Town of Nottingham
Selectmen’s Meeting
November 23, 2009
6:30 PM Chair Bonser opened the meeting and asked all those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Mary Bonser, Peter Bock, Gary Anderson
Guests: Laurie Legard, Chair, Blaisdell Memorial Library Trustees; Rhoda Capron, Librarian
Others: Charlie Brown, Town Administrator; Traci Chauvey, Recording Secretary; Gail Mills, Chris Mills; Judy Doughty, Mike Russo, Celia Abrams, John Terninko, Charlene Andersen, Cheryl Smith, Patrick Pickford, Bill Dean
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
There was a brief discussion around a complaint that had been received by Mr. Brown. He feels it needs a response and inquired about sending it to the attorney. Chair Bonser suggested discussing the matter in a non-public session later this evening.
Mr. Brown reported that Mr. Desrosiers, Nottingham Fire/Rescue and member of the fire truck committee, will be going to inspect the new fire truck next week. Delivery is targeted for mid-December.
Two bids have been received for running electricity to the new sand and salt sheds. Progressive Electrical bid $10,850 and Gemini Electric bid $7,900. Scopes of service are identical with the exception of types of lights. Neither quote includes repair of the pavement. Progressive’s quote, also, did not include cutting of the pavement or address a new pole for service lateral, or excavation and backfill. Seven poles have been set. The rest may have been set today. There was discussion around which company could complete the job quickest. Mr. Brown reported that no timeframe had been discussed with either company. There was discussion around Gemini’s work on the generator that was installed at Town Hall earlier this year.
Motion: Bock, second Anderson to award the bid to Gemini Electric.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
Chair Bonser asked Mr. Brown to encourage them to complete the job quickly.
The Selectmen reviewed mail, bill, and signature folders. Chair Bonser noted that the letters have been sent to both, Attorney Meyers, the Governor’s Council and LCG requesting meetings with the Attorney General and LGC’s representative to the groundwater legislation subcommittee, respectively.
Motion: Anderson, second Bock to approve the removal a lien placed against 9 Haines Road, Map 16 Lot 18-1, owned by Jim and Doreen Leonard.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to hire Attorney Mike Donovan to assess all matters related to the permitting process and various other issues to do with large groundwater withdrawal and USA Springs.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
Mr. Bock wanted the public to know that the Selectmen met with Attorney Donovan. He is the former mayor of Concord, has an engineering degree, and has expertise in the permitting process. Mr.
Anderson is optimistic that he will be helpful to the town. Mr. Russo thanked the Selectmen for seeking out new legal counsel.
Mr. Brown asked the Selectmen for direction on approaching the Building Committee in regards to an archive room and a broadcast studio. Chair Bonser acknowledged that the Selectmen have not discussed these issues amongst themselves but sees the necessity for both. She suggested holding off on the studio until a conversation could take place with Mr. Stucker, Chairman of the Cable Franchise Renewal Advisory Committee. There was discussion around the location of the two rooms. Mr. Bock acknowledged that the archive room had been dismissed for several years for financial reasons and suggested combining the two. There was more discussion around the location and whether the archives should be locked. Mr. Anderson reported that the Building Committee has looked at the bathroom and old boiler
room behind the food pantry as a location for the broadcast studio. There was discussion around how much space was needed for an archive room and whether this area would provide adequate space. Acknowledged by Chair Bonser, Mr. Terninko informed the Selectmen that the archive room should be fire proof. Noting the current situation for archives, Chair Bonser suggested starting with a room and then buying a fire proof cabinet every year. More research needs to go into these two areas (broadcast studio and archive room) before any direction can be provided.
APPOINTMENTS:
7:00 PM – Library Trustees – Library Budget
At 6:58 PM Chair Bonser acknowledged Laurie Legard, Chair, Library Trustees, and Rhoda Capron, Librarian, and invited them to the mic.
Ms. Legard introduced herself and Ms. Capron. Ms. Capron handed out copies of the proposed library budget. (See official file for copy). The overall proposed library budget is down slightly from last year at $123,518 with the operating expenses at $35,590. Changes to the budget include a decrease of $215 in the alarm system line (costs are down), a decrease of $200 in the continuing education line (going to less conferences) and an increase in the miscellaneous line (background check costs have doubled). Mr. Bock inquired about over-runs in the current year budget. Ms. Capron informed all that she is now doing joint programming with Northwood and Deerfield and is very excited about this venture. She believes it will provide more for the residents.
