APPROVED
TOWN OF
BOARD OF S= ELECTMEN MEETING
MINUTES
APPROVED –
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
|
PRESENT: |
Mr. Victor Danevich, Mr. Edmund Gleason, Mr. Harold= Lynde, Mr. Jean-Guy Bergeron, Mr.= Tom Domenico, Town Administrator Tom Gaydos |
|
Also present: ABSENT: |
Members of the press and general public. None |
MINUTES REVIEW
|
MOTION:=
|
(Gleason/Lynde) To approve the |
|
VOTE: |
(5-0-0) The motion carr= ied. |
OPEN FORUM
Resident and NRPC Commissioner Leo Thibeault said he =
had
been instrumental regarding getting something done in the
Mr. Lance Ouellette, Gaston Road asked for input to g= et better knowledge of the bid process for landscaping for the Town and Schoo= ls. He said they missed the last bid = process and wanted to review a spec sheet so when he submitted his proposal he cou= ld save the taxpayer money. He didn’t have a problem with the company currently doing the work, but= felt it was important to have competition.&nbs= p; He said he was a resident and wanted to do work for the Town. Mr. Danevich said the current con= tract was up for re-bid this year; the Selectmen had not yet pulled the process together. Mr. Gaydos said the school has now been combined with the rest of the program. He said the same format from thre= e years ago would be used. In a week= or so they would publish the invitations to bid; the bids would be opened in Feb= ruary and be awarded for the Spring. He said the specs would be updated and the contract would run for three years. Mr. Ouellette asked i= f it was wise to have a three-year contract.&n= bsp; As a resident he liked the competition of a yearly bid; however, as= a business owner a three-year contract would be beneficial. Mr. Danevich said the Selectmen w= ould take the information into consideration when the bid package was put together. He suspected that = the Board would continue with a competitive bid process and award the bid to t= he lowest bidder.
APPOINTMENTS
Sue Hovling – Senior Bus Policy
Mr. Danevich said there had been conversations regard= ing the new bus, and to try and eliminate the ‘grey’ areas a policy had been drafted. He read the pr= oposed policy aloud.
Senior Center Director Sue Hovling read the proposed = changes aloud. Mr. Gleason volunteer= ed to pull the language together and put it in the form of a policy and bring it= back to the Board for further review. Mr. Gaydos suggested that a schedule form be created to log informa= tion such as mileage, time of use etc. There was a brief discussion regarding additional information that = should be included in a policy.
Mr. Danevich said the p= olicy would be put on a future agenda when it was ready for adoption.
Veteran’s Park Forestry Plan
Forestry Committee Member Deborah Waters said they we=
re
presenting the Forestry Plan for Pelham Veteran’s Memorial Park. They requested an expedited heari=
ng due
to an infestation of Hemlock Wooley Adelgid that had been reported. She discussed the problems with t=
he
Adelgid that was currently present in twelve eastern states and had devast=
ated
large tracts of Hemlock trees including nearly all Hemlock trees in the st=
ate
of
Mr. Mike Powers discussed the Veteran’s Park pa= rcel and what actions the forestry plan consisted of. He also discussed the problems fr= om the Adelgid and the suggestion that all the Hemlock trees (making up 1% of the forest) be cut down. Approxi= mately half the Hemlock trees are affected.
Mr. Cyr noted that the property was already scheduled= to be harvested to do long-term sustainable forestry. He discussed the amount of board = feet that would be removed and what would remain. He said when harvesting they took= the aesthetics into consideration.
Mr. Gleason asked how it was determined that the Adel=
gid was
in the forest. Mr. Powers ex=
plained
what visible signs were identified of the Adelgid. Mr. Gleason asked if the Adelgid =
posed
any risk to the other trees. Mr.
