Littleton, New Hampshire

Approved Minutes Aug 15, 2011

TOWN OF LITTLETON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2011
5:00 PM
COMMUNITY CENTER HEALD ROOM

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

Others Present: Khela Kupiec (The Courier), Robert Blechl (The Caledonian), Ed Parker (Highway Department), Casey Hadlock, Bryan Hadlock.

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

Public Discussion on Staffing Needs at the Highway Department:
Karen Noyes provided three options to the board in regards to the staffing of the highway department. The board chose the first option provided. This option would provide a savings of $20,611.36. Moody told the board the option reflects the department’s current conditions. The department will be going back to forty hours per week on September 5th and adding an 8th person on October 1st. Ed Parker will continue as the Highway Department Manager for a six month period with the condition that an outside contractor could be brought in if needed.

Health Inspector Opening:
Bolt advised an email would be sent to all current employees to see if anyone would be interested in taking on the position. In addition the opening would also be posted on the website.

Moody wanted to discuss South Street. Noyes said there was money that could be freed up from the Grove Street Project and the Sewer Project to facilitate the repairs to South Street. Moody advised the project was put out to bid last fall and three bids came in. B&B Paving had the low bid in the amount of $105,000. The previous town manager met with the contractor and changed it to a completely different project. The warrant article was removed due to the budget cuts so the project was killed. Moody said he had prepared an advertisement for new bids but was contacted by B&B Paving. They believe they still hold the bid. They are requesting to be reimbursed for their expenses and have threatened legal action.

The board discussed the options they could consider regarding the repairs needed to the South Street sidewalk. Gilman asked how critical it was to do the repairs this year. Ed Parker stated the sidewalk cannot be plowed and would have to be hand shoveled. Moody suggested they consider rolling this into the Safe Routes to School and wait until next year. Seymour thought they should consider closing the sidewalk. Bolt said they should find out the legal implications.

Moody asked the board to accept the Certificate of Final Completion of the Riverwalk Project in the amount of $2,983.81. Seymour moved to accept the Certificate of Final Completion of the Riverwalk Project. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.

Noyes provided the board with a presentation of budget adjustments that need to be made. Noyes asked the board if they were going to approve the 3% raise for the salary employees for the last quarter of the year. She cannot begin working on the 2012 budget until she knows the board’s decision. Seymour moved to approve the 3% increase for the last quarter. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Bolt said he was not comfortable transferring funds at this meeting and would prefer to make the adjustments at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

Bolt announced that he had been informed that Linda Warden has formally resigned from the budget committee. Moody advised that Milt Bratz would be formally requesting the Town move to a new budget fiscal year. Seymour said they should consider a six month budget and then a twelve month budget. Gilman stated that when the Town tried to do this before they changed their mind because of the costs involved. Noyes said there are pro’s and con’s to switching over. Some Towns that have made the change then went back to the January to December system.

Bolt advised there would be an informal budget committee meeting on Wednesday in the Heald Room at 4:00 PM.
Bolt said the budget committee would want to know the tax rate implications. Seymour said they should start with the default budget. Gilman agreed with Seymour and said by using the default budget as a platform they could have the departments bring forth their needs with warrant articles. Bolt said the only cuts would be made from budget committee recommendations or the deliberative session. Moody said the proposed budget should have annotations.

Moody asked the board if they wanted to renew the wastewater treatment plant contract. It is due to be renewed by September 2nd. The board advised Moody to rebid the contract.

Moody advised the board that the 1970 M45 fire department surplus truck that was put out to bid in June only had one bid received. The bid did not meet the $2,500 minimum bid. The truck is not road worthy and it would cost another $80 plus staff time to advertise it again. The bid received was in the amount of $500. The board advised Moody to award the bid of $500.

Casey Hadlock asked if the board was going to discuss Old Dell’s Road. Hadlock said he has still not heard anything from the zoning officer. Moody said they were going to discuss the issue in nonpublic session. Moody said there is a letter of credit for $50,000 until they accept the road. Casey Hadlock stated there is no exit from his property and that Horizons are the ones that created the mess in the first place. Hadlock expressed his frustrations with the situation and asked to be kept informed on the issue.

Seymour made the motion to go into nonpublic session per RSA 91-A:3 II (e). Gilman seconded the motion. After a unanimous roll call vote the board entered into nonpublic session at 6:35 PM.

The board came out of nonpublic session at 7:14 PM. The minutes of the nonpublic session were sealed. Gilman made the motion to adjourn. Seymour seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned
at 7:15 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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