Town of Alexandria
May 15, 2008
Members Present: Cindy Williams, Don Gangemi, Tom McGowan
The meeting came to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Ed Skroback
Distribution of Minutes: May 8
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of April 24 and May 1 were approved.
Department Heads:
Christie Phelps: The gazebo is under construction; however, it is running a little over budget. There has been a request for 120’ x 8’ to have the sod removed (Jim Ransom) and for ledge-pak to be installed. Jeff has said it would be about $200 worth of materials. In order to do that, the selectmen’s input is necessary. Much discussion was held and the $200 was denied. Tom said he was asked how the project could run over $30,000. Christie said that there is a considerable expense for architect’s fees, which the donor wanted. Cindy said that her concern is that the building is going to be a maintenance cost for the town. Jeff said the walkway had not been a thought when the design was being done, but several were concerned that wheelchairs may not be able to reach the handicap ramp through the grass. The Land Use Change Tax bills will be presented next week for the selectmen’s signature. There will be four of them. The warrant article passed at town meeting allows for 50% of LUCT to be deposited into the Conservation Fund. The statute says that this must be done when collected, not at the end of the year. It also says money collected prior to April 1 following the vote does not go into this fund. There was one deposit made on March 28 that will not be a part of the equation this year. Work has begun on next year’s budget; Christie received prices for a new compactor for Doug that will be included in the requests. On this year’s budget, a price has been received to have the carpets shampooed and the floors stripped and waxed. There is another price coming for comparison. The highway department, on next year’s budgeting, will have separate lines for culverts, guardrails and signs, with another line for tires, chains, edges, rims, etc. The supply line, at present, contains the appropriation for all of these things. Jeff and Christie met today with regard to the remainder of this year’s budget. Jeff has received information that indicates there are going to be significant increases in some of the items needed for this year. Therefore, purchase orders have been, and will be, issued within the next two weeks in order to take advantage of present pricing. Those issued this week are: JAF Industries for $4715, Bellemore Catch Basins for $1100, Northeast Tire for $2754, Jim Ransom for $4,000 (bridge line) and BB Chain for $5,283. Those to be issued soon are for salt, sand, cutting edges and fuel. Jeff said that for instance carbide is now $57/foot and will be over $100/foot soon. Don asked if the new truck will come with tire chains. Jeff said it will not, but it will come with carbide edges and cover plates on the plow. Christie did not get the personnel action requests typed up, but Jeff is requesting that two of his men get a raise; one $.50/hour, one $25/hour. Cindy said that is o.k. as long as the rates are in line with the benefits survey by Local Government Center. The selectmen voted in the affirmative to allow the raises. There are two workshops that will be hosted by Alexandria this summer. One will be on harassment and discrimination. That will be a mandatory attendance by employees of the town. The other has to do with plowing fatigue and will be open to area towns to attend. A fraud workshop is going to be held soon, hosted by TD Banknorth. The problem is that it is a 3-hour workshop and is located in Bedford. Christie said that she wrote back and said that she could not justify driving to Bedford for a short workshop. She offered Alexandria as a host for one in this area. The recycling committee is meeting on Tuesday. Bonnie asked if Doug is going to be a part of these meetings. Christie said he will be informed of them. He has said that his biggest concern is that people realize that changes may involve the addition of more people to oversee the recycling. Cindy said Doug should especially be a part of the site visits that the committee makes so he can see how other towns operate. Don asked about the criteria for the recycling committee; Christie said it has already been approved by the selectmen. Don requested that the committee appoint someone to give the selectmen an update on a regular basis. Cindy wants a warrant article ready for presentation at the 2009 town meeting. NH the Beautiful, NRRA and Corcoran Environmental are all places that can help the committee. Christie will provide this information.
Barbara Emery: Taxes are going to lien tonight. The warrant will be entered tomorrow and tax bills should go out by next Thursday. Barbara noted that she has received six foreclosure notices of late.
Don Gangemi: Don brought up the idea of selling stickers in order to get winter sand from the highway garage. This began a big discussion that resulted in the need for a work session.
Jeff Cantara: Jeff will be absent for the next three Thursdays. Spring grading is being done. During the month of June, the crew will be working at the highway garage. They will be planking the sand shed, finalizing the hookup on the fuel tank, inventorying supplies and swapping the parts room and the office. Ditching on paved roads will begin in July. Don suggested that if Jeff is going to be out for three weeks, there should be another member of his crew there to answer questions. Cindy pointed out that Jeff is only required at one meeting a month. Several said that Christie can get the answers to questions that are posed. Christie also reminded Jeff that reimbursement on the emergency repairs made to Washburn Road cannot be applied for until the grout bags are installed. Jeff said he has been waiting for the water level to go down before he does that. Jeff has been getting contacted regarding the Welton Falls Bridge and wanted an estimate on what the cost of a new bridge would be. Jeff could not give that estimate because he does not know what kind of bridge the selectmen would accept; i.e. what weight it should be rated for, kind of construction, number of lanes……Jeff would like an answer to the following question: if the town determines the type of bridge, how liable are they if something happens. Cindy suggested that the state be contacted to see what their minimum specifications would be for a new bridge.
Christie stated that the assessor has visited the wolf refuge and the explosives storage sites and no Land Use Change Taxes are due at this time because no natural setting has been disturbed. The fencing for the wolves is attached to existing trees and there are no buildings.
Items Requiring Signature:
The remaining abatement replies were signed; some were denials.
The tax warrant for the first issue was signed
Timber warrants were signed for Williams, Bleiler, Barney, Town and Hall
An intent to cut for SPNHF will be returned because no one signed it.
Old Business:
New Business:
Cindy will not be here on June 12; the meeting can be cancelled if the
other members vote to do so.
The planning board is holding a meet & greet and will have a speaker on
increasing broadband access. This will be on May 19, beginning at 5:30.
There is a meeting at the Olszak pit on Bog Road on Saturday morning to
discuss the mess at the “firing range”. A mention was made that George Whittaker should not be at that meeting or any other until he has a doctor’s release in reference to his worker’s comp claim.
Public Input:
Ed Skroback stated that he believes that if the town loses Frank, it is losing
someone who is bringing the Alexandria Police Department into the future.
Frank has written policies and procedures that are progressive and realistic.
Don explained that no one has an issue with what Frank has done, but the town
needs a full-time NH certified police chief.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made at 7:35 p.m.; seconded and passed by a
vote of 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christie Phelps, TA