SEL20081202

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SE= LECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

December 2, 2008

APPROVED &#= 8211; March 24, 2009<= /p>

CALL TO ORDER – 6:30pm

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. Douglas Viger, Mr. = Robert Haverty, Mr. Harold Lynde, Mr. William McDevitt, Town Administrator Tom Gaydos

Also present:

ABSENT:

Members of the press and general public.

Mr. Victor Danevich

OPEN FORUM

None.

APPOINTMENTS

6:30p= m

Fire Chief Michael Walker & Mrs. Howard Mastropiero – Request to place Memorial Bench at Fire Station

Mr. Gaydos and M= rs. Mastropiero came forward to discuss placing a bench at the Fire Station in memory of the late Howard Mastropiero who had been part of the Fire Department. A depiction of the bench and propo= sed inscription were provided to the Selectmen. The bench would be placed so it wo= uld have maximum exposure. Mr. Ga= ydos said they wanted to make sure it would not be in the way of construction in= the event the fire station remained (under Option B of the Town Center project). The bench would be = able to be moved if there was to be a new fire station.

The understandin= g was when a new fire station was built the memorial bench would be located appropriately. There were no objections by the Selectmen. = Mr. Gaydos, Fire Chief Walker and Mrs. Mastropiero would work together to deter= mine a location. Once allowed, the placement of the bench would take approximately six weeks. A dedication ceremony would be planned.

OTHER BUSINESS

Elderly Exemption Discussion

This item was po= stponed to a later meeting.

6:37p= m

Warrant Article Follow-Ups (if needed)

Mr. Gaydos state= d that the Budget Committee (in most cases) approved the warrant articles as placed before them by the Selectmen. They understood there were a few more warrants coming. They also understood the Selectmen= would like to close down some of the trust funds (capital reserve funds) and sweep them back to the General Fund. The Budget Committee indicated to maintain the fund for the land fill closure e= ven though it didn’t appear to be on the state’s radar. Mr. McDevitt said that had been a subject of back and forth by the Budget Committee. He said they had a report by Craig Mussleman Associates which reviewed the ash landfill and recommended to ign= ore it. Mr. McDevitt didn’t= feel the state would get involved with digging up landfills (and cost share) in = the foreseeable future. (see clarification of this statement contained in the Selectmen’s minutes of March 24, 2009 – under Minutes Review) He would like to have further disc= ussion at a later meeting. Mr. Viger= said a suggestion was brought up to use the money for a soil analysis around the existing transfer station because there had been an oil holding tank at the location.

Mr. Viger said a= nother suggestion brought up by the Budget Committee was the ambulance purchase by doing a lease/purchase over a time period taking the $25,000 that would have been placed into the capital reserve fund.= He said if that was done, they wouldn’t have to raise taxpayer= money. The suggestion sounded good to the Selectmen. A previous warrant= had already been voted on by the Selectmen; they will bring it back at reconsideration.

Mr. Gaydos infor= med that they were wrapping up the fire station proposal and receiving input back fr= om the firemen. He stated the th= ree union negotiations were still in negotiations.

Mr. Gaydos then = spoke about the warrant article relative to the Senior Center. He said the discussion was if the capital reserve set up for the senior center expansion could be amended to = give the Selectmen the authority to expend the fund. He said it would take a simple maj= ority not take a super majority to change it. The revised warrant article would not need Budget Committee review.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT /= SELECTMEN’S REPORTS

Mr. Haverty reco= gnized the Pelham/Windham Pee Wee Razorback Cheerleaders who placed first in the Regional competition. They wi= ll now go to Orlando in the National competition to represent Pelham.

Mr. Gaydos said = they were working on the contracts for the Supervisors, Support Staff and Police. They had two proposal= s out and were trying to come to an agreement.&n= bsp; Mr. Gaydos said he spent a lot of time preparing for an appearance at Superior Court tomorrow for the Torissi v. Town of <= st1:City w:st=3D"on">Pelham case. He noted that there were a couple projects that they ran out of time to complete this year: 1) re-sloping of = Shannon Circle; 2) culvert at Muldoon Park will need to be replaced. He then provided the Selectmen with an update on the salt purchase.

Mr. Lynde said he attended his fourth High School Committee meeting. They were trying to determine how = to proceed with resolving issues with Pelham’s schools; there seems to b= e a consensus that at some point in time there is a need for four schools. He ended by reminding folks there = would be a fund raiser for the new soccer fields held on Saturday evening at the = Fish & Game from 7pm-12am; tickets are $25.

The Selectmen de= cided to hold the School and Town Deliberative Sessions at Sherburne Hall.

