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

MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010

CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 6:03 P.M., by Linda Small, Chairman.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Linda Small (LS), Chairman, Ed Vien (EV), Vice-Chairman, Larry Konopka (LK), Denise Morin (DM), Fred Hast (FH), Paul Skowron (PS), Town Administrator, and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

MEMBERS ABSENT

None.

PUBLIC INPUT

None.

AGENDA REVIEW

(LS) 25 River Road Closing; (LK) Three letters Re: Planning Board, Suggestion Box letter.

APPOINTMENTS

None.

NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS

3. Application for Charrette

(LS) I believe everyone has taken the time to read the proposed Charrette application. Matt, (Monahan) would you like to summarize this for us?

Matt Monahan (MM) noted that Town participated in a Charrette in 1999 which included the entire downtown area. What this application does is have a Charrette centered in just the area around Catamount, Clark, South Main and Broadway. This will provide you with about $25-35,000 of volunteer expertise and cost Town only about $5,000. This will be awarded around the end of March. What occurred in October is a big part of this proposal as the property owners and businesses were included in a survey and this is “what they want – to find a way towards a better economic development of Pittsfield.” Everyone wants this.

(EV) One of the things that is important is that the Highway and Fire Departments sit in that area. Sooner or later the Highway Department is going to have to move up to the Salt Shed area because of lack of room. Board and (MM) discussed the possibility of contaminated areas and wetlands noting that the interaction of surveyors and engineers would assist in dealing with these matters. (MM) The more that this is advertised the better the results will be. (FH) questioned the costs involved and it was related that it will come out of the Suncook Valley fund which notes that it should be used for economic development.

(LK) Motion to approve the Charrette as written and authorize Chair to sign document. (EV) Second. After Discussion: Carried 5-0.

Discussion: (PS) related that though there is no public present tonight, I can attest as a third party that the EDC has spent a lot of time and effort in meeting with Matt trying to come up with what would be a better way to develop Pittsfield. This has derived from all those discussions. People ask what the EDC is doing and this is what they are doing.

(MM) noted that Pittsfield is way ahead of other similar towns in making an effort to promote a vision for this Town and then market it accordingly. You are miles beyond your peers in this area.

(EV) There is a lot of land not being utilized with the least impact on what is there. (LS) After this then Spradling Group can come in and market it. (FH) I hope that property and business owners will be with you on this.

6. Three Letters Re: Planning Board

(LK) I just wanted to make the Board aware of the three matters addressed to Board members initiated by me. The first was the letter that was in the Sun and since there was no response, I assume that Board is okay with the way the letter was phrased and signed.

The second matter is regarding the Rules of Procedure of the Planning Board. After the hearing, I reviewed all the information I had received compared to the finalized version which I signed for after the meeting. At the last Planning Board meeting, some members indicated that they did not get all the information prior to the Public Hearing (3 people did and 3 did not) and therefore, did not vote on it. Town Counsel was at the hearing. I found all pieces of the paperwork except that of Town counsel.

(MM) There did seem to be some confusion about what had gone out.

(LK) I would suggest that the new Planning Board review what took place and make determination as to what they would like to do. Some Board members feel differently about this. (DM) I would ask the question if the Board would recommend another Public Hearing. (LK) I have forwarded all this information to Bill Miskoe.

The third letter regards the letters of complaint from Hank Fitzgerald and response by Kyle Parker, Building Inspector. I shut this conversation down as I did not think that this was the proper place or time to address this.

Matt, I think you are a real asset to the Board; the meeting could not have gone better. Kyle has been present at every meeting also. It was noted that the future applicant was quite satisfied with the system although it was only a conceptual and will be submitting his application soon. All went well until the Members Concerns.

1. SDS Letter of Agreement

(PS) There is a letter from SDS and to Citizens Bank acknowledging deposit of $2,000 in funds with a pending bank manager’s hold as a guarantee that they will removal all agreed upon non-permanent infrastructures relating to WWTP. I have given these to Ron Vien for review and I have also reviewed it and we are both in agreement that it is acceptable. Board now needs to approve agreement.

(DM) Motion to approve the SDS letter to Town and Citizens Bank concerning guarantee of SDS removal of non-permanent infrastructures at the WWTP and manager’s hold fund information. (FH) Second. Carried 5-0.

2. Park Street Baptist Church Request for Building Permit Fee Waiver

(LK) Motion to approve Park Street Baptist Church request for Building Permit fee Waiver. (DM) Second. Carried 5-0.

4. Safe Routes to School – Request to Meet

(PS) There is a request to meet with the BOS from Nicholas J. Coates, Rideshare Coordinator/Regional Planner to explain program. I suggested April 6th.

(DM) Motion to approve April 6th for meeting with Nicholas J. Coates, Rideshare Coordinator/Regional Planner. (EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

5. Municipal Energy Assistance Program – Request to Meet

(PS) The Board will recollect that Pittsfield has been approved to receive free energy audit. They would like to come in and talk with this Board and are looking for someone to act as liaison for the Town. I suggested April 20th. Board agreed.

7. 25 River Road Closing

(PS) There are a number of items from Laura Spector and I have provided the Board a copy of some of them and specifically those that would need to be approved and signed by Board. These documents are necessary for closing which will be at 9:00 A.M. tomorrow. The other documents will require that Board authorize me to sign at closing.

