Members Present: Bob Bacon, Peg Reilly and Cindy Williams
Others Present: Carol
Panaggio, Skip Reilly, Ed Skroback, Carleen Stickney,
Larry
Stickney, Jeff Cantara, Lisa Cantara, Christie Phelps, Merry
Ruggirello,
The Work Session came to order at
Christie was asked to find out who owns the property between
Morrison’s pit and Margaret Bucklin’s property on
Personnel
Policy:
The
selectmen agreed that sections 1 and 4 will be done by Peg; sections 2 and 3-8
will be done by Cindy;
Sections 9-17 will be done by Bob. Each
selectman is
expected to be review a
quarter of their allotted work each week.
Christie will e-mail
a
copy of the personnel policy to everyone so they can work on it.
Bob suggested one change that may
need to be made is to require emergency workers to live
within the school district.
Peg said that one employee has asked about compensation in lieu of health
insurance benefits.
Christie checked with towns in the same population group as
offer a buyout on insurance. These range from $1,000 to the single person
premium.
allows a buyout as well, but you must show proof of alternate insurance before
you can opt out.
Questions were asked about what if a person opts out and then decides they do
want insurance. Peg
said they should sign a statement saying they do not want insurance. Anyone who wants into the program, other than
a new employee, must wait until the anniversary date for the town’s insurance,
which is January 1. Peg asked if the town budgets for the employee that does
not currently use the
insurance in case that person leaves and someone comes in that does want
insurance. Christie said they do not at
the current time. Peg suggested that an
amount be carried just in case of a change in personnel. Bob agreed.
The buyout would be considered income and taxes would be taken out. The payment should not be made until the end
of the year in case the employee leaves part way through the year, at which
time the buyout would be prorated.
Health insurance is pre-tax, retirement is post-tax. Peg would like to see a welcome page on the
personnel manual. She would also like
the employees to be provided with a list of holidays at the beginning of each
year. Peg found an anti-harassment
policy in the town’s policy book. She felt it should be taken out of there and
incorporated into the personnel policy instead.
Bob suggested that proposed modifications be brought to the meeting as a separate item rather than being changed on the personnel policy itself until all have voted on it.
Comp Time: Cindy brought up the issue of comp time because Barbara put in for some last week. Cindy said Barbara is only working 35 hours and is supposed to be working 40. Bob said comp time is only given if you accrue time over 40 hours. Christie said there have been weeks where Barbara worked in excess of 40 hours. Bob said there are other weeks where she worked less than 40 hours and that eats up comp time automatically. Christie suggested that the selectmen would have to be the ones to discuss the subject with Barbara. Bob said Barbara had been told she doesn’t have to be open 40 hours per week to the public, but the selectmen wanted her working 40 hours per week. It states it in the employment letter. Cindy said right now the posted hours are 27. Bob said there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes so that you can’t have the doors open all the time. Cindy said there is a deputy that can cover. Cindy is of the opinion that between her (Barbara’s) salary and the deputy’s salary, that office should be open 40 hours per week. That’s why she has a deputy, to cover when she needs to do other things. Bob said he thought the original intent of the deputy was to cover when she (Barbara) wasn’t here and at tax time when it gets extremely busy. He didn’t think it was supposed to be an every week thing. Peg said it was put in at first to help organize the office after Gayle was no longer here and to train to take over when Barbara would not be in. Bob said the policy says you cannot accrue any more than 8 hours of comp time then you have to use some of it before adding more. If she is not working more than 40 hours per week, she cannot be accruing comp time. Peg reminded the other selectmen that they do not have much control over that department. Cindy said there could be a warrant article that state what hours the office would be open. Bob asked Christie to type a letter to all department heads regarding comp time. Christie asked if the timecard should be changed from comp time to vacation time. Bob did not feel the card could be changed without the employee’s authorization. Bob asked Christie to check with LGC on the matter. The selectmen may discuss this with Barbara as she meets with them next week.
Budget Schedule:
Barbara has asked to reschedule her
meeting with the selectmen as she will be at a conference on October 12. She will be moved to October 5 at
Police Cruiser:
The new
police chief has asked to be able to take one of the cruisers home. Bob suggested that it would
depend on the final location
of his new residence.
Health Officer:
supplied a paid receipt for the pumping, but when Peg called the company, the
wife had no record of the work. She was
going to check with her husband to see if her husband just didn’t give her the
paperwork. Peg will call her again tomorrow to find out how many gallons were
pumped. Then Peg said she would go back
to see if the area is still saturated.
Peg believed that DES has already been to the site for an inspection due
to e-coli levels.
Building Permits:
Cindy asked
that the property files be reviewed, making sure that an Approval for Operation
is
present for septic systems.
