SEL20090818

APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BOARD OF SE= LECTMEN MEETING

MINUTES

August 18, 2009

APPROVED &#= 8211; August 25, 2009

CALL TO ORDER – 6:30pm

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT:

Mr. Robert Haverty, Mr.= Douglas Viger, Mr. William McDevitt, Mr. Harold Lynde (arrived after the meeting commenced), Mr. Edmund Gleason, Town Administrator Tom Gaydos, Finance Director Janet Gallant

ABSENT:

None.

MINUTES REVIEW

August = 11, 2009

MOTION:

(Viger/Gleason= ) To approve the Au= gust 11, 2009 meeting minutes as amended.

VOTE:

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

OPEN FORUM

Mr. Lynde arrived during = the following discussion.

Mr. William Pultar discus= sed a policy he had been given and asked for clarification regarding such. He wanted to make sure he understo= od the policy and that the Town would commit to it. Mr. Haverty explained that former Selectmen Thomas Domenico drafted a policy after an incident was reported to the Town by Mr. Pultar. He sa= id it had already been explained that Mr. Pultar’s incident was not subject= to the policy because it could not be applied retroactively. Mr. Haverty stated that the Board considered the issue closed and would move on. Mr. Pultar took it that the policy= meant that what he alleged would not happen again. He asked if the Selectmen would ta= ke his word that what he alleged was true. Mr. Haverty stated that a policy had been put in place that allowed = them to listen to, and investigate, citizen complaints. He said the policy didn’t ta= ke into consideration if what Mr. Pultar stated was true or not, as a separate matter the Board of Selectmen had investigated the matter and found that th= ere wasn’t enough evidence to support any further action. He said the issue had been ‘= put to bed’ a long time ago. He stated numerous Selectmen (possibly three Boards) had looked into the matter. Mr. Pultar asked what= would happen if what he (previously) alleged should occur again in the future. Mr. Haverty said if what he alleged happens in the future, a person would have the right to appeal to the Board= and make a compliant. Two Selectm= en would be appointed to investigate and take the appropriate action. Mr. Pultar said that’s what = was done the first time. He wante= d the Selectmen to put themselves in his shoes because he felt he had been betrayed. Mr. Haverty thanked= Mr. Pultar for coming forward. Mr. Pultar asked Mr. Gleason if he could rely on the policy. Mr. Haverty asked Mr. Pultar to ad= dress the Chair. He said Mr. Gleaso= n had no comment. Mr. Pultar felt h= e had not been treated well. He bel= ieved he had done the best he could as an honest citizen to report wrong doing. Mr. Haverty said he hoped that Mr. Pultar would find something that would bring closure to the issue. He didn’t feel there was any= thing (further) the Board could do to help him find closure.

Mr. Pultar said if there = was such a policy, he found closure in what Mr. Haverty said. Mr. Lynde told Mr. Pultar that the Selectmen had given him the policy the last time he appeared before the Board. He said there was a po= licy in effect that had been used.

Mr. Haverty closed public forum.

APPOINTMENTS

2010 Overall Budget Review

Finance Director Janet Ga= llant came forward to review the proposed 2010 budgets. Mr. Haverty suggested that the Boa= rd review the budgets in alphabetical order and take any recommended changes a= nd then vote on each. There were= no objections to the suggested review format.=

Assessing – There were no suggested changes to the propos= ed 2010 budget.

MOTION:

(Viger/Gleason= ) To accept the Assessor’s budget for 2010 as $145,450.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Budget Committee – Mr. McDevitt suggested reducing the department’s request by the amount of the non-union pay increase ($67). He said there were a n= umber of non-union employees throughout the budget and didn’t want to set a precedent.

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Vige= r) To accept the Budget Committee’s 2010 proposed budget as $2481.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Cable Department – Mr. Viger asked what the estimated revenues would be for 2009. M= s. Gallant stated that the 2009 anticipated revenue was $171,762 (half of the amount was $85,881). Mr. Vige= r said he would like to increase the Cable budget to equal have the anticipated revenue ($85,881). Mr. Gleason noted there had been an increase in labor. He would r= ather grant the labor increase and leave the remainder of the budget as it was. Mr. Viger said the Town was requir= ed to fund half the revenue fees as part of the cable contract and didn’t w= ant to fall into a stumbling point when renewing the contract. There was further discussion regar= ding the budget.

MOTION:

(Viger/Lynde) = To adjust the bottom line of the proposed 2010 Cable Department budget to $85,881 ($5880 being under new equipment; $1 being under expenses).

VOTE:

(4-1-0) The mot= ion carried. Mr. Gleason voted no.

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Conservation Commission – Mr. McDevitt asked that the sal= ary increase ($91) be removed and reduce expenses ($100) for water test kits of Little Island Pond. The new b= ottom line would be $3997.

