SEL20080729

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SE= LECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

July 29, 2008

APPROVED – August 5, 2008

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. Douglas Viger, Mr. = Victor Danevich, Mr. Harold Lynde (arrived after the meeting commenced), Mr. Wil= liam McDevitt

Also present:

ABSENT:

Members of the press and general public.

Mr. Robert Haverty; Town Administrator Tom Gaydos

MINUTES REVIEW

July 22,= 2008 – The Selectmen reviewed t= he meeting minutes and deferred taking action until Mr. Lynde arrived. See below for motion.

OPEN FORUM

Mr. Paul MacDonough, 7 Mammoth Road discussed a recent instance at Pelham Veteran’s Memorial Park where a Police Officer asked a small group of children to leave after dusk. The children questioned how the Po= lice could request them to leave if there were no signs posted as to the closing= of the park. Mr. MacDonough real= ized the Selectmen had discussed possibly closing Town parks, but felt it would = be helpful for the Police to have access at all time. Mr. Viger stated that the Selectme= n had not taken a firm stand on particular closings yet because they wanted to lo= ok at all the parks and determine what they would do. The Selectmen appreciated the feedback. Mr. MacDonough then discussed recycling and his feelings regarding charging for certain items.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

DISCUSSION

The Pelham Town Center CSS Project

Planning Director Jeff Go= wan and Fire Chief Michael Walker came forward to discuss the Town Center project. Mr. Gowan indicated = that he had sent the Selectmen a memo providing the status of the CSS working gr= oup.

Mr. Lynde arrived.

Mr. Gowan explained that = at this time they were stalled pending a decision of which option to proceed with a= nd the actual costs and who would pay for such. He stated he was willing (and anxi= ous) to work with Chief Walker to come up with those costs. Chief Walker was looking to identi= fy people that were knowledgeable in building construction/renovation that cou= ld lend expertise with regard to the current station.

Mr. Gowan discussed the o= ptions (A and B) that were preferred for the Town Center project. He said with the Selectmen’s permission the CSS working group would explore the type of structure to house ambulances. He wanted to know if there was a way to move forward possibly with option A and using option B as a default.

Mr. Danevich was okay wit= h option A or B. He didn’t feel = the Town had a chance of having a new fire station within the next five years, given the current economic time. He didn’t want the Town to lose the (state funding of) two million dolla= rs. He understood there was money as p= art of the contingency for demolition and questioned if it could be reallocated to make improvements (to the existing building). He had no problem with putting tog= ether cost estimates, but commented there should be no money spent doing so.

There was further discuss= ion regarding project and what direction the working group should go in when co= ming toward the public hearing. Mr. Gowan explained if they were to proceed, the construction would possibly be= in 2011.

Chief Walker hoped instea= d of making a blanket assertion that the fire station wouldn’t happen, per= haps they could go back to the construction management group to discuss viable alternatives that would make it more palatable to the voters and move the T= own forward. Mr. Danevich support= ed placing the fire station back on the ballot, but feared what would happen to the federal funds if the Town was unwilling to support the station.

Mr. Viger believed the ma= in focus of the request was to explore option B and determine the cost for such. He said the cost would help the Selectmen determine how they would proceed.

Mr. Lynde recalled the la= st CSS meeting. He stated at that ti= me, the state was looking for some direction because they wanted to move the project forward, but recognized the Town had a problem with the March Town Meeting results. At the time = it was suggested to start looking at alternatives for the fire station. Mr. Lynde felt it was important to proceed (in March or April) with either option A or B. He disliked option B, but disliked greater to lose $3.9 million in federal funds to solve the traffic in the <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Town Center. He believed the funds would be los= t if the Town didn’t proceed by that timeframe. He supported the idea of placing a= new fire station on the ballot if it was scaled back to a more cost effective approach. He noted that withi= n the $3.9 million there were certain amounts identified for engineering, construction etc. and a balance out of that for property acquisition and ot= her related costs compensating the Town for moving or reconfiguring the fire station.

Mr. Gowan suggested, once= the cost estimates were determined, having a representative from the State Department of Transportation attend a Selectmen meeting to discuss the actu= al numbers and the function of replacement.&n= bsp; He appreciated the discussion.