Chair Bonser thanked the Library Trustees and Ms. Capron for their budget, acknowledging appreciation of their efforts to keep costs down. Ms. Legard noted that she is very distressed at not offering salary increases this year, but the Trustees felt this was best for this year. Chair Bonser acknowledged Ms. Legard’s sentiments, noting that the town is doing the same thing and has the same feelings.
Ms. Legard and Ms. Capron stepped down and left the meeting.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Chair Bonser addressed the topic of the Southeast Watershed Alliance, noting that she had received lots of public input over the past two week and thanking everyone for their comments. She wanted to hear from the other Selectmen and provide her own comments prior to taking any public comments. Mr. Bock noted that he had attended a groundwater session at the LGC conference and had asked questions. Legislation for the SWA (SB 168FN) will not provide the communities with any more power than what
they currently have but will put the onus on those towns to come up with something that will work. Although he believes it is convoluted, he is in favor of joining. Agreeing with many points made by Mr. Bock, Mr. Anderson noted that the word alliance means a bringing together of the communities. He sees DES as more of an overseer than as an entity directing the SWA. He reminded all that if we do not like the direction that is being taken, Nottingham can withdraw at any point in time. Chair Bonser concurred with Mr. Anderson’s view of the term alliance and read a prepared statement about the good environmental situations she has helped bring to Nottingham in her tenure as a Selectman, such as the Pawtuckaway Lake Advisory Committee and the conservation of Mulligan Forest. She noted
for the record that her hesitation in joining is because she has lost all confidence in DES.
Chair Bonser informed all that she had received an e-mail from Mr. Terninko regarding the SWA and invited him to speak to it. Mr. Terninko sees this as an opportunity to influence what needs to happen, a chance to be pro-active instead of reactive. Acknowledging the recommendation from the Conservation Commission to appoint Therese Thompson to the SWA, Ms. Bonser informed all that she had not read anywhere that we cannot appoint two people. She recommended Mr. Terninko. The other Selectmen and audience members raised concern over appointing two individuals. After much back and forth the following motions were made:
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to join the Southeast Watershed Alliance.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
Motion: Bonser, second Anderson to appoint Therese Thompson as Nottingham’s representative to the Southeast Watershed Alliance and appoint John Terninko as the Alternate Member.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
Chair Bonser informed Ms. Chauvey that she has received many calls regarding exemption limitations and asked that this information (i.e., age, income, etc.) be put on the website.
Chair Bonser reminded all that this coming Saturday would host the Christmas Parade and Party, Nottingham Fire & Rescue’s Tree Sale, and the Children’s Craft Workshop.
Acknowledged by Chair Bonser, Mr. Terninko inquired about having the town maps digitized. Mr. Bock informed him that they had looked into this several years ago but had disregarded it as financially unfeasible. There was discussion about the cost, getting quotes, and the possibility of putting this forth as a warrant article. Mr. Landry, a local surveyor, Conservation Commission member, and ZBA member is researching cost and will forward the information to the Selectmen.
Acknowledged by Chair Bonser, Mr. Dean inquired about the cost of membership to the SWA and the responsibilities of the town as a member. He was informed that there is currently no cost to join and the responsibilities are yet to be determined.
Note: There was a break beginning at approximately 7:39 PM as members of the public left and the Selectmen regrouped. Chair Bonser reconvened the meeting at 7:47 PM.
MINUTES:
September 14, 2009 (Meeting)
Line 32: Change August 17, 2009 to September 14, 2009.
Motion: Bock, second Anderson to approve the minutes of the September 14, 2009 meeting as amended.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
September 28, 2009 (Meeting)
Line 43: Change the to to.
Motion: Bock, second Anderson to approve the minutes of the September 28, 2009 meeting as amended.
Vote: Bock and Anderson voted in favor, Bonser abstained. Motion passed 2-0-1.
October 13, 2009 (Meeting)
Line 146: Mr. Bock asked for clarification in this area that channel 22 will not be lost when and if we start utilizing channels 13 and 98.
Motion: Anderson, second Bonser to approve the minutes of the October 13, 2009 meeting as amended.
