Littleton, New Hampshire

Approved Minutes Mar 16, 2011

TOWN OF LITTLETON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011
5:00 PM
COMMUNITY CENTER HEALD ROOM

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

Others Present: Alison Bolt, Jerry Sorlucco, Paul Vialle (WLTN), Tom Alt, Ed Boynton, Eddy Moore, Jim Alden, Chad Stearns, Michelle Soares, Bill Latulip, Sherri Latulip, Captain Chris Tyler, Linda Massimilla, Dan Cullen, Don Merrow, Jackie King, Milt Bratz, Art Tighe, Art McGrath (The Courier), Heidi Hurley, Tony Ilacqua, Karen Noyes, Jim Daly, Bruce Hadlock, Ed Hennessey, Bob O’Conner (Channel 2), Robert Blechl (The Caledonian), Herb Lahout, Ed Boynton

Bolt called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes:

Feedback from Last Meeting:
Bolt introduced the newly elected selectman Mike Gilman. This will be Mike’s first meeting and most likely Connell’s last. The board had an organizational meeting on Monday and changed the time of the meetings to 5:00 PM to accommodate work schedules. The BOS assigned focus areas for each of them to work on. They are continuing the research of changing the fiscal year and are finding that it is complicated and a low priority on the list. At the last meeting there was concern expressed with the water at the riverside of the town building. Since the last meeting they had special meetings on the 4th and the 9th. Bolt said that during Monday’s meeting Mike Gilman made a suggestion that the board not allow personal attacks or exchanges because it causes problems. Gilman said this is not the venue for insults and he thinks they would have more participation if there were not so much conflict. Bolt announced the upcoming hearing in Grafton County Superior Court for Edick versus the Zoning Board is scheduled for April 4th at 9:00 AM. The public hearing they were talking about regarding the ordinances will probably on the 20th of April. The next meeting is on April 6th and will be at the Opera House. That meeting is when they will make appointments to the boards and committees.

Bolt said a lot of people are here because they have thoughts and concerns with the budget cuts. Bolt provided a rational explanation. Many of the meetings it was just Marghie and him. Ed had medical concerns that kept him away from the meetings. Starting with the deliberative session and then the Town Meeting it was clear there was a desire to lower the tax rate. When you look at it almost everything that involved money did not pass. Seven out of ten social service articles failed. If it didn’t’ cost anything people were for it. The second thing is we could not make the cuts as suggested in Ward’s warrant. The numbers were flawed. There was language in the amendment that they would save $85,000 by getting rid of the town manager. That failed to recognize the town manager had a severance package. There were a lot of positions targeted. It became very difficult to honor the amendment. We had to look at priorities. Every town function has value and some things are essential. There was the concern that everybody needed to share in the pain that this was going to cause. We did not want to focus on public safety because that is our number one priority. They looked at the various department structures. There is not a lot of classic middle management in these departments in any event. The other thing that we have is this fabulous surplus. Bolt said no matter where the money is you can’t spend it without an appropriation. The undesignated fund balance is a valuable tool to the town of Littleton. The state of Littleton's resources should have at least a million set aside in that fund balance for emergencies. Bolt had to tell the DRA that we were not saving the amount of money we should be saving. Bolt said that $63,000 was voted on by warrant articles for the Town's computer system and the Fire Department's emergency generator to pay out of this fund balance. There have been a lot of talks about labor contracts that are good through the year 2013. There is no reason the union has to come to the table, never the less we will try to reopen negotiations. The first round of cuts $560,000 was announced on the 9th of March and was agreed to unanimously by the BOS. When we get to the town manager’s report he will report the problems with the cuts.



Appointments: Maximum time per appointment is 15 minutes
Tony Ilacqua – Transfer Station
Tony Ilacqua provided a detailed presentation on why the Transfer Station should not be privatized. Bruce Hadlock suggested it might be wise to take a vote to hold a hearing before any changes were made to the transfer station. It would require a vote of you here today. Mike Gilman said he would go along with that. Seymour asked if they were going to have a hearing on every department they were making cuts to. Gilman made the motion to hold a hearing regarding the privatization of the Transfer Station. Seymour seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.

Jim Alden – Littleton Chamber of Commerce
Alden said they are seeking a reason why their entire appropriation was cut. The other cuts were made by a percentage. That was not the case for us it was our entire appropriation. Littleton receives revenue every year in meals and rooms tax. He asks they give this further consideration for all of the other cuts. Gilmore said he was not privy to the decision-making or anything else. When he ran for the office his position was he would support on what the intent of Article 16 was and he still does. He does not know why there was not serious consideration there. The BOS has the power to eliminate positions. Seymour said the decision was talked about in a nonpublic session and she is not prepared to talk about this now. Gilman said that he has not been involved from the beginning. Bolt said that public safety is number one in his view and he was sorry to say the chamber is not a municipal organization. Jim Alden said he still feels it deserves the discussion. There is an RSA that addresses what can be brought into a nonpublic organization and he is struggling why the cut came in a non-public session. Bolt said he believed they talked about these cuts in both public and nonpublic. Jerry Sorlucco said the Ward amendment took away the budget process and it was a terrible decision. The selectmen are responsible to live by that budget. Herb Lahout said he has been in retail his entire life and he agrees with Chairman Bolt that the cuts have to be made. Lahout said he has a feeling Bolt has no heart for these cuts. If he can’t make the cuts then he should step down from his position.