(DM) Motion to approve Quitclaim Deed. (EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

(DM) Motion to approve Settlement Statement (HUD-1). (LK) Second.
Carried 5-0.

(DM) Motion to approve Disclosure and Disclosure of Information on Lead Based Paint. (EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

(DM) Motion to approve Owner’s Affidavit. (LK) Second. Carried 5-0.

(DM) Motion to approve Seller’s Affidavit of NonForeign Status. (LK) Second. Carried 5-0.

(Board members signed all applicable documents.)

(DM) Motion to authorize Paul Skowron to sign all pertinent documents as requested by Town Attorney regarding sale of 25 River Road. (EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

8. Suggestion Box Letter

Letter from resident on Concord Hill Road regarding the need for sidewalks in that area. (DM) noted that individual came in while she was here and suggested that he make his request via the Suggestion Box. She noted that she explained to him about the pending Safe Routes to School grant which is being applied for and relates to sidewalks.

(LK) noted that he has kept all the letters from the Suggestion Box and if Board would like to have them, they are available. He presented keys for the Suggestion Box to (PS) now that his term is ending.

INFORMATION ITEMS

None.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Town Hall Improvements Pending
2. Capital Improvement Program Pending
3. LGC Job Descriptions Pending
4. Selectmen/TA Goals & Objectives Pending
5. Firefighter/EMS Cross Training Pending

APPLICATIONS AND WARRANTS

None.

CHECKS AND MANIFESTS

(DM) Motion to approve Accounts Payable and Check Register. (LK) Second. Carried 5-0.

(DM) Motion to approve Payroll and Direct Deposit. (LK) Second. Carried 5-0.

MINUTES

3. Public Session Minutes of March 2, 2010.

(DM) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of March 2, 2010.
(EV) Second. After Discussion and Corrections: Carried 5-0.

Discussion: (FH) explained how the maps from the Flood Plain study were inadvertently taken home but have now been returned.

(FH) Regarding the Property Tax Abatement for Map R28, Lot 2, have you checked on it yet? (PS) Cara has talked to the assessor and we will check statutes by next week. (FH) They really should be applying for elderly exemption. (PS) I think they can either do one or the other, but not both.

(FH) Also the hook-up fees that Maurice was talking about, have you checked that out? (PS) I have talked to Cara and I wanted to go back and look at the annual reports. I did clarify with Cara that all of it goes into the Sewer fund.

(LS) Page 10, No. 11 add to paragraph: The cause and effect on students will be immeasurable.

(LS) Page 10, Last Paragraph, last Sentence add after “Town Halls and 69 of them had a population of fewer than 4,000 and ……”

(LS) Page 13, Paragraph 6, Discussion change: (LS) “Did everyone work on Friday?”

(LK) Page 8, Paragraph after No. 5 change after are “fortunate to have good employees.”

1. Non-Public Session Minutes of February 16, 2010.

(DM) Motion to approve Non-Public Session Minutes of February 16, 2010.
(EV) Second. After Discussion: Carried 5-0.

Discussion: (LS) The part about vehicles being “out of Town” on several occasions should not be in Non-Public. (DM) Also I am the only one mentioned by name in text. Board does not usually use names in Non-Public.

(LS) Motion to release from Non-Public Minutes of February 16, 2010 the section concerning use of police vehicles “out of Town,” and change (DM) to Board member. (EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

(Please see attached.)

2. Non-Public Session Minutes of March 2, 2010.

(DM) Motion to approve Non-Public Session Minutes of March 2, 2010.
(LK) Second. After comment: Carried 5-0.

Comment: Once again, my name was the only one used in text of Minutes. After checking Minutes, it is noted that this did not occur and Minutes were approved.

PUBLIC INPUT

None.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

(LK) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 II (a).
(DM) Second. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 7:00 P.M.

Board returned to Public Session at 7:11 P.M.

(LK) Motion to seal Non-Public Session Minutes of March 9, 2010. (EV) Second. Carried 4-1 (FH).

Board discussed possibility of releasing previous Non-Public Session Minutes. (PS) related that all the Minutes are available for Board review.

ADJOURNMENT

(DM) Motion to adjourn. (EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

Meeting adjourned at 7:15 P.M.

Approved: March 16, 2010

____________________________ ________________________
Ed Vien, Vice- Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded and transcribed by me and publicly posted on March 10, 2010.

______________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary

1 Tape

See next page for release of Non-Public Session Minutes of February 16, 2010.

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMAN
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263

Board by majority vote released the following portion of Non-Public Minutes on March 9, 2010.

NON-PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
CALL TO ORDER

Non-Public Session called to order at 7:55 P.M. by Linda Small, Chairman.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Linda Small (LS), Chairman, Ed Vien (EV), Vice-Chairman, Larry Konopka (LK), Denise Morin (DM), Fred Hast (FH), Paul Skowron (PS), Town Administrator and Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Board discussed the issue of a Town vehicle being taken home by an employee as observed by several Board members who noted individual’s early entry into Town. Board member noted that this had been discussed this with Chief Wharem and his response was that it was because of “early morning SWAT training.”

(LK) Motion to return to Public Session Minutes. (EV) Second.
Carried 5-0.

Board returned to Public Session at 8:20 P.M.

Approved: March 9, 2010

___________________________ ____________________
Linda Small, Chairman
Signed by Ed Vien, Vice-Chairman in
Lieu of completion of Linda Small
Term of office.