Minutes of Meeting

                                                        Board of Selectmen

 

Meeting held upstairs in Town Hall                          Monday – January 7, 2008

 

Those attending:  Town Manager Edward Samson

                              Selectmen – David Stickney, Allan Carr and Leo Enos, Sr.

                             Administrative Services Manager Becky Newton

 

Others attending: Alan Savage, Murray Vashaw, Joe Bachofer, Rev. Don Williams and Wesley Arita.

 

            The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chairman David Stickney, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

APPOINTMENTS:  None

 

OLD BUSINESS:

            To review and approve the minutes of the December 17th meeting.

A motion was made by Allan Carr and seconded by Leo Enos to accept the minutes as written.  A vote was called for and the motion carried.

 

            Department Head Up-dates:  None

 

            Signing of various paperwork:

            Edward Samson brought up that there was a letter in the packet to a Commissioner George M. Bard of the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development.  This was to accept a grant on behalf of the Town for the “Lancaster Skate Park Improvements”.  The amount of the grant was $20,000.00.  This needed to be signed by the Chairman of the Selectboard.  (David signed said letter)

            Wes Arita who has worked  on the project spoke at this time and said that there was a change in the figure stated in the letter from $45,467.82 to $54,000.00 but the grant being applied for was still $20,000.00.  They have also applied for a Tillotson Grant.  It was stated that this money would not be a burden on the taxpayers.  The grant is for equipment, but would like to have more so to maintain the park as it has proven to be a worthwhile project to the children and the town.  Mr. Arita was asked what was needed next.  He said that they would like to put up a warming hut, composite toilet, later have a BMX trail.  He said that a dirt track would be all right and it would go between the park and the river, the only problem that he could see at the time is if the river flooded, but with it being dirt it could be smoothed out again.  At some time they would also like to have more lighting. 

            After no further discussion the Board thanked Mr. Arita for coming and explaining what was being done.

 

            Intents to Cut:

            l. William C. Green – Lost Nation Road – cutting 25 acres of l22.9 acres to be cut by Larry Brown.

            2. David Bennett – Lot on Brickyard Road – cutting 10 acres of 20 acres to be done by Charlie Baylis.

            3. Larry Brown – Lot off Arthur White Road – cutting l0 acres of 75 acres to be cut by Larry Brown.

            4. Bill Bishop – Lot on Pleasant Valley Road – cutting 20 acres of 98.57 acres to be cut by Larry Brown.

            5. Robert and Bill Bishop – Lot on Lost Nation – cutting 25 acres or 125.3 acres to be cut by Larry Brown.

 

            Timber Tax Levi – of Roger and Janice Merrow of 429 Sawyer Road, Portland, Maine.  $67l.60.  Cut was done by Alan Bouthillier.

 

            Letter from Division of Forest and Land.  Training reimbursement in the amount of  $312.00.  This figure will be reimbursed to the Town from the State.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

            Skate Park Improvements – Taken care of under New Business.

 

INFORMATION:

 

            There was a letter regarding the second payment for the Play & Learning Center construction.  There needed to be another one signed as there was mix up in one of the numbers.  There will be Public Hearing on this on March 17th, 2008 at 6 P.M.

 

            It was brought up that the January 21st meeting is a holiday – Martin Luther King Day.  Did the Board want to go with the regular meeting or go to Tuesday.  A vote was taken and 2 members wanted to go with Tuesday and 1 wanted to go with Monday.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday January 22nd at the regular time.

 

            Also in the packet were the Tax Collectors reports.

 

            David Stickney asked about the Lussier issue that was discussed at the December 3rd meeting.  Edward Samson said that Mr. Lussier had been told that he was to come to the meeting tonight but was not there.  The Board felt that they had given him all the chances that they could and that the Town should move forward with eviction.

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to give the Town Manager the authority to move forward with the issue.  A vote was taken and the motion carried.

At this time Town Manager Edward Samson requested  a motion to go into Non-Public Session according to RSA 91-A:3 to discuss Personnel Policy Changes and the Tax Assessors position.

            Alan Savage questioned why there had to be a non-public session to discuss policy changes.  (see pages of policy attached).  Edward Samson said that the Town would only like to contribute to those employees that are now over the 20 years of employment.  There are 5 at this time, Jean Oleson, Mike Nadeau, Wendy Houghton, Dennis Donnelly and Barbara Robarts.  Said policy would only be for them and the other employees would have another coverage.

A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to take out the necessary wordage for the insurance policy.  A vote was called for and the motion carried.

Alan Savage said that he also felt that the Town employees should not be taking or talking on the cell phones or land lines for personnel use – only in an emergency, he felt that there was to much of that going on.  He also stated that he did not think that there should be any hiring of relatives.  Edward Samson said that it was not done.  If there was any hiring done it would be done considering the interest of the position and their qualifications.  Each hiring incident is done on a case by case bases.

Becky Newton said that there would be men coming around to install the new pressure valves in some houses.  There has also been work done of the fire alarm system. They have had proposals for the brickwork on the building.

Rev. Williams asked about the elevator that was supposed to be put in.  He was told that there is a lot of electrical work that has to be done also, they are moving forward with the list of things to be done and all is on schedule.  The first thing that had to be done was the handicapped bathroom downstairs.   He, Rev. Williams, said that the moral was very good among the employees with the new administration and was happy to see that.

Noting that there was no further business to come before the meeting  A motion was made by Leo Enos and seconded by Allan Carr to adjourn the regular meeting and go to Non Public Session according to RSA 91-A:3 at 7:15 P.M.

The Non Public Session RSA 91-A:3 ended at  7:45 P.M. with no votes or decisions made.

 

Respectfully submitted:                                                         Approved:

 

 

Sandra E. Doolan – Clerk                                                     David Stickney

 

 

                                                                                                Allan Carr

 

 

                                                                                                Leo Enos

 

 

                                                                                                Board of Selectmen