This can be done at the same time the appraisers are updating the file for
new buildings, etc.
Secretary’s Time:
Bob said that Ernie brought up a
concern about the use of Cat’s time between the selectmen’s and
police department’s offices. Christie
explained that the issue has been settled.
Cat will work for the selectmen’s office from 8-12 Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday; she will work for the police department from 12-4 on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday. If the chief
requires her assistance on Monday or Friday, it will be up to him to contact
her and see if she is available.
Deliberative Session
The session came to order at
The Pledge of Allegiance was given.
There are no minutes to either distribute or approve this evening.
Department Heads:
Jeff Cantara-Road Agent:
Someone from EPA stopped by this week looking at the fuel tanks. Jeff is
waiting for a final report from the inspector.
Bob asked if this was state or federal; Jeff said it is federal. The inspector said that he highly approves of
the plan to move the fuel storage to the new garage.
GMI next week about the paving.
Flood damage to date is
approximately $37,000; the town has received $85,000 to date.
New Town Hall: Cindy asked for Jeff to
talk with GMI and Chris at the job site to discuss paving.
Hazard Mitigation Grant: Richard Verville acknowledged that George’s phone call was enough to be considered the town’s intent to file for funds.
P.U.C.: Jeff received a
letter from the Public Utilities Commission issuing a fine or the choice of
having a training class. This is in
response to the town digging up a wire while performing ditch repairs on
Trucks: There are more
repairs to be made to the one ton. The
selectmen gave approval for Jeff to redo
the sander on one of the trucks that had been put off from the beginning of the
year.
Highway Committee: Cindy asked Jeff if he is going to have a meeting with the highway committee before going through the budget process. The members are Bob Ramsey and Larry Sharp. Cindy suggested that Mr. Stickney be asked to be a member. Jeff said he is going to contact Dale Robie to see if he would be as well.
Roadside Mowing: Cindy asked
Jeff if he is going to include money for this to be done next year. Jeff said it can be a good winter project for
the crew and it will be done, assisted by the use of
Bridges: Cindy asked if Jeff
had any idea which bridge he would choose as the priority for the bridge
program. Jeff said the worst one on the
list is the
New Town Hall:
Cindy asked Christie to speak with
Chris Cass about the location of the copier as it needs a phone line.
There will be another construction meeting on the 20th at
and Key. The well has been tested;
however, the results are not back yet. It appears that the recovery rate is
sufficient to run the new building, but there is a need for a new submersible
pump. Mike at
Announcements:
Selectmen’s
Meeting: September 14 at
Town Clerk back on line with State DMV as of today
September
8: CIP Committee at
September 15: Departmental Budgets are due to Selectmen’s Office
September 13: Joint Loss Management Committee:
September
25: Newfound
September
13: Zoning at
Land Use, etc.:
None
Old Business:
All items being worked on with the
exception of “Forwarding Complaint to NHDES”. DES explained
that they do not accept anonymous complaints. The complaint should be turned
over to the Conservation Commission for review.
If the commission feels it is warranted, they can submit a written
complaint to NHDES.
New Business:
Bonnie Fletcher asked for six of the coat hooks that are in the
selectmen’s office for use in the
North Road Schoolhouse in
Letter to Planning Board: Christie said she needs help with what this letter is supposed to explain.
The selectmen would like the
planning board to reconsider their vote on Mr. Reilly’s refund and provide the
planning board with an explanation of why the selectmen decided to refund the
fee. The selectmen also need to inform
the planning board of their decision to have the road agent approve driveway
permits and under what circumstances that will happen. Driveways on
Admin. Money: The selectmen
voted to approve a disbursement of $3,500 to the road agent for his
administrative work with regard to the flood project this year. It was considered
to be above and beyond the scope of his normal duties. The amount to be paid to the road agent is
the amount approved by FEMA ad administrative money.
Security System, Town Hall:
The security system contract was awarded to
The price is approx. $4800.
RFP for Appraisal Services: Christie
asked the selectmen to review the RFP prior to next week so
it can be discussed.
Police Chief: The employment
agreement has been received back from Frank Hinkle. The background
information has been turned over to Ernie Parmenter. NH Police Standards and Training has
requested to perform the background check on Mr. Hinkle.
Public Input:
Larry Stickney: Did get his permit to burn. Christie to find out how long someone should
have to wait
for a permit. Bob asked for closed session for next week. What are removal
options? Fire Warden said he has to do visuals which holds up the permit. Mr. Stickney said he did not have to have a
visual.
Carol Panaggio: Has the town heard from the AMC lodge yet
with regard to the road? Bob said that
will be up for discussion later on in the year.
Adjournment: Cindy made a motion to adjourn at 7:30; Peg seconded, vote 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christie Phelps, Admin. Assistant