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July 21, 2015 Board of Selectmen Minutes
NEWTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DATE: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015
TIME: 6:00PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD

PUBLIC MEETING

  • Call to Order, Roll Call Vote
Chairman Donovan opened the meeting at 6:05pm.  In attendance were Selectmen Robert S. Donovan, Jr., Chairman, James L. Doggett, Vice Chairman, Matthew A. Burrill, Lisa L. Gonyer, Town Administrator Nancy J. Wrigley and Office Manager Mary B. Winglass.  The public meeting was videotaped; draft minutes were transcribed and typed by Office Manager Winglass.  

Doggett moved to go into Nonpublic Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) - Police Department; (a) - Highway Department and Transfer Station; (c) - Tax Deeding.  Second by Burrill with a unanimous roll call vote: Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Gonyer - aye.

Burrill moved to close the nonpublic at 7:35pm.  Second by Gonyer with a unanimous roll call vote to keep all confidential until in the opinion of the majority of the members the circumstances no longer apply except to announce the following decisions by the Board: Donovan - aye, Doggett - aye, Burrill - aye, Gonyer - aye.

  • The Newton Board of Selectmen has accepted the payment of $32,370.32; therefore rescind their decision to record the deed for Nine Gale Village Road and to not take possession of this property.  As a result of the deed not being recorded, the Newton Tax Collector shall redeem all liens recorded against this property and Nine Gale Village Road Realty Trust shall remain the owner of the parcel.
  • Hiring of Grace Greenwood as the Police Department Office Manager at Grade XVII/step 9 starting tomorrow, July 22, 2015
  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Introduction of Guests
  • Approval of Minutes (Review prior to meeting)
  • Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated June 16, 2015 and July 7, 2015
Doggett moved to approve the Selectmen’s Public Meeting minutes dated June 16, 2015 and July 7, 2015.  Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.

  • Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated July 7, 2015
Doggett moved to approve the Selectmen’s Nonpublic Meeting minutes dated July 7, 2015.  Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.

  • Scheduled Business
  • Kingston Lions Club Re: Signage on Route 108, West side of Peanut Trail
Andrew Gaunt and Holly Ouellette from the Kingston Lions Club was present to discuss an email he sent in to the Board of Selectmen requesting to place a Kingston Lions Club sign on town property.  Mr. Gaunt asked to place the sign in the center of the town on the Peanut Trail on the east side of Route 108.  Mr. Gaunt added that even though it is called the Kingston Lions Club half of the membership is from Newton.

The Board talked about how it has been their policy not to allow signs on town property for we cannot do it for one without doing it for others.  The Board allows local nonprofit organizations, 501c3, to add a link to the town’s website and to put out notices of events under News and Announcements.

Comments from the Board were that mostly you see this type of sign posted as you enter the town, next to the welcome signs.  The Lion’s Club is a great organization and there are a lot of good local charitable organizations therefore we will need to review the policy to allow permanent signs on town property.  

Mr. Gaunt thanked the Board of Selectmen for their time and added that the Kingston Lion’s Club meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Kingston 1686 House.  The Board asked for Office Manager Winglass to place a link on the town’s website.

  • PTO for Part Time Employees
The Board reviewed a proposal from Selectman Matt Burrill based upon research he conducted online with information from a report written by WorldatWork “Paid Time Off Programs and Practices” dated September 2014.  After reviewing the research and evaluation of PTO (Paid Time Off) programs which allow the employee a cumulative number of paid days off to use for sick, vacation or personal needs, Burrill prepared a proposal for the Board to review this evening.

Burrill’s proposal uses a percent ratio to calculate part time PTO hours.  Only part time employees that work a regularly scheduled workweek of 25 or more hours are eligible for PTO benefits.  Full Time employees are a .10; the scale adjusts downward based upon the number of regularly scheduled hours worked per week not going below 25 hours per week.  Burrill added that this is just a presentation of data showing prorated hours per the approved Full Time employee benefits.

Chairman Donovan stated that since the Board received this information today he has not had a chance to review it in order to make a decision tonight.

Doggett thanked Burrill for preparing this document; he responded that he is leaning toward the 6% for all permanent part time employees for the increased percentages could have a potential budget impact with some departments.  

Gonyer talked about how the scale is not proportionate throughout the first 10 years of employment and felt the schedule for full time and part time PTO time should be calculated in hours not days.  

Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jo McCullough asked the Board to fix the schedule for this has been going on for a couple years now.  Burrill added that he would like to make a change effective the start of the new year; we either need to stick with the current policy or we open up Pandora’s box and look at the whole policy which will take longer than what people want to wait.  

Gonyer moved that we modify the PTO part time policy to follow a .5 percent of the full time existing scale as follows:
Years           # of PTO Days   Increase of
0-1               0 days                0 days  
1-4             10 days         5 days
5-6             12 days         5 days
7-8             13 days         5 days
9-10            13 days         4 days          
11-12   14 days         4 days  
13-14   14 days         3 days
15+             15 days         3 days

Gives an increase and adds more days to the Permanent Part Time PTO schedule.  Second by Doggett.  Discussion: Doggett stated that basically we are condensing down the categories.  Gonyer responded that she wants the schedule in years to read the same as the full time employee schedule.  Donovan stated that the last discussion the Board had was to table this item for we need to work on the numbers, we just received this information tonight.  Motion failed: Burrill and Donovan are opposed; Doggett and Gonyer in favor.