Powers answered no. Mr. Glea=
son
asked when the Hemlocks would be cut.&nbs=
p;
Mr. Powers said they would like to have the job done this winter
(January-February, 2007) by going out to bid. He said if they were unsuccessful
getting a logger to commit to the job, the state would like to come in with
their own people and ‘fell’ the Hemlock trees this winter. The trees would stay on the groun=
d until
Baystate was able to get into the forest to remove them, next fall. Mr. Cyr noted that Hemlock didn&#=
8217;t
blue stain the quality of the lumber would still be good. Mr. Gleason asked which was the m=
ore
fiscally prudent way to proceed.
Mr. Powers said the state would do it for nothing; they were serious
about stopping the movement of the Adelgid. Mr. Cyr said there were some resi=
dences
across the pond that had infestations.&nb=
sp;
He discussed the costs for trying to salvage the trees. Mr. Gleason asked if the Adelgid =
had
been found at Raymond or
Park & Recreation Director Darren McCarthy said t= he state reviewed the three parks, but only identified the Adelgid at Veteran’s Park.
Mr. Bergeron said there was earlier mention about a plant/vine at the park and questioned if mulching it would kill the plant,= or if it would regenerate. Mr. Cyr= said the best way to control invasive species was to use herbicides. He discussed the current conditio= n of the forest what vines would to do such and what their plan of attack for t= he area.
Mr. Lynde questioned if the proceeds from the Park co= uld be factored into the foresting fees. Mr. Cyr said they could do such as part of their forestry contract.= Mr. Lynde said a warrant article = had been done and rather than increasing such questioned if the additional work could be done through the timber operation.
|
MOTION: |
(Lynde/Gleason) To adopt the Forest Stewardship Pla=
n (10-year
plan) provided for Pelham Veteran’s Memorial Park dated |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
Mr. Cyr was asked to pr= ovide Mr. Gaydos with a cost estimate to remove the invasives.
OTHER BUSINESS
Budget Reconsideration
Mr. Danevich said as it gets closer to Town Meeting, = certain costs fluctuate (i.e. fuel) which affects some of the budgets; the Selectm= en will consider the proposed changes.
Mr. Gleason reviewed the changes to the Operating Budget. He said they reviewe= d the amount of money placed in the budget for fuel, gasoline and diesel; after discussions with the Town Administrator it was believed to be reasonable to reduce the numbers contained in such.&nbs= p; He discussed what reductions could be made and which department wou= ld be effected. In the aggregate, = the reductions for fuel would be $33,927.&nbs= p; There was also a reduction of $45,000 in consideration of a Fire Department grant for communications. The other reconsiderations for the Budget Committee were: 1) reinst= ate the TAN - $1; 2) Compensated Absence – move $115, 000 back into the Operating Budget and at the same time place it into the default budget; 3)= put $10,000 back into the Operating Budget to cover rate increases of Pennichuck Water= ; 4) $20,000 for matching grants for Police, Fire & Emergency; 5) $5000 for automob= ile registration equipment. Over= all the request was to increase the Operating Budget from $9,845,054 to $9,916,234= (an increase of $71,180).
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Lynde) To modify the Operating Budget as proposed. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
Warrant Article Discussion
Mr. Danevich said the Selectmen received a group of p= etition warrant articles that were reviewed as follows (wording is only a summary)= :
P1 – To adopt and interim residential growth management regulation. The Selectmen deferred the article to the Planning Board for decision. Mr. Gaydos said there were 25 ver= ified signatures.
There was a brief discussion as to whether the Select=
men should
include language (i.e. recommended or not recommended) on the warrant
articles. Mr. Danevich said =
further
research would need to be done; the 2004 and 2005 ballots were not
consistent. He said this was=
the first
public review. Because the B=
udget
Committee was to vote on Warrant Articles on
P2 – To raise and appropriate $30,000 the cost =
to
clean up (including oversight costs) an illegal tire dump located on a por=
tion
of the J.Albert Lynch portion of Raymond Park. Mr. Gaydos said 25 signatures were
verified. Mr. Domenico under=
stood
that Warrant Article RF would include an item to resolve the situation.
