BOS Minutes 08-10-2004

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF S= ELECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

August 10, 2004

APPROVED – August 17, 2004

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. William McDevitt, Mr. Victor Danevich (arrived = after the meeting commenced), Mr. Jean-Guy Bergeron, Mr. Richard Derby, Mr. Ha= rold Lynde, Mr. Tom Gaydos, Town Administrator

Also present:

ABSENT:

Members of the press and general public.

None.

&nb= sp;

The Chairman, William McDevitt, opened the meeting at approximately 6:30 pm.

Mr. McDevitt read aloud a proclamation that was prese= nted to Sergeant Paul M. Benoit, Jr. of the 94^th Military Police Unit w= hich recognized his contribution and service to the Country.

MINUTES R= EVIEW

August 3, 2004

MOTION:=

(Derby/Bergeron) To approve the August 3, 2004 meeting minu= tes as written.

= ;

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The motion carr= ied.

OPEN FORU= M

Mr. Robert Moreschi, 404 Mammoth Road circulated photog= raphs depicting the conditions of which the soldiers endured while fighting the = war on terror in Iraq. He said when a soldier finished a= tour of duty in a hostile environment and is afforded the opportunity to come h= ome to see family and friends; they should come home to a Hero’s welcome. He recently got out= of the military and knew what it felt like to come home from a major deployment w= ith, and without a welcoming. He = said people could go to work and come home to their families daily because of t= he soldiers. Mr. Moreschi couldn’t understand why Pelham didn’t have posters/banners han= ging anywhere in Town. He felt it= was unfair to the soldiers.

NON-PUBLI= C SESSION – Hiring an Employee

REQUEST FOR NON-PUBLIC SESSION

MOTION:

(Derby/Bergeron) Request for a non-public session p= er RSA 91-A:3,II,b (Personnel)

= ;

ROLL CALL:=

Mr. McDevitt-Yes; Mr. Bergeron-Yes; Mr. Derby-Yes; = Mr. Lynde-Yes

The Board entered into a non-public session at approx= imately 6:44 pm. Mr. Danevich arrived and joined t= he non-public session.

The Board returned to public session at approximately= 7:08 pm.

MOTION:=

(Lynde/Derby) To appoint Mr. Lawrence P. Napolitano= as a full-time Pelham Police Officer, effective August 16, 2004, subject to one year probation in= the department and successful completion of Police Academy.

= ;

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carr= ied.

MOTION:=

(Lynde/Bergeron) To appoint Mr. Adam N. Landry as a part-time dispatcher for the Pelham Police Department, effective August 16, 2004.

= ;

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carr= ied.

OTHER BUS= INESS

Budget Re= view

Town Clerk &= #8211; Town Meeting appropriation for 2004 was $92,976. The request for 2005 $82,494.

Tax Collecto= r – Town Meeting appropriation for 2004 was $65,196. The request for 2005 $78,784.

Elections &#= 8211; Town Meeting appropriation for 2004 was $22,750. The request for 2005 $17,250.

It was noted that twenty-four voting booths would be purchased.

Highway R= 11; Town Meeting appropriation for 2004 was $718,702. The request for 2005 $750,142.

Revenue from plowing private roads - $45,728; project= ed Highway Block Grant $235,000.

The following warrant articles were presented:

To raise and appropriate the sum of (to be provided by the state in Octo= ber) for repair, maintenance and upgrading Town roads to be offset by the = State Highway Grant for Highway Construction. No tax impact.
To raise and appropriate $75,000 for placement in the Tallant Road/Willow Street Bridge Capital Reserve Fund which next will be utilized for the replacement of the = Willow Street Bridge – the amount represents a payment toward the Town’s 20% contribution with the state matching 80%.
To approve a lease/purchase agreement of a fully-operational 17,000 pound gross vehicle weight dump truck with a 9.32ft. yard dump body and nine foot power angle front plow at a purchase price of $53,488 over a four-year period. To ra= ise an appropriate $14,350 for the first year period.
To raise and appropriate $624,000 for the purpose of constructing a gara= ge for the Highway Department. (Mr. Foss was asked to provide the details)