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Glea= son) To accept $3997 as the proposed 2010 Conservation Commission budget.

VOTE:

(4-1-0) The mot= ion carried. Mr. Lynde voted no.

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Debt Service Principal - There were no changes made to the proposed budget.

MOTION:

(Viger/McDevit= t) To accept $529,221 as the proposed 2010 Debt Service Principal budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Debt Service Interest – Mr. Gleason requested a reduction= of $10,000 under 982-Tax Anticipation Note (“TAN”).

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To accept $211,664 as the proposed 2010 Debt Service Interest budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Elections – There were no changes made to the proposed budget.

MOTION:

(Viger/McDevit= t) To accept $12,888 as the proposed 2010 Elections budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Emergency Management – Mr. McDevitt suggested reducing the bottom line to $5 which would place $1 in each of the categories (salaries, supplies, gasoline/oil, repairs and new equipment). He explained that for quite a few = years the budget had been approximately $500, used as a place holder. A few years ago it was increased a= fter ice storms etc. He felt it wo= uld be hard to justify keeping $6500 in the fund when there was over $100,000 in F= EMA funds sitting. Mr. Viger aske= d how accessible the FEMA money was. Mr. Gaydos said the FEMA money was like a grant; the Board would vote to expend= it (after a public hearing). Mr.= Lynde said if there were going to be expenses he would like to see them in the budget. Mr. Gaydos believed t= he Fire Chief was looking to spend $1768. Fire Chief James Midgley came forwa= rd and explained that they had removed pumps that were originally in the Fire Department budget and placed them in the Emergency Management budget. The pumps were used specifically f= or pumping basements. Chief Midg= ley cautioned the Selectmen that if something were to happen in Town and the FEMA money w= as expended there wouldn’t be anything for Emergency Management. The Selectmen questioned if they c= ould take the money out of FEMA to purchase pumps. Mr. Gaydos said the Selectmen coul= d do so. There was a brief discuss= ion regarding the FEMA funds and how they could be expended. Mr. Lynde recommen= ded keeping the budget as it was and show revenue coming from the FEMA account = to cover the expenses. Mr. Gleas= on didn’t object to reducing the budget, but felt the Selectmen should recognize the Chief’s concern and leave that amount for the pumps in = the budget. Mr. McDevitt stated t= hat he would not be supporting his motion.

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Vige= r) To accept $5 as the proposed 2010 Emergency Management budget.

VOTE:

(0-5-0) The motion failed.

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Lynd= e) To accept $6480 as the proposed 2010 Emergency Management budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Fire Department – Mr. Gleason recommended adding $72,= 954 into the budget. The items fr= om the priority list he wanted to put back in were: earned time/back fill ($40,441= ), emergency (fire) supplies ($7120), training ($20,793) and the SCBA equipment ($4600). Mr. Viger said he wo= uld like to add the four inch valve ($1500).&n= bsp; Mr. Gleason made a motion to increase the budget by $74,453 which increased the bottom line to $1,658,165.&n= bsp; Mr. McDevitt seconded the motion.&n= bsp; He asked if the increase for the Call Firefighters was included in t= he budget. Ms. Gallant shook her head yes.&nb= sp; Mr. McDevitt was in favor of leaving the increase because those empl= oyees’ salaries had not been increased in four years.

MOTION:

(Gleason/McDev= itt) To increase the 2010 proposed Fire Department budget by $74,453 which wou= ld increase the bottom line to $1,658,165?

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

Mr. Lynde said there were= other items in the priority list that called out for something to be done about t= hem. He reviewed the items with the Sel= ectmen. There were no further changes made= to the budget.

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Health Officer – There were no changes made to the propos= ed budget.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To accept $39,250 as the proposed 2010 Health Officer budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Health Services – There were no changes made to the propo= sed budget.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Lynde= ) To accept $48,145 as the proposed 2010 Health Services budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Highway Maintenance – Mr. Gleason recommended moving $30,= 000 (for crack seal) out of the budget. He suggested that all the crack sealing be done using the Highway Gr= ant so the $30,000 could be used in other areas they were trying to save money.= The new budget would be $907,795.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> For consistency, Ms. Gallant asked= if he wanted to leave a dollar in the line item.= Mr. Gleason answered yes. &nbs= p; He then made a motion to reduce the Highway Operating Budget to $907= ,796. Mr. Viger seconded the motion.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To reduce the (proposed 2010) Highway Operating Budget to $907,796.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

There were no other chang= es made to the budget.

