TOWN
OF
MEETING
OF THE SELECTBOARD
Selectboard
Present: Sheldon Sawyer, Whitney
Aldrich, Jamie Teague
Mr.
Sawyer called the meeting to order at
MEET WITH
Mr. Sawyer has been on the Selectboard for nine years.
He explained that it is a complicated position as there are new laws
each year that impact what they can and cannot do. He referenced the following books that they
refer to on a regular basis: “Knowing
the Territory” and “
Mr. Aldrich feels that all
first time Selectboard members benefit from the
seminars that the NH LGC sponsors. One
of the biggest issues is setting the budget; it is a time consuming part of the
job as they meet with every Department Head and deliberate on all the proposed line
items and numbers. Beginning in November
they will meet every Tuesday evening to work on the budget as well as Thursday
nights before the regular meetings. They
try to be fair to everyone. In January of
each year a Public Hearing is scheduled on the proposed Budget and Warrant Articles
that will be voted on in March of each year.
Mrs. Teague is the newly
elected member of the Selectboard. She feels it is a wonderful thing to get
involved in a government agency. When
she ran for the office she did not know the true scope of the duties. There are tons of rules and regulations that
change all the time and are open to interpretation but this should not scare
anyone from running for an office. Being
a Selectboard member is a paid position in the Town
of
A question-and-answer session
followed on a variety of Town related issues.
There was discussion relative
to the Town operating on a calendar year as opposed to the State who operates on
a July 1st to June 30th budget each year. From January to March each year the Town
operates on the same basis as the previous year until the Annual Town Meeting
in March provided the new budget is approved by the voters. The Selectboard makes the final decision on all insurances. At the current time most insurance coverage is
through the NH Municipal Association; most towns in NH participate in this same
insurance program. Most years the Town uses
the cost-of-living percentage when considering pay raises. The issue of three rather than possibly five Selectboard members was raised. The voters decide on the number; a Petition
with 25 registered voters can be presented and it will be voted upon at Town
Meeting. One of the biggest challenges
is having sufficient time to take care of all the tasks that come before the Selectboard. The
Master Plan, goals for the Town, the roads, the economy, on-going projects, and
applying for grants were a few of the other topics of interest.
Selectboard
Meeting –
The
Workshop closed at
PUBLIC BUSINESS:
MARTHA CURTIS –SAVINGS BANK OF
OLD BUSINESS:
SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE
–Whitcomb Escrow Account: Mr. Sawyer
reported that when the F.W. Whitcomb Construction Company appeared before the
Zoning Board of Adjustment their Permit approval was contingent upon Whitcomb
providing a bond. It has now been received.
Mrs. Teague moved to accept the bond for Frank W.
Whitcomb Construction Company. It will
be put in an Escrow Account at the Savings Bank of
Mr. Aldrich moved to pass over this request for
another week to obtain the information on the wording for the sign. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
UNIFORM ALLOWANCE: Included in the budget was a uniform
allowance for the Solid Waste Facility.
The new Manager requested that it be changed to a clothing allowance to
allow funds for safety shoes and coats.
The employees will purchase the items and then submit the bill to the
office for reimbursement.
Mrs. Teague moved to approve the clothing allowance
for reimbursement from the Recycling Funds as requested. Seconded by Mr. Aldrich. Motion passed unanimously.
PAUL GALLOWAY –ABATEMENT
REQUEST- BLTA Tax Issue: The Selectboard discussed Mr. Galloway’s Abatement
request.
Mr. Aldrich moved to negotiate with Paul Galloway to
reduce the assessed value from $46,500 to $14,500 to avoid going to the Board
of Land and Tax Appeals. Seconded by Mr. Sawyer.
Motion passed unanimously.
EMICOR CONFERENCE: Mr. Sawyer reported that Attorney Jeremy Hockensmith will represent the Town regarding the Emicor matter.
Attorney Hockensmith will attend the
structuring conference scheduled for November 26th.
COPIES OF TAX COLLECTORS
DEEDS: The Selectboard
advised that the liens have been placed on the two properties in
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
MEETING: A memo was received from Larry Devault to advise that the next meeting of the Emergency
Management team will be held on Wednesday, October 8th at
Selectboard
Meeting –
NEW BUSINESS:
BUDGET TIME –NOTICE TO
DEPARTMENT HEADS: A memo had been
sent to all Department Heads advising that the return date for all proposed
budgets is November 3rd.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT: Mr. Aldrich moved to authorize
the Chairman to sign the Emergency Management Agreement for Technical
Assistance and Scope of Services with the Southwest Region Planning
Commission. This is to assist in
preparing the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion
passed unanimously.
NEXT WEEK MEETING –ANDREW
LEWIS- BLTA Tax Issue: The Selectboard will extend an invitation to Andrew Lewis to
attend the next Selectboard meeting on Thursday,
October 9th at 7:00 PM to discuss his property assessment and
request for an Abatement.
INVOICES
NEEDING APPROVAL:
SEWER AND WATER
DEPARTMENTS: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve and sign the Business Management Systems,
Inc. agreement in the amount of $4,391.66 for the annual software licenses fees
from
PAVING: Mr.
Aldrich moved to approve the invoice in the amount of $20,468.74 from Frank W.
Whitcomb Construction Company for the 2008 Paving. This was a Warrant Article. Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve Requisition #1 in the
amount of $99,786.58 from Bazin Bros for work on the
PERSONNEL FORM FOR SOLID
WASTE DEPARTMENT: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve hiring Paul Clark as the full-time
Recycling Supervisor at the Solid Waste Facility beginning on
PERSONNEL FORM FOR ASSISTANT
TOWN CLERK: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve hiring Suzanne M. Hodgkins
as the
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Mr. Aldrich moved to enter into a Non-Public Session
pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) Personnel.
Mrs. Teague seconded the motion and, on a roll call vote with all in
favor, the motion passed unanimously.
The time was
The
regular meeting resumed at
Selectboard
Meeting –
POLICE DEPARTMENT: Lt. Mike Paquette reported that the Police
Department has three part-time vacant positions. He recommended hiring Raymond Gosetti, Sr. as a part-time police officer.
Mr. Aldrich moved to hire Raymond Gosetti,
Sr. as a part-time police officer.
Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion
passed unanimously.
THANK YOU: Jim Terrell received a Thank You from the
Ramsey family for his prompt attention to their question.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Mr. Sawyer asked Mr. Aldrich to work with the
Conservation Commission on obtaining access to the
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Accounts Payable check register and
manifest in the amount of $593,339.85.
Seconded by Mrs. Teague. Motion
passed unanimously.
This includes a payment of
$390,125.33 to the
PAYROLL: Mr.
Aldrich moved to approve the payroll voucher for the week ending
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the electronic fund
transfer for the 941 Employer Taxes for Withholding, MEDI and
MINUTES:
SELECTBOARD MEETING –
Mr. Aldrich moved to approve the Selectboard
Non-Public Session of
DEPARTMENT / COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Selectboard
received and reviewed Minutes of the following meetings: 1) Hooper Institute Committee–
Mr. Sawyer declared this meeting adjourned at
Respectfully submitted, Regina
Borden, Recording Secretary
___________________
Sheldon
S. Sawyer
___________________
Whitney
R. Aldrich
___________________
Jamie
J. Teague
(Note: These are unapproved
minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may
be found in the minutes of the