TOWN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMAN
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263
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MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009

CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 5:00 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

(LK) Gasoline, Call Numbers and Planning Board.

APPOINTMENTS

5:00 P.M. – Board of Selectmen will be meeting in Non-Public Session for the
purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of Welfare Director

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

Board went into Non-Public Session at 5:02 P.M.
Board returned to Public Session at 6:17 P.M.

(DM) Motion to seal Non-Public Session Minutes of May 26, 2009.
(EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

PUBLIC INPUT

Mike Brewster related that he recently had been watching police officers stopping little old ladies in front of Danis Supermarket. He noted that he has been observing this happening quite often and he did not think it was fair. He noted that there is too much other crime happening and they shouldn’t be stopping these older ladies. “In my mind you should be telling cops not to do this.”

He also elaborated on State budget and that their books are off by millions of dollars which the State cannot explain.

(LS) I would think that this would be a safety issue. Thank you, Mike, for your feedback.

APPLICATIONS AND WARRANTS

(PS) There is a letter from Cross Country Appraisal Group regarding land use change tax explaining the reason for this change.

(FH) Motion to approve the land use change tax for Map R29, Lot 1, Sub-lot 4. (DM) Second. After Discussion: Carried 5-0.

Discussion: (FH) This owner has a one-acre building site, but I would assume in the Rural Zone you would need two acres. (EV) related that it requires only one acre as the local Zoning Ordinance does not override that. This was brought up last year.

CHECKS AND MANIFESTS

(DM) Motion to approve Accounts Payable and Check Manifests. (FH) Second.
After Discussion: Carried 5-0.

Discussion: (FH) Why are we leasing a storage trailer at $100 per month when it would be cheaper to buy one outright. It would pay for itself within a year. They can be purchased for approximately $400. (LS) I believe that we are renting with the option to buy. (PS) to check into this.

(FH) Also, the Warranty on the generator, didn’t we vote to have them purchase this? Why are we paying for repairs? (PS) Chief Johnson was here and talked about putting it under warranty, as did the owner of the company. I do not believe that we have the warranty yet. (FH) If he said he was going to look into it, why didn’t he? (PS) I do not know why he has not received it. (FH) This is money we are paying when we shouldn’t have to. (PS) to check on this.

(LS) had a question on the Fair Point phone bill. It is noted that there were many bills received, some of which had already been paid, some of which were partially credited, but after researching all the bills, it was determined by Cara that the Town only owed approximately $11.78. Fair Point is still in the process of changing ownership and is having difficulty computing services.

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

APPOINTMENT

6:30 P.M. – Silas St. James – PMHS English Research Presentations

Students chose to research ways to improve the town. They drafted focus questions and conducted research in a number of ways, redefining their answers and backing up their arguments with evidence from a variety of sources. A research paper was composed based on his/her findings.

Ben Lamere – Improving the Pittsfield Police Department

Mr. Lamere related that the police department does a good job but often needs to have a better attitude towards the youth of Pittsfield. He offered several examples of incidents where this occurred.

Robby Towle – Community Events

He noted that he felt that the Town needed a community event to instill a better sense of community to the residents of Pittsfield. He recommended such events as talent shows, soccer or basketball games, Town concerts, and perhaps a petting zoo. He noted that this could be advertised via word of mouth, flyers, or other forms of advertising. The facilities could be available for this but would require some organization. He noted he attempted an organic garden, which never came to pass because of lack of organization.

Chris Morel and Ben Hill – Recreational Center

They noted that the youth of Pittsfield need to be Kept engaged, Occupied, have a Positive Attitude, and Safe (KOPS). They suggested a Recreational Center where jobs could be offered, a game hall, shelter, various events, and field trips would occur. They noted that this would be something for the future, which the Town could consider. The youth of Pittsfield need more things to do and a place to do them.

Evan Ward – Improving Drake Field

He noted that Drake Field needs to be updated to provide a better place to include activities for kids and where interaction with other towns could take place. He related that presently the equipment, namely basketball hoops, is broken and old. He noted that this could be accomplished via fundraisers, donations and advertising.

