Alexandria Board of Selectmen

March 21, 2006

Members Present:     Robert Bacon, Peg Reilly and Cindy Williams

Others Present:          Carleen Stickney, Larry Stickney, Skip Reilly, Rob Duquette, Donna Roy, Bob Ramsey, Carol Panaggio, Maggie LaBerge, Barry Walker, Merry Ruggirello, Sue Cheney, Michelle Cheney, Bonnie O’Brien, Bob Fellows, Janet Towse, Dennis Ford and Christie Phelps

Pledge of Allegiance:

            Led by Barry Walker

Other:

Peg Reilly made a motion to name Bob Bacon as Chairman of the Select board.  The motion was seconded by Cindy Williams and passed by a vote of 3-0.

Approval of Minutes:

            Tabled until next week

Distribution of Minutes:

            March 14, 2006

Public Input:

            Bob Bacon welcomed Cindy to the board.

Barry Walker asked if the Brackley Shaw and Bonnette, Page & Stone have been notified about the
building vote at town meeting.  Cindy said that she notified them that evening.  Barry suggested that the interest rate on the loan be locked in at this time.  Cindy said she is hoping that the bids will come in at a level that will not require any borrowing.  Barry expressed a concern about rising interest rates.  Bob stated that he felt interest rates would rise no more than ½%. 

Christie asked what banks the selectmen would like to solicit for interest rates on the loader loan.  Bob said that Cat Financing wants to give a quote, and he would like Northway and the two banks in Bristol to be contacted.  The length of the loan was determined to be three years.

Maggie asked what the plan is for the building.  Cindy said that it will take two months for the plans and approximately six months for construction. 

Skip Reilly thanked Barry Walker for the job he did last year as a member of the board of selectmen.  Skip also congratulated Cindy on her election and Bob on being selected as chairman. 

Cindy asked if Brackley should be asked to come in for a meeting. Bob suggested that Brackley be allowed to work for a month and then ask him to come in for an update.

Department Heads:

Bob stated that department heads are being asked to come in once a month to report rather than once
a week.  During the work session, department heads were directed to run their particular areas and come to the selectmen if they have a problem they can’t solve.  Additionally, if anyone has a problem with a department, there are complaint forms that can be filled out in the selectmen’s office.  The public is asked to first go to the department head with any complaint.  If they do not get a response, then the selectmen should be contacted.  Maggie suggested that department heads keep a log of activity. 

Committee Reports:

Bob suggested that these be done only once a month as well.  Bob invited a member of the planning board to speak, and Maggie said she would do that.  Maggie stated the general meeting of the planning board is the 3^rd Wednesday of every month. She would like to update the selectmen to following Tuesday.  The planning board is working on several ordinances to be submitted to the selectmen for review and approval.  If anyone is interested in serving on the capital improvement plan committee, they should submit a letter of interest to the planning board. Melanie Markiewicz, an accountant, has agreed to be on the committee.  There are also openings on the gravel, road access and master plan committees. 

Bob said that Barry has asked to be on the building committee; he was requested to submit a letter of interest to the selectmen.  Bob stated that the board does not have a problem with Barry serving, especially since he put in so much work on the building presentation and it is felt that it resulted in the passage of the article. 

Skip Reilly asked if the warrant article regarding zoning that was passed at town meeting was a study.  Maggie said that it was.  Cindy looked at the article, and it does say that an ordinance will be put forth for approval at the next town meeting, not a study.  The ordinance will appear on the Tuesday ballot for voting purposes; it will not be a Thursday warrant article.

Cindy expressed a desire to work with the planning board; Peg would like to remain with the budget committee. 

            Ex-officio members to the building and master plan committees will be determined later.

Announcements:

            Selectmen’s Workshop & Meeting on March 28 at 4:30 & 6:00 p.m. respectively

            Conservation Commission Meeting on March 22 at 6:00 p.m.

            Planning Board Work Session on April 5 at 6:00 p.m.

            Planning Board Meeting on April 19 at 7:00 p.m.

