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

MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

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, and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

PUBLIC INPUT

None.

AGENDA REVIEW

(GL) Info: Suncook Valley Regional Town Association Minutes; (EN) Non-Public (a); (LK) Letter Thomas Riel, and Non-Public Union Negotiations (a) & (c).

NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS

1. Review of Draft Town Meeting Warrant

(PS) The only change made will be Article 9 which will be reviewed during Non-Public Session and will reprint accordingly. (*See Page 7.)

2. Letter of Commendation – Robbery 1-28-14

(GL) Motion to approve letter of commendation as written to Pittsfield Police Department regarding the robbery at North Bank. (AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

Letter will be sent to all concerned parties and also be published in The Sun.
(PS) to do.

3. PSNH Rebate Program

(PS) This was placed on the Agenda at the request of the Chair. We have received notification from PSNH regarding an energy efficiency program offered to local governments. One would be Direct Install (lightning & refrigeration equipment to energy efficient alternatives which pays up to 50% of the project cost) and Retrofit/New Equipment & Construction (incentives for energy efficient technologies including lighting, HVAC, Motors and Variable Frequency Drives.)
It was noted that this will be discussed with Department Heads for their recommendations. (PS) to do.

4. Property Liability Trust E-Mail Re: 136 Rocky Point Road

(PS) As you will note, Cara has received E-Mail last week from Donald Penland, Health Trust Inc. for the property at 136 Rocky Point Road which burned and now requires a response from the Board. The property was taken by Tax Deed. The financials refer to a replacement cost basis. Does the Town want to rebuild what was there? (EN) We could look into the reimbursement of the demolition and disposal costs ($8,990) for clean-up. (PS) to check into this.

APPOINTMENTS

1. Selectman Gerard LeDuc Re: Budget Matters

(GL) noted that he had received a spreadsheet (which was distributed to Board Members) which was provided to him by Fred Hast concerning Fund Balances. The determination was trying to be made as to how much was cash and how much was unpaid taxes on property. Fred Hast determined that it is all unpaid taxes.

Just to make this Board aware, the Budget Committee may present a Warrant Article at the Town Meeting concerning the use of Fund Balances. The Budget Committee is reluctant to use the Fund Balances for different purposes. I am not quite sure what the Budget Committee’s motive is. It is probably because the Budget Committee does not understand Fund Balances. There are a lot of new people on that Committee. (LS) Very simply put, we did not use any Fund Balances when the tax rate was set.

NEW BUSINESS – ACTION ITEMS Continued

5. Thomas Riel Letter

(LK) We have received a letter from Thomas Riel of Pittsfield who is requesting to voluntarily work with the Building Inspector and/or HSA to complete an apprenticeship for a course he is taking which requires 2,000 hours credit.

Board agreed that a letter would be sent to Mr. Riel advising him to notify the Building Inspector and HSA of his request to check with them for acceptance. Since it was noted that there would be a liability pertaining to the Town, (PS) to check with insurance carrier to obtain a Waiver for individual releasing Town from any liability should this occur.

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Suncook Valley Regional Town Association

(GL) read into the Minutes information from the Association meeting regarding the status of the Group Health managed by LGC per the Supreme Court ruling.

2. Letters of Commendation

Board reiterated letters of commendation be sent to Ron Vien, Nick Abell and Lenny Deane.

MINUTES

1. Public Session Minutes of January 21, 2014

(EN) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of January 21, 2014.
(LS) Second. Carried 5-0.

2. Public Session Minutes of January 28, 2014

(EN) Motion to approve Public Session Minutes of January 28, 2014 with Correction. (GL) Second. Carried 5-0.

Correction:

Page 2, Paragraph 2 should read: (LS) Motion …….to include Board of Selectmen member, Rob or Jeff Freese, John………….
3. Non-Public Session Minutes of January 21, 2014

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

4. Non-Public Session Minutes of January 28, 2014

(EN) Motion to approve Non-Public Session Minutes of January 28, 2014.
(AD) Second. Carried 5-0.

