courts. The Board felt that this may be standard language therefore did not want to hold up moving forward with the agreement. The Board agreed to ask Fire House about the language but it will not be a show stopper.
Doggett moved to approve the agreement notwithstanding any response to Burrill’s request under Section 14.2. Second by Gonyer, motion passed with Burrill opposed.
**Doggett moved to sign the letter to the Trustees of Trust Funds to pay Fire House for the first year. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
**Motion amended at the May 5, 2015 meeting.
- Cont review Fire Dept vehicle repairs
Fire Chief Alcaidinho discussed the repairs to Tanker 5 came in at $4,377.79 and asked to use the remaining funds to repair other apparatus to include warning lights on the town’s brush truck, tires on Rescue One, exhaust on Tanker 5 etc. The Board originally approved the use of up to $10,000 for repairs to Tanker 5 and now he would like to redirect the funds to other apparatus.
Doggett moved to allow the Fire Chief to spend up to the balance remaining from the $10,000 to repair the remaining vehicles. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
- Cont review of Cadillac Tax
Burrill drafted a letter for the Board to review to send to Congressman Guinta, Senator Shaheen and Senator Ayotte in favor of repealing the Cadillac Tax.
Burrill moved to sign the letter and send it to the three Representatives in Washington. Second by Foote, motion passed with Doggett opposed.
Burrill informed the Board of his plan to write a letter to the editor about the Cadillac tax. A discussion took place that Burrill cannot speak for the Board of Selectmen but as a Selectman.
- Cont review Parks & Recreation Areas Ordinance
The Board reviewed the (2) proposed changes to the ordinance and are ready to move forward with the Public Hearing on May 5, 2015.
- Cont review proposed Sanborn District meeting
The Board reviewed a proposed letter written by Burrill from the Board of Selectmen to the Town of Kingston and Fremont Board of Selectmen and the Sanborn Regional School Board asking to hold an informational sharing meeting on Monday, May 11th at the Newton Town Hall starting at 7pm. This would give the boards the opportunity to come together to share knowledge and information relevant to the community as a whole.
Doggett moved to send the letter to the Towns of Kingston and Fremont Board of Selectmen and to the Sanborn Regional School Board. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
- Cont review 2015 Mileage Rate
Town Administrator Wrigley asked the Board to round off the mileage rate either up or down for it is difficult to calculate. The current rate is 57.5 cents per mile.
Doggett moved to reset the mileage rate to .58 cents per mile for year 2015. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
- Review PTO for Permanent Part Time Employees
The Board reviewed a proposed change to the policy for PTO for Permanent Part Time Employees. The Board asked to find out what other towns similar in size to Newton have for their employees.
Foote moved to investigate what other towns our size is doing. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.
- Security cameras at Greenie Park and Town Beach
Burrill asked to have this item on the agenda for he would like to assign to Office Manager Winglass the task of project manager for the installation of the cameras at Greenie Park and the Town Beach. Winglass has been involved with the camera installation at the Transfer Station and can keep Recreation and the Selectmen updated as this project moves forward.
- Memorial Day, May 25, 2015
Burrill wanted to bring the Board of Selectmen on board with Recreation’s recommendation to change the parade route to start at the Central Fire Station to Highland Street down to Whittier and to the cemetery. The route is 2.2 miles and Road Agent Mike Pivero added that he has vehicles to transport the Vets as needed. At a parade pace the route takes 42 minutes and is mainly all level and downhill. Right now Recreation is working out the logistics with Kingston for the timing; there needs to be an hour or so between the two parades. With this change to the route will make the parade more of an event versus a short walk. Recreation should have all the details narrowed down by the May 5th Selectmen’s Meeting.
Burrill thanked all that came out on Saturday, April 18th in support of Earth Day. Baseball and Softball Association, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Conservation all were involved plus residents cleaning roadside. All in all it was a success, a big Thank You to All.
- Announcements
- Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Road Agent Mike Pivero was present and addressed the underground manhole collapsing in the Central Fire Station parking lot. Pivero stated that he will not know what the job will involve including the cost until he opens up the area which is the whole parking lot. Once it is open then it will need to be completed, it cannot be a prolonged repair. The Board talked about contacting District 6, State of NH DOT to see if they will help with the cost; Foote asked to take pictures in case FEMA will kick in some funding.
Doggett moved to have the Road Agent investigate and repair the sink hole at the Central Fire Station, the underground manhole drain. Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote. Payment will come from the General Government Buildings budget.
Doggett moved to sign the Payroll Manifest dated 04/24/2015 for the pay period 4/5 - 4/18 Payroll. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 4/21/2015 in the amount of $571,360.95. Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign a 2015 Veteran’s Tax Credit for Map 4-6-3-13 . Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign a 2015 Veteran’s Tax Credit for Map 11-7-39 . Second by Foote with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign a 2015 Veteran’s Tax Credit for Map 4-6-4. Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Doggett moved to sign an abatement denial for 2014 to New England Telephone Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.
Gonyer moved to adjourn at 8:40pm. Second by Doggett with a unanimous vote.
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