TOWN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263
_____________________________________________________________

MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 5:30 P.M. by Larry Konopka, Chairman

MEMBERS PRESENT

Larry Konopka (LK), Chairman, Eric Nilsson (EN), Vice-Chairman,
Linda Small (LS), Gerard LeDuc (GL), Albert Douglas (AD), and
Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

MEMBERS ABSENT

Paul Skowron (PS), Town Administrator

PUBLIC INPUT

Fire Chief Martin: I just wanted to give you some follow-up on the Ambulance repair. They have taken it back to Mass. and it will be returned tomorrow. Repairs are under warranty.

AGENDA REVIEW

(LK) Zoning Board Refund Request and Non-Public (a).

NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS

1. Town Administrator Panel Committee

(LK) We are ready now to start putting together a panel for hiring of Town Administrator. I thought, perhaps, Rob Freese, John Freeman, Cara Marston and two Town citizens. Board agreed. A request for a letter of interest ad will be placed in the paper with a deadline date of February 11th. Cara will be requested to submit ad and (LK) noted he would contact Rob Freese and John Freeman.

*(LS) Motion to approve panel for hiring of Town Administrator to include Board of Selectmen member, Rob or Jeff Freese, John Freeman, Cara Marston and two Town citizens. (EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

2. Building & Welfare Office Locations

(LK) I have talked to Jesse (Building Inspector) and Bonnie (Interim Welfare Director) about the possibility of switching offices. It would be safer for people rather than walking around to the back of the building at night. (EN) There is also the handicapped ramp available in the front of the building which will give people full access. Cara will send MEMO to double check that they are agreeable and help them work out the move. (AD) Is there room downstairs for all of Jesse’s “stuff?” (LK) Yes. There is more room for his plans, etc. I think it would be safer. Welfare used to be upstairs.

3. Letter from Selectboard for Student Recognition (Presented by Selectman LeDuc)

(GL) The reason that I requested that this letter of congratulations be issued was because student Jessica Massey had quite a challenge in participating in this and I think a letter of encouragement for continuance would be appropriate. (LS) read letter into Minutes. See attached.)

(GL) Motion to approve letter of congratulations to Jessica Massey.
(AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

(GL) This works in with the Nellie Mae Grant and once it happens it will likely expand.

*Board motioned for panel members to be established for hiring of Town Administrator. See No. 1 above.

4. Visions Statement

(LK) You all have a copy of the Visions Statement. (See attached.) Does Board want it published in paper? Board agreed to wait before submitting for publishing. (LK) I would like to keep the citizens aware of what is going on.

5. Zoning Board Request for Refund

(EN) We have a letter of request for refund from Zoning Board Chair Carole Dodge. It notes that an applicant submitted application for Special Exception but that Building Inspector had misread the requirements. Board is now requesting total refund be sent to applicant. (See attached.)

(LS) Motion to approve refunding applicant Victoria Marcotte total Zoning application fees ($175). (AD) Second. After Discussion: Carried 4-1 (GL).

(GL) I would not be in favor of this. The ad has already been published in the paper and the abutters have been notified by certified mail and the money would be coming out of the taxpayers’ pocket. (LS) Was she advised to apply for a Special Exception? (AD) I believe that she was advised. Jesse explained it very well at the Zoning Board meeting.

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Channels of Communications (Presented by Selectman Small)

(LS) We have been discussing communications with the Department Heads and where it should be going. (LS read into the Minutes Memo dated March 30, 2012 from Town Administrator defining channel of communication for Department Heads. See attached.) Communication is a tough issue and we should continue to work on it. The “go to” person is the Town Administrator and I would like to remind everyone of that. That is the proper chain of communication.

(LS) Department Heads should go directly to the Town Administrator. It is not proper for a Department Head to go to one of the Board Members. There is the Memo offered by the Board. (LK) I do not agree with that. We have a Town Administrator that is here during the day. I have gotten calls early in the morning before when they could not reach Town Administrator. (LS) Department Heads are reminded to go through the Town Administrator.

(LS) and (LK) continued to discuss this and why a Board member shouldn’t be contacted but rather go through the chain of command.

(AD) Point of Order

(LK) We will put this on the Agenda for next meeting.

2. Kathy Green Letter to the Board of Selectmen

(LK) This is a FYI recognition of receipt of her letter to Board. It is in the hands of the Police Department.

3. EDC Letter from the Board of Selectmen

(LS) noted that this is also a FYI for Board noting the Joint Board/Committee Forum on February 8, 2014, 9:00 A.M. to Noon at the PES Cafeteria.

Ted Mitchell, Chair of EDC: Matt Monahan of the CNHRPC will facilitate the meeting with the assistance of Stuart Arnett of Arnett Development Group.
(LK) What will it cost to have Matt Monahan host this Forum? Ted Mitchell: I have no idea what the actual cost would be. A meeting like this should have an impartial facilitator.

APPLICATIONS and MANIFESTS

None.

MINUTES

1. Public Session Minutes of January 21, 2014

(EN) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of January 21, 2014 until
the next Board meeting. (AD) Second.

(GL) noted that he had not received a copy of these Minutes and would like approval tabled

(EN) Withdraw Motion and (AD) Withdraw Second.

(EN) Motion to table approval of Public Session Minutes of
January 21, 2014. (GL) Second. Carried 5-0.

2. Non-Public Session Minutes of January 21, 2014

(GL) Motion to table approval of Non-Public Session Minutes of
January 21, 2014 until the next meeting. (LS) Second. Carried 5-0.

CHECKS and MANIFESTS

(LS) Motion to approve Accounts Payable and Checks Manifest.
(EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

(LS) Motion to approve Payroll and Direct Deposit.
(GL) Second. Carried 5-0.

Break: 5:54 P.M. Resume: 7:00 P.M.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

(EN) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 II (a) – The dismissal, promotion or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee or the investigation of any charges against him unless the employee affected: (1) Has a right to a meeting, and (2) request that the meeting be open, which case the request shall be granted. (GL) Second. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 7:05 P.M.

Board returned to Public Session at 7:45 P.M.

NOTE: RSA 91-A (III) – Minutes of proceeding in non-public session shall be kept and the record of all actions shall be promptly made available for public inspection, except as provided in this section. Minutes and decision reached in non-public session shall be publicly disclosed within seventy-two (72) hours of the meeting, unless, by recorded vote of 2/3 of the members present, it is determined that divulgence of the information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than the members of the Board, or render the proposed action ineffective. In the event of such circumstances, information may be withheld until, in the opinion of a majority of members, the aforesaid circumstances no longer apply.

Shall the Minutes be publicly disclosed? No.

Motion made by (EN) and Seconded by (LS) to not publicly disclose the Minutes because it is determined that divulgence of the information likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of the Board and render the proposed action ineffective. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

ADJOURNMENT

(LS) Motion to adjourn. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

Meeting adjourned t 7:50 P.M.

Approved: February 4, 2014

_____________________________ ____________________
Lawrence Konopka, Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded by me on January 28, 2014, transcribed and publicly posted on
January 30, 2014.

______________________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary

Attachments (5)
Olympus 25.00