NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF JANUARY 10, 2005 MEETING
Selectmen: James Powell, Richard Wright, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Shelly Candidus, Admin. Ass’t.; Henry Thomas, Fire Chief; Cal Prussman, Highway Admin.
Budget Committee: Betsy Soper, Tom Vannatta
Public: Don Jutton, MRI; Vanetta Haley, Local Gov’t Center; Roger Arend, TerraMap, John Arthur
Southgate residents: Kenneth Dustin, Steve Sanborn, Dave Kemp, Al Plass
The meeting convened at 6:00 p.m.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
The Board voted to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II, a-e at 6:03 p.m. to discuss a personnel issue. Informational discussions were held with representatives of MRI and Local Government Center. No decisions were made. The Board came out of non-public session at 7 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Southgate residents Dustin, Kemp, Plass and Sanborn came before the Board to ask if the town gave permission to the Lake Sunapee Snowmobile Club to use Southgate Road as part of their trail system. Powell said no, they had permission to use only sections of Class VI roads and un-maintained portions of public rights-of-way on certain town roads, including a right-of-way on Southgate. Dustin said the snowmobiles are running up and down the road and even staying to the side of the road raises questions about liability issues. He said the road is slippery and there is lots of traffic. The snowmobiles impede the movement of 2-way traffic. Wright said they have 200 feet access via the right-of-way. Budd asked what action the group would like taken. Chief Thomas said he would look at the trail and crossing area. He will then write a report to
the Club. The Board advised Dustin to stay in touch with Pavlicek, who will follow up with Thomas and report back to the residents.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
The Board voted to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II, a-e with Chief Thomas at 7:10 p.m. to continue their discussion of a personnel issue. A decision was made to work with MRI and Pavlicek will follow up. The Board came out of non-public session at 7:30 p.m.
COLA, WARRANT & BUDGET REVIEWS:
COLA: Pavlicek presented the Consumer Price Index report for the Northeast with indexes and the percentage of increase of costs of goods and services from Nov. 2003 to Nov. 2004. The overall percent change (increase) was 3.8. For the period from March 2004 through Dec. 2004, the number is 2.9 percent, equaling $22, 975 to cover cost of living increases and benefits for town employees. The Board agreed to this increase. Pavlicek will change all revenue/budget lines to reflect the increase. Merit increases will be addressed after April 1st, after reviews of every employee by department heads. Their recommendations will then be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen.
Warrant: Pavlicek presented a draft of the proposed warrant articles for 2005.
Articles 1-3 No discussion.
Article 4 Budget will be updated with cost of living figures and other changes as needed.
Articles 5-6 Cemetery Monument Fund to be discussed with Trustees.
Article 7 Board agreed to remove from warrant and incorporate into Financial Administration budget.
Article 8 Powell asked that the property be identified as that “known as” Bald Sunapee Garden Center, and add street number.
Article 9 Prussman requested $130,000 appropriation for new dump truck be deferred and funds applied to purchase of sanders, plows and wing plows to replace worn out equipment ($70,000). Powell remarked that this expenditure should have been presented at budget review. Powell asked Prussman for an inventory of all highway equipment: mileage, hours, ratings, etc.
Article 10 Prussman presented quotes for new diesel fuel pump and tank. Powell asked if roof would be needed and if so, cost of roof and concrete pad.
Additional quotes will be ready for January 24th meeting.
Article 11 Selectmen asked Prussman to obtain more estimates for box culvert work on South Road.
Article 12 Board recommends approval of Planning Board requirement for preliminary review procedure for major subdivisions.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending January 7, 2005 approved.
MINUTES: Meeting minutes of December 27, 2004 approved to file.
INTENT TO CUT:
Burch, Christine. Map/lot # 28-332-222 & 28-356-253. Approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Town Administrator made the Gillingham grave stone available to the Cemetery Trustees for their inspection on January 5th. All parties were satisfied.
Questions from a resident on Birch Bluff regarding the configuration of the road were postponed until a future meeting.
The Board will address John Arthur’s request to use Old County Road for access to his Chalk Pond property on January 24th.
The Board acknowledged a letter from Bruss Construction guaranteeing a 2-year life-span for the new shingles on the Town Office roof.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board signed 3 Veterans’ Tax Exemptions in the amount of $500 each.
The Board made a refund of $1,418 for a double payment of property taxes.
The Board denied a request to abate interest/late charges on a late payment of property taxes.
The Board denied a request for a refund of the town portion of a motor vehicle registration.
The Board signed a petition from PSNH for a pole license on East Ridge Road.
The Board signed a contract for 2005 services with New London Dispatch for $27,633.
The Board approved requests for abatement of 2004 property taxes for Pirozzolli and Bradford Oil Company.
The Board approved a request from the Police Department that two employees be allowed to take possession of used firearms. One will be given to retired Chief Valiquet and one will be sold to Officer Drewniak for $350.
In response to a request from a Chalk Pond resident, the Board advised Pavlicek to inform her that town-owned property will be disposed of after Town Meeting by auction or sale by sealed bid. The Board does not deal in private real-estate transactions.
Pavlicek distributed a proposed fee schedule for building permits as revised by Paul LaCasse. The Board will review this and discuss at a future meeting.
Pavlicke advised the Board that Perry Rucker will attend the next meeting to discuss his interest in serving as Ex-Officio member of the Planning Board.
The Board was advised that it is time to appoint a Health Officer for the town. Powell has performed this duty in the past and will continue to do so, after establishing that there is no physician residing in the town.
Wright mentioned that Sonny Harris has researched the history of the islands in Lake Todd. No current owner can be established, although long ago they belonged to the Pierce family. A copy of Harris’s report will be sent to the Police Department.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, January 24, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
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