APPOINTMENTS – Continued:

6:30 P.M.: Clayton Wood, Chairman, Planning Board

Clayton Wood: I have sent to Board a Description of Zoning Amendments for March 2014 which has also will be sent to Department Heads and various Committee Chairs. He noted:

1. A replacement of the current definition of “agriculture.”

This is the adopting the State definition.

2. A revision of current Article 10: Manufactured Housing.

This eliminates the building codes as noted which are now superseded by NH State Building Codes.

3. A revision of Article 5 to convert the ZBA to an elected Board.

This was at the request of the Zoning Board.

4: A revision of current Articles 5, 6 and 7 to agree with State Law.

These are to conform to the RSA’s, eliminate dual Articles 23 and make it less confusing.

5. A revision of current Articles 1, 22, 23 (administration and enforcement), and 24.

These matters deal with enabling authority to adopt a Zoning Ordinance, mandatory purposes of a Zoning Ordinance, and administration of the Zoning Ordinance.

6. A revision of current Article 16 – Parking Regulations

There is actually no change to the Parking Regulations. The parking requirements remain the same. There are no instructions on how to enforce them and Planning Board can use their discretion when putting the use to the Table.

Next year we will try and work on the district maps.

(LS) Have you put this information out to the public so they can understand? Clayton Wood: Planning Board will notify Department Heads and there will be an article in the paper. Zoning Ordinances need to be changed on a regular basis. (LK) suggested Clayton address these revisions at Department Head meeting.
(PS) to schedule.

Clayton Wood left meeting at 6:53 P.M.

PUBLIC HEARING (6:53 P.M.)

Donna Lane and Liz Sweeney, CRDC were present.

Donna Lane read into the Minutes the Public Hearing Notice (See Attached).

Public Hearing opened for public comment.

There was no audience present.

(LK) How many jobs have been created? Donna Lane: We are working on that now. Ten to twenty-five jobs needed to be created and some have been.

(AD) How long was the grant for? Donna Lane: It was for 18 months and the end date was December 31, 2013.

(PS) Has a successful goal been reached and if not, what are the consequences?

Liz Sweeney: We need some clarification on the jobs. These are Federal funds and when the grant is repaid, it can be used for other businesses. Some of the jobs have not yet been created. Donna Lane: Funds are paid back for each job not created. (PS) Is there any financial responsibility to the Town? Donna Lane: No.

Close Public Comment

(AD) If the grant ended on December 31, 2013, I am baffled as to why there are no numbers available. Donna Lane: As are we and we are trying to figure that out. Liz Sweeney: As we get more information, we will keep you advised.

Public Hearing closed at 7:00 P.M.

CHECKS and MANIFESTS

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

(LS) Motion to approve Accounts Payable and Checks Manifest.
(GL) Second. Carried.

OTHER

(LK) Just for Board’s information, the Planning Board and Master Plan Committee members will be examining the Town facilities.

PUBLIC INPUT

None. No audience present.

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 and RSA 91-A:3 II (e) – Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed against the Town or any subdivision thereof, or against any member thereof because of his membership in such body, until the claim or litigation has been fully adjudicated or otherwise settled. (GL) Second. Carried 5-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Break: 7:02 P.M. Resume: 7:06 P.M.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 7:06 P.M.

Board returned to Public Session at 8:05 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 (AD) 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.

NEW BUSINESS ACTION ITEMS Continued:

1. Town Meeting Warrant Article 9

Article 9: To see if the town will vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Board of Selectmen and Teamsters, Local 633, which calls for the following increase in salaries and
benefits at the current staffing level:

(LS) Motion to approve Teamsters costs for

2014 – $9,964 2015 – $8,756 2016 – $10,828

(EN) Second. Carried 5-0.

OTHER:

1. Board of Selectmen Meetings

Board decided there would be no meeting on February 11th and the next scheduled meeting would be February 18th. The Board of Selectmen will be meeting with Barnstead Board of Selectmen on February 25th.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

Approved: February 25, 2014

_______________________________ ____________________
Lawrence Konopka, Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded by me on February 4, 2014, transcribed and publicly posted on
February 5, 2014.

_________________________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary

Attachment
Olympus: 1.04.49