Alexandria Selectmen’s Meeting

February 1, 2007

Members Present: Peg Reilly, Cindy Williams and Dennis Manchester

Work Session:

Todd Westfall and Steve Favorite came to see the selectmen regarding the increasing school budget. They encouraged the selectmen and any other members of the community to attend the deliberative session on February 9. The men provided a number of handouts regarding the budget and a website address, newfoundsconcerns.com, for people to get more information. There is money requested to change the software that keeps student records. Mr. Westfall indicated that this is the #1 software in the country for the purpose, and he is not sure why they want to change it. There is another IT position being requested; there are already three full-time people in this area. The SAU office has fifteen employees. Approximately $650,000 has been requested for the technology budget this year. The Bow School District, who has two hundred more students than Newfound, has a budget request of $280,000 for technology. Bow also has twice as many computers as Newfound and uses a program called Thin Client, where one super fast computer is purchase and the older computers are plugged into it in order to speed them up. It is felt that the budget committee members are not researching the items that are presented to them for inclusion in the budget. Mr. Westfall did point out that Newfound teachers earn below the average for the surrounding area. The cost of educating a student is fast approaching $14,000. Steve Favorite said that the budget was 9.9 million in 1997; if the articles pass this year, the budget will be twenty million. He said the business manager has not been responsive to requests for information. In the elementary school there are some classes with fourteen students and there is a teacher and an aide in that classroom. In closing, the men said that there are many concerns and the smaller towns need to encourage their residents to go to the deliberative session.

At 5:30 Cindy made a motion to go into nonpublic session for personnel issues; Dennis seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Dennis-aye; Cindy-aye, Peg-aye. At 6:00 p.m., the selectmen voted 3-0 to come out of nonpublic session and proceed with the regular meeting.

Deliberative Session:

Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Maggie LaBerge

Distribution of Minutes: None

Approval of Minutes: Cindy needs the minutes of January 18 before they can be approved.

Peg mentioned that during the work session two men had come to speak about the school budget; one of them a selectman for Bristol. They are concerned about school costs and the presence of slush funds. Peg encouraged everyone to call two friends to go to the deliberative session next Friday. Dennis pointed out that voters should be aware that the default budget will actually cost more than the proposed budget.

Department Heads:

Jeff Cantara: Culvert pipes are beginning to freeze up. The crew will be checking them every day. Peg brought up the plow policy and pointed out some typos that are in it. She asked that the town not identify a specific vendor with regard to the salt. The selectmen will review the policy once again before they sign it into effect. Christie will check with LGC to find out the procedure of making plowing across the road an enforceable procedure. Jeff said that Construx never showed up to look at the icing problem. Christie called and left him a message to find out why, but he has not called back. It was suggested that another company be called to look at the problem and offer some suggestions. We should also check into whether or not this might be an insurance claim. Christie needs to look at specifications for building project. Jeff gave the selectmen warranty figures for the new trucks. There is a $50 deductible on both plans. One is for five years; one for six year; both have mileage limits. A letter of administrative completeness was received on the highway culvert project. Within thirty days, DES is supposed to issue a letter approving or denying the project. Jeff said the next issue he wanted to talk about was as a private citizen, not a road agent. It was regarding the shooting area on Bog Road. Discussion followed and it was determined that the town should not get involved with this area except in following up on complaints.

Conservation Commission: Christie read from the minutes of the commission’s last meeting as Kate Barrett was not present. The commission is still looking for people to serve on the board. Right now there are four members and one ex-officio. There is a concern that they are not receiving their correspondence from DES. They will be checking into that. A representative from NHDES Wetlands Bureau is meeting with the board on March 5. Other town officials are welcome to attend. The commission is following progress on the Shackett issue. Kate attended a land resource management workshop on January 12. Additional ones will be held on February 15 and March 21. These workshops are free. The meetings will begin at 6:30 rather than 6:00.

Announcements:

All announcements are posted in the lobby and on the February calendar.

Signature Items:

A purchase order for $674.45 for E.W. Sleeper was signed. It was a pump and cable assembly. Jeff again asked for the selectmen to change the purchase order requirement to $1,000 for the highway department because of the expense of the parts.

A letter was signed to the Trustees of the Trust Funds. The furnace project was supposed to include a transfer from the trust funds in the amount of $4,000. That transfer had yet to be requested.

Follow ups:

Generator: Still waiting for pricing from contractor. There may be a grant available for the switches, wiring, pad, etc. You cannot, however, do the work first and then apply for the grant. Also, in order to apply for the grant, the town’s emergency plan must be updated. The town will be receiving a CD showing the format the plan has to be in. George said that he is working on the plan, but is very busy with pandemic training. Christie told him that once the CD is here, perhaps there are areas where other departments can help with the emergency plan. A suggestion was made that the town look into alternate fuels for the generator as there are not many vendors in the area that work on propane equipment. Christie explained that the town is on automatic delivery.

