BC20111114

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BUDGET COMM= ITTEE - MEETING MINUTES

Monday, November 14, 2011

APPROVED &#= 8211; January 12, 2012

CALL TO ORDER – 7:30pm

PRESENT:

Also Present:

Mr. Larry Hall, Mr. Dan= iel Guimond, Mr. John Lavallee, Mr. Dennis Viger, Mr. Gregory Farris, Mr. Rob= ert Sherman, Mr. David Cate, Mr. Ken Dunne, Selectmen Representative Edmund Gleason, School Board Representative Meghan Larson

Town Administrator Tom = Gaydos, Fire Chief James Midgley

ABSENT:

Mr. Joe Puddister

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2012 TOWN WARRANT VOTE

The Board began their dis= cussion with the proposed fire station. Fire Chief James Midgley told the Board that the changes made from l= ast year were essentially ways they could decrease the cost of the station by u= sing different materials.

Mr. Lavallee asked if the architects rendering depicted the station the department wanted to build. Chief Midgley answered yes. Mr. Lavallee asked if one of the c= hanges was to cut two of the bays. Chief Midgley answered no; the number of bays w= as basically the starting point for all the plans. He explained they couldn’t c= hange the number of bays because to use impact fees they had to have 15% growth b= uilt into the plan. Right now they= are just skirting that 15% and if any of the bays are cut they would infringe on that 15%.

Mr. Viger asked what equi= pment would need to be added to maintain the 15% growth. Chief Midgley said they wouldnR= 17;t be purchasing anything. The o= nly future apparatus would be to change out their rescue vehicle. Rather than having a single purpose vehicle, they would have a dual purpose rescue/pumper.

Mr. Cate asked the differ= ence in operating costs for the new building versus the building being used now. Chief Midlgey stated that the old building didn’t comply to code (no sprinkler, fire alarm, appropriate egress); all the equipment is outside.&nbs= p; There are problems with the septic system overflowing and backing up; therefore it needs to be pumped every three months. It was believed that the operating= cost of the new building would be less than that of the existing building.

Mr. Dunne asked if respon= se times would be increased with the proposed layout of the new building. Chief Midg= ley said it would for specific equipment by having them inside during the winter. He said if the round = about went through and the doors were closed at the existing station, there would= be a drastic impact to response times.

Mr. Sherman asked if the = proposed cost included all the furnishings. Chief Midgley said the $3 million was for the construction and $50,0= 00 was for the fixtures, furnishings and equipment. He discussed the equipment that wo= uld be within the new building and how it would be situated within the bays. Mr. Farris wanted to know what wou= ld be put outside as the Town grew and new equipment was needed. Chief Midgley said equipment would paired up within the bays so another piece of apparatus could also be within the bay.

Mr. Cate asked at what po= int the building would become obsolete. Chief Midgley replied that the proposed building would easily last 5= 0+ years; the concrete structure would last.&= nbsp;

Mr. Lavallee asked if the= re was a materials list for the building. Mr. Gaydos answered yes. Mr. Lavallee asked if there was a contingency built into the proposed number. Mr. Gaydos answered yes. Mr. Lavallee confirmed if the cost exceeded the amount that someone would absorb it, not the Town. Mr. Gaydos said that was correct.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He said if it came in less the Town would keep the difference. Mr. Viger said the elementary school was also supposed to be built as designed,= but as the project went along they found they were running out of money and had= to make adjustments in certain costs. He asked if that would happen with the proposed station. Mr. Gaydos said that would not hap= pen because there was a contract that specified materials and the Town would be provided with a guaranteed maximum price. Mr. Viger noted there was a fire hydrant at the back of the station and questio= ned if Pennichuck would move it for the Town.&= nbsp; Chief Midgley said the line would stay in place. The line would be the continuation= of the line running up March Road. A hydrant will be installed at the back of the new building with a line run inside the building so the apparatus can be filled while inside the station= . Mr. Lavallee confirmed that the contractor would bond the project. Mr. Gaydos said it was included in the cost.

Mr. Farris asked how the = proposed design would sit on the property as compared to the previous designs. Chief Midgley replied that the design/footprint were essentially the same. He discussed what changes had been made. Mr. Farris asked if the= tree lined buffer would be altered between the residents on Sawmill Road and the proposed station. Chief Midgley believ= ed the intent was to leave it in tact and possibly enhance it. The larger trees on the lot toward= the village green may be altered, but the smaller growth toward Sawmill would n= ot be touched.

Mr. Viger asked if there = were provisions at the proposed building to store those items presently stored at the Municipal Building. Chief Midgley answered yes. He explained how those items would= be stored. Pandemic supplies will remain caged within the M= unicipal Building.

The Board then discussed = Health Care pricing (contracted amounts and coverage) in association with Article L and what the employees were offered. There was a discussion regarding the step increases and benefits that were being provided. Mr. Vige= r said the Board was reviewing the information strictly based on cost, without kno= wing what benefits were being provided. He said the insurance companies had the control over the plans, not = the Town or the employees. He fel= t he was voting blind and commented that it might be a better deal for the Town,= but possibly not for the employee. Mr. Gaydos spoke about the insurance companies having agreements with hospitals= so employees aren’t ‘blind sided’ with a large financial hit= . As the Town moves into lesser plan= s, they would start getting into how much the employees would be asked for. The plans are reviewed by the unio= n so they know exactly what they are.