*see below for additional Budget Review

Offsettin= g Highway Costs for Plowing School Property

Mr. McDevitt read a memo that provided a brief histor= y of how snow removal had been handled and a proposal to notify the school that= the Town would begin passing on the cost of plowing during the 2005/2006 plowi= ng season. The Town would conti= nue to obtain the services on behalf of the school and would continue to salt/sand for a nominal fee. Mr. Foss discus= sed how snow removal was being handled. Mr. McDevitt felt the school should be charged for the Town’s direct cost (i.e. loader). He recommende= d that the Selectmen think about the proposal and discuss at an upcoming meeting.=

Mr. Gaydos said subcontracting was new and the costs = were rising. He noted that when t= he Town had to put special emphasis ensuring that the schools were ready for school busses, the Town was spending a considerable amount of money.

Mr. Derby believed the costs should be included in the school’s budget since it was part of their winter operation.

There was further discussion. Mr. McDevitt said the Selectmen w= ould need to make a decision so the school could adopt now and be in affect for= the 2005/2006 season.

Budget Re= view Con’t…

Insurance &#= 8211; Town Meeting appropriation was $721,237. The request for 2005 $1,022,761.&n= bsp; The offsetting estimated revenue is $100,828. Mr. Gaydos reviewed the informati= on with the Selectmen.

Cooperative High= School Discussion

Mr. McDevitt said the Selectmen had heard two present= ations regarding the cooperative high school and had been asked to take a positio= n by the Coop Committee. He said = if the Selectmen wanted to take a position an agenda item could be added to next week’s agenda. Mr. Lyn= de felt the Selectmen should take a position because taxes would be affected. Mr. McDevitt felt it was importan= t for the Selectmen to take a position. Mr. Bergeron said he didn’t have the task that the elected Sc= hool Board members had and felt he should spend his time doing what he was elec= ted to do as a Selectman. He wan= ted to take time and listen to all information before voting. Mr. Derby said the Budget Committ= ee had a scheduled meeting to discuss a Pelham only school and suggested waiting = until that information was heard. = Mr. Lynde felt the coop would impact the Selectmen when addressing the Town= 217;s municipal needs and the associated tax impacts. Mr. Danevich felt that the Select= men should provide guidance with respect to the overall budget. Mr. Bergeron said a decision woul= d be easier if the numbers being provided weren’t estimated costs. Mr. Derby said the Selectmen woul= d be impacted because it was their job to set the tax rate. Mr. McDevitt said the Selectmen w= ould schedule a discussion after the Budget Committee had the opportunity for further discussion.

Hiring Po= licy

Mr. McDevitt said the Hiring Policy had been discusse= d and deferred for vote until this evening.&nbs= p; He said the policy tried to determine what the hiring process was.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He reviewed the policy and descri= bed what manner in which employees would be hired in each of the employee categories.

Mr. Derby made a motion to adopt the Hiring Policy. Mr. Danevich seconded. After further discussion there we= re two amendments: 1) the words ‘permanent part-time or seasonal positions’ were added to the employee defini= tion sentence, and 2) effective August 11, 2004. Mr. Da= nevich requested that the Selectmen receive notification when an employee was hired. Mr. Gaydos said the Selectmen would receive notification.&nbs= p; The motion was amended and the second was also amended.

= ;

MOTION:

(Derby/Danevich) To adopt the Hiring Policy as prin= ted the two amendments: 1) addition of the words ‘permanent part-time positions, or seasonal positions= ’, and 2) effective date of August 11, 2004.

= ;

VOTE:<= /p>

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

Old Town= Hall Equipment Disposition=

Mr. Gaydos provided the Selectmen with the dispositio= n of Town property, some of which remained in the Old Town Hall. He requested feedback from the Se= lectmen how to proceed with dispensing the old equipment, such advertising an auction. Mr. Bergeron asked = that the Department Heads be informed of the items before an auction was held i= n the event they could use any of the items.&nb= sp; He also suggested including the items contained in the addition classrooms and the area beside the Police Department. Mr. Gaydos said the Department He= ads would have the opportunity to review the items. There was further discussion. Mr. McDevitt suggested that the Selectmen give further thought to the issue and come back later with a recommendation. He said Mr. = Phil Currier should be notified before any of the items were disposed of in the event any of the items had historic value.

