Littleton, New Hampshire

Approved Minutes Apr 9, 2012

NOTE!! These minutes were amended at the April 23rd meeting. Please refer to those minutes for the amenddments.

TOWN OF LITTLETON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012
5:00 PM
COMMUNITY CENTER CARRIAGE HOUSE

Present: Town Manager Fred Moody, Chairman Marghie Seymour, Vice Chairman Mike Gilman, Selectman Milt Bratz, Executive Secretary Ceil Stubbings

Others Present: Art Tighe, Jeanne Dickerman, Barry Lunderville (WLTN), Eddy Moore, Tony Ilacqua, Jackie King, Mell Brooks, Robert Blechl (The Caledonian), Alex Smith (Channel 2), Casey Hadlock, Bruce Hadlock, Dann, Linda MacNeil, Arwen Mitton, Mary Edick, Guy Harriman, Chief Paul Smith (Littleton PD), Rudy Gelsi

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

Pledge of Allegiance

Appointments: NONE

Citizen’s Concerns:
Eddy Moore said he had read an article in the Manchester Union regarding who was present at the meeting of March 26th. Moore said that it had Bratz was not in attendance when in fact he was there. Moore said there must be a mistake in the minutes. Seymour said the minutes were right and the paper was wrong. Bratz cautioned citizens to be cautious and to focus on reports from the local reporters who attend the meetings for correct information. Moore said he had one other issue but he was not sure if the board was going to talk about the budget tonight or not. Seymour said they were going to discuss the budget later. Moore said he would wait to bring up his concern during the discussion. Mary Edick asked if there was going to be any news on the beavers under old business. Seymour advised that she did not know. Edick wondered if there was going to be an effort to relocate the beavers. Bratz said he had volunteered to handle the beaver issue. Bratz said the issue would be addressed now before next winter. Moody said that it was his understanding from the highway foreman that the beavers have already repopulated the area. Tony Ilacqua said the highway department has been picking up roadside rubbish. This has not happened in years. Ilacqua said he wanted to congratulate the highway department and the town manager for their efforts. Ilacqua urged citizens to pick up trash along their roads. Jackie King said the public can come to the transfer station to pick up the blue bags and leave them on the side of the road. Dann said he had some concerns regarding the roadside pickup. He has always wanted to pick up the trash on his road which is a long road of about several miles. He would like to do it on his little Polaris which is not licensed for on road use. He asked if the board had a problem with that. Seymour said yes. Seymour advised that just because he was cleaning up the roadside does not mean he can do something illegal. Dann said he would be on the side of the road doing it. Chief Smith advised Dann he could not drive an ATV on a public road. Dann said it is a long road and there is a lot of trash along the road. He does not want to do the pickup in a vehicle. Seymour stressed that it was illegal to do it. Dann said he was willing to do it but if that’s the way it is then that’s the way it is. There being no more citizen concerns, Seymour advised the board that she was moving the Town Manager’s report further down the agenda and make the appointments to the boards and commissions next.

New Business:
Board/Commission & Committee Appointments:
Bratz stated that over the years he has been on a lot of committees. Whether he is looking at his peers or making appointments to committees he looks at five things. Bratz said these things include good attendance, preparation, reading complex information along with the expectation that you will ask questions about things you do not understand. Participation is also really important. The other thing he looks at when appointing people to a committee is emotional maturity. Bratz gave an example of if a committee goes in a different direction than what you argued for you should be able to handle that well. The fifth thing he looks at is geared more to a chairman of a committee is called a management technique called emotional intelligence, such as knowing what your strong points and weak points are and knowing what impact you have on other people. Bratz said he had looked at the list and he does not know everyone who submitted their request for appointments but he was willing to go along with the rest of the board. Bratz said he had a list of names based on his criteria.

