The Work Session was devoted to the review of portion of the personnel policy. This will be continued at the next work session.
Deliberative Session:
Came to order at
Members Present: Bob Bacon, Peg Reilly and Cindy Williams
Others Present: Ed
Skroback, Bonnie O’Brien, Pete, Larry Stickney, Carline Stickney, George
Whittaker,
Skip
Reilly
Pledge of Allegiance
Distribution of Minutes:
August 31 and September 7
Approval of Minutes:
None
Department Heads:
Barbara Emery: The town is back on line with the
state. That means a gain of $2.50 to the
town for
each registration. Bob asked if another
appointment has to be done for Barbara to be municipal agent. Christie explained that has already been
down. It will be 2008 before any properties can be taken by the town of
nonpayment of taxes. Barbara presented
information on a wall safe for the new building that would be installed between
two of the studs in the clerk’s wall.
This would enable the treasurer to pick up deposits without having to be
in the clerk’s office after hours.
Barbara explained that it is not recommended that the treasurer, or
anyone other than the deputy, have access to the office. The selectmen do not want the safe to be in
view of the general public, so it was decided it should be installed in the
wall across the corridor from the police department. Cindy said it was her
understanding that Barbara’s salary was based on forty hours per week. From a review of the timecards, it appears
that Barbara is working only 35 hours per week.
Cindy is concerned that money was given for a deputy and that the office
is not open more hours per week. She would
like to see more hours that are convenient to people who work. Bob said that when the selectmen sat down
with Barbara they said the biggest concern was that she is available to the
people and that it needed to be a forty hour per week job. They understood she could not be open to the
public forty hours, but would like to see the office open as many hours as
possible. Peg understood that the hiring
of the deputy would allow the clerk/collector to open more hours. The deputy
was supposed to work to organize things once Gayle was no longer here; then she
was going to be trained to work the hours that Barbara couldn’t. The deputy was supposed to work the window so
Barbara could do other things in order for the office to be open forty hours.
Cindy said she does not mind supporting a deputy if the office is going to be
open more hours. She felt that hours of 10-4 do not allow for everyone to get
in to use the office. It was pointed out
that on Thursday the office is open until 7. Bob said that in defense of
Barbara, the office could be open 24/7 and somebody would find an issue with
it. Bob said he agreed with the other members that if the deputy is going to
work 15 hours per week, that’s 55 hours a week that the town is paying for and
the total number of hours the office is open is not even half of that 55. Barbara said she had been giving some
consideration to opening earlier on Tuesday as that seems to be the busier day.
Peg asked Barbara to work on a schedule. Cindy asked if both Barbara and the
deputy are going to the conference. Barbara said yes; the office is going to be
closed next Thursday. Bob asked her to
post a big notice at the transfer station. Larry Stickney asked for an
explanation of comp time that Barbara had put in for last week. Bob explained that salaried employees can
accrue 8 hours of comp time for time worked in excess of 40 to be taken at
another time.
Announcements:
September
21: Selectmen’s work session at 5; deliberative session at
September 15: Departmental budgets are due
September
20: Zoning Board-9 am; Planning Board-6
pm work session;
September 21: Town Clerk/Tax Collector Closed
September
22: Hazard Mitigation:
September 25: Newfound Lake Reg.
Assoc. 7-9
Peg asked if the conservation commission has met since March. She did not see any minutes for them in
the book. Christie will request them.
The wetlands problem needs to be forwarded to the commission for review.
Land Use, Building Permits, Purchase Orders, Other Items Requiring Signature
None
Old Business:
Classification of Roads for Building Permits
Policy Review
RA/Pl. Bd./Sel to work on updated road ordinance
RFP for Appraisal Services
New Business:
Easements/Permission for
Turnarounds: The attorney has suggested
that there are two ways to take
care of this issue; one is for the town to get permission from the property
owner bearing in mind that it could be revoked at any time. The other is to execute a written easement to
be recorded at the registry which will go along with the property. Bob would rather go with an easement similar to
the water easement currently in place with a property in town. Christie will check on summer and winter
roads.
BTLA-Roman Appeal: the BTLA has rejected Avitar’s request for a rehearing on the Roman appeal. The town will be required to reimburse the Romans, plus 6% interest from the date of payment.
Hall Appointment to Budget Committee: Cindy made a motion, seconded by Peg and approved by a vote of 3-0 to confirm Bill Hall’s appointment to the budget committee.
Comp Time: A memo was signed explaining the accrual of comp time and how it can be taken.
Planning Board Letter: The letter to the planning board explaining
driveway jurisdiction needs to have
the word “be” added to one sentence.
Windshield on Car: The windshield on the car is cracked. Christie will check with the insurance company to see if it is covered. In any case, the windshield needs to be replaced.
Mango Security: A letter was signed to Mango Security thanking them for their bid and explaining that the contract has been awarded to 1-2-3- Lock and Key.
Authorization to Attorney: The attorney has asked for authority from the selectmen to reply to questions from the planning board. Tabled until next week
MS-1: The MS-1 was signed and will be submitted to the Dept. of Revenue
Paper Container Update: The paper container has been emptied once again. The savings being realized may convert to as much as $6,000/year.
Bridge Program: Christie gave an explanation of the bridge
program procedure. It was decided that
the
Public Input
Peg
reminded the others that during the budget process the needs for the present
town hall need to be
taken into consideration.
Bonnie said that if the town
purchases a reconditioned phone system for the new town hall, they need
to make sure they get all warranties in writing. She also asked if the septic problem on
was taken care of. Peg said that she and George have inspected the ditch in
that area and it appears that there is no leaching taking place.
Ed Skroback asked the selectmen to consider expanding the number of hours allowed under comp time.
It was suggested that the town look into AAA for town car so no one using it will get stranded. Christie
will research.
Road Committee: Cindy asked Christie if she had done anything with the road committee. Christie said she was waiting to hear from Jeff regarding whether or not Dale Robie wants to be a part of it.
Perambulation: Cindy talked with Jim Larkin from
Historical Society: On December 9, there is some sort of event
sponsored by the Historical Society.
They are planning to offer hayrides and wanted to know if there is some sort of
permit necessary. Christie said the only
permit she knows of is if they want to hold a raffle. Cindy thought that might be a good time to
coordinate an Open House for the new town hall at that same time.
Skip had
several comments and questions regarding his subdivision and the conditions
placed on the
Mylar.
Cindy asked Christie for a list of the current use owners that will be receiving Land Use Change Taxes. Christie conferred with Christina Murdough from Avitar with regard to those properties that became ineligible because they placed one property in a trust and not a contiguous property. It was determined that a LUCT should not be assessed. The acreage should be changed to ad valorem, and the owners should be notified that they need to reapply when the properties are both in the same name.
Adjourment:
Motion
made, seconded and approved by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn meeting at
Respectfully submitted,
Christie Phelps
Admin. Assistant