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Human Services – There were no changes made to the propos= ed budget.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Lynde= ) To accept $105,440 as the proposed 2010 Human Services budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Insurance – There were no changes made to the proposed budget. Mr. McDevitt asked if= the budget was subject to further changes.&nbs= p; Ms. Gallant answered yes. &nbs= p;

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To accept $1,407,055 as the proposed 2010 Insurance budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Legal – There were no changes made to the proposed budget= .

MOTION:

(Gleason/Lynde= ) To accept $90,000 as the proposed 2010 Legal budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Park & Recreation – There were no changes made to the proposed budget.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Lynde= ) To accept $170,070 as the proposed 2010 Park & Recreation budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Planning Department – Mr. Viger suggested level-paying the inspectors. Mr. Haverty comme= nted that he spoke with the Planning Board who had no plan to reconstitute the C= IP for next year. He said there = was a line ($835) for a recording secretary within the CIP budget. For consistency, Mr. McDevitt said= the recording secretary should not have a salary increase. Ms. Gallant calculated the four inspector’s increases to be $763.&nb= sp; Mr. Viger also proposed subtracting the code enforcement officerR= 17;s increase ($572). Ms. Gallant = said the code enforcement officer was included in the $763. Mr. Viger made a motion to reduce = the proposed 2010 Planning Department budget to $259,252, reflecting no increase for the inspectors, code enforcement officer, and eliminating the recording secretary for CIP. Mr. Gleason seconded the motion.

MOTION:

(Viger/Gleason= ) To reduce the proposed 2010 Planning Department budget to $259,252, reflecti= ng no increase for the inspectors, code enforcement officer and eliminating = the recording secretary for the CIP.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Police Department – Mr. Gleason recommended (in the form = of a motion) a budget of $2,208,625, which reflected an increase of $70,706 based upon addition of all the priority items identified as critical and importan= t. Mr. Viger seconded the motion. Mr. McDevitt reviewed some of the = items that would be returned back into the budget. Mr. Lynde asked if the matching mo= ney for grants had been removed. = Mr. Gleason said it had been eliminated.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To increase the proposed 2010 Police Department budget to $2,208,625 which reflected an increase of $70,706 based upon the addition of all the prior= ity items identified as critical and important.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Retirement – Mr. Gleason recommended going through all the budgets before addressing retirement. The Selectmen addressed the Retirement Budget later in the meeting.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

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Selectmen – Mr. Gleason recommended (in the form of a mot= ion) a budget of $411,489 eliminating the non-union wages increase ($5000). He also wanted to remove $50,000 f= rom Compensated Absence and commented that there was a Capital Reserve Fund that had $61,000 which could be drawn from if needed. Mr. McDevitt seconded the motion.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He was not comfortable with removi= ng the money from the Compensated Absence because of the Town’s continued exposure to the liability. He= would like to see the money stay in the budget.&= nbsp; There was a brief discussion regarding how to proceed.

MOTION:

(Gleason/McDev= itt) To reduce the proposed 2010 Selectmen budget to $411,489, eliminating the non-union wage increases ($5000) and removing $50,000 from Compensated Absence.

VOTE:

(2-3-0) The mot= ion failed. Mr. Viger, Mr. McDevitt and Mr. = Lynde voted no.

&n= bsp;

Mr. Gleason then made a m= otion to approve the proposed 2010 Selectmen Budget being $461,489 reflecting a reduction of $5000 for non-union wages.&nb= sp; Mr. Viger seconded the motion.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To approve the proposed 2010 Selectmen Budget being $461,489 reflecting a re= duction of $5000 for non-union wages.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Senior Center – There were no changes ma= de to the proposed budget.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Lynde= ) To approve the proposed 2010 Senior Center budget of<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> $71,178.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Town Buildings – Mr. Gleason made a motion to approve the budget at $479,953 reflecting a $25,000 reduction in repairs. He said there was a capital reserv= e fund available (containing approximately $80,000) that the Selectmen had the authority to expend. Mr. Viger believed a portion of the capital reserve had been ‘ear marked’= for roof replacement of the M= unicipal Building. Mr. Gaydos said when the renovation occurred, several items were identified as= probably ‘high cost’ repairs; the roof being one of those items. There was further disc= ussion regarding the year-to-date expenditure and what some of the anticipated rep= airs would be. Mr. Gallant said re= quest for reports had been sent out (based on a discussion after the last meeting= ); they would come back at reconsideration with a number. Mr. Haverty believed the Board wan= ted to know what needed to be repaired now, and what items could be deferred and t= he associated costs for such. Af= ter further discussion, Mr. McDevitt proposed voting on the number with the understanding that the Board was unhappy with the list from department heads (because they hadn’t seen it) and the Board would revisit the number = at the next meeting. Ms. Gallant= said they had been asked for an average to come up the line item number because = it was impossible to come up with an exact number. She saw no problem revisiting the budget. She didn’t feel (based on historical data) that the budget would be less than $50,000-$55,0= 00.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To reduce the proposed 2010 Town Buildings budget to $479,953, reflecting a $25,000 reduction in repairs.