Transfer = Station – Bruce Mason vacation / appointment

Transfer Station Superintendent Bruce Mason requested= that Mr. Larry Neskey be appointed as acting Department Head during his vacation August 23, 2004 through September 27, 2004.

= ;

MOTION:

(Derby/Bergeron) To appoint Mr. Larry Neskey as act= ing Department Head during Superintendent Bruce Mason vacation August 23, 2004 through September 27, 2004.

= ;

VOTE:<= /p>

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

<= /o:p>

TOWN ADMI= NISTRATOR’S REPORT / SELECTMEN’S REPORTS

Mr. McDevitt informed that the Selectmen would vote regarding the budgets on September 7, 2004 with September 14, 2004 being the ‘drop dead’ date.

Mr. Gaydos said there had been discussions regarding = the creation of a No Parking Ordinance for certain sections of the Village Gre= en, which would be presented to the Selectmen for approval. He said a request had been receiv= ed to extend the polling hours during the September 14, 2004 primary to 7am – 8pm.&n= bsp; He said the Secretary of State office and the Moderator didn’t have a problem with extending the hours.&= nbsp; He felt the Selectmen should approve the hours for each election separately.

= ;

MOTION:

(Derby/Lynde) To extend the polling hours on September 14, 2004

= ;

VOTE:<= /p>

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

Mr. Gaydos said the Town would be addressing, and ret= urning an answer to the Secretary of State regarding the Polling Places Deficienc= ies Notice that had been received. He said there would be temporary solutions to all their criticisms.

Mr. Bergeron informed that he would attend the next N= RPC meeting to be held on September 1, 2004 at 7pm<= /st1:time>. He also noted that the next Merri= mack Valley Regional Water District (MVRWD) would hold their next meeting August 19, 2004. He asked that the Selectmen discu= ss the $2500 request (of the MVRWD) at their next meeting.

<= /o:p>

Mr. Derby said a letter had been received from Fire C= hief E. David Fisher regarding use of Town property (beside the Fire Station) duri= ng Old Home Day. The Fire Chief= was not in favor of the requested use the letter would be forwarded to the Crossroads Baptist Church, who had made the request. Mr= . Lynde said the Old Home Day Committee would provide the church a non-profit spac= e and noted that their was a slot open for entertainment if the Crossroads Churc= h was interested.

Mr. Danevich said he attended the Dennis P. Lyons Mem= orial Park Dedication that had a large turnout.= He said numerous officials (state/county) that attended the ceremony. He learned that da= y that the Skate Park had been awarded a $47,000 s= tate grant and that the Park & Recreation Director had been awarded a $15,0= 00 for the summer program.

Mr. Lynde said that Old Home Day would be held September 11, 2004.

Mr. McDevitt asked if anyone knew of someone that was returning from military duty that should be recognized to please contact t= he Selectmen’s office.

<= /o:p>

REQUEST FOR NON-PUBLIC SESSION

MOTION:

(Lynde/Derby) Request for a non-public session per = RSA 91-A:3,II,c (Matters which, if discussed publicly, would affect adversel= y the reputation of any person)

= ;

ROLL CALL:=

Mr. McDevitt-Yes; Mr. Danevich-Yes; Mr. Bergeron-Ye= s; Mr. Derby-Yes; Mr. Lynde-Yes

Mr. McDevitt noted that when the Board returned, afte= r the non-public session, the Board would not take any other action publicly, ex= cept to seal the minutes of the non-public session and to adjourn the meeting.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The Board entered into a non-publ= ic session at approximately 9:= 00 pm. Also present was Mr. Gaydos.

The Board returned to public session at approximately= 9:12 pm.

= ;

MOTION:

(Bergeron/Danevich) To seal the minutes of the non-= public session indefinitely.

= ;

VOTE:<= /p>

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

ADJOURNME= NT

MOTION:=

(Bergeron/Danevich) To adjourn the meeting.

= ;

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carr= ied.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:12 pm.

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

&nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; = Charity A. L. Willis

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