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Domenico) To NOT recommend the petition wa= rrant article to raise $30,000 to clean up the tire dump. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
( |
P3 – To raise and appropriate $960,000 to const=
ruct a
multi-purpose (140ftx.120ft.) gymnasium facility in
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Domenico) To NOT recommend the petition ar= ticle to raise $960,000 to construct a multi-purpose gymnasium facility. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried in the affirmative to NO= T recommend the petition article. |
P4 – Per RSA 673:2,2,A to allow the Board of Se= lectmen to appoint six members of the Planning Board who are residents of the Town. Mr. Gaydos confirmed t= hat there were 25 validated signatures. Mr. Danevich asked if the net affect of the article was to reverse = the elected Planning Board on the ballot last year. Mr. Domenico believed if the arti= cle passed the Selectmen would have the appointing authority for remaining sea= ts after people are elected. Fu= rther research was needed regarding the affects of the article. Mr. Danevich said the Selectmen traditionally don’t comment regarding structural/organization type warrant. Mr. Lynde believed = there was a specific delay before the article could be enacted.
P5 – To
raise and appropriate $100,000 to fix the traffic problems at the intersec=
tion
of
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Domenico) To recommend the petition articl= e to raise and appropriate $100,000. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
( |
P6 – New
Hampshire Climate Change Resolution – to address the issues of clima=
te
change through 1) establishment of a national program requiring reductions=
of
P7 – To raise and appropriate $20,000 to be com= bined with $20,000 of private funds provided by Pelham Little League Association for a fence and sprinkler system on the two new fields behind the playground at Muldoon Park. Mr. Gaydos con= firmed there were 25 validated signatures. Mr. Gleason was disappointed that the article came in. It was his understanding when the recommendation for the two fields was presented that Little League would d= o the fence and sprinklers and part of a trade off. Mr. Domenico said if the Selectme= n had known the article was coming the funding could have been ‘bundled= 217; with the Muldoon egress. Mr. Bergeron thought there was an agreement with Little League and didn’t feel the article made any sense. Mr. Lynde said the Board stepped forward and told the Budget Commit= tee that the egress problem would be taken care of.
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Bergeron) To NOT recommend the petition wa= rrant article to raise $20,000 to be combined with $20,000 to install a fence = and sprinkler system at Muldoon Park. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried in the affirmative to NOT recommend the petition article. |
Mr. Danevich said the Board had taken a position in t= he past couple years not to include a vote count and asked if the Board wanted a c= hange in that policy. There was no opposition to keeping the position from the past years; the ballot would s= imply read whether or not the Selectmen (and Budget Committee) recommended the article, no vote count will be included.&= nbsp;
Warrant Article Order
The Selectmen discussed the order that the ballot wou= ld be set up: 1) Election of Officers; 2) Zoning questions; 3) Bond requests; 4)= Auditor and Operating Budget; 5) Fire, EEE safety measures; 6) Union contract; 7) Police; 8) Highway; 9) Park & Recreation, Sherburne Hall, Forestry; 10) Senior; and 11) Petition Warrant Articles. Mr. Gaydos was asked to put a proposed order together of the ballot= for review.
Mr. Gleason noted that the Selectmen had to take acti=
on
regarding the Central Fire Station and confirm the wording. Mr. Gaydos understood (through the
discussions with the Budget Committee) was knowing there was $400,000 avai=
lable
with no need for further action, other than the Board voting; the number i=
n the
article would be changed from 7.3 million to 6.9 million. Mr. Gleason understood that the B=
udget
Committee wanted a definite commitment of using the impact fees. He said the total project cost wa=
s 7.3
million and the amount to be bonded was 6.9, which should be clearly defin=
ed. Mr. Domenico suggested rewording =
the
warrant article to request that the voters approve the construction of a
Central Fire Station with a price not to exceed 7.3 million and a maximum =
of
6.9 million of which to be bonded and a portion would be paid by impact
fees. Mr. Lynde suggested th=
at the
wording say that the anticipated maximum cost was 7.3 million, to be funde=
d by
a bond issue of 6.9 million and $400,000 offset by impact fees. He said the impact fees would con=
tinue
to contribute beyond the $400,000.
