TOWN OF PITTSFIELD
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263
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MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 6:00 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Ed Vien (EV), Chairman, Fred Hast (FH), Paul Rogers (PR), Gerard LeDuc (GL), Paul Skowron (PS), Town Administrator, and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

MEMBERS ABSENT

Denise Morin (DM), Vice-Chairman.

PUBLIC INPUT

Ted Mitchell: The map cabinet that is down in the basement, I would like to discuss moving it to the Building Inspector’s office soon. I would be willing to help do it.

Close Public Input

AGENDA REVIEW

(PS) Non-Public matter.

APPOINTMENTS

None.

NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEM

1. Review of Proposed 2012 Budget

(PS) explained the new Governmental Accounting Board Rule which needed to be applied to the 2012 budget which specifically indicates that all payroll liabilities (benefits) be allocated to their respective departments. This change is now indicated within each particular budget page.

There are no increases in wages noted with each budget. These are currently in negotiations. Also, the health premiums are the same as last year and we will not be able to determine if they will change and will not know this until the end of October.

Highway Administration (Page 16):

(EV) Since George arrived first, we will begin with Public Works Department Budget.

George Bachelder: This is pretty much a flat budget and pretty simple. He reviewed his budget as presented.

(EV) On trash removal, why is it we do not use BCEP since we pay for that anyway? Mr. Bachelder: It would be difficult to separate all the trash that is picked up on the streets, etc. and would take more time than we have to do that.

Mr. Bachelder: We have spent part of the Highway Block Grant this year and may have to use an additional amount.

Highway budget has actually gone done. From 2008 through 2011, we have only increased our budget by $2,220.

My only request is if you cut the Highway budget by 10%, then do it across the Board to all departments. Department Heads should not be playing political games with the budget.

Just to be aware, the backhoe is having serious problems and it should be quite expensive to fix because of the way it needs to be accomplished. The labor part is more than the part itself and is quite costly.

Mr. Bachelder left meeting at 6:29 P.M.

Ambulance (Page 11):

Chief Johnson and Jennifer Tedcastle were in attendance to present budget information.

Chief Johnson: I have just received the new budget. I have prepared a comparison of discretionary accounts from 2006 – 2010. (See attached comparisons for Discretionary Accounts, Ambulance/Fire Shared, and Fire Department.)

Any cuts in personnel will affect revenues. As noted on paramedic intercepts, we collect a lot more than we spend!

He noted that the department will be the recipient of a $15,000 grant for a cardiac resuscitation machine. The only cost to the department will be the maintenance which results in about $100 per year. He noted that some pagers would have to be replaced.

(EV) I will ask you the same question in regard to trash removal. Why pay for it when we have BCEP. Chief Johnson: We really have no other alternative since we really do not have a utility truck. (EV) Is there any way you can decrease ambulance idle time? I know it is kept running. Chief Johnson: Due to the electrical system, this is necessary and there would be no huge savings in doing it differently.

Chief Johnson: I would reiterate that we need to work on cutting this budget together. We will end up losing revenue if our calls are done by mutual aide communities. (EV) The cuts are probably going to have to be personnel. I do not think that the taxpayers realize that it will result in a cut of services which they do not want to happen. Chief Johnson: People forget we produce revenue by our service. If there is no service then there is no revenue.

Chief Johnson also presented information pertaining to calls made by days of the week through September 26th and EMS calls by days of week through September 26th. (PR) Do you have any information pertaining to calls made by the day of the week and the times? (See attached. The hours of the shift were explained to the Board since they vary by shift.) He noted that to date 585 calls have been made.

(PS) suggested that he get quotes for the pagers as soon as possible.
Chief Johnson: Probably by the end of the week.

Chief Johnson noted that he would also like to comment that he feels the same way that George noted earlier in the meeting. If there are to be 10% cuts in the budget, then it should be across the board.

Chief Johnson and Jen Tedcastle left meeting at 7:50 P.M.

(EV) I recommend that tonight we just get the numbers as Department Heads seem to be asking for just what they need. I see little increases here and there and not any kind of big differences. I guess the next step will have to be personnel reduction. (PS) That is a reasonable approach. There are tough decisions to be made and we are at a point where decisions have to be made about personnel.

