NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13, 2006 MEETING
Selectmen: James Powell, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Shelly Candidus, Admin. Assistant; Police Chief Lee; Fire Chief Thomas; Marilyn Hill, Parks & Rec
Public: Kenneth Holmes, Bob Morris, Peter Newbern
Budget Committee: Joy Nowell, Alex Azodi, Tom Vannatta
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Fire Chief Thomas came before the Board to discuss various technologies and systems for an air handling system to filter out vehicle exhaust in the Safety Services building. The town voted to expend up to $36,000 for such a system at Town Meeting 2006. After discussion and recommendation by Thomas, it was decided to purchase a system of three units from AIRVAC. This is a portable system which could be used if the department moves to another location. The cost is $16,000 and will be covered by a maintenance contract that the town has to service other town installations. Pavlicek noted that it must be installed by the end of the year to make use of designated funds.
Ken Holmes addressed the Board concerning the paving of Old Province Road. He noted that this proposal had come before the town by way of a petition article at Town Meeting in 2004 and was voted down. He hoped it would be scheduled on the CIP highway plan but understands it is not, and he strongly disagrees. He said the road is in very bad condition and often impassable in winter. It should be paved from Old Post Road up to Red House Road. Why is it not being considered for improvement/paving? Powell explained that the material underlying the road consists of unknown depths of ledge and will require a detailed and expensive investigation by engineers to determine the condition of the base and make recommendations for bringing it up to town specifications. If it were not
for this extensive and very costly preliminary work, the road would have been paved by now. Pavlicek added that eight test holes were dug and have shown very poor conditions. Holmes said he understood it would be a costly process, but the road is in such poor condition that some action must be taken without further delay. He believes that the base can be stabilized using modern technology. Powell asked Pavlicek to put this concern on the agenda during the discussion of the Highway budget scheduled for November 27th with an eye to funding a study of the road and recommendations for future action.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending November 11, 2006 approved.
MINUTES: Minutes of October 30, 2006 approved to file.
ABATEMENTS/REFUNDS/EXEMPTIONS:
Abatements on property taxes in the amounts of $392.71 and $9 were approved; a refund for $500 was approved for a veteran’s tax credit.
A request for a refund on interest paid for late payment of taxes was denied.
One application for a Veteran’s tax exemption was approved; a second was denied.
OLD BUSINESS:
Pavlicek reported that the site-specific plan for Fishersfield has been approved by the state and is in hand.
2007 PROPOSED BUDGET REVIEWS:
Powell reminded the Budget Committee that department increases reflected the inclusion of FICA and benefits, which in previous years had appeared as part of the Employee Benefits budget.
Police (Presented
By Chief Lee) $398,083 – Up $93,519 Addition reflects inclusion of employee Benefits for 2007 to be charged to
benefits & increased fuel costs. At Lee’s
request, two new line items added: $8,000
for Cruiser Payment and $3,000 for Cruiser Equipment which will facilitate
cruiser
rotation and cut back on Capital Reserves.
Preliminary approval.
Welfare Admin. $ 2,944 – Up $184 Preliminary approval.
Welfare Direct Assist. $ 13,550 – Unchanged Preliminary approval.
Code Enforcement $ 26,083 – Up $4,147 Anticipate additional hours for CEO; costs largely offset by permit fees. Preliminary
approval.
Parks & Recreation $ 57,360 – Up $9,684 Increase reflects expanded programs & ad-
(Presented by Marilyn Hill) ditional equipment. Powell emphasized
need for fee-funded programs and personal contact with concert sponsors.
Farmers’
Market is planned for summer 2007 at
Bald Sunapee. Preliminary approval.
Street Lighting $ 13,500 – Up $ 75 2006 costs down due to change-over to
metal halite lights. Preliminary approval.
Zoning $ 12,990 – Up $ 3,917 Reflects benefits costs for secretary.
Preliminary approval.
Health $ 30,743 – Up $ 3,179 COA request double that of 2006. This
line item will be re- reviewed. Preliminary
approval.
Executive $ 161,077 – Up $ 35,666 Increase due to addition of employee
benefits. Preliminary approval.
NEW BUSINESS:
Alex Azodi asked the Board why the reassessment was retroactive to the beginning of 2006. He said this has a bad effect on escrow. Pavlicek explained that the first tax bill is only an approximation and the final tax rate is not known until it is set by the state just before the second-half tax bills are sent out. It is at that time that the rate is determined which applies to the entire year. Powell noted that the reassessment was a big factor in determining the rate for 2006 and land rates went up markedly. Pavlicek noted that the changes were market-driven.
Tom Vannatta asked the Board about their decision to approve a building permit that did not comply with set-back regulations. Powell explained that the permit was approved last spring by DES and the town on the basis that the change made the building less non-conforming. The Board recognized that the applicant should have been referred to the ZBA, but since the work had proceeded in all good faith on the part of the applicant, and the approval was an honest mistake involving a small infringement, the Board approved the construction. Vannatta said the applicant should at least have been referred to the ZBA for a waiver, and Powell said the Board considered this but did not require it since it would have cost the applicant additional expense and a construction delay.
The Board reviewed two press releases prepared by the Velie Memorial Trust dealing with the new playground site. The releases were approved with changes by Powell.
The Board received a request from the Cemetery Trustees to appoint a new trustee to replace Doris Morrow, who has resigned. Powell asked that the appointment be deferred to the next meeting when he can discuss the applicant’s qualifications with the Trustees.
The Board noted a letter of thanks from the U. S. Marshall’s Office to the Police Department for their assistance in having a Newbury police officer participate in Operation Falcon 3.
The Board reviewed a report from Pennyroyal Hill surveyors regarding ownership of a remnant of land that was inadvertently created when the lot for the new Highway Garage was subdivided from Willow Pond property. The surveyor believes that tract is part of a deed held by Willow Pond and he recommends that the town obtain a quitclaim deed for the tract from Willow Pond. He noted that the land is of poor quality with loose gravel and boulders and would be of little worth except as an additional storage area for the Highway Garage. The Board asked Pavlicek to pursue this matter with Walter Graf of Willow Pond.
The Board received notification from an insurance adjuster that they will pay $3,780 toward the cost of repairs of a Newbury bridge that their client’s vehicle damaged. Powell said this sum was
unacceptable and asked Pavlicek to discuss with town counsel the best method for obtaining reimbursement of repair costs.
The Board, on behalf of the town as an abutter, received notification from contractor James Goin, representing property owners of a boathouse on Fraser Avenue (Map/lot # 020-283-366), that a Minimum Impact Expedited Application has been filed with the state for boathouse repairs.
The Board asked Pavlicek to respond to a property owner protesting her recent property tax increase.
The Board approved a request from Sunapee Lake Grange to hold a raffle, and from the Friends of Newbury Public Library for the annual holiday tree lighting and reception (December 3rd ).
Pavlicek reported that the annual holiday party will be held on Tuesday, December 19, from noon until 2 p.m.
The Board reviewed and approved three employee merit increases for the Police Department and two for the Highway Department, as recommended by Pavlicek.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 10:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, November 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
________________________ ______________________ _____________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
sc/Nov.13/06 NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
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