Opera House Management Commission – One three year term: Seymour made the motion to nominate George Mitchell. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Conservation Commission – Three (3) three year terms: Seymour made the motion to nominate Thomas Alt, Mary Boulanger and Dann. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Water & Light Commissioners – One (1) three year term: Seymour made the motion to nominate Perry Goodell. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Pemi Baker Solid Waste Reps – Two (2) three year terms: Gilman made the motion to nominate Tony Ilacqua as the representative and Jackie King as the alternate. Bratz seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Trustees of the Trust Funds – One (1) year appointment to fill vacancy left by the elections: Bratz made the motion to nominate Ed Hennessey. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Energy Conservation Commission – appointment of new members with no terms: Seymour stated Arwen Mitton, Tony Ilacqua, Ron Bolt, Rodney Edwards, Ed Parker, Jim Sherrard (Alternate) have all requested appointment. Seymour made the motion to appoint the slate as listed. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Planning Board – Two (2) three year terms:
Seymour noted that Linda MacNeil, Arwen Mitton, Ed Boynton and Dann submitted their names for nominations. Both Linda and Arwen are current members of the board. Gilman made the motion to nominate Linda MacNeil and Ed Boynton. Bratz seconded the motion. Seymour asked for discussion. Ron Bolt made a point of order. Bolt asked if there would be any public input during the process. Seymour said she has been serving on the planning board as the ex-officio member for the last year. Seymour said Arwen Mitton is an exemplary member of the board. She comes to meetings prepared and has good sound instincts about what is right and what is wrong. She participates and goes to the trainings. Seymour said she strongly feels that if Mitton wants to be a member of the board again she should be. Bratz said he did not know Mitton but that he accepted what Seymour was saying. Bratz said he knows Ed Boynton and stands behind Gilman’s motion. Arwen Mitton spoke on her own behalf and said that she has not served a full term on the board. She was appointed two years ago to fill an open two year position after a previous member had died. Mitton said she has worked very hard to prove herself in less than two years. Ed Boynton then made a brief statement regarding his bid to be appointed. Mell Brooks made a statement as to why Arwen Mitton should be reappointed. Ron Bolt asked the board if they had a position on an officer being a member of a special interest organization that is against zoning regulations. Bratz said there is no RSA regarding Bolt’s question. Seymour told Bolt that the board did not have a set of criteria for members of different groups not being allowed as members of boards or commissions. Seymour said they need to determine who can be impartial and who can do the work that they are supposed to do on the boards. Seymour then reiterated that it would be a shame to lose a member like Mitton who has worked very hard and has done so much to contribute to the board. Seymour said they had a motion and they had a second and they have had a discussion. Arwen Mitton said she had one more question. Mitton wanted to know why they would not allow her the opportunity to prove herself over a full term. Gilman said it was not a matter of supporting her but of supporting two other people. Mitton asked why they were better than her. Gilman said it was not a matter of them being better it was just that he was more familiar with them. Mell Brooks said that he is an alternate on the planning board and because he values Arwen’s participation he would be more than glad to resign as an alternate and let Arwen take his place. Gilman said that would be fine. Seymour said it would not be appropriate to do it at this point. Seymour then called for a vote. Gilman and Bratz voted yes to the motion. Seymour voted no. The motion passed 2-1.

Zoning Board – One (1) three year term:
Seymour advised the list of people who requested to be appointed as Eddy Moore, Dann, Guy Harriman who would like to be considered as an alternate and Tom Loughlin who is currently an alternate and would like to be appointed to the full time term. Gilman made the motion to appoint Eddy Moore. Bratz seconded the motion. Seymour asked if there was any discussion. Bratz said that as far as he was concerned Eddy Moore fit the criteria that he used. There being no further discussion Seymour asked for a vote. Gilman yes, Bratz yes and Seymour no. The motion passed 2-1.

Budget Committee – Three (3) three year terms and One (1) one year term:
Bratz made the motion to nominate Steve Kelley, Jessica Daine and Diane Cummings to fill the three year positions. Gilman seconded the motion. Ron Bolt asked if there were any other names on the list. Seymour said the list consisted of Steve Kelley, Jessica Daine, Rudy Gelsi, Dann, Dianne Cummings and Barbara Astone. Ron Bolt asked to read a statement he had prepared regarding his opposition to the appointment of Steve Kelley to the budget committee. Dann said he disagreed with the statement read by Ron Bolt. He did not want a yes board, he wants debate and someone like Kelley would give the board what they need. Seymour said she was going to go out on a limb and said that for the last two years she has been a selectman and worked very hard on the budget. She tried to work with the budget committee that is supposed to be advisory and she agrees with Ron on many of the points that he made. Seymour said that Kelley has his mind made up and he won’t change it. She will not vote in favor of putting Steve Kelley back on the budget committee. Seymour said she was outnumbered and she is one person voting on a board. Seymour called for a vote. Gilman and Bratz voted yes. Seymour voted no. The motion passed 2-1. Seymour said there was one one-year term open on the budget committee. Seymour said Rudy Gelsi, Dann and Barbara Astone were among the names that could be appointed. Gilman nominated Barbara Astone. Bratz seconded the nomination. There was no discussion. Seymour asked for a vote. The nomination of Barbara Astone passed 3-0.

