NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF APRIL 9, 2007 MEETING
Selectmen: Jim Powell, Richard, Wright, Gary Budd
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Shelly Candidus, Admin. Assistant; Police Chief Lee; Fire Chief Thomas.
Public: Rochelle Titus, Wayne Whitford
The meeting convened at 6:35 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Rochelle Titus came before the board to discuss who should bear the costs of special testing for her son to determine his placement in school. She believes that the Kearsarge Regional School District should be responsible, since the town pays the school district for enrollment of Newbury students, yet they have declined to cover this cost. Powell said the town is not paying the school district for her son’s enrollment at this time, since he has not been attending a KRSD school. Powell suggested that she send a certified letter to the Superintendent of Schools, with documentation, and ask for consideration of her case. She might also contact Dan Wolf, Newbury’s KRSD representative, and/or attend a School Board meeting.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending April 7, 2007 approved.
MINUTES: Minutes of March 26, 2007 approved to file.
INTENT TO EXCAVATE: Marlene Graf, Willow Pond. Map/lot # 044-316-433,
approved.
VENDING PERMIT: Application from Mark Moran with bid for $350, approved. Vendor
to meet with selectmen to determine location for equipment.
ABATEMENTS/REFUNDS/EXEMPTIONS: Refund for $820 for overpayment of
property taxes, approved. One Veteran’s exemption denied.
OLD BUSINESS:
Wright asked if a contractor could bid on multiple projects for the development of
Fishersfield Park. It was decided that this was permissible as long as the projects were kept
separate. Wright commented that funds may fall short of completing all the planned parts of
the project at this time. He said several steps are needed to begin the project, including
getting more fill, leveling and rolling the recreation areas, and final grading and shaping.
After establishing the recreation and parking areas, there was discussion about adding a well,
power and an irrigation system. It was suggested that the volley ball and tennis courts be
situated behind the playing field and the basketball court be near the road. Powell said the first
priorities should be the road, recreation field and parking. Wright said the piles of wood chips
should be moved to the back landing area. It was suggested that the highway crew could build
the road and put in two culverts. Wright said he would like to talk to someone with an
engineering background to oversee the project and Powell advised him to talk to some local
experts and get an idea of the time and costs involved for their help. Wright will pursue this and
ask Prussman to schedule moving the chip piles to the designated area.
Wright also suggested that as part of the selectmen’s project for 2007, the greenhouse from
Bald Sunapee might be moved to a level area at Fishersfield as a first step in establishing a
Community Garden in 2008.
Wright mentioned that the Planning Board had expressed some concerns about the location
of the Velie Memorial playground in close proximity to the wetlands area behind the library.
The Board agreed that the location proposed by Pat Sherman in the plan she discussed at Town
Meeting was a good one. It will require the removal of the greenhouse and small barn.
APPOINTMENT:
Fire Chief Thomas appeared before the Board to discuss enacting a Fire Department policy which would govern the appointment and reappointment of the Fire Chief and department personnel. Wright said this was needed to protect the town from ongoing liability and to meet state requirements. Powell said the Fire Department personnel would be incorporated into the town personnel records just like all other employees and rates of pay would come under the town’s pay guidelines. Thomas said many of the firemen are already in the town personnel records.
NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
The Board voted to go into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II, a-e at 7:50 p.m. with Chief Thomas to discuss details of enacting a policy governing the appointment and reappointment of Fire Department personnel. No decisions were reached. The subject will be revisited in four weeks. The Board came out of non-public session at 8:30 p.m.
APPOINTMENT:
Police Chief Lee appeared before the Board to report that he has a firearms certification. He is doing an audit and inventory of all equipment at the Police Department and separating town from department assets. He will tag items as appropriate for the department and other town departments as needed. Lee suggested that rather than selling the old cruiser at auction or by bid, it should be given to the dealer toward the financing of the trade-in for the new cruiser. Lee said he has provided Pavlicek with drafts of three ordinances. He has numbered and validated the town ordinances dealing with noise, fireworks, jake brakes, parking , snow removal, etc. Copies are available for review by the Board. Lee also said he has drawn up a standards of conduct policy
for the Police Department which is applicable to all departments. He suggested it might be incorporated into the town personnel policy guidelines. Pavlicek noted that there has to be a policy regarding the dissemination of information.
Lee said he has a full-time employee who would like to change to part-time hours, but he has no opening for another part-time employee. Can another slot be created? The Board replied in the affirmative. Powell asked if there was a schedule for periodic physical exams for police officers. Lee said that there was.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board signed an amendment to the Tri-Town Assessor’s agreement which would add one selectmen and one resident to the Joint Board and increase the terms of service to two years.
The Board signed a form appointing Katheryn Holmes to a full member of the Conservation Commission, at the recommendation of Bill Weiler.
The Board discussed a bid submitted by the Cemetery Trustees to replace the fence and gate at Lakeside Cemetery for a cost of $13,184 (includes removal of old fence). The Board noted that the amount to be expended on this project which was approved at Town Meeting was $8,885. This was for replacement of the fence, and did not include a new gate. The Board did not extend approval for an amount over that voted at Town Meeting.
The Board reviewed a building permit application to cover construction of an addition to a garage on Winter Lane, already in progress. The Code Enforcement Officer denied the permit based on the encroachment of the addition into the buffer zone. The Board upheld the denial and said in view of the violations, the addition should be removed. The property owner will be so notified and given 60 days to remove the structure.
The Board discussed disposing of old Highway and Police equipment by sale at state auction in May. They also decided to dispose of four lots in Park 10 by sealed bid. Abutters and persons of interest will be notified of this by early summer.
To meet the request of the Planning Board for increased communication with the selectmen, Wright volunteered to serve as ex-officio member. Powell said he would participate, and he and Wright could go to Planning Board meetings on a rotating basis. Budd said he would be happy to attend when he is available. Powell will attend the next meeting.
Pavlicek reported that he has several applications for the Transfer Station Supervisor job. A selectman will do interviews with Pavlicek. Budd said he would like to be included.
Pavlicek reported that the new Administrative Assistant, Donna Long, will start training with Candidus part-time this week. Her schedule and rate of pay were approved.
Pavlicek circulated a newsletter from the Adventures In Learning group which contained a nice article and pictures of participants meeting in the Town Office meeting room.
Pavlicek reported that the town has received a quote of $350 to remove the cap and damaged top brick layers from the chimney at the Bald Sunapee house. The Board asked him to hold on any action until they have an opportunity to inspect the chimney.
The Board authorized Pavlicek to sign grant agreements for groundwater control work at Chalk Pond. The project can now move forward.
The Board discussed notification from the DOT that Rainbow Garage has applied for a driveway permit. They would like more information about this application. If this is a second driveway, the owner will need to go to the Planning Board for a review and/or revision of the site plan. Pavlicek will ask the representative from DOT, Mr. Eaton, to attend the next meeting.
TheBoard approved April 28th as town “Green-Up” (clean up) day.
Pavlicek said plans were going forward for Old Home Day on July 14th. Wright
suggested that plans include a town-wide treasure hunt, ending at Fishersfield, with an
appropriate prize.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, April 23, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
_______________________ _____________________ _______________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
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