Littleton Board of Selectmen-Meeting
Minutes-January 12, 2005
LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 12, 2005
LITTLETON OFFICE CONFERENCE
Present: Chairman Burt Ingerson, Vice Chairman Bill Hight, Selectman George Hicks, Town Manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
POLICE FACILITY REPLACEMENT
Chairman Ingerson opened the Public Hearing at 4:00 pm for the purpose of consideration of a proposed bond or long-term indebtedness for Police Facility replacement.($2,179,225)
Schuyler Sweet and Police Chief Cam Brown gave the presentation. Mr. Sweet stated that after last year’s narrowly defeated warrant article to replace the police facility, the Police Facility Committee were encouraged to try again at this year’s town meeting after gathering more concrete information which could be presented to the voters before they vote. After a lengthy selection process, Bread Loaf Construction was chosen to proceed with a comprehensive plan with a cost-not to-exceed figure. Schuyler went over the handout which had been prepared for this meeting explaining that the plan finally selected by the Facility Committee was not the most expensive or the cheapest. This plan was chosen because it offered a multi-story building which allowed the Police Department to build up rather than out which is cheaper to do. Two floors will also not use as much land on the site shared with the Highway and Fire Departments. If approved at Town Meeting of 2005, the building could be ready for occupation by March of 2006.
Jason added that due to the timing of the construction (late in the year) it is possible there would be less spent on construction loans for big ticket items. He stated he had checked around and had some preliminary figures which could and probably would change. A ten year repayment plan would cost the Town $250,000/year; a fifteen year repayment plan would cost the Town $180,000/year and a twenty year repayment plan would cost $147,000/year. He told the Selectmen he would be leaning toward a fifteen-year repayment plan. He is also checking to see if there are any federal monies available which could be applied to this project.
Selectman Ingerson asked if there is any Homeland Security money which could be used to offset some of the cost of this project. Chief Brown stated that any remaining Homeland Security funds which were left at the end of this year were turned back by the Governor. He added he does not know how the new Governor will handle the allotment of the funding for 2005. He stated he does know that there will be less money this year than in 2004. He added he will aggressively pursue any funding which Littleton might qualify for.
Eddy Moore asked why there was such a difference in the proposed cost from last year ($1.25 million) to this proposed cost of $2.1 million. Schuyler stated the cost of materials have gone up. Additionally this proposal calls for a multi-story building which will be completely outfitted upon completion.
Bryan Hadlock asked if the Committee has gotten quotes from companies which deal with modular construction. Schuyler replied that there were two companies in the early stages of discussion which had either dropped out or been eliminated in the selection process. He added the specifications for the secured area of the police facility was perhaps beyond their capabilities.
Jason added that based on this year’s taxes. This proposal would add approximately forty cents to the tax rate.
Schuyler stated in closing, the facility is desperately needed and will not get any cheaper by putting it off. He added he is available to answer any questions and provide information to the public if needed.
The Selectmen thanked Schuyler and his Committee for all their time and hard work. Chief Brown thanked the Town Manager and Selectmen for their support and for making it possible to go forward with Breadloaf to provide solid figures and plans to the public for their consideration on voting day.
Selectman Hight moved to place the proposal on the warrant for Town Meeting vote. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.
Chairman Ingerson closed the Public Hearing and opened the Selectmen’s Meeting.
Jason stated Karen Noyes would like to set up a work session with the Selectmen to go over the Management Discussion and Analysis Report, Section II- Financial and Section III-Statistical and Demographic information. The Selectmen agreed a work session would be beneficial as there are parts of the report which they don’t understand. A
work session will be set up for them.
Jason noted that the summer interns who returned to work over Christmas break have returned to school. While they were here, there were many projects which they were able to complete. Currently Chad Stearns, who is on coop from Northeastern University, is working on getting the rest of our ordinances into electronic form. He is also indexing the old subdivision maps and working on a fees update.
Fire Chief Joe Mercieri has been officially sworn in and encountered activity quickly with the submerged car in the pond behind the Continental 93.
Jason and Carol met with Dave McLure to go over various options for his property at exit 43. They have come up with a proposal for mixed use for the property. The Planning Board has held one Public Hearing on the proposal and will hold the second Hearing on January 18th. The proposal will go on the warrant for Town Meeting.
Jason will spend time in getting the warrant ready to be reviewed by Town Counsel.
Selectman Hight moved to proceed with the plan proposed by Woodard and Curran as outlined to them by Jason for various sewer projects. Jason stated he will be meeting with Mike Stein to get final information and get started on the plan of action. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.
Bryan Hadlock asked the Selectmen to consider changing the location of the voting polls. He state the shortage of parking and the long lines at the last elections made it difficult for some people to vote and actually discouraged some voters from showing up. The Selectmen agreed to take this under advisement. Jason stated it may not be the correct time to change the location at a major election such as Town Meeting and perhaps a smaller election such as the one in the fall may be a better one to start with as any kinks can be ironed out before Town Meeting. Eddy Moore asked if it would be right to encourage more absentee ballots. Jason stated that New Hampshire is one of the few States left who require a reason be stated on the application for an absentee ballot. It is also very time-consuming for the Town Clerk’s office to process absentee ballots. The lack of parking would eliminate the High School as a possible polling location. Daisy Bronson could be used as well as the fire station. Selectman Hight suggested using one of the vacant building we have in Town. Jason stated if that were to done, the Town would have to insure the building.
Selectman Hight moved to place the following petition items on the warrant for Town Meeting.
Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Inc. $24,300.00
White Mountain Mental Health 9,506.00
Greater White Mountain Red Cross 2,420.80
Ammonoosuc Community Health 2,000.00
North Country YMCA 500.00
Littleton Regional Hospital 16,000.00
Caleb Interfaith Group 5,500.00
Hospice of the Littleton Area 3,758.00
Tri-County Community Action Program 9,000.00
North Country Home Health and Hospice 15,967.00
North Country Health Consortium 1,225.00
The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.
There was discussion regarding a petition article to increase the Veteran’s Exemption from $100 to $300. The Selectmen would like Jason to research further and see what the tax implication will be if this is passed. Selectman Hight suggested that the exemption be increased to $200 as he feels that the $300 exemption is too much of an increase. Jason will get additional information from Carol Cullen for the Selectmen.
Jason noted the location of the deliberative session has been changed back to the high school. As there had been a conflict with basketball scheduling, the Deliberative Session had been moved to Lakeway. The scheduling conflict has been worked out and the original plans have been reinstated.
Selectman Hicks moved to approve the minutes of December 29, 2004. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent
Executive Assistant
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Chairman Burton E. Ingerson
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Vice Chairman William R. Hght
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Selectman George O. Hicks