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

MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

CALL TO ORDER

Call to order at 6:00 P.M., by Denise Morin, Chairman.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Denise Morin (DM), Chairman, Fred Hast (FH), Fred Okrent (FO), Arthur Morse (AM), and Paul Skowron (PS), Town Administrator.

MEMBERS ABSENT

Ed Vien (EV), Vice-Chairman

PUBLIC INPUT

(PS) Reviewed the memorandum with Morris Wells sent to the BOS Re: Questions from Morris Wells. (PS) Invited Morris Wells to meet with Cara to review sewer fund information. Morris Wells declined offer to meet with the town’s auditors.

Close Public Input.

AGENDA REVIEW

(AM) Pennichuck acquisition by Nashua should be on the January 25, 2011
agenda.

APPOINTMENTS

6:05 PM Douglas Mackie-Rescheduled for February 1, 2011 because of the weather.

6:10 PM Michael Wolfe-Explained his proposal to purchase the old fire department forestry truck and reimburse the town with 5 new sets of fire gear worth $7,000.00. It was concluded that the Town Administrator would place an ad for sale of the vehicle with a minimum bid of $7,000.00.

Fire Chief Gary Johnson also discussed the gift of a copier from Globe Manufacturing. A public hearing will be scheduled to accept the gift.

PUBLIC HEARING

6:20 PM Rescind Bond Issue/WWTF-$1,566,994.
(DM) opened the public hearing at 6:20 PM.

Motion made by (AM), seconded by (FO) to recess the public hearing to January 25, 2011 at 6:20 PM at the Town Hall.
Motion carried 4-0-0.

6:25 PM Proposed Bond Issue/South Main Street Pump Station-$288,324.
(DM) opened the public hearing at 6:25 PM.

Motion made by (FO), seconded by (AM) to recess the public hearing to January 25, 2011 at 6:25 PM at the Town Hall.
Motion carried 4-0-0.

6:30 PM Proposed Bond Issue/Safe Routes to School-$245,398.
(DM) opened the public hearing at 6:30 PM.

Motion made by (FO), seconded by (AM) to recess the public hearing to January 25, 2011 at the 6:30 PM at the Town Hall.
Motion carried 4-0-0.

NEW BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS

1. Welfare Lien, Tax Map R35, Lot 32.

(FH) inquired as to the amount of the lien. (PS) responded that the more recent liens have not denoted a specific amount, rather a general lien is placed upon the property and as such time arises when the property is transferred the total amount is calculated for the closing. (PS) will ask the Welfare Director the value of the assistance. Motion made by (FO), seconded by (AM) to table the matter until the next meeting. Motion carried 4-0-0.

2. Invitation to Cross Country Appraisal Group to Meet with the Selectmen.

(FH) wants the assessors to appear before the Selectmen because he believes that some assessments are either too high or too low. (PS) Waiting for a copy of the DRA letter to the appraisal company to revise the 1 year agreement.

3. Discussion of Prospective Petition for 3 Person Board of Selectmen.

(FH) expressed his opinion that he believes a 5 person board is better. Motion made by (AM), seconded by (FO) to accept the petition and place it on the town warrant. Motion carried 4-0-0.

4. Ethics Committee/Modifications to the Ethics Ordinance.

Motion made by (FO), seconded by (FH) to table discussion on this matter until Merrill Vaughn has an opportunity to discuss the proposed changes with the Selectmen. Motion carried 4-0-0.

5. Request to Prorate Property Taxes, Map R41, Lot 2.

(PS) explained the request of the property owner for the proration of taxes. (PS) indicated that the Selectmen could only act upon the abatement for the year ending March 31, 2011. Additionally the property owner requested that the building permit fee be waived. The Selectmen discussed whether the fee had ever been reduced in similar circumstance. Motion made by (FO), seconded by (FH) to abate the property taxes as calculated for the year ending March 31, 2011. Motion made by (AM), seconded by (FO) to table the request for the waiver of the building permit. Motion carried 3-0-1. (DM) abstained.

6. Discussion Re: Highway Superintendent Mileage Allowance.

(PS) reviewed the memorandum he prepared for the Selectmen on the subject of the Highway Superintendent’s mileage allowance. Motion made by (FH), seconded by (FO) to table any action pending the Town Administrator discussion with the Highway Superintendent.

INFORMATION ITEMS

None

OLD BUSINESS

1. Capital Improvement Program. The CIP has been published.

2. Bids for Town Hall Window Frame Rehabilitation. Pending

3. Settlement Agreement/Assessment Appeal U4-19, U4-18. & U3-75. Pending more Information.

4. General Assessing Service Contract for 2011/Cross Country Appraisal Group. Pending DRA letter.

APPLICATIONS and WARRANTS

1. Timber Tax Levy Tax Map R53, Lot 19

Motion made by (FO), seconded by (AM) to approve the timber tax levy.
Motion carried 4-0-0.

CHECKS and MANIFESTS

Motion made by (FO), seconded by (AM) to approve Accounts Payable and Check Register. Motion carried 3-1-0. (FH) voted against because his position is the town should not be buying a used couch for the fire department.

Motion made by (DM), seconded by (FO) to approve Payroll and Direct Deposit. Motion carried 4-0-0.

MINUTES

1. Public Session Minutes of January 4, 2011.

Motion made by (AM), seconded by (FH) to approve the Public Session Minutes of January 4, 2011. Motion carried 4-0-0.

PUBLIC INPUT

Morris Wells inquired as to whether the blue pickup truck was capable of plowing?

Close Public Input.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION

Motion made by (DM), seconded by (FO) to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 II (b). Motion carried 4-0-0. Individual members of the Board were polled and all agreed.

Board went into Non-Public Session at 7:41 P.M.

Board returned to Public Session at 7:52 P.M.

Motion made by (AM), seconded by (FO) to seal Non-Public Minutes of January 18, 2011. Motion carried 4-0-0.

OTHER

(PS) indicated that he was drafting a warrant article for the creation of a revolving fund for special details.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by (FH), seconded by (FO) to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:04 P.M.

Approved: January 25, 2011

______________________________ _____________________
Denise Morin, Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these minutes were manually recorded` on January 18, 2011, drafted and posted on February 1, 2011.

_______________________________
Paul J. Skowron
Acting Recording Secretary