Littleton, New Hampshire

Approved Minutes Apr 25, 2011

TOWN OF LITTLETON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011
5:00 PM
COMMUNITY CENTER ANNEX

Present: Interim Town Manager Fred Moody, Chairman Ron Bolt, Vice Chairman Marghie Seymour, Selectman Mike Gilman, Executive Secretary Ceil Stubbings, Finance Manager Karen Noyes

Others Present: Mary Edick, Paul Vialle (WLTN Radio), Channel 2, Jan Edick, Jerry Sorlucco, Eddy Moore, Barry Lunderville, Ed Boynton, Richard Merrow, Eugene Langdoc, Jimmy Sourgiadakis, Arwen Mitten, Jim Daly, Captain Chris Tyler (Littleton Police Department, Perry Goodell, Chad Stearns, Ryan Glass (Parks & Recreation Department, Kayti Burt (The Courier), Heidi Hurley, Robert Blechl (The Caledonian), Herb Lahout, Milt Bratz, Bryan Hadlock, Christopher Hodge, Casey Hadlock, Jessica Dane, Bruce Hadlock, Linda Massimilla, Carlton Schaller, Richard Massimilla

Bolt called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM in the Community Center Annex

Pledge of Allegiance

Feedback from Last Meeting:
Bolt reported on the Board’s activities since the meeting of April 6th. There were four follow up items. They discussed the changes required by the Highway Department due to staffing levels. Three items related to the boycott. One the board agreed to send a letter to the SEA Headquarters. This was done. The second part of the boycott was a right to know request having to do with communications on the boycott. That was done by the Town Manager. The other was an investigation. These will be addressed under the town manager report. The third was to name a Zoning Officer and a request for information by the budget committee. They had a work session of April 11th where they discussed ordinances that had to be updated. They granted a request from Dan Greenlaw to support the Memorial Day celebration.

Appointments: Maximum time per appointment is 15 minutes - None

Citizen’s Concerns:
Moody said that at the April 6th meeting Mr. Sourgiadakis made an RSA 91-A request. He was requesting the Police Department Internal Communications. Moody advised these communications are considered confidential. The Town agreed to an internal investigation. This investigation is being done by Captain Chris Tyler. Jimmy Sourgiadakis said he made a simple request. He did receive two letters one from the SEA and one from their attorney. They have said they will sue the town of Littleton. He would like to know why he cannot have the communications. Moody advised him again that the answer is the agencies believe the communication is privileged information. Sourgiadakis said what Moody was telling him is that the SEA is running the town. Since the SEA has threatened to sue the town they have left him no choice and he has retained an attorney.

Bolt said this was National Volunteer month on behalf of the board he would like to thank everybody who has in the past or currently is serving as a volunteer. The VIP’s have fifteen members in the program. Various members volunteered fifteen to three hundred forty hours. Bolt said that Chief Smith reports that Captain Tyler is going to receive special traffic control training so he can train volunteers in a parade program. They cut out the funding for parades so this is an effort to restore the ability to help with the parades. Seymour asked if anyone could take the training other than VIP’s. Tyler said they were looking to train fifteen people and if anyone was interested to please call the police department

Spotlight on Departments:
Update on 2011 Operating Budget
Bolt then provided an update of the budget. Bolt told Gilman and Seymour that they had a couple of decisions to make. They are to accept a revised budget from the Transfer Station. The net result is the cost to run the Transfer Station this year is about $33,000. Seymour moved to accept the revision in the Transfer Station budget. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Bolt said they are also being asked to consider a new budget for the Town Clerk that would be reduced. They over achieved when they estimated how much money would be saved with a part time Town Manager. They agreed at the last meeting they would not do the 3% raise for the exempt employees this quarter or they could agree not do it for the whole year. Seymour wanted to talk about the refinancing of the loan for a shorter period of time. Seymour moved to authorize the Town Manager to renegotiate the loan. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Seymour moved to defer the raise for the exempt for this quarter. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Bolt said they are at a position where they could accept the modified budget they presented. They would be putting about $19,000 back into the Parks & Recreation budget. Noyes said the exact number would have to be $19,526. Gilman made the motion to accept the modified budget. Seymour seconded the motion. Gilman wanted to amend the motion that if they find more savings that they consider they turn that money back to the Recreation Department. Seymour seconded the motion. Jerry Sorlucco said that if they find any more money he is more worried about his road and police protection. Bolt said he does not want to have his hands tied at this stage. The motion passed 3-0

Town Manager’s Report:
Moody commented on the Redington Street Bridge project. They ran into some asbestos and are working on a change order. The Riverwalk project will take about $30,000 to finish the project. The contractor has to move the boulders that one of the abutters had complained about. They have to install a handrail on the hill on Cottage Street and do the landscaping and planting. Moody advised that last week the GCEDC will use $175,000 to make a loan to Rotobec USA, Inc. that will create ten new jobs in the industrial park average $17 per hour

Old Business:
Goals & Objectives
Bolt said the goals and objectives are really a statement about priorities. Seymour wanted to add the possibility of a five member board to the list. Bolt said they had the Records Disclosure Policy on the agenda a couple of times. If they are not ready to decide on this they can pass over it. Gilman said he would like to have time to go over it. It was agreed they would take it up at their next meeting.

New Business:
ZBA Member Resignation/Replacement
Bolt advised they have a resignation from the Zoning Board and at the last meeting they had assigned Mr. Bigalow and Mr. Clark to the Zoning Board. Mr. Sweeney was identified as an alternate. Bolt said that one person has applied and that is Heidi Hurley. Bolt recommended they make Mr. Sweeny a full member and ask Heidi Hurley to be the alternate. The position to be filled has two years left on the term. Gilman made the motion to appoint Sweeney as a full time member and Hurley as the alternate. Seymour seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Health Officer Search/Appointment
Bolt said they need to appoint a Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer is appointed by the BOS and is responsible for enforcing the Zoning Ordinance. Bolt said they had advertised the position for two weeks and Chris Hodge put his name in. Chris is president of his own construction management company and has knowledge of construction law. Bolt recommended they make this an appointment to the end of the year. Seymour made the motion to appoint Chris Hodge as the Zoning Officer to the end of the year. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Bolt advised the Health Officer position is currently being held by Joe Wiggett but they have until June to make an appointment. They have one individual who is interested but they not need to move on that tonight.

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: Moved to the end of the meeting
Mike Gilman abstained due to not being in office for the following minutes.
February 3, 2011 Regular Meeting Seymour moved to approve with amendments. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
February 3, 2011 Special Meeting Seymour moved to approve with amendments. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
February 8, 2011 Special Meeting Seymour moved to approve with amendments. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
February 10, 2011 Special Meeting Seymour moved to approve with amendments. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0. February 14, 2011 Special Meeting Seymour moved to approve. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
February 16, 2011 Regular Meeting Seymour moved to approve with amendments. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
February 24, 2011 Special Meeting Seymour moved to approve with amendments. Bolt seconded. Motion passed 2-0.

Seymour made the motion to adjourn. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

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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