Vote: Bonser and Anderson voted in favor, Mr. Bock abstained. Motion passed 2-0-1.
October 19, 2009 (Workshop)
Line 32: Change water bottling company to large groundwater withdrawal.
Line 136: Change Anderson to Andersen
Line 139: Change Anderson to Andersen
Motion: Bock, second Bonser to approve the minutes of the October 19, 2009 workshop as amended.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
BUDGET:
Board of Selectmen
Line 037, Equipment – Mr. Brown explained that the increase is for a new server.
Line 220, Telephone – This was discussed and reduced to $2,700.
Voter Registration
Mr. Brown explained that this budget is up about $700. The Supervisors had indicated a special election. Mr. Brown will follow up.
Accounting & Auditing
Line 018, Salary BC Secretary – Mr. Brown explained that less money was used this year because of the length of the vacancy between Ms. Tivnan’s resignation and the hiring of the new secretary. This line was discussed and reduced to $1,200.
Line 028, Training/Support – Mr. Brown explained that this was an actual cost.
Line 034, Mortgage Research – Mr. Brown explained that this cost increased last year.
Line 037, Equipment – Mr. Brown will review to see if this line can be reduced.
Legal Expense
Line 690, Other Legal Expenses – Mr. Brown explained that the increase is for testing of the monitoring wells.
Personnel Administration
Mr. Brown has an RFP out on Health Insurance. The number reflected in the proposed budget is a 16.4% increase over last year. The fire and police retirement lines will increase as these do not reflect the increase due to cost shifting from the state.
Planning Board
Line 010, Salary Secretary – The Planning Board has requested more hours for their secretary. The requested amount should be $14,316.
Line 011, Planner – Based on cost estimates from Mr. Mettee for workforce housing/open space development, Master Plan update, and Zoning Ordinance update this was reduced to $16,750.
The Planning Board is on the Selectmen’s December 7 agenda. Chair Bonser wishes to discuss a move to Rockingham County Regional Planning with them.
Zoning Board
Line 010, Salary Secretary – This was discussed and reduced to $2,500.
Line 024, Dues/Conferences – This line was discussed and reduced to $1,000.
The Selectmen asked Mr. Brown to follow up with the ZBA to see if there were any issues with the reductions made.
General Government Buildings
Line 210, TH Electric – This line was discussed and reduced to $650.
Line 234, Library Heat – This line was discussed and reduced to $2,650
Line 500, THOB Miscellaneous – This line was discussed and reduced to $800.
Solid Waste - Recycle
There was much discussion around this budget. The Selectmen will be looking at alternatives over the next year.
General Assistance
Mr. Brown noted that Sue Benoit does a phenomenal job at keeping costs down.
Other Financial Uses
Line 4902.10-018, #22 CFR Fire Apparatus – The fire department is requesting $50K for their capital reserve fund.
Line 4915.10-301, #20 CRF Highway – The highway department is requesting $50K for their capital reserve fund.
NON-PUBLIC:
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to enter non-public under RSA 91-A:3 II (a).
Vote: Anderson – yea, Bock – yea, Bonser – yea. Passed by roll call: 3-0
The Selectmen entered a non-public session at 8:51 PM.
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to exit non-public.
Vote: Bock – yea, Anderson – yea, Bonser – yea. Passed by roll call: 3-0
The Selectmen exited the non-public session at 9:03 PM.
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to seal the minutes of the non-public session.
Vote: Bock – yea, Anderson – yea, Bonser – yea. Passed by roll call: 3-0
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to enter non-public under RSA 91-A:3 II (c).
Vote: Anderson – yea, Bock – yea, Bonser – yea. Passed by roll call: 3-0
The Selectmen entered a non-public session at 9:03 PM.
Motion: Bonser, second Anderson to exit non-public.
Vote: Bock – yea, Anderson – yea, Bonser – yea. Passed by roll call: 3-0
The Selectmen exited the non-public session at 9:20 PM.
Motion: Bonser, second Anderson to seal the minutes of the non-public session.
Vote: Anderson – yea, Bock – yea, Bonser – yea. Passed by roll call: 3-0
Having no further business,
Motion: Bonser, second Bock to adjourn the meeting.
Vote: All in favor. Motion passed 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Traci Chauvey
Recording Secretary
Approved as amended at the February 2, 2010 meeting.
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