Littleton, New Hampshire

Work Session Minutes Dec 20, 2011

TOWN OF LITTLETON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN WORK SESSION
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011
5:00 PM
TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE 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: Chief Smith (Littleton PD), Chief Mercieri (Littleton FD), Robert Blechl (The Caledonian), Gary Harriman

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

Encumbrances:
Noyes provided the board with a list of encumbrances for 2011 as follows:
Mapping Executive – Contract with Cartographic’s Tax Maps for $25,000. Opera House Outside Cleaning Contract for $5,200. Cleaning of Oil Separators in the PD and Highway for $5,500. Fire Dept. Hose Drying Racks for $1720. Fire Dept. Radio Equipment for $15,840. Highway Dept. Radio Equipment for $16,627. Fire Department Generator (2011 Warrant Article) for $30,939. Total encumbrances in the amount of $100,826. In addition to the above there was also a Sewer Cleaning and Monitoring Enterprise Fund in the amount of $35,000. The total of all encumbrances including other funds was in the amount of $135,826.00. The Board approved the encumbrances as presented by Noyes.

Adjustments to the Budget & Status of Warrant Articles
The board then reviewed some minor adjustments made to the budget by Noyes and discussed the status of the warrant articles. Noyes reported that she was still in the process of working on the wording of the articles. Stubbings advised that no other petitioned warrant articles had been received to date.

Moody mentioned that the welfare budget had been changed by the welfare director. The proposed budget amount is for $85,000. There was a discussion on a petitioned warrant article establishing a capital reserve fund for welfare with $15,000 to start the fund. The welfare director felt it was more prudent to not request the $15,000 but to ask for $1,000 instead. Each year there would be a warrant article requesting any unexpended funds be transferred to the special reserve fund.

Bolt asked if the fire department was going to replace the firefighter who resigned. Moody said that he and the chief were in a discussion as to what they can do. No decision had been made and both were still working on the issue. Moody pointed out that it would not be fair to hire someone now and then they might be faced with potential layoffs in the spring after town meeting day. Mike Gilman suggested they advertise the position now and if the budget passes they could then make the hire.

Bolt then provided Seymour and Gilman with a copy of the BOS and BOA reports for the Annual Town Report. He asked them to review the documents and provide comments or changes.

Noyes asked the board to accept $3,005 in grant funds received for the fire department’s emergency generator. Seymour moved to accept the funds in the amount of $3,005. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.



Workforce Retention
Bolt said that he had provided Seymour and Gilman a document that details the recent retention issues the town seems to be having. Gilman said there was obviously an issue but that they should wait and discuss the problems after the first of the year to see if they could come up with a solution.

Acceptance of the Fund Balance Policy
Noyes advised the policy had been presented to the board at their last meeting for their review. Seymour made the motion to approve the Fund Balance Policy. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.

Bolt then briefly went over the suggested order of the warrant articles. His suggestion is to have those warrant articles that are related to the Town Operating Budget listed first followed by the petitioned warrant articles. Seymour moved to adjourn at 5:53 PM. Gilman seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 5:53 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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