TOWN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMAN
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263
_____________________________________________________________
MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 19, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
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Call to order at 6:00 P.M., by Arthur Morse, Chairman.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Arthur Morse (AM), Chairman, Larry Konopka (LK), Vice-Chairman, Linda
Small (LS), Ed Vien (EV), John Lenaerts (JL), Leon Kenison (LKe), Town
Administrator, and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.
MEMBERS ABSENT
None.
PUBLIC INPUT
None.
AGENDA REVIEW
(LS) Budget, Memo, Union Letter, Other Letter and Non-Public. (LK)
Non-Public Sessions on Agenda, (LKe) Memo-Vacancy on Trustee of Trust
Funds; Digital Radio, Highway Safety Grant, Non-Public – Real Estate.
APPOINTMENTS
6:05 P.M. – Maurice Wells (Non-Public Session) Concerns with PD per
RSA 91-A:3, II (c).
(LK) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per 91-A:3, II (c). (JL) Second.
Carried 4-0. Members of the Board were individually polled and all agreed.
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Board went into Non-Public Session at 6:07 P.M. Board resumed Public
Session at 6:17 P.M.
(LS) Motion to seal Non-Public Session of February 19, 2008. (EV)
Second. Carried 4-0.
NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS
1. Welfare Lien on Tax Map R-34, Lot 28.
(LK) Motion to accept welfare lien on Tax Map R-34, Lot 28. (EV) Second.
Carried 4-0.
2. Welfare Lien on Tax Map U-01, Lot 57.
(LK) Motion to accept welfare lien on Tax Map U-01, Lot 57. (EV) Second.
Carried 4-0.
3. Appointment of 2008 Highway Safety Committee
(LKe) noted Board should familiarize itself with the Highway Safety
Committee annually and this committee should function as its name
suggests, and also for suggesting grants in regard to Highway Safety.
(LS) Motion to approve Highway Safety Committee members Police Chief
Robert Wharem, Fire Chief Gary Johnson, George Bachelder, Highway
Department, and Leon Kenison, Town Administrator. (LK) Second.
Carried 4-0.
4. Budget
(LS) noted that the Budget Committee had voted last night on the three
Petition articles, which were not previously voted on by Board of Selectman.
Board discussed if these Petitions should carry the “BOS recommended/not
recommended.”
Article 28: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of
Three Hundred Dollars ($300.) to be added to the Animal Control Budget
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(2008) of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.) to pay for Humane Society costs to
drop off a cat. Cost for one is Thirty Dollars ($30.) (Submitted by Petition)
(EV) Motion Board of Selectman “Not Recommend” Article 28 to pay for
Humane Society costs to drop off a cat. (LS) Second. Carried 4 -0.
Article 29: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of
Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.) to be paid to the First Congregational
Church of Pittsfield to help defray the Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.)
said church expended for municipal clock repairs during August 2007.
(Submitted by Petition).
(AM) noted that as he has previously expressed, he is a member of the First
Congregational Church but feels he can make an unbiased decision on this
article. He noted that if the Board would like him to recuse himself, he will
do so. Board agreed that this would not be necessary.
(LS) Motion Board of Selectman “Recommend” Article 29 for
reimbursement to church to defray cost of municipal clock repair.
(EV) Second. Carried 4-0.
Article 30: To see if the Town will vote to create an expendable trust fund
under the provisions of RSA 319-a to be known as the Town Clock
Maintenance Fund, for the purpose of repairing and maintaining the
municipal clock and to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand
Dollars ($1,000.) for this fund. (Submitted by Petition.)
(LS) Motion Board of Selectman “Recommend” Article 30 to create Town
Clock Maintenance Fund. (JL) Second. After discussion: Carried 4 -0.
Board discussed who would be in control of the maintenance fund – Trustee
of the Trust Funds Committee and whether monies would be put into this
fund possibly each year to build it up – the fund would be established
initially by Petition and then further monies would be put forth by BOS
suggestion.
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5. Memo – Holiday/Sick Pay Memo
(LS) “I have drafted a Memo for Board approval.” Board members agreed
that this memo nicely sums up Board’s view on this matter.
(LS) Motion to approve Memo on Holiday/Sick Pay. (LK) Second. After
discussion: Carried 3-1 (EV).
(LKe) noted that the memo was brief, well written and easily
understandable. He suggested waiting until after the Town Meeting when
the contract will be presented, before distribution of this Memo. (LS) noted
that she did not agree with this. “This should have been addressed two
months ago. It is happening over and over again. To wait would be wasted
time.” (LK) noted that this is already noted in contract. (LS) noted she
thought it was a “nice Memo,” and should not be taken defensively.
(LK) noted that the policy is just being clarified. (LS) noted that non-cost
items do not get approved at Town Meetings. (LKe) noted, “If you feel
comfortable with this that those on ten hour rotation shifts are only entitled
to eight hours holiday/sick pay, then I guess the Memo should go forward.”
(LS) noted that those previously noted were not on ten-hour rotation shifts,
and it is not in the contract that way. “The contract is written for 8 hours.”
6. Union Letter
(LS) noted that the Board has a copy of “draft” letter to AFT Union. Board
all agreed letter should be sent out as is.