Mr. McDevitt agreed that = the Town should pursue the suggestion (of moving forward with option A and as a defa= ult option B). He supported a new= fire station, but didn’t support placing it on the ballot this coming Marc= h. He said the Selectmen had to be ca= utious to the voter’s (financial) pain and if the Selectmen put a fire stati= on on the ballot it would send the wrong message.

Mr. Viger stated that the Selectmen needed to determine if they wanted the CSS working group to explo= re options and put costs to them. The Selectmen agreed to the proposal brought to them.

Minutes Con’t….

The Selectmen then addres= sed the minutes. The ending times/mot= ions were added.

MOTION:

(Danevich/McDe= vitt) To approve the Ju= ly 22, 2008 meeting minutes as amended.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

APPOINTMENTS

Budget Review:

Fire – Fire Chief Michael Walker and Fire Department Offi= ce Manager Maureen McNamara came forward to discuss the proposed 2009 budget.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Chief Walker stated that an executive summary= had been drafted that identified the budget increases that were beyond their control ($128,291). He said i= t was then their burden to reduce that amount from the operating budget to reach = zero. He then summarized the statements contained in the executive summary. A list of items in priority order was also included in the event the Selectmen made additions to the budget.&nb= sp; The Selectmen then reviewed the line items contained within the prop= osed budget. The 2008 operating bu= dget was $1,645,334; the proposed 2009 operating budget is $1,645,339.

Mr. Viger hoped the resid= ents realized that the cuts made could not occur year after year because it cut = core services. Chief Walker stated= the Town would have reduced service in the coming year. He discussed what was being affected. Mr. Lynde wanted to= know what had to be done to the budget in order to supply the second ambulance.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He noted there was nearly $200,000= in income for the ambulance and questioned what percentage of the costs that reimbursement covered. Chief = Walker stated he would provide that information.

Emergency Management - Chief Michael Walker and Fire Department Office Manager Maureen McNamara reviewed the proposed Emergency Management budget. It had a zero increase. Chief Walker stated= he and Police Chief Roark intended to collaborate on an emergency management budget that contained equipment and resources that could be cross-utilized = by each department. Given the cu= rrent economic situation, that wasn’t possible at this time.

OTHER BUSINESS

Highway Safety Committee – Naming of Stadtmiller subdivisi= on road – Harmony Lane<= /st1:address>

The Selectmen were provid= ed with a letter from the Highway Safety Committee requesting that Yellow Brick Road be changed to Harmony Lane. The Selectmen did not object to th= e name change.

NHDES – Municipal EcoLink e-Bulletin

Mr. Danevich read aloud a bulletin provided by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. (see Attachment)

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR/SELECTMEN REPORTS

Mr. Danevich stated that = the Counsel on Aging is on their summer break and will resume in a month or two. A building committee mee= ting will be held for the Seni= or Center.

Mr. McDevitt said he forw= arded the Selectmen a newspaper article that indicated the PUC had approved the taking (by eminent domain) of the Pennichuck Water Company by the City of <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Nashua. He noted it didn’t include Pennichuck East (which included Pelham).&n= bsp; He noted that the decision required them to put aside $40 million in escrow for Pennichuck East that was to protect their (the Town’s) interest. For the record he informed he was a customer of Pennichuck East.

Mr. Lynde provided the up= coming concert dates for the Concert on the Common series.

Mr. Viger had no report. =

REQUEST FOR NON-PUBLIC SESSION

MOTION:

(Danevich/McDe= vitt) Request for a non-public session per RSA 91-A:3,II,c (Matters which, if discussed publicly, would affect adversely the reputation of any person)<= /p>

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Viger-Yes;= Mr. Danevich-Yes; Mr. McDevitt-Y= es; Mr. Lynde-Yes

It was noted tha= t when the Board returned, after the non-public session, the Board would not take = any other action publicly, except to possibly seal the minutes of the non-public session and to adjourn the meeting. The Board entered into a non-public session at approximately 8:08 pm.

The Board returned to public session at approximately 8:15 pm.

MOTION:

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

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(Lynde/Danevic= h) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The motion .

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:15 pm.

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

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

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