Mary Edick asked if there was a way for the select board to become better acquainted with all of the people looking to be appointed. Edick suggested they might be able to conduct interviews. It seems like this board elected candidates because they didn’t know the other candidates. Seymour told Edick that the slate of nominees was changing regularly right up until today. Seymour said she knows most of the people on the boards. They are volunteer positions and everyone is really busy. Tony Ilacqua said that many years ago there was a process but he did not know what happened to it. When he was on the planning board he was interviewed by the selectmen. Ilacqua said every position was interviewed. Rudy Gelsi said he moved here about six years ago and he has tried to get involved. Gelsi told Seymour that she had said she knows most of the credentials of the people. Seymour said that is not what she said. She said she knew the people. Gelsi asked the board if they knew of his capabilities and if they knew he has published several books. Seymour asked if he had submitted a resume when he put in his name. Gelsi said the lady he spoke to told him he didn’t need to submit a resume and pointed to the executive secretary. Gelsi told the board they don’t know what kind of good things new people can do for the Town. Bratz said that when you have eight applicants and only three positions someone is going to be said no to regardless if there were resumes or not. Bratz said that what Edick suggested is something the board needs to look at so they can become more familiar with the people and maybe the cutoff date needs to be before the last Friday before the meeting so they have time to review the information submitted. Seymour thanked everyone who put in their name. Guy Harriman wanted to make a point of order. He had put his name in for an alternate position on the zoning board. Seymour asked if the board could appoint an alternate to the zoning board. The town manager and executive secretary advised they could. Gilman made the motion to appoint Guy Harriman to the zoning board as an alternate member. Bratz seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.

Ron Bolt asked Seymour if the board wanted to talk about a request made by the Energy Conservation Committee. Seymour asked Tony Ilacqua if he would speak. Ilacqua said the committee had made a request that someone from the conservation committee and water and light select someone to be on the energy committee. Ilacqua said he had heard from Mary Boulanger that she was interested. Ilacqua said they could use more members that could save the Town money. Dann asked for more information and was provided an overview by Seymour. Seymour made the motion to appoint Dann to the Energy Conservation Committee. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. Seymour then moved to the Town Manager’s Report.

Town Manager’s Report:
Moody advised the Town has hired three new individuals since the last board meeting. Vanja Antunovic, a firefighter and EMT-1. He will be filling the sixth full time firefighter position. The second person they hired was Bradley Ruggles as a part-time recycling attendant at the Transfer Station. The third hire was Robert Martin as a part-time certified patrol officer. Moody said they received notification of the contaminated petroleum soil at the public safety complex will be cleaned up this summer under a 100% state funded program. This is not a small project and they have to remove eight hundred and fifty cubic yards of soil between the fire department and the highway department. A certified hauler will be hired to take the material away. It will most likely go for fill in the regional landfill. Last week they met with the treatment plant operators, the highway department and Woodard & Curran. They were following up on the plan overflow that they had last August. There are some infiltration problems within the system that they need to locate and isolate from the system. Woodard & Curran will begin the flow monitoring program. They have targeted seven sewer manholes for which the monitors would be place down for a two month period. There are waiting for rain to obtain the best data. Moody said the sidewalk tractor and the 550 dump truck have been ordered. The sidewalk tractor is due on or about May 15th and the dump truck is due in the middle of June. Moody then put up a view of Route 185 and Carpenter Brook Culvert that the DOT will replace late this summer. The road will need to be closed for up to twelve days. The Town will need to provide emergency services for this part of town and getting the children to school. Moody then provided a report on the 2011-2012 sand usage that the Town put up for public use. The sand pile was initially twenty yards. The Town purchased the material for $8.50. We drive it up here from Lisbon adding about another $5.00 per yard. Moody said it was a messy winter and citizens were there frequently taking out small amounts. The total cost was about $1,600 for the season and about $2,500 to bring it in from Lisbon. Moody said that has been an issue before that was brought before the select board. It is also something they will be asking the board if they want to continue. Bratz asked what would be the alternative. Moody said the alternative would be to close it down completely and let people utilize the private sector. Another alternative would be to put the sand at the transfer station because the transfer station is set up for accepting money. Seymour said that one of the issues is that some people go and fill up a bucket and others go and fill up their truck. Seymour said the town is really not supposed to be providing some sort of service to some people at the taxpayer’s expense that solely benefits a private individual. Moody said that Bratz asked for a schedule of the highway department’s summer work activities. Moody said the list was put together by the staff. He is reviewing the document now and will forward it to the board shortly. Moody said there is more on the list than they have time to do. Moody was then finished with his report.

