Board of Selectmen
April 22, 2010
6:30 pm
Community Hall Annex
Present: Leroy C. Clark – Chairman, Cherilyn A. Bulger – Vice Chairman, Joseph R. Becker – Clerk, Sheila H. Dibb
Mr. Clarked added agenda item to re-discuss why the board decided not to add the article for acceptance of Central Tree Estates roads. He feels we agreed to place the article on the warrant when the roads were layed out. Long discussion. Clealand Blair, Jr. presented new information regarding the Planning Board’s acceptance of hydrant locations in the development. Since the meeting to lay out, memo from November, 2000 has been located, therefore, Mr. Blair feels their criteria and punch list no longer should include the hydrant. More discussion which included input from Norman Anderson of the Planning Board.
Mr. Becker is not sure what can be done at this point given that Mr. Blair appears to have met the plans as approved and accepted by the Planning Board. He agrees there appears to have been a communication breakdown 10 years ago when the plan was changed.
Long discussion about the Fire Chief’s safety concerns vs. Planning Board’s revised approved plan. Ms. Bulger feels the Fire Chief’s safety concerns need to be paid attention to.
7:08 p.m. – Board temporarily moved its meeting to the basement of the Town Hall where Mark Morse, MMA Consulting, was speaking with the Finance Committee about the wage classification plan recently completed.
8:14 p.m. – Board reconvened at the Community Hall Annex.
Central Tree Estates discussion continued. Mrs Dibb stated that after thinking about it, she feels the letter of the law has been met but believes the spirit of the law has not been met. She is now thinking there is not a lot that can be done about the hydrant at this point. She still has concerns, however, about the other punch list items and would feel more comfortable placing the article on in the Fall. Mrs. Dibb feels it would be OK to freeze the punch list if that was a concern. Mr. Blair feels his responsibility is done and if these do not make the May Annual Town Meeting, that he will not come back and ask again. Mr. Becker moved to place the Central Tree Estates roads (as drafted) onto the warrant. Mr. Clark seconded. Mr. Becker yes, Mr. Clark yes, Ms. Bulger nay,
Mrs. Dibb abstain. Motion carries.
Police Chief Search Topic: Mrs. Dibb spoke with Attorney Jenkins who said we are looking for an “officer in charge” or part-time chief. “Officer in charge” would entail bargaining with the union. Mr. Clark feels that if there was an acting chief, the Selectmen would be responsible for all discipline. Per Attorney Jenkins, there are agencies that place part-time chiefs while towns search for chiefs. Mr. Becker stated that if a full blown search was started now, we would not need an acting or part-time chief. Mrs. Dibb still thinks we need to consider, for budgetary reasons, leaving the full-time chief position vacant for a period of time. Ms. Bulger asked what the positives and negatives of not hiring a full-time chief right away. Mrs. Dibb responded
that if money were no object, perhaps she would not be considering other options. Mr. Pantos - our next chief does not necessarily need to be a present chief (person who is currently a chief somewhere else) – correct? Answer was agreement, this is true.
Discussion regarding percentage of patrol vs. admin. of the next chief. General feeling is that the next chief should be patrolling some percent of the time such as 50/50 or 60/40.
Mr. Becker feels that our department should not be a proving ground and that our department should have a new full-time chief in time for the October transition. He feels that we have the time to accomplish this if we start now.
Further discussion on timing of seating the next full-time chief ie. October, 2010 or January, 2011.
Mr. Becker moved the Board appoint a seven member citizen at large search committee to be advertised as soon as possible with applications to the Board of Selectmen office by June 14, 2010. Mrs. Dibb seconded. Vote unanimous.
Discussion also to allow each Selectman a candidate selection choice with the remaining two.
Mrs. Dibb moved to post the new chief position for a start date of January 1, 2011. Ms. Bulger seconded. Mr. Becker spoke opposed to the motion to minimize transitions in the department. Mrs. Dibb sees it as an opportunity for people in the department as well as a financial savings. Discussion of what savings really are after cost of negotiating with acting person and that person’s pay bump. Mrs. Dibb and Mr. Clark in favor of. Mr. Becker and Ms. Bulger opposed. Motion does not carry.
Mr. Becker moved to post the position with a start date in October, 2010. Ms. Bulger seconded. Mr. Becker, Ms. Bulger and Mr. Clark in favor of. Mrs. Dibb opposed. Motion carries.
Ms. Bulger moved to adjourn. Mrs. Dibb seconded. Vote unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Joseph R. Becker, Clerk
Board of Selectmen/nmm
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