Doggett moved to adopt the schedule as shown for a 25 hour per week with the fraction to go through based upon .6 percent ratio.  No second  Gonyer added that she is not in favor of this schedule due to the number of days calculated are not rounded off which would make accrual more complicated for payroll calculations.

Burrill moved that the Board of Selectmen put together a committee to reevaluate and rewrite the PTO policy for the entire town; personnel committee to be made up of citizens as well as employees and a selectman with a deadline for the proposal to be in front of the Selectmen by the end of November.  Second by Doggett with a unanimous vote.

Doggett moved to have Selectman Burrill to be the liaison on the Personnel Policy Committee.  Second by Donovan with a unanimous vote.

  • Announcements
  • Help Wanted: Part Time Transfer Station Attendants.  Talk to the Transfer Station Manager or fill out an application at the Town Hall
  • Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Assessment Team invites Public Comment
Chief Streeter explained the process the department will participate in this weekend with an Assessment Team reviewing policy and procedures, accepting phone calls and then a Public Hearing at the Town Hall on Monday, July 27th at 5pm.  Detailed information is available on Facebook and on the Police Department website.
  • Other Business, Sign Manifests, Requisitions, Abatements, Tax Credits, Correspondence and Appointments
Doggett moved to sign the Payroll Manifest dated 07/17/2015 for the pay period 6/28 - 7/11.  Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.

Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 07/21/2015 in the amount of $3,187.17.  Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.

Doggett moved to sign the Vendor Manifest dated 07/21/2015 in the amount of $1,261,171.18.  Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.

  • Coded locks for Town Buildings
Burrill asked for the Board to consider the installation of coded locks for all town properties which are already in place at the Police and Fire Station.  Chief Streeter explained that Sergeant Jewett has the ability to complete the installation of coded locks at all town buildings.  The Board asked for a quote for the work to be done before making a decision.  Chief Streeter added that this would allow easy access for Police and Fire in an expedited manner if/when an emergency arises.

Recreation Commission
  • Town Day Proposal
Annie Collyer, Recreation Commission Chairperson spoke on the location to hold Town Day at 8 Merrimac Road is good with both Chiefs.  The intent for town day is not in combination with the Memorial Day 5K race for there is no race scheduled for this year.  The Recreation is working toward making sure we get as many in the community involved and to have many children activities.  Some thoughts are to have a free hot dog lunch, food and craft vendors as well; possibly a town wide yard sale on the property starting at 10am - 4pm.  Exotic animals and live music with fireworks at dusk which is covered under the town’s insurance policy except if we hire a contractor for the fireworks display; possible locations for the fireworks are 8 Merrimac or at the town beach over Country Pond.  A town resident who is also a licensed pyro technician has offered to help and stated the cost would come in at approximately $2,000.  

Burrill added that the dates were arrived at based upon the school schedule so we have no conflict with either date of September 26th or October 3rd.  Burrill stated that he does not feel a yard sale is part of a town day event and suggested we should do this at another time.  Another option being discussed is having a spaghetti dinner sponsored by the Fire Department.  Donovan suggested not holding the firework display at the town beach due to parking restraints.

Movie Night
Collyer addressed movie night at 8 Merrimac Road which has been approved by the Board of Selectmen; Town Administrator Wrigley will contact Dragon Mosquito to get a quote on spraying the area.  Burrill added that we need to contact the Health Officer prior to the event to make sure we have addressed all concerns going on at that time with mosquito activity.  The Recreation Commission will walk the area and report on any additional mowing that may need to be done for the event.

  • Requisition #2368 for repairs to paving skate park, basketball court and tennis court completed by Petra Paving
Recreation Commission Chairman Annie Collyer spoke on behalf of three quotes from Petra Paving to repair cracks at Greenie Park skate park, basketball court and tennis court in the amount of $1,192.00.  Collyer added that the work was budgeted for this year and with the potential liability it is time to make these repairs.  Donovan spoke on the fact that the tennis court has been in need of replacement not just a repair.  Collyer responded that by repairing it will reduce the liability to the town and this is the year of safety for the Recreation Commission.  The cost to replace the tennis court is somewhere around $20,000 and would need to be approved by a warrant article for the funding for this project.

Burrill moved to approve requisition #2368 to repair the cracks to the skate park at Greenie Park for $643 to Petra Paving.  Second by Gonyer with a unanimous vote.

Burrill moved to approve requisition # 2368 to repair the cracks for the basketball court at Greenie Park in the amount of $180 to Petra Paving.  Second by Gonyer, motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Burrill moved to approve requisition # 2368 to repair the cracks to the tennis court at Greenie Park for $369.  Second by Gonyer, motion passed with Donovan opposed.

Doggett moved to sign a renewal for a License to Sell Pistols and Revolvers for Richard F. Thomas, Sr. of 11 Kenwood Drive, Newton, NH with an expiration date of September 1, 2018.  Second by Burrill, motion passed with a unanimous vote.

John Owens requested a date for a hearing with the Board of Selectmen due to a Fire Department disciplinary action.  Owens added that discipline action was taken against him without merit and unsubstantiated and he sent in an email and has heard nothing from the Fire Chief; he copied the Town Administrator as well as the Selectmen.

The Board set the date for the hearing on Tuesday, August 18th; after some discussion Owens agreed to a nonpublic session versus a public session.  Office Manager Winglass will be in contact with Owens regarding the time of the meeting.

  • Adjourn
Doggett moved to adjourn at 9:17pm.  Second by Burrill with a unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,


Mary Winglass, Office Manager