Bryan Hadlock was speaking for the Parks and Recreation Department hoping the board can open up another public hearing. Hadlock said if they shut down the summer program there will be no supervision at the parks. Gilman made the motion the Board accommodate the Parks & Recreation Department with a public hearing. Hadlock said the public hearing would be at their monthly meeting. Gilman said again having been new to this he would like to have public input. There is a lot at stake here. Hadlock said their next meeting is on April 7th at the High School Cafeteria. Seymour seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.

Carl Hilgenberg – Town Owned Property – CANCELLED will reschedule at a later date.

Citizen’s Concerns:
Bolt said the board has received three correspondences to the select board that all have to do with the basic subject of the phone calls and radio advertisements. Bryan Hadlock told Bolt he had to identify who they were from. Bolt said the correspondence was from a Barbara Perlowski and it was concerning the phone calls being described as unethical. The second one is from Louise Smith again stating the phone calls were unethical. The phone calls were asking the voter to vote against something that was approved. The third letter was from Mike and Jeanne Dickerman who wanted to register a formal complaint against Ed Boynton. They encouraged the BOS to conduct a full investigation. Gilman said Boynton was no longer selectman so there is no action to take. Seymour agreed with Gilman and asked what were they going to do take Boynton out and tar and feather him. Boynton said that when they adopted the ethics code he was very explicit that if there was something he felt strongly about he would not honor the code of ethics because he will not be muzzled to not speak out on anything he feels strongly about.

Jim Alden said he has never seen anything like this before. Bolt said this was something to address. Alden said traditionally citizen’s concerns are when someone comes to the board. Bolt said that he considers an email a concern. Bolt said it is a concern because someone asked for an investigation. Alden asked why this was being brought up to the extent of questioning someone’s character. Bolt said the Board has been asked to take a position on this. Alden asked why it isn’t being raised by the citizens and not the chairman of the board. Bolt they have sent a formal letter to the board. Bryan Hadlock said that email in general is not a legal means of communication

Bruce Hadlock said the cuts for the parks, library and the chamber should be a 9% figure. Hadlock told Bolt he was not looking at everybody on an equal basis and that it should not be a decision made on your own personal opinions. It should be on the basis of how the people voted. Jeannie Dickerman said that she understands what Hadlock was saying but there are some things the library needs more than other things and that is public safety.

Spotlight on Departments:
Town Meeting 2011 Results
Bolt advised there were four zoning ordinances passed, The Water & Light Article passed, all four revenue enhancements failed and three lease arrangements were all agreed to. The backup generator and the town office computers and bobcat vehicle for the transfer station passed. The 4th of July fireworks failed. The authority to sell and acquire property was rescinded. If there is a tax lien or deed we have to wait until the following March. The elimination of the police captain failed. Only three of the social service articles passed.

Town Manager’s Report:
Redington Street Bridge
Connell advised the Redington Street Bridge will close around April 1st. A definite date has not been set but they will use every venue possible to let everybody know when the bridge is going to close.

The river view level at the Town Building has leaks coming in from the roof and the streets. The second point is the basement level has always had water. There are two proposals to alleviate the problem. They should have quotes sometime next week. Connell thanked the people of Littleton for giving him the opportunity to be a part of the Town.

Old Business:
The date for the Public Hearing regarding amended ordinances has been delayed.

New Business:
Bolt advised Committee Appointments would be made at the April 6th meeting. The positions are posted on the website. Bolt said they would be looking at changes when people were on the boards for a period of time. Seymour said she has always thought that having the same people in the same positions tends to make a board stagnate. Gilman thinks they have to look for some balance but they need to look for some continuity too. He would not like to make a decision at this point. He is used to a government venue that changes. Bolt the other thing he would like to have is a little dialogue on the situation with the budget committee. It has been pretty rough going over the last two years. Seymour said she was in favor of doing away with the budget committee altogether. She feels it was a big waste of time. Gilman did not think doing away with the budget committee was a good idea. He feels that maybe they should look into an elected budget committee. Bolt said they should have one more meeting with the town manager before he heads out there is a lot that has to be handed over to us. The meeting will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at the Community Center, Heald Room. Bolt said the meeting would be open to the public. Seymour advised there is going to be a portion of the meeting would be in nonpublic.

Take Away Actions:
The Board would attend public hearings for the transfer station and the parks and recreation departments. Seymour made the motion to adjourn. Gilman seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM.

Respectfully Submitted
Ceil Stubbings

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