Newfound selectmen will be meeting on February 28 at 6:00 p.m. That meeting has now been confirmed and other interested town officials are welcome to attend.

Phone & cable service for the health officer has been installed and is operational.

Meeting with Doug Paterson and NRRA is on for February 22 during the work session. The topic of discussion will be additional recycling programs that the town may be able to implement.

The final building cost figures have not yet been received.

Old Business:

Ongoing

New Business:

Review of warrant article positioning. Christie talked with Bob Anderson at the NH Department of Revenue. There are several articles that must be positioned first on the warrant. Those have to do with longer term financing, leasing, etc. Other than that, it does not matter where they are in line. Peg would like to see the planning board warrant article moved forward as more people will be present to vote on it. She suggested that #22 become #16 or 17. There is the possibility of one more petitioned warrant article being presented before the deadline. Bill Hall said the article on Lynn Avenue should state it is a private road, not a Class VI road. It can’t be changed because it is a petitioned warrant article and must appear as presented to the town. It can be noted from the floor of town meeting that it is private. Petitioned warrant articles need to state that they are petitioned. The full text of the ordinances and road specifications are available for public review. The full text will not appear in the warrant articles. Every attempt will be made to get them out to the public through posting on the website, distribution at the transfer station and public hearings and at the town meeting. With regard to the police cruiser purchase, the chief does not care whether it is leased or purchased outright. If it is a lease, there has to be an escape clause. A lease with an escape clause cannot use capital reserve funds. The budget committee will be meeting next week and will decide what to do with their recommendation on the lease article. A discussion was held on whether or not the selectmen should support the capital reserve warrant articles. It was decided to leave it as is. Bill Hall recommended increasing the article for the highway equipment capital reserve because of the cost of highway equipment.

Review of Profit & Loss for January: Peg said she had looked at it and other departments should review their expenditure. If they have any questions, they should contact Christie.

Public Input:

Skip Reilly brought up the subject of there not being a sink in the cell in the police department. He is concerned about a civil action suit for no access to water. Frank Hinkle said that the toilet that was purchased was not a toilet/sink combination. To install sink now would not allow for proper operation of the toilet. Maggie suggested that water be purchased by the case and anyone in the cell could be handed a bottle if they are thirsty. Skip is concerned about basic hygiene, being able to wash your hands after you use the toilet. Someone else suggested that a bottle of Purell be supplied. Skip said the builder should be responsible for this issue. Ed Skroback and Skip both said that discussions were held during the building meetings about a combination toilet and sink. Cindy said that she did not want a holding cell because of the lack of specifications for one. She checked with several agencies trying to get specifications. She did not remember discussions about a sink until after the toilet unit was installed. Frank said that the standards are this: they must have access to a toilet, to a sink and to water to drink. The easiest way to solve that is to have a combo unit in the cell. Frank said he could live with things as they are, if necessary. Ed said the architect wrote down notes on a combo unit during one of the meetings. Bill Hall suggested that a combination unit be bought and that the contractor pay for it. Frank will check with the Laconia unit to see if they have combination units.

Items left to be completed on the new building include: rollup window on clerk’s office, bed in cell, countertop in the police department, gutter at rear entrance, locks on cell door, lock on evidence door, keypad in police station and the exit door in the clerk’s office is letting in a lot of cold air.

A Payment in Lieu of Taxes has been received from AMC. The amount was $3,000.

A residence complained about the driveways on Fowler River Road that belonged to Boston Wynshield. Jeff said that the driveways have been approved and there really is nothing the town can do. Jeff suggested asking the owner to pay for a blind drive sign.

The assessing contract will most likely be given to Avitar Associates. Some people in the audience were against the choice and explained the various issues they have had with Avitar. A list will be compiled and the issues will be brought up during a pre-signing meeting with Avitar. Carol Panaggio said they have been to her house every year. Cindy said that the state has checked Avitar’s work and has not found significant problems with their work. The town now sends a letter to property owners any time there is a change in the value. John Emery’s assessment was determined without an interior inspection. He was home when Avitar drove into the driveway and just looked at the buildings from the car. They never knocked on the door to see if anyone was home. Ed Skroback said he has not received resolution to his issues and has gone to BTLA. Sue Cheney said Avitar did make an interior inspection of her house and assessed her for two bathrooms when she has only one.
Larry Stickney has a hunting camp with no electric or water and Avitar billed him for a two bedroom ranch with a bathroom.

Water Cooler: Carol Panaggio had requested a water cooler be placed in the town hall. Because there are paper cups and a faucet in the kitchen, it was decided a cooler is not needed. Someone else suggested a vending machine. Christie said there is no room for a vending machine.

Deadline for Signing Up for Office: Friday at 5:00 is the deadline.

Motion made, seconded and passed by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Christie Phelps, Admin. Assistant