There was further discussion regarding how the article could be wor=
ded
to clarify the bonded amount and how it would be offset by impact fees.
&nb= sp;
To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6.9 million
dollars…………………..approximately
$400,000 of existing impact fees will be used to offset construction cost =
for a
total project cost not to exceed $7.3 million dollars.
Mr. Bergeron said there was a $7.7 million dollar num= ber from the architect which (after Mr. Gaydos had a discussion with them) was reduced to $7.3 million dollars and everything from the original plan would still be included. He said t= here was another list of things that were discussed that was additional and pos= sibly the impact fees could be applied to such.= He wanted to know the ‘real’ cost. Mr. Gaydos said as more informati= on is obtained, the Town would get better numbers. He said the number would be unkno= wn until the bids were organized; the idea was to get a not to exceed number = and to keep refining it. He said= the architect initially felt that $7.7 million dollars would do it, but when h= e got more information the number was refined down to $7.3 million. He said items were not being cut = to get a lower number, it was just coming more into focus.
|
MOTION: |
(Lynde/Domenico) To reconsider Article FS (Central = Fire Station). |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
The warrant would read as follows:
To
see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6.9 million
dollars for the construction of a new Central Fire Station and to authoriz=
e the
Board of Selectmen to issue bonds or notes in accordance with the provisio=
ns of
the Municipal Busable Act RS=
A 33;
to authorize the Selectmen to negotiate the term and the rate of the interest thereon and the maturity=
and
other terms therefore for a term not to exceed more than fifteen (15) year=
s and
to take other action they deem appropriate to effectuate the sale or issua=
nce
of said bonds or notes and additionally to raise and appropriate the sum of
$25,000 for the first year interest and associated cost; approximately $40=
0,000
of existing impact fees will be used to offset construction costs for a to=
tal
project cost not to exceed $7.3 million dollars.
|
MOTION: |
(Domenico/Gleason) To approve Warrant Article FS (C= entral Fire Station) as revised. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
Mr. Gleason wanted to know if Board would give him the authority (during discussion with the Budget Committee) to allow the term = to be changed to ten (10) years if the term was a ‘sticking’ point.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> There was a brief discussion Ther= e was a consensus to allow the bond term to be lowered to ten years if it meant the difference between a yes and no vote.
Mr. Gleason said the Selectmen had originally approve= d $175,000 for the Compensated Absence Fund that had now been reduced to $100,000 whi= ch was comprised of the anticipated growth in the compensated absence for 2007 plus an amount of money ($25,000-$30,000) that would help offset the unfun= ded liabilities to the Town that existed in the fund now.
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Domenico) To reconsider Warrant Article SJ= . |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Domenico) To reduce the Compensated Absenc= e Fund by $75,000 down to $100,000. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
The Selectmen reaffirmed their vote regarding the uni= on contract since at the time of the vote there were only three members prese= nt.
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Domenico) To reaffirm the Selectmen’s approval of the Fire Contract for a total of $185,055 with the first year’s expenditure being $46,683. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
Mr. Gaydos said he would like ask the Budget Committe= e if they would reconsider the project at Raymond Park to build the soccer fields. He read aloud a lett= er received from TFMoran who had been engaged by the Town to prepare a site p= lan package for the construction of two soccer fields at Raymond Park and to s= tabilize the gravel pit area. The let= ter outlined the permits that had been applied for and what work had been done= in connection with them. The or= iginal Dredge & Fill permit should be updated; not addressing the issues outl= ined in TFMoran’s letter would put the site in violation and could result= in penalties. Mr. Gaydos said Construction Manager and Engineer estimate it would cost $40,000 to re-est= ablish silt fencing and erosion control. <= /span>He recommended encumbering $40,000 from the Recreation budget to do the work = in the spring so regardless of the vote the area would be stabilized and the = Town would be in compliance with the permits.&= nbsp; Mr. Gleason asked if the Recreation Director concurred with the request.