Old Business:
Barry Lunderville asked if Moody had any updates on the traffic mess down by McDonald’s. Moody said the only status change is that the parties directly involved are discussing options to try and tie in the Lowe’s Plan. Lowe’s has a bond with the DOT to make some improvements down there. They are trying to coordinate what they are doing so that it is not approached in a hap hazard way. Lunderville said he thought they had 30 days to come up with a valid engineering plan. Moody said they have come back and said their engineer is working with the Lowe’s engineer and they will get us a plan shortly. Lunderville said they didn’t comply. Moody said they gave us an update of the status report. Lunderville asked Moody what his role was as town manager as to how long he would wait for a viable plan. Moody said his role as town manager is somewhat subsidiary to the state DOT and it is a state highway that is mostly affected. Bruce Hadlock asked if the Town paid for the fence by the cemetery on Meadow Street. Moody said yes. Hadlock told Moody he should be billing that to Lowe’s because it was part of the Lowe’s project. Hadlock then said he wondered if the town manager was getting involved with the decisions made by the Zoning Officer. Seymour said that if someone does not like a decision made by the Zoning Officer they can make an appeal to the Zoning Board. Seymour said it does not go to the town manager he is not in the loop. Hadlock said that is not what he is hearing. Seymour then moved onto the budget and asked Moody to take over. Moody said that town meeting did not approve the proposed budget. Moody said they were left with last year’s budget modified by contractual agreements. The staff has gone through their budgets and updated the areas where we thought we would need money. Moody put together a draft of the budget that the board reviewed last week at a work session. Moody then reviewed the highlights of the recommended budget amendments. There are no layoffs, with the exception of a seasonal winter highway position. Moody said the documents he was presenting would be posted on the web for anyone interested in reviewing them. Gilman made the motion to approve the amendments to the budget based on Moody’s presentation. Bratz seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. Eddy Moore said that before Town Meeting there was comments made that we would definitely have to lay off people and that didn’t happen. He is a little bit disappointed in the fact that it didn’t happen but also happy. Bruce Hadlock said this happened before when the budget was cut. It was Moody who said people were going to be cut and then it didn’t happen. Hadlock asked why couldn’t something like this change to the budget have been done before. Moody said Hadlock was misunderstanding what he said at the deliberative session. Moody said at the deliberative session that if the proposed budget does not pass we may have to have layoffs. Moody said they also did not know what was going to happen at the deliberative session. If they had another cut like the one they had last year there certainly would have been additional layoffs. Eddy Moore had a question regarding the two cruisers that were in the budget. He wanted to know if the Town bought two cruisers. Seymour said they only bought one cruiser the second one was in the budget that was shot down. Hadlock asked if he could ask a question about the police cars. Hadlock said the PD has a big truck that is part of their fleet and it has not been there for over six months. He would like to know why the vehicle is parked at a garage in Whitefield. Seymour said it was there to have some repairs done to it. Hadlock asked why the repairs are not being done by someone in Town. Gilman said it was done this way because they had a really good deal. Moody said it is now at the highway department. Seymour said they had a very good deal on the condition that the work did not have to be done immediately. Hadlock said the work should have been done in Town. Seymour said there is no policy that states work has to be done in Town. Seymour said they try to keep as much as they can in the Town but if they spend twice as much on something they have twice as many people jumping down their throat for not being financially responsible. Hadlock said he wanted copies of the bids to document what Seymour was saying. Milt said he wanted to take the time to discuss a letter written to the Thayer’s Motel by the fire chief after the recent fire. Most of the smoke detectors were not working. After reading the hazard mitigation plan last week there are eight things listed that would be classified as a disaster. We have a fire department that is not open on the weekends and we need to address the issue. This needs to be addressed now. If he was in the fire chief’s job he would feel like he was hanging out on a limb. Seymour made the motion to adjourn the selectmen’s meeting. Gilman seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. Seymour then brought the board of assessor’s meeting to order at 6:48 PM. The board of assessor’s approved the following abatements by a vote of 3-0.



Gilman made the motion to adjourn. Bratz seconded the motion. The motion to adjourn passed 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:13 PM.

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