Mr. Sherman asked how man= y (of the 21 employees covered) were sitting on step 10. Mr. Gaydos believed it was all but three. Mr. Sherman noted that= the vast majority of the employees were not going to get a raise for the next t= wo years. Mr. Gaydos said they w= ould get a one-time stipend the first year, nothing the second year and 1.5% in = the third year.

Mr. Dunne questioned who determined what step a new hire was placed. Mr. Gaydos said it was primarily t= he recommendation of the department head; the union didn’t have a say. Mr. Dunne questioned why a person = would have to pay an agency fee if they didn’t want to join the union. Mr. Gaydos discussed the agency fe= e and explained that the cost associated with grievances was posted as the agency fee.

The Board then reviewed t= he proposed articles and took the following motions:

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle C.

VOICE VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

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MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle D.

VOICE VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

---------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle E.

VOICE VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

---------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle F.

VOICE VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

--------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle H.

VOICE VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

--------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle J.

VOICE VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

-------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle L.

VOICE VOTE:

(9-0-1) The motion carried.

-------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle M.

VOICE VOTE:

(9-1-0) The mot= ion carried.

-------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION:

To accept Arti= cle N.

VOICE VOTE:

(7-3-0) The mot= ion carried.

------------------------------------------------------------

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(Lavallee/Sher= man) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(10-0-0) The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 pm.

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Respectfully submitted,

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Charity A. Landry Willis

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Recording Secretary

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTI= CLE C: Shall the Town vote to change the purpose of the existing Library Renovatio= n.

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (10-0= -0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTICLE D: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $210,000 for the purpose of purchasing a new, fully equipped ambulance and to remove $87,440 plus interest to date from the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund and close that account? The balance will be funded by withdrawing $90,000 from the Ambulan= ce Replacement Revolving Account and $32,560 from the Federal Emergency Manage= ment Agency (FEMA) account.

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (10-0= -0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTICLE E: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,900,000 for t= he purpose of constructing a fire station and to approve withdrawal of $2,100,= 000 of unassigned residual fund balance to offset this cost? Additionally, $423,393 will be wit= hdrawn from the fire impact fee account, leaving a balance of $1,376,607 to be rai= sed by taxation.=

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (10-0= -0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTICLE F: Shall the Town vote to approve a Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant in the amount of $196,057 for the purpose of equipping and funding an additional police officer for three years with the condition the town must fully fund that officer in only the fourth year?

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (10-0= -0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTICLE H: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300,000 for rep= air, maintenance and upgrading of Town roads, to be offset by the State Grant for highway maintenance? This is a Special Warrant Article.

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (10-0= -0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTICLE J: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $21,350 from the Raymond Park Capi= tal Reserve for the purpose of forest management, trail maintenance, security a= nd other costs associated with the maintenance and care of Raymond Park? Funds requested come from the net revenues produced by timber harvesting.&nb= sp;

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (10-0= -0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

. AR= TICLE L: Shall the Town vote to approve cost items included in the three year collec= tive bargaining agreement ratified by the Board of Selectmen and the Pelham Publ= ic Works and Municipal Employees, Local 1801 of the American Federation of Sta= te, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which calls for the following increases and benefits and to further raise and appropriate the sum of $59,= 766 to fund this year of the agreement? (Majority Vote Required)

Y= EAR            &n= bsp;         COST        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   ACCUMULATED COST

2012=         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; $ 59,766

2013=         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; $ 38,476      &= nbsp;          $ 98,242

2014=         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; $ 64,856      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;             = $ 163,098

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

ABSTAIN

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (9-0-= 1)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE<= /b>

ARTICLE M: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to fund a professional study of causes of frequent flooding of Beaver Brook and the neighborhoods, homes, roads, and businesses in proximity to the brook? The = study will identify those actions the Town and State or both should take to reduce flooding and estimate the costs of these actions. It will also identify tho= se actions of the Town or State which contribute to the flooding and which the Town or State or both should modify or stop. This study is to be paid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA) account.

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

NO

Dennis Viger

YES

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

YES

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (9-1-0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2012 TOWN WARRANT ARTICLE

ARTICLE N; Shall the Town vote = to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a 3 year lease-purchase agreement for $14,004 for the purpose of obtaining a new Ford Focus to replace the current Planning Department vehicle and to further raise and appropriate the sum of $4,668 for the first year’s payment for that purpose? This agreement = will have a n0n-appropriation and non-replacement clause as prescribed by state statute

Board Member=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

YES

Dennis Viger

NO

John Lavallee

NO

Greg Farris

NO

Bob Sherman

YES

Joe Puddister

---

---

ABSENT

Dave Cate

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)

YES

Motion: (7-3-0)

BUDGET COMMIT= TEE APPROVED:_________YES____________________________

Board Member=	YES	NO	ABSTAIN
Larry Hall	YES
Dan Guimond	YES
Dennis Viger	YES
John Lavallee	YES
Greg Farris	YES
Bob Sherman	YES
Joe Puddister	---	---	ABSENT
Dave Cate	YES
Ken Dunne	YES
Meghan Larson (School Bo= ard Rep.)	YES
Ed Gleason (Selectmen Rep= .)	YES