            Results from the town meeting and the elections are posted on the website.

Land Use, Building Permits, Purchase Orders:

            A building permit was approved for Keith Braley on Kirk Pasture Road

New Business:

New signature sheets were signed for the Banknorth and Northway Bank with Cindy being added
            as a signatory.

A memo is being sent to the Trustees of the Trust Funds requesting the $36,245 from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve toward the purchase of the loader as passed at town meeting.

A letter is being sent to the health officer regarding two complaints that were received at the selectmen’s office.

The letter acknowledging the town’s participation in the Lakes Region Hazardous Waste Day was signed and will be sent with a check.

Contracts with the NH Humane Society, Bristol Ambulance Service, Avitar Associates and Cartographic
Associates were signed. Cartographic will no longer be doing the 911 maps for the town; the state will
do them at no charge. Peg stated she signed the ambulance contract under protest.  Bob stated that the
selectmen are requesting a meeting with the Tapply Thompson Community Center director and board of directors regarding the differing statements that have been made as to whether or not Alexandria children will be allowed use of the center if the full appropriation is not paid. Barry asked that the town’s representative to the community center be one that the selectmen have actually appointed.

            Christie was asked to post a notice on the website listing the positions that are open within the town
            at this point.

            A settlement agreement was signed with Roger Bedard as a result of a Land Use Change Tax that was
            prematurely issued. 

Christie was asked to write a letter to the Bristol Fire Department requesting information on the ambulance program such as the procedure for backup coverage; do they utilize Bridgewater?  What is the amount of uncollected versus uncollectible? What is the amount of revenue actually generated in Alexandria?

            Judy Kraemer asked to borrow the slide projector, screen and laptop for a presentation to the garden
            club. The request was approved. 

The fire department has requested their appropriation for the year.  Bob recommended that the fire
department be paid in quarterly payments.  Each quarterly payment will be issued only after receipt of
information showing how the previous payment was expended.  Peg and Cindy agreed with Bob’s recommendation.  Christie will compose a letter to the fire department for the selectmen’s signature.

Cindy has resigned from the Trustee of Trust Funds and Cemetery Trustee.  The selectmen are
required to appoint a replacement, and a notice will be posted at the town hall, transfer station and the
website.

Bonnie O’Brien asked if mutual aid will be reinstated with Bristol now that Alexandria has a new police chief. Bob stated that the interim chief is working on that issue.

Bob stated there was an issue with the ballot; the names are supposed to be in alphabetical order, and they were not with regard to the Town Clerk/Tax Collector position.  The Secretary of State said that the outcome did not appear to be affected by the error and there should not be any problem.

Barry will finish composition of the letter to be sent to the police chief search committee members.

Peg made a motion to amend the purchase order policy to allow expenditures of up to $500 without the selectmen’s vote and signature. Cindy seconded the motion, and it was passed by a vote of 3-0.

Mr. Fellows was in to ask if there is any update on the width of Sye Ali Road. Bob stated that the town is drafting a procedure for the classification of Class V and Class VI roads.  Once the specifications are received, Bob will recommend that a surveyor be hired to stake out the road and record it on the deeds.  Mr. Fellows said that the south side is already surveyed, so it shouldn’t be a hard thing to do.  Mr. Stickney had previously offered to assist with research on the roads, and he agreed again tonight to do that.  He will contact NHDOT to see what information they have.

Christie was directed to contact Bill Gabler at the Grafton County Commissioners Office to determine the availability of inmate workers to paint the town hall.  Parkhurst had offered the paint, and they need to be contacted to see if the offer is still available. Michelle Cheney suggested stain rather than paint.

            The health officer issue will be determined next week.

Public Input:

            Bonnie O’Brien wanted to state that the cards used at town meeting to indicate yea or nay worked well.
            Merry Ruggirello asked for people to speak up so they can be heard.

Adjournment:

            Peg made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:02; Cindy seconded the motion and it was passed by
            a vote of 3-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Christie Phelps

Admin. Assistant