Brandon Patterson – Venture Crew

Mr. Patterson noted that the Venture Program is an outcropping of the Boy Scouts of America for youth ages 14 through 21. It is a youth organization to help kids by providing structure and could cover anything kids are interested in doing such as Civil Air Patrol or other interests.

Meghan Mulcahy – Improving the Pittsfield Police Department

She related that her main focus would be how the Police Department could be a better resource for all. Sometimes she noted their intervention is either too much or too little and gave examples of incidents that occurred in Town depicting these situations. She noted that as a resource this should be provided equally. “Is it necessary to focus on petty crimes or contradict themselves in conversations with residents.” Good relationships should be built between the Police and the youth of Pittsfield and not having this relationship could cause more problems. The Police are not the bad guys but either are most of the youth. Police should be focusing on the bigger problems as opposed to the lesser ones by putting the citizens first.

Mr. St. James related that he was thankful for the Board’s participation in this presentation noting that he would also provide paper copies of the presentation to the Board via E-Mail.

Board thanked presenters noting that this would be a good presentation to be provided to Police Department.

Presentation completed at 7:30 P.M.

NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on Abatement Recommendations

(PS) Before the Board tonight for action are a number of abatements as prepared by the contracting assessing company.

(EV) Tax Map U-03, Lot 126 is not complete, as it is not signed.
(LS) U02, Lot 22 abatement was not filed in time – as per assessor’s comments. Also Tax Map U05, Lot 20 does not outline what values are. The values should be noted on the abatement recommendation form. (FH) Tax Map U05, Lot 53 – why was there such a “cut”? Some of these are very large abatements. (EV) noted that the date stamp on abatements should be made on Page 1 or 2, but not the instruction page. “Some of the abatements are not even date stamped.”

(LS) Motion to not approve those abatements filed after the due date.
(EV) Second. Carried 5-0.

(EV) Motion that abatement for U03, Lot 126 be tabled until it is signed.
(DM) Second.

(EV) Motion withdrawn. (DM) Second withdrawn.

(EV) Motion to approve abatement for U03, Lot 126 be approved conditioned upon owner signing abatement form. (DM) Second. Carried 5-0.

(LS) Motion to approve abatement Tax Map U05, Lot 20 contingent upon assessors noting value on recommendation form. (DM) Second. Carried 5-0.

(EV) Motion to approve other abatements numbered 12 through 60 as recommended by assessors, except for Nos. 30, 48, 53 and 57. (DM) Second. Carried 5-0.

Denise Morin recused herself and was seated in the audience.

(EV) Motion to approve abatement for Tax Map R24, Lot 5-1. (LK) Second. Carried 4-0.

Denise Morin returned and was seated on the Board.

OTHER

1. Purchase of Gasoline

(LK) noted that he would like to review the use of gasoline vendors within the Town utilizing someone locally.

(PS) noted that only difference in price now is that the Federal tax is not included in the cost of the gasoline and Town files separately for State tax refund.

(EV) suggested contacting current vendor and other vendor in Town to determine at what cost it can be sold to Town other than the advertised cost.

(PS) to review with Department Heads at next meeting.

2. Board of Selectman Call Numbers

(LK) noted that the list of call numbers and emergency numbers will be distributed to Board members and Chief Wharem. (PS) to distribute these appropriately.

3. Letter Office Wiltshire

(DM) Motion to confirm decision of Board as noted on May 19, 2009 regarding Officer Wiltshire’s request for FMLA. (EV) Second. Carried 4-0. (LK) Abstain.

MINUTES

(DM) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of May 19, 2009. (EV) Second. Carried 4-0 (LK) Abstain.

OTHER CONTINUED

4. Planning Board

(LK) Has the information on the Planning Board member issue gone to the Secretary of State? I do not believe that this is a Planning Board issue and we need the direction of the Secretary of State. Maybe someone can walk the information up to the Secretary of State offices? (PS) noted that he had requested that Cara fax this information to the Secretary of State and would check that this has been accomplished.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:07 P.M.

Approved: June 2, 2009

_________________________________ _________________________
Linda Small, Chairman Date

II Tapes

I certify that these Minutes were recorded and publicly provided on May 27, 2009.

_____________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary