Littleton, New Hampshire

Approved Minutes Sep 22, 2010

TOWN OF LITTLETON
SPECIAL BOARD OF SELECTMEN'S MEETING
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
3:00 PM
TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM

Present: Town Manager Chuck Connell, Chairman Ron Bolt, Vice Chairman Ed Boynton, Selectman Marghie Seymour, Executive Secretary Ceil Stubbings

Others Present: Bob O'Conner (Channel 2) Joe Lessard, (MRI) Paul McKenney (Vision Appraisal), Brien Ward, Eddy Moore, Paul Hayes (The Caledonian Record) Kayti Burt (The Courier), Barry Lunderville (WLTN)

Chairman Bolt called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM

New Business:
Approve Town Wide Assessment Values
Bolt advised the primary purpose of the meeting was for the board to approve the results of the town wide reassessment. Paul McKenney (Vision Appraisal) and Joe Lessard (MRI) were on hand to provide information of the reassessment to the board. Both provided detailed information on the overall assessed value. McKenney reported that Vision Appraisals held 334 appointments with taxpayers regarding questions pertaining to their properties. The 334 appointments represent 10% of taxpayers who showed concern for the assessed values of their properties. McKenna reported 624 letters were going to be sent out because of some changes made to the properties. The letters will go out two days after the value is approved. McKenna said the overall median is 97% of the assessed ratio. Eddy Moore stated that he went in for an appointment and he ran up against a situation where the person he talked to admitted they did not know what they were talking about. McKenna advised Moore that there is an abatement process he can use if he disagrees with his assessed values. Moore responded by saying that it is a very poor system because he could not apply for abatement until after he had paid the tax bill. Wes Hicks said he had the same problem as Moore had experienced. Ed Boynton said that everyone was assuming the board would accept the new assessed value and asked what happens if we reject this. Joe Lessard said the DRA would come and talk to you about it after they have spot-checked various things. If the town does not accept it they would then contact the BTLA and hold a hearing. The BTLA had the final answer. Bolt told Boynton the town would also have to borrow to pay the bills. Brien Ward then provided another assessment he received from the DRA. Ward said the town had lost about 13% of the equalized valuation. Ward told the board that he thinks the board should sit down with the DRA and compare the numbers before they accept them. Ward also pointed out that the board still did not have the final utilities numbers and how they should have all of the correct information before making any decision. Bolt asked for a motion to approve the total assessed amount of $745,128,900. Seymour said she really does not understand this and would like to take more time. Boynton said his concern was in not knowing the number or the amounts of the abatements that would result from the reassessment. Bolt said he was totally in favor of approving the amount. After more discussion regarding the consequences of not approving the assessed amount Seymour made the motion to approve the new total assessed value of $745,128,900. Bolt seconded the motion. The motion passed 2-1 with Ed Boynton's vote being a no vote.

Old Business:
Economic Development Task Force
Bolt explained the development of a task force was first presented at a school board meeting. The school board walked away from this proposal because they felt this was not an area of their expertise. Bolt said that he has since been informed that the Chamber is in the process of developing a task force. Therefore he suggested the initiative be dropped. Ed Boynton made the motion to drop the initiative. Seymour seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Revisit Police Department Reorganization
Bolt said the proposal was to establish a position and not create a new hiring within the existing work force. This established position would be known as the captain. There were various duties the captain would assume. The captain would be a salaried employee. Bolt went on to say there would be some net savings in the total payroll for the department. Ed Boynton brought up the warrant article from a few years ago that was rejected for a second in command position. Boynton said he believes that we have to go back to the voters and ask for that to be put back in. Connell said the warrant article was to create a new position and hire for that position. Connell said they were making a recommendation of an entirely different nature. We are not increasing the force. We are not creating another deputy chief we are creating a captain. Connell said they anticipate a savings from $2,625 to as much as $14,000. Chief Smith stated that they had a command structure since 1960 and now they are just reestablishing it. Boynton said another concern of his was with the union. Connell said the union is aware of this and very supportive. Boynton said he wanted that in writing along with a written opinion from Mike Elwell. Seymour said that her thoughts on this from the very beginning are that Chief Smith is the department head and he should know what he needs. Seymour did not think this should be a decision made by the selectmen. The town manager and the department head should make this type of decision. After further discussion the board agreed to review this again in two weeks. Bolt asked for a motion to adjourn. Boynton made the motion to adjourn, Seymour seconded. The motion passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 4:25 PM.

Respectfully submitted
Ceil Stubbings

The Town of Littleton prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital or family status. The Town of Littleton is an equal opportunity employer.

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