VOTE:

(2-3-0) The mot= ion failed. Mr. Viger, Mr. McDevitt and Mr. = Lynde voted no.

Mr. Lynde asked if potent= ial costs were known for items such as roof repair. The cost was not known. Mr. Lynde felt it would be interes= ting to find out the amount of money that should be put aside for major expenses. He said there shoul= d also be an estimate of the life of the items.&n= bsp; Mr. Viger suggested putting together a building maintenance plan when the reports were received from the department heads.

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Lynd= e) To accept $504,953 as the proposed 2010 Town Buildings budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Town Celebrations – Mr. Gleason recommended (in the form = of a motion) that the proposed budget be $8050, removing $1000 for flags (under 625); he felt the flags could last another year. And removing $500 for the picnic.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mr. Haverty would like to keep the= flags in the budget because they sent an important message to the community during tough times. There was further discussion regarding the suggested budget cut. Mr. Haverty seconded the motion to= put it to a vote.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Haver= ty) To accept $8050 as the proposed 2010 Town Celebration budget.

VOTE:

(1-4-0) The mot= ion failed. Mr. Haverty, Mr. Viger, Mr. McDe= vitt and Mr. Lynde voted no.

Mr. McDevitt suggested a = proposed budget of $9055, which reduced the budget by $500 for the picnic.

MOTION:

(McDevitt/Vige= r) To accept $9055 as the proposed 2010 Town Celebrations budget.

VOTE:

(4-1-0) The mot= ion carried. Mr. Lynde voted no= .

Ms. Gallant noted that th= ey (American Legion) had not asked for reimbursement of the cost for the picnic for a few years.

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Town Clerk – Mr. Gleason recommended (in the form of a motion) a proposed budget of $198,151 to add the increase of the Clerk typi= st and the overtime to cover the position.&nb= sp; Mr. Lynde seconded the motion.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Lynde= ) To accept $9055 as the proposed 2010 Town Celebrations budget.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Transfer Station – There were no changes made to the prop= osed budget. Mr. McDevitt commente= d that there was an increase for non-union employees ($749) that he would like to = see taken out of the budget. Mr. = Lynde noted that the non-union employees had not received a raise in three years. Mr. McDevitt said he w= ould support the motion.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To approve the proposed 2010 Transfer Station budget of $542,943

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Treasurer – Mr. Gleason suggested (in the form of a motio= n) approving a budget of $6771 deleting $15,000 for the expenses. He said the Treasurer anticipated = having $25,000 in revenues. There wa= s a brief discussion regarding bank fees; Ms. Gallant stated when discussing the issue with other towns, she learned that they don’t do bank fees and record it as an offset to= the revenue. They only record the= ir interest income. Ms. Gallant suggested leaving $1. Mr. Lyn= de recommended leaving $1000. Mr. Gleason am= ended his motion to recommend $7771 which included a $14,000 reduction for bank fees. Mr. Viger seconded the motion. Ms. Gallant wanted to= know if the bank fees should be recorded in the line with $1000 remaining. Mr. Lynde said any expenses not co= vered by interest income would be reflected in that line. He said they had the ability, on a= monthly basis, to see what’s happening. =

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To approve the proposed 2010 Treasurer budget of $7771

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Trust Funds – Mr. Gleason recommended (in the form of a motion) a budget of $70 eliminating printer cartridges.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To approve the proposed 2010 Trust Funds budget of $70.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

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Retirement – Ms. Gallant noted that the addition increase= d in salary would have impacted Retirement by approximately $12,500. She reviewed the numbers with the Board. Mr. Gleason made a mot= ion to approve $947,829 as the proposed 2010 budget.

MOTION:

(Gleason/Viger= ) To approve the proposed 2010 Retirement budget of $947,829

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

The 2010 Budget Review wa= s concluded. Ms. Gallant stated that the bottom= line budget, as approved, without Cemetery and Library was $10,635,312. Mr. Gleason noted that would be a = 1.6% increase over last year.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S / SELECTMEN’S REPORTS

Mr. Viger announced that = Cub Scout Pack 25 would hold a car wash at the Fire Station.

Mr. Gaydos noted that the= re had been one case of EEE in R= ockingham County. He said the Town was still monitor= ing and testing with no positive results.

Mr. Haverty said the Plan= ning Board discussed possible 2010 Zoning Initiatives and would assemble two sub= committees to review information. He sai= d they were looking for a Selectmen representative to sit on the committee reviewi= ng a possible historic district. M= r. McDevitt volunteered.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(Gleason/McDev= itt) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(5-0-0) The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:50pm.

= &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