(GL) requested contracts for Fire Chief, which is a term contract; Police Chief is under the Union Contract; and Town Administrator which is also a term contract under agreement with the Town. (PS) These will be provided to Selectman LeDuc.

Board decided to “briefly” go through the Budget starting at Page 1. (FH) and (PS) discussed the retirement numbers and health insurance provided to Town Administrator.

Page 2: Increase in costs associated with elections was discussed and it is noted that this is due to the increase in elections because of the presidential election year.

Page 3: Liz is decreasing the budget for preservation of records for 2012 as she assumes the new clerk probably will not have an opportunity to do this for the first year.

Page 5: (PS) I have had a discussion with Ted Mitchell regarding a survey for Master Plan which possibly will be financed by CNHRPC. This is something we can discuss with him directly.

Page 6: (PS) to check with Cara why the dramatic increase in postage.

Page 8: (PS) These rates will be determined in late December, early January.

Page 14: (FH) The training line will probably go over because of necessary increased training.

Page 15: There is an addition of Line 299 – Code Red Notification System which will be explained by Chief Wharem when he presents his budget next week.

Page 19: BCEP has not yet submitted any changes.

Page 21: Line 404 – CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a new line and they are requesting a $500 “donation.”

Page 22: Library is asking an increase in budget of approximately $5,000. Board requested that they be asked to come in next meeting. (PS) to do.

Page 24: This includes the WWTP Bond.

(PS) All in all, there is approximately a $60,000 increase as proposed by Department Heads. Pittsfield is now at a point where it needs to make a decision regarding personnel. There is no level funding of the budget or decrease in budget for 2012.

Page 27: The money encumbered has been spent and about $60,000 is left.

Page 28: This is the WWTP and we usually have Ron Vien come in to discuss. Next week (PS) will schedule Ron Vien, Chief Robert Wharem and Library members to attend the meeting (October 4th at 5:30 P.M.)

(GL) On Page 22, it noted Memorial Day – $750. What is that for? (PS) to check.

INFORMATION ITEMS

None.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

APPLICATIONS AND WARRANTS

None.

CHECKS AND MANIFESTS

(GL) Motion to approve Accounts Payable and Checks Manifest. (PR) Second. Carried 3-0. (FH) Abstain.

(PR) Motion to approve Payroll and Direct Deposit. (GL) Second. Carried 3-0. (FH) Abstain.
MINUTES

1. Public Session Minutes of September 20, 2011.

(GL) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of September 20, 2011 with corrections. (PR) Second. After Corrections Noted: Carried 4-0.

Corrections:

Page 3, Paragraph 3, Line 2 should read: …..Chief Wharem: Possibly Gilmanton, Northwood, Chichester and Pittsfield.

Page 5, Paragraph 3, Line 1 should read: …..and the $500,000 (legal, engineering and administration costs) also at the same…….

Page 9, Maurice Wells comment should read: When you do the sand at the firing range, are you going to use Highway Department winter sand? (EV) No.

2. Non-Public Hearing Minutes of September 20, 2011

Since there were some corrections within Minutes, Board related they would address after the Non-Public Session.

PUBLIC INPUT

None.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

(PR) Motion to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 II, (a). (GL) Second. Carried 4-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 8:50 P.M.

Break 8:51 P.M. Resume 8:55 P.M.

Board returned to Public Session Minutes at 9:05 P.M.

(GL) Motion to seal Non-Public Session Minutes of September 27, 2011.
(PR) Second. Carried: 3-0. (EV), (GL), and (PR). (FH) though present in the audience, did not vote.

MINUTES CONTINUED

3. Non-Public Hearing Minutes of September 20, 2011

(GL) Motion to approve Non-Public Hearing Minutes of September 20, 2011 with corrections. (PR) Second. Carried 3-0. (EV), (GL), and (PR). (FH) though present was seated in the audience and did not vote.

ADJOURNMENT

(PR) Motion to adjourn. (GL) Second. Carried 3-0. (EV), (GL), and (PR). (FH) though present was seated in the audience and did not vote.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

Approved: October 4, 2011

____________________________ _________________________
Edward Vien, Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded by me on September 27, 2011, transcribed and public posted on September 28, 2011.

________________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary

III Tapes
Attachments