Littleton Board of
Selectmen-Meeting Minutes-January 14, 2004
LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 14, 2004
LITTLETON OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM
Present: Chairman George Hicks, Vice Chairman Burton Ingerson, Secretary Bill Hight, Town Manager Jason Hoch and Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent
Vice-Chairman Burt Ingerson opened the Selectmen’s Meeting at 5:00 pm. Chairman George Hicks arrived at the Meeting later.
Selectman Bill Hight moved to approve the minutes of December 10, 2003 as presented. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 2-0.
Mark Driscoll was in to see the Selectman on behalf of the Parks Commission to ask Selectmen support for a grant he is writing to the NH Trails Bureau to help provide half of the funding needed to build a 8’ x 2800’ walkway around Remick Park. Mr. Driscoll stated the other half of the funding will come from a private source. The grant request will be in the amount of $11,000. Mr. Driscoll requested a letter of support from the Selectmen for submission with the grant application. Selectmen Ingerson and Hight both offered their support and appreciation to Mr. Driscoll.
Shelba Tetu was in to introduce herself to the Selectmen and to advise them she is running for Town Clerk. She stated she feels that she has a lot to offer the Town and can improve the service of the Town Clerk’s Office to the residents of Littleton. She offered her assistance in anyway she can help the Town. She thanked the Selectmen for their time.
Jason noted the wording of the draft warrant is currently being reviewed by Town Counsel.
The Finance Office is in the process of closing out the year for 2003 and taking care of year-end transactions.
Jason met last week with assessing officials from the State regarding the Town compliance in 2005. The state is regularly monitoring and checking assessment records of Towns in the State. Our ratio has been in the 70’s and is rapidly dropping to the 60’s due to property sales. This means that a revaluation is necessary to get back closer to 100%. The data coming back from the field looks good with only minor discrepancies to date. Exemptions, non-taxable and current use property will be studied over the coming year.
There has been considerable amount of time spent in setting up the Badger Scholarship. Attorneys are working on the particulars in setting up paperwork to allow the Town of Littleton to manage the account.
The Town received the Community Spirit award this past weekend from the Governor’s
Council on the Arts.
Jason has worked with the Curran Foundation to secure funds for the care and maintenance of the Curran Footbridge.
Considerable time has been spent with attorney’s regarding the Zolton law suit and the Caledonian law suit.
Finishing details are coming together on the two union contracts. The contracts were negotiated in-house this year saving $7500 in negotiations costs. Jason touched on the changes made to the contracts. The AFSCME Contract has eliminated the position of the Welfare Director as a position in the bargaining unit. The contract places wages on a more competitive scale with other departments and will offer an on-call stipend for early morning call backs. It will include provisions for cost of living and market adjustments. The contract will increase the employees share of health insurance premiums to 10%, with the Town paying 90% of the premium. There is now three days of bereavement time. Rather than the anniversary date of the employee as an eligible date for merit raises, each town employees will be rated on April 1st.
The SEA contract also places wages on a more competitive scale with other departments. Wage schedules have been done to show all wage changes and associated tax and benefit costs. Bereavement time has increased to three days. The employee will now pay 10% of health insurance premiums. The Town is actively seeking to avoid loss of officers and cost of retraining, re-outfitting and extended overtime to cover shifts.
Jason noted that the road sign for “Riverglen Road” actually came as “Riverglen Lane”. Selectman Hight moved to change the road name to “Riverglen Lane” to coincide with the road sign. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 2-0.
Jason went over some of the warrant articles with the Selectmen to get their recommendations for the ballot.
The petition articles from North Country Home Health, Tri-County CAP, Littleton Regional Hospital, Littleton Area Senior Center, American Red Cross, Caleb Group, YMCA, Hospice of the Littleton Area and White Mountain Mental Health & Development were recommended by a motion from Selectman Hight. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 2-0.
Selectman Hight moved to not recommend a petition article to designate Williams Road from Williams Lane to Gannon Road, and Gannon Road from Williams Road to the Lyman Town Line and all of Hubbard Road as Scenic Roads. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried. It was noted that if this article passes at Town Meeting it will be necessary to hold public hearings every time any maintenance work is done on the roads such as tree trimming etc. It was also noted that all scenic roads in town should be on our mapping. It could be important for the Highway Department and Water & Light Department to have this information.
Selectman Hight moved to recommend an article for the Town Budget. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 2-0.
Selectman Hight moved to recommend articles for the SEA of NH Chapter #57 Union Contract and AFSCME Union Contract. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0. (Selectman Hicks arrived at this time)
Selectman Hight moved to recommend an article for the Community Activities Director. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0. ($23,477)
Selectman Hight moved to recommend an article for the Repair of the Fire Department Roof. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0. ($27,500)
Selectman Hight moved to recommend an article for the Bridge Repair Fund. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0. ($2,500)
Selectman Hicks moved to recommend an article for the Purchase of a Replacement Truck for the Highway Department. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 3-0. ($31,582 first lease payment and set up costs)
Selectman Hight moved to recommend an article for Reconstructing/Re-Paving and Upgrading Various Town Roads. The motion was seconded Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0. ($300,000)
Selectman Hight moved to recommend an article for Transfer Station Improvements & Repair Funds. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0. ($34,000)
Selectman Hicks moved to recommend an article for the Landfill Closure Capital Reserve. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 3-0. ($57,500)
Selectman Hicks moved to recommend an article for a Fire Department Ladder Truck Repair. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight. ($25,000)
Selectman Hicks moved to recommend an article for the Acceptance of Land from the Nancy Brammer 1999 Revocable Trust. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 3-0.
The board discussed a petition received from Project Reach requesting funding of $10,000 for an after school project. The Board, being unfamiliar with the organization, delayed voting on recommending this article until they can get more information on the program. Jason will see that they get more information regarding project and whether this will be a yearly request for funding from the Town.
Selectman Hicks moved to proceed with renewal of the MRI Assessing Contract. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hight and carried 3-0.
The Selectman agreed that it was not the right time to act on acquiring the Kittridge property, given the additional expenses already ahead for the Town.
Selectman Hight noted that he has seen wording of a House Bill which will make some surplus buildings available. He encouraged the Board to stay on top of the situation as this may be an opportunity to acquire a salt shed which the Town will need.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Sargent,
Executive Assistant
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Chairman George O. Hicks
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Vice Chairman Burton E. Ingerson
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Secretary William R. Hight