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

MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 6:00 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), Paul Skowron (PS),
Town Administrator, Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

MEMBERS ABSENT

None.

PUBLIC INPUT

Dan Schroth: Regarding the Budget, I think we should start putting money in the Capital Reserve for road equipment. What about the wall at the Community Center. (PS) noted discussed with George. Dan to call him. Dan Schroth: Lastly, there is an article in the Concord Monitor, Letters to the Editor, September 23rd about monies to fund terrorism.

AGENDA REVIEW

(GL) Aqueduct Purchase Committee; (EN) Bailey Park, Snedeker Junk Yard;
(LS) DOT Property, Info: Audit Questionnaire, Town Hall Copies; (LK) Town Administrator Office, Meeting with Department Heads, BOS Minutes of July 16, 2013, and Town Hall Tile Floors.

NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS

1. 2013 State MS-1 Form – To Set Town’s Valuation for 2013 Tax Rate

(PS) This is the MS-1 form which is filed annually. You will note the Assessor’s values have increased.

(EN) Motion to approve 2013 MS-1 Report for filing. (GL) Second. After Discussion: Carried 5-0.

Discussion: (AD) Is Kentek included in this? (PS) Kentek was approved as 179E. (LS) If you will look at the value changes, you will note that the increased values are commercials. That is a good thing.

2. Auction Agreement for 36 Loudon Road – James R. St. Jean Auctioneers

(PS) As you will see, there is an Auctioneer Agreement for your approval. They are asking Board to choose a date for the auction and they are recommending either October 26th or November 2nd (both Saturdays). Board will need to authorize Chair to sign Agreement and choose the date.

(GL) Motion to approve Chair signing Auctioneer Agreement for 36 Loudon Road and authorize October 26, 2013 as date for auction. (EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

3. Question from Dan Schroth regarding Fire Chief Contract

(PS) Dan, here is your answer – Board is in position to enter into an Agreement for 1-2 or 3 years and can include a clause noting that Town Meeting can vote the contract null and void. Dan Schroth: This happens when the Contract is awarded? (LS) Is this supposed to be up to three years? (LK) I thought the Warrant Article said three years? Can you check with DRA on that? (PS) Yes. The contract would contain a non-appropriations clause. If position is not funded then the contract would be null and void. If there is no appropriations clause then Town is obligated. (AD) When will the individual come on Board? (PS) We do not have a contract but we can work on it. We can update the contract used for Gary Johnson. (LK) Can you send it to Beth to “refresh it” and also send a copy of Dan’s question. I would like to have something in place. (LS) We could wait until we have contract with person and before finalized, then send it to Beth. (LS) Paul, could you check the Warrant Article and see what term was noted? (PS) checked Warrant Article and it notes three years.)

4. Old Business Items

(LK) I am wondering if we could put a deadline on these. We used to put the date on them and I would like to start it up again. Board agreed deadlines would be:
Policy for Recruitment and Employment to be Revised – October 15th
Policy for Employee Total Compensation – October 22nd
Draft Ordinance Re: Bicycles and Skate board – October 8th

5. Tax Deeded Properties

(PS) I have reviewed the Tax Deeded Properties which the Board took action on last week and some additional signatures on several are required. Also, if Board would like to go through these in more detail, we can also do that. (EN) I will need some additional time to do this. (PS) A number of these are trailers.
(EN) Even if they are a trailer, if we let it go, the taxes will increase. (PS) If each of you would like to make an appointment with Erica and myself, we can review them all which will take about half an hour.

6. Board Review of 2014 Municipal Budget

This will be addressed at a future meeting.

7. Town Administrator Office

(LK) I think it would be a good idea for Cara Marston to have keys to Town Administrator office.

(GL) Motion to approve Cara Marston be issued keys to Town Administrator Office. (EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

(LK) Also, Paul, can the Board help you in getting your office more organized? (PS) requested to “dwell on it.”

8. DOT Property

(LS) A few years ago, when DOT abandoned the property, we did a study on a possible Park’N’Ride in that location. There were funds available but nothing happened. Currently, there are people interested in the property. The EDC would like to send information to the State that Town would no longer like a Park’N’Ride but that someone is interested in purchasing the property. We are putting a letter together to that effect and would like to have the Board of Selectmen’s “blessing” on this.

(LS) Motion to authorize EDC to enter into discussion with the State regarding purchasing the property with Board of Selectmen’s approval. (EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

Break: 6:30 P.M. Resume: 6:42 P.M.

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Bailey Park

(EN) Mr. Sousa needs to know who to contact at the Conservation Committee about donating the land within Bailey Park to conservation (Town).
(PS) to contact him.

2. Employment Status – Welfare

(EN) Can we put this on the next Agenda? (PS) agreed to review applications and advise Board and then have appointments set up.

3. Meeting with Department Heads

(LK) Is there anything new on this? (PS) noted that the problem collectively is getting the Department Heads to the staff meeting on Wednesdays. Ron Vien and George Bachelder are usually here and the rest are “hit and miss.” Board decided to hold a meeting with Department Heads on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at
5:00 P.M. (PS) to advise Department Heads.

4. Committee with Town of Barnstead

(PS) The last I heard, I had a visit from Board member of Barnstead who wanted information on expenditures for the Fire Department. It was my understanding that after they discussed these expenditures, they would contact Town for future meetings. (PS) to contact Barnstead for an update.

5. Minutes of July 16th – Meeting at Barnstead Board

(PS) That is my responsibility and will be available by October 1, 2013.

6. Town Hall Tile Floors

(LK) The tile floors at the Town Hall are cracked and falling apart. Could we check with Jesse about them and he can report at our next meeting. (PS) to do.

7. Audit Questionnaire

(LS) The questionnaire we were asked to fill out – submitted to (PS). (EN) requested an additional copy be placed in Board members baskets.

8. Town Hall Copies

(LS) Copies were given to a citizen through the Town Clerk’s office. Were the copies paid for? (PS) explained how the copies were requested and Erica’s question as to release to public. I noted that “Yes, requested copies can be released.” (LS) Yes, but they should have been paid for and not released unless paid for.

(LS) Motion to approve billing individual if copies not paid for and a bill sent to individual with a copy of the Town Policy on receiving copies. (EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

9. Aqueduct Purchase Committee

(GL) We have had three meetings. Mr. Soucy will be putting us in contact with the Town of Lancaster which has a system similar to what we would propose, looking at agreements and have a template of questions for consultant to answer.

10. Snedeker JunkYard

(EN) Did you get a hold of Jesse regarding the Snedeker JunkYard that it is ready for review? (PS) No, but I will.

OLD BUSINESS

See Item No. 4 above.

CHECKS and MANIFESTS

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

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

MINUTES

1. Public Session Minutes of September 17, 2013

(EN) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of September 17, 2013.
(LS) Second. Carried 4-0. (GL) Abstain.

2. Non-Public Session Minutes of September 17, 2013

(EN) Motion to approve Non-Public Session Minutes of September 17, 2013. (LS) Second. Carried 4-0. (GL) Abstain.

3. Public Session Minutes of September 10, 2013

(EN) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of September 10, 2013 as revised. (GL) Second. Carried 5-0.

Note: Please see attached revisions of September 10, 2013 Minutes per Board of Selectmen request.

PUBLIC INPUT

None.

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. (LS) 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 8:05 P.M.

Motion made by: Eric Nilsson. Seconded by: Linda Small 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.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M.

Approved: October 1, 2013

__________________________ ____________________
Lawrence Konopka, Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded by me, transcribed and publicly posted on September 26, 2013.

__________________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary