SEL20090804

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SE= LECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

August 4, 2009

APPROVED &#= 8211; August 11, 2009=

CALL TO ORDER – 6:30pm

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. Robert Haverty, Mr.= Douglas Viger, Mr. William McDevitt, Mr. Harold Lynde (after the meeting commence= d), Mr. Edmund Gleason, Town Administrator Tom Gaydos, Finance Director Janet Gal= lant

ABSENT:

None.

2010 Budget Presentations:

Senior Center – Senior Center Director S= ue Hoveling reviewed the proposed 2010 Senior Center Budget. Mr. Gleason asked why the 2010 bud= get had decreased below the default budget.&nb= sp; Ms. Gallant stated that the previous bus driver made more money. There was a new hire that started = with a lower salary. Ms. Hoveling to= ld the Selectmen that the warrant article for the 1500SF addition would be resubmi= tted this year with adjusted figures.

Mr. Lynde arrived.

Cable Television – Mr. Jim Greenwood came forward to revi= ew the proposed 2010 Cable Television budget.= He believed that the projected revenues would increase over the 2009 revenues. He said he would li= ke to add to his budget keeping the increase in line with the projected increase.= He had some suggested items heR= 17;d like to see put back into the Cable budget. He noted that the revenues had inc= reased which gave the budget a higher bottom line to be used (according to the cab= le contract). Mr. Greenwood didn’t anticipate any warrant articles being submitted.

Human Services – Welfare Administrator Dawn Holdsworth ca= me forward to review the proposed 2010 Human Services budget. Ms. Gallant briefly discussed the = Human Services position. Ms. Holdsw= orth provided additional information about the assistance and services provided. Ms. Gallant stated that Ms. Holdsworth’s services had made the department much more efficient by qualifying the clients and being able to send them to other qualified resou= rces. The Town had the right to find the appropriate support for the clients means; and hold the clients accountable= for their finances. Mr. Gaydos no= ted that the Town didn’t give money directly to applicants.

Fire Department – Fire Chief James Midgley, Office Manager Maureen McNamara, Lt. John Ignatowicz came forward to di= scuss the proposed 2010 Fire Department budget.&= nbsp; Mr. Gleason complimented the Fire Chief for the budget’s forma= t, which was extremely easy to follow and well put together. Chief Midgley began reviewing the = budget and outlining the items that had been decreased or eliminated based on havi= ng zero increase. He then review= ed the items contained in the priority list. He anticipated bringing forward warrant articles for a fire station = (if funding from the Federal Government wasn’t received) and a Deputy Fire Chief. He said projects were = currently being reviewed. The notificat= ion process for those receiving funding will begin in mid-September; there will= be three rounds of notification and the Town should know by December if funds = will be received.

Mr. Gleason asked if ther= e was anything within the 2009 budget cuts imposed by the Budget Committee that reduced safety or reduced operations and put the department in a position of having difficulty responding. Chief Midgley answered yes. He said= they should have done the RSI Program two years ago; it is critical to life safety. He said having the pr= ogram could have changed the outcome on patients.

Mr. McDevitt asked at wha= t point there would be specific plans and dollar amounts for ‘Plan B’ f= or the fire station. He was very concerned that it appeared to have disappeared. Mr. Gaydos said they had met with = local contractors to discuss what the least expensive way would be to continue wi= th the existing station. Another aspect being reviewed/planned is the issue with communications; the telepho= ne poles will not remain in place with a round-about. Mr. McDevitt said it was imperativ= e that the issue continues to be reviewed because of land issues and deed restrictions. Mr. Haverty agr= eed that the Town needed a solution before getting a price, especially if there were deed restrictions preventing the use of the property. Mr. Gaydos explained that informat= ion and costs were being reviewed and would be presented to the Selectmen.   The Fire Chief was very invo= lved with the review process. Mr. = Gaydos stated that he had some funding sources that he would discuss with the Board once he found out the costs. = He said they would also find out the nature of the deed restrictions. There was further discussion regar= ding what items needed to be done now and what the department needed, prior to putting a bid package together. Mr. Gaydos said he would like to get numbers to the Board and a clearer picture within four weeks.

Emergency Management – Fire Chief James Midgley and Office Manager Maureen McNamara presented the proposed 2010 Emergency Management budget. Chief Midgley said the budget was a fixed cost and had no increase; money was withdrawn from suppl= ies and repairs and moved into new equipment.&= nbsp; The goal was to purchase two new basement/cellar pumps. Mr. Viger complimented Chief Midgl= ey regarding the budget plan, which was had very good back up and was easy to follow.

Chief Midgley commented t= hat they were on course to break $200,000 in ambulance revenues; to date (end of Jul= y) they were at $140,000.

Ms. Gallant noted that th= e Fire Department had put together an inventory that would be available for the Selectmen and the Budget Committee. She believed the information would answer a lot of questions the boa= rds may have.

Mr. Haverty allowed Mr. P= aul McDonough (who was seated in the audience) to ask a question. Mr. McDonough questioned the stipu= lation in the deed for the land behind the Fire Station. Mr. McDevitt discussed his underst= anding of why the deed restrictions were placed.&= nbsp; Mr. McDonough didn’t understand why certain deed restrictions = were placed on property given to the Town. Mr. Lynde discussed deed restrictions and said the people (or their heirs) who put the restrictions in could be asked if they would lift them.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mr. Haverty stated that the Select= men would look into all possible options.

Health Services – Ms. Gallant reviewed the proposed 2010 Health Services budget. She explained that it was the department that handled contributions for non-pro= fit organizations that the Town utilized services for. She said she explained to each of = the organizations that the Town would not be able to do anything but level fund= ing this year.

Town Buildings – Ms. Gallant discussed the proposed 2010 = Town Buildings budget with the Selectmen. The Selectmen asked that the Department Heads provide an estimate for what they might need for repairs. Ms. Gallant continued the review of the budget and explained what the items were that were included.

REQUEST FOR NON-PUBLIC SESSION

MOTION:

(Viger/McDevit= t) Request for a non-public session per RSA 91-A:3,II, a (personnel)

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Haverty-Ye= s; Mr. Viger-Yes; Mr. McDevitt-Yes; Mr. Lynde-Yes; Mr. Gleason-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 10:10 pm.

The Board returned to public session at approximately 11:29pm.

MOTION:

(Lynde/McDevit= t) To seal the minutes of the non-public session indefinitely.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The mo= tion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(Lynde/McDevit= t) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:29pm.

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

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

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