Park & Recreation Director Darren McCarthy said t= he Town had to do something even if the soccer fields were not built. He said doing what was outlined i= n the letter would meet what the Wetland Bureau was looking for.
Mr. Gleason questioned where the money would be covered. Mr. Gaydos believed= there was a park repair item. Ther= e was further discussion and decided to take the money from Town Buildings. Mr. Lynde said by abiding by the conditions would be less cost than the fines that would be incurred for non-compliance. Mr. Gleason = found in the Town’s buildings and grounds there was a line item called Ray= mond Park.
|
MOTION: |
(Domenico/Lynde) To authorize the Town Administrato= r to execute a fund transfer of $40,000 and encumber those funds for the purposes of resolving issues raised by TFMoran at Raymond Park. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
Mr. Lynde asked if the Selectmen would request recons= ideration for Raymond Park because there was now a set of plans for the soccer fields. Mr. Gaydos said Mr. McCarthy would like to make the presentation to the Budget Committee in ho= pes they change their vote. Mr. = Lynde asked if the funds to be encumbered would reduce the anticipated expenses = for the fields. Mr. Gaydos answe= red no.
Mr. Gleason asked if the warrant article for Raymond =
Park would
remain the same. He confirmed that the plan was the overall plan for the
park. Mr. McCarthy said it w=
as the
overall plan for the field development (sports facilities); it didn’t
include the lodge. He said t=
he
Budget Committee would be provided with the plan (14-sheets) which was det=
ailed
and covered all the proposed erosion control, all fields, driveways and ho=
w they
would be constructed. Mr. Gl=
eason
asked if the potential area for Pat Marchi’s fields would be address=
ed. Mr. McCarthy said TFMoran would p=
rovide
a color copy of sheet 4 that would be shown to Ms. Marchi. The ‘new’ information=
was that
the Town was put on notice to meet with the site specific plan. Mr. Danevich said the Budget Comm=
ittee
Chairman said he would reconsider the article if plans were presented. Mr. McCarthy said the information=
from
TFMoran dated
BOS Priority List
Mr. Danevich said he had done a significant update an= d with the concurrence of the Selectmen would replace the list posted on the website. The Selectmen revie= wed the revised list. There was no objection by the Selectmen to post the revised priority list.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT/SELECTMEN’S REPORTS
The Town Deliberative Session was scheduled for
There were no reports.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
REQUEST FOR NON-PUBLIC = SESSION
|
MOTION: |
(Gleason/Lynde) Request for a non-public session pe= r RSA 91-A:3,II,d (Consideration of acquisition, sale or lease of property) |
|
ROLL CALL:= |
Mr. Danevich-Yes; Mr. Gleason-Yes; Mr. Lynde-Yes; <= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mr. Bergeron-Yes; Mr. Domenico-Y= es |
Mr. Danevich noted that when the Board returned, afte=
r the
non-public session, the Board would not take any other action publicly, ex=
cept
to possibly seal the minutes of the non-public session and to adjourn the =
meeting. The Board entered into a non-publ=
ic
session at approximately
The Board returned to p=
ublic
session at approximately
|
MOTION: |
(Domenico/Bergeron) To seal the minutes of the non-= public session indefinitely. |
|
VOTE:<= /p> |
(5-0-0) The motion carried. |
ADJOURNMENT
|
MOTION:=
|
(Domenico/Bergeron) To adjourn the meeting. |
|
VOTE: |
(5-0-0) The motion carr=
ied. |
The meeting was adjourn=
ed at
approximately
&nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; Respectfully submitted,
&nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; Charity A. L. Willis
&nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; = ; Recording Secretary
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING/January 9, 2007