PERC Committee: Pay-As-You-Throw Report

PERC Committee M= ember Ron Hannon came forward to review the final report regarding PERC and the P= ay As You Throw Program (‘PAYT’).= He discussed the PAYT program and the reasons that the committee did= n’t move forward with it. Committ= ee Member Richard Tarpey joined Mr. Hannon for the discussion. There was an additional report that outlined other possibilities for trash disposal (such as allowing the outsi= de haulers to utilize the transfer station); the Selectmen decided to discuss = the committee’s other findings at a later date since the current discussi= on was scheduled for PAYT. = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp;

The Selectmen ac= cepted the committee’s findings and would not act on PAYT at this time.

7:19p= m

Public Skating Rink Discussion

Mr. Chris Mader,= Primrose Lane and Park & Recreation Director Brian Johnson came forward to discuss the possibility of a public skating rink. Mr. Mader stated that there had been interest for a skating rink voi= ced on the Pelham Message Board. A group of volunteers have helped to spearhead the effort of having a rink and through research determined that Lyon= 217;s Park would be the best location. Mr. Mader said they had the support of the Police and Fire Departments. They had begun to raise money which totaled approximately $2000; they felt it was premature to go forward with additional fundraising until the rink had been approved. A packet of information was provid= ed to the Selectmen prior to the meeting for review.

Mr. McDevitt ask= ed where the rink would be located. Mr. Mader said the rink would be located in the Tot Soccer area (as approaching= to the left of the park). The ri= nk would be 100ft.x50ft. Mr. McD= evitt believed the leach field was in that location. Mr. Viger said that type of thing = would be reviewed. Mr. Mader said if there was a heat stretch in March, the water would evaporate; another alternative was to pump it out (a local company said they would do it for no cost to the Town).

Mr. Lynde said h= e liked the plan and felt Lyon’s Park was = the best location. He questioned = how the rule of being used by Pelham residents only would be enforced. Mr. Mader said postings could be done. He also suggested possi= bly having rink monitors by using high school students needing community service hours.

Mr. Gaydos discu= ssed his experience with skating rinks and the liabilities with having one. He said one of the problems with t= he proposal was who would monitor the activities and the times during the day = they would be allowed.

Mr. McDevitt bel= ieved the rink should either be under the Recreation department, or sponsored by Recreation. This would give t= he Selectmen someone to go to in the event of a dispute. He said there would have to be str= ict rules regarding when certain types of skating were allowed. He felt having the rink be for Pel= ham residents only would probably be unenforceable.

The Selectmen wo= uld like Mr. Mader to work closely with Mr. Johnson to make it a Park & Recreati= on activity to ensure the liability to the Town would be covered. Mr. Mader said there were a number= of communities in the state that had rinks, so it was just a matter of figuring out how to do it. He reiterat= ed that there were a number of people working to put a plan together. Mr. Gaydos said having the rink be= a sanctioned function by the Selectmen would make it so that the Town was ultimately responsible for it. He had information from the insurance company that outlined how a rink could happen and guidelines for loss prevention.=

Mr. Haverty note= d that the Selectmen wouldn’t convene for two weeks, but it shouldn’t = stop the skate rink committee from working with Mr. Johnson to come up with a so= lid plan for the Selectmen to act on.

Mr. Lynde asked = how thick the ice would be. Mr. M= ader said it would be a minimum of 4inches thick and with the grade would be a maximum of 8inches. There is = a company who reviewed/laser leveled the land to determine the thickness. Mr. Lynde questioned if the volunt= eers knew exactly what they needed to do. Mr. Viger commented that the rink system was professionally made and installed by a professional company. Mr. Mader felt he knew how they were to proceed. He noted all the questions/concern= s and understood he could ask Mr. Haverty about any additional questions.

Mr. McDevitt sai= d if the rink was to be a donation; the Selectmen should take the steps to schedule a public hearing for it. There = was a brief discussion whether the rink would be a donation. Mr. Mader said the donations were essentially for the materials required for the rink and the shovels etc. to maintain the rink. Mr. Haverty believed the donations were similar to those collected for Sherburne Hall; = a series of small donations (anything from money to materials). He felt the best way to proceed wo= uld be to accept a collective donation. The Park & Recreation Director could make the recommendation whether or not= to accept the rink. Mr. Gaydos s= aid the rink could be run through the 80 Fund in the event there were future donations. He agreed that a question was who would own the rink after it was used. Mr. Lynde said Mr. Mader could ret= ain ownership of the rink and work out storage with Mr. Johnson. Mr. Haverty questioned if it was b= etter for the Town to own the rink for liability reasons. Mr. Gaydos said it would be better= if the Town owned the rink. Mr. Haverty recommended that the Selectmen hold a public hearing in two weeks to accept a donation for money and material.&= nbsp; There were no objections.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Have= rty) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(4-0-0) The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:52 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