7. Letter of Apology
(LS) noted that Merrill Vaughn had to be assisted up the stairs recently for
attendance at meeting due to snow and ice build-up on the handicapped
ramp. This has now been taken care of and “I think it would be a good idea
to write a letter of apology to him assuring him that this will not happen in
the future.” All agreed. (LKe) to do.
8. Vacancy on the Trustee of Trust Funds Committee
(LKe) noted that there was a bit of a dilemma regarding the recent
appointment of Bill Provencal as Trustee to the Trust Funds Committee. He
noted that the term for this particular vacancy expires in 2009. This is the
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same and only individual on the ballot for this position. (AM) suggested
that his appointment to this committee be rescinded until someone can be
elected.
(EV) Motion to rescind appointment of Bill Provencal as Trustee to the
Trust Funds Committee. (LS) Second. Carried 4-0.
Seat on this committee will remain open until election in March.
9. Grant Application
(LKe) noted that he has distributed grant application to Board for digital
radio of multiband of police frequency with the agreement that this must be
keep in the inventory for two years. This will be positioned at emergency
station at the fire station and will offer the Fire Department their own
frequency band to allow them to interoperate with Police Department.
(EV) Motion to accept grant for radio. (LK) Second. Carried 4-0.
INFORMATION ITEMS
1. Handouts
(LKe) noted that the Highway Safety Agency has issued a grant for
distribution of 25 bicycle helmets for young riders who do not have them.
These will be distributed by Police Department.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Capital Improvement Plan Status
(LKe) noted that this would be discussed at future BOS meeting.
2. Space Needs Study
(LKe) Future meeting.
3. WWTP Plan Status
(LKe) Future meeting.
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4. Non-Public Sessions on Agenda
(LK) noted that Board previously reserved 7:30 or 8:00 P.M. for
appointments in Non-Public Sessions. He suggested Board resume having
any future Non-Public Sessions scheduled for 7:30 P.M., if possible, to
make it more convenient for attending public in audience. (AM) agreed that
it would be better to have them scheduled towards the end of the meeting.
APPLICATIONS AND WARRANTS
1. Notice of Intent to Cut – Tax Map R-16, Lot 1
(LK) suggested it might be better if he recused himself from this. Board
concurred that it was not necessary. (AM) related that if he felt that he could
make an impartial decision as well as address any comments from
individuals who felt differently, that it would not be necessary to recuse
himself.
(EV) Motion to approve Notice of Intent to Cut – Tax Map R-16, Lot 1.
(JL) Second. Carried 4-0.
CHECKS AND MANIFESTS
(LS) Motion to approve Accounts Payable. (LK) Second. Carried 4 -0.
(LS) Motion to approve Payroll. (LK) Second. Carried 4-0.
MINUTES
1. Public Session February 12, 2008
(LK) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of February 12, 2008.
(EV) Second. Carried 4-0.
2. Non-Public Session #1 and #2, February 12, 2008.
To be addressed in Non-Public Session.
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PUBLIC INPUT
Maurice Wells noted that for his own information, he would be taping this
section of the meeting. He questioned (LKe) as to the answer to questions
he posed last week regarding the storm drain, where it hooked in, and did
Gilbert pay? (EV) explained to him how and where the storm drain was
reconstructed and its current path near Pittsfield Weaving. He explained that
he was pretty sure that payment had been given to him, which he presented
to George for drop-off at Town Hall. Mr. Wells also questioned (LKe)
regarding the truck and the broken axel, was it one or two different breaks?
(LKe) explained to him that one did have a broken axel and some rear end
damage, which was in the fall, around November sometime.
Mr. Wells also questioned the overtime of the road crew who was working
along with Parker at the Salt Shed. (LKe) explained that there was some
overtime performed around October to accomplish some things that needed
to be done right away. Mr. Wells questioned whether this had gone out for
bid? (LKe) “Yes.” He also questioned the steam cleaner recently
purchased by the Waste Water Treatment plant and why an additional one
had been purchased? (LKe) explained that the other one was not a heavy –
duty unit and the new one is hot water not steam, as steam units are n o
longer being sold.
Mr. Wells related that he had “been visited by Highway Department” and
they only did the other side of the road. I guess they are trying to give me a
message.
He also noted that there was a mattress in the street across from the
Firehouse driveway, which has been there since Saturday. It should be
picked up.
He noted that the Board of Selectman about two to three years ago made an
ordinance that if you do not work in the office at Town Hall, you should stay
out. “I see Fred Hast going through paperwork in the office. I do not like
that.”
Close Public Input
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NON-PUBLIC SESSION
(LK) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3, II (a), (c) and
(d). (EV) Second. Carried 4-0. Members of the Board were polled
individually and all agreed.
Board took a short break at 7:00 P.M. Resumed at 7:08 P.M.
Board returned to Public Session at 7:55 P.M.
(LS) Motion to approve Non-Public Session Minutes #1 and #2 of
February 12, 2008. (JL) Second. Carried 4 -0.
(EV) Motion to seal Non-Public Session Minutes of February 12, 2008.
(LS) Second. Carried 4-0.
ADJOURNMENT
(EV) Motion to Adjourn. (LK) Second. Carried 4-0.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 P.M.
Approved: February 26, 2008
______________________________ _________________________
Arthur Morse, Chairman Date