NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
OF JANUARY 9, 2006
Selectmen: James Powell, Richard Wright, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Shelly Candidus, Admin. Assistant; Henry Thomas, Fire Chief; Cal Prussman, Highway Administrator
Public: Chuck Crickman, Barbara Freeman, Fred McNeill (Dufresne-Henry), Budget Committee: absent
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT: There was no public input.
OLD BUSINESS:
Pavlicek reported that funds have been received from FEMA to help defray town expenses associated with the heavy rains last fall.
Pavlicek reported that an agreement with CTC Communications for shared phone lines for the Police Department and Town Office with T1 line service will cost $763.72 per month with a two-year contract. Overall savings will be realized on phone charges.
Pavlicek reported that the town attorney has suggested a disclaimer for the town to provide to property owners who wish to build on a non-town road. The disclaimer would be incorporated into the deed and would hold the town harmless if emergency vehicles were unable to respond to a call from an address on such a road. The town would offer this as a service to the property owner, rather than making him obtain the disclaimer through his attorney. Wright disagreed with this idea, saying the property owner should be informed of the necessity of a disclaimer at the time he purchases the property. Discussion followed about whose responsibility it was to provide the disclaimer, and how and when it should be put in place. No action was taken at this time.
BUDGET REVIEWS:
Barbara Freeman appeared to ask the Board for an increase in the Planning Board budget. She explained that the UVLSRPC circuit rider who has been advising the Planning Board on the revised Master Plan will be leaving that organization and she therefore wishes to finish the Master Plan in two years rather than three. To meet the additional expense, she asked that the budget for this line item be increased from $9,000 to $15,000. The selectmen agreed to this increase.
WARRANT ARTICLES: (discussed out of numerical sequence for the convenience of attendees):
Article 15 - $1,300 for Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund via transfer of this amount from Dec. 31, 2005 undesignated fund balance. The Board of Selectmen gave preliminary approval.
Article 16 - $8,000 to establish a gravel base and pave approximately 396 feet of an access road in the Marshall Cemetery. Chuck Crickman explained that 198 feet of the access road will be re-paved at a cost of $3,000, while an additional 198 feet will require a new base and paving at a cost of $5,000. Price is based on a quote from Pike. The Board gave preliminary approval and asked that a Cemetery Trustee speak to this article at the meeting.
Article 4 - Fred McNeill from Dufresne-Henry reviewed the information in this article which asks the town to approve $1,700,000 via a bond issue to upgrade the Blodgett Wastewater System. Pavlicek reported that he has information on the rates for such a bond from both the DES and the NH Bond Bank. If the DES funds the bond, they will provide 30% back to the town annually as the bond money is paid. The Board of Selectmen will review the information from both parties and decide on the provider and the number of years for bonding. McNeill said he will have a short power-point presentation ready for town meting, along with some handouts and posterboard displays. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article.
Article 8 - $141,396 for the purchase of a 6-wheel dump truck and accessories with funds withdrawn from the highway Capital Reserve fund. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article.
Article 13 - $168,750 to pave 6,400 feet of Old Post Road, and
Article 14 - $121, 250 to pave all town roads in Ramblewood. Powell asked what the impact on the town portion of taxes would be if both roads were paved. The answer was about a 30 cent increase. Powell said he was reluctant to raise town taxes significantly. Wright said the longer the town waits to do this work, the more expensive it will be. The Board also noted that a study needed to be done on the condition of Old Province Road and asked what that cost would be. Pavlicek said if it is in the range of $5,000, funding can be done without impacting the proposed budget. The Board gave preliminary approval to these articles.
Article 10 - $15,000 for a generator for the Safety Services building. Thomas said this was a bottom line figure, and after discussion, the Board agreed to modify the article to $16,000. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article as amended.
Article 11 - Transfer $7,400 from Undesignated Fund Balance to the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund. These funds represent the sale of the old FAST squad vehicle sold at public auction in 2005. Thomas requested that the vehicle be referred to as the old “rescue vehicle.” The Board gave preliminary approval to this article as amended.
Article 12 - $42,000 for a ventilation system for the Safety Services building. Thomas suggested changing the amount to $32,000 and referring to the system as an “air cleaning system.” He will confirm the cost of filters and maintenance. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article as amended.
Additional article to appear as Article 17 - Thomas requested that a fund be established as a 10-year Expendable Trust Fund to cover future gear updating for the firemen. Powell noted that this is an important issue for public safety. Pavlicek will write the article under RSA 31:19a dealing with Fire Department personal protection equipment. The Board of Selectmen will be authorized as agents to expend. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article.
Article 9 - $32,884 for a 4-wheel drive police patrol vehicle with funds to be withdrawn from the police cruiser Capital Reserve Fund. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article.
Article 6 - $177,500 to go into existing Capital Reserve Funds. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article.
Article 7 - $23,000 to be placed in existing Expendable Trust Funds. The Board gave preliminary approval to this article.
Additional petition warrant articles deal with acceptance of roads in the town. Pavlicek expects more of these to be submitted for roads in various developments.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending January 7, 2006 approved.
MINUTES: Minutes of January 3, 2006 approved to file.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board signed a proclamation in honor of librarian Alan Brown’s service to the town on the occasion of his leaving the library. The proclamation and a gift from the town will be given to Alan at his going-away party on January 14th.
The Board signed a letter to a resident answering questions about property ownership and property rights, prepared with input from the town attorney.
The Board signed a statement of full disclosure for the town auditors. Their preliminary report for 2004 is in hand and finished copies are due within two weeks.
Pavlicek reminded the Board that public hearings for the proposed 2006 budget and the bond issuance for the Blodgett Wastewater Treatment facility will be held at a special meeting on Monday, February 13, 2006. The public hearing on the revised winter parking regulations is scheduled for January 23rd.
Powell asked that the Board be given information on any delinquent taxes from 2002-2005 and any liens to be levied on 2005 taxes for review at their meeting on January 23rd.
Powell asked that Prussman and Thomas track diesel fuel usage for their departments using the pumps at the Highway Garage.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
The Board voted to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II, a-e at 8:45 p.m. to discuss a preliminary findings from MRI. The Board determined there were a minimum of issues for concern. They will review this matter again upon receipt of the finished report. The Board came out of non-public session at 8:55 p.m.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:00 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
________________________ ______________________ ________________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
1/09/06 NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
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