LITTLETON SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MINUTES

OCTOBER 5, 2005

LITTLETON TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM

Present: Chairman Bill Hight, Selectman George Hicks, Selectman Burt Ingerson, Town Manager Jason Hoch, Executive Assistant Cheryl Sargent

Chairman Hight opened the Board of Assessors Meeting at 4:00 pm.

Jason presented an abatement request for the River Glen House. Joe Lessard from MRI is recommending that an abatement in the amount of $25,980.06 be granted. Granting this abatement will halt the pending law suit with the Town. Mr. Lessard feels that the inspection of the property made as well as review of documentation submitted warrants the abatement be granted.

Selectman Ingerson moved to grant the abatement in the amount of $25,980.06. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

Chairman Hight closed the Board of Assessors Meeting and opened the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting which is a continuation of the Selectmen’s Meeting of September 28, 2005.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Jason reported that a Jeff Tirey has made an inspection of the Opera House and has found further degradation to the building and none of the recommendations made by him in December of 2001 have been done. Jason added he had asked Jeff Tirey to inspect the building because he is familiar with it and is also local. There will be a general contractor inspecting the building on October 6^th. The Police Department is reviewing alternatives for space needs. There are many issues which need to be worked out such as where to move the administrative offices, where processing will be done, where records can be stored and where evidence can be safely stored until needed in court. Jason stated he has made phone calls regarding moving the computer network as well as the phone system. There are currently abut three locations that are being looked at as possible options. Modular units have also been discussed. There are modular holding cells which can be used.

Peter Poulsen stated the State is advising Littleton that the Town owns the Opera House and the engineering report. The Town is now faced with a huge liability and closing the building at this time would be the responsible thing to do.

Bruce Hadlock stated he is not convinced that this has no been a conspiracy among the Town Manager, Fire Chief and Police Chief. He stated not attempts have been made to correct the problems. He stated he believes the building can be operated after some changes have been made and the Selectmen have the power to operate the Building and to get rid of the Town Manager as well as the Police and Fire Chiefs.

John Streeter asked why Tirey was used instead of getting another opinion. Jason replied that Jeff Tirey has a historical past with the building, knows the building and is local. In this case, time and money were also an issue. Bruce Hadlock stated that he agreed with Jason’s reasoning in this matter.

Ray Hopkins asked Bruce Hadlock if he was not concerned with the liability issues of continuing to try to use the building . Bruce stated that the town is liable for the building in any case.

Chairman Hight noted that dancing has been removed from the building and that the police cruisers have also been removed. This has lessened the weight.

Selectman Ingerson asked Peter Poulsen if the Town starts working on the Building is the State still going to go after the Town. Peter replied that if the engineering plan is accepted by the state and the work is done in a timely manner the State would consider this to be progress.

Brien Ward noted that when the new addition to the High School was built the other various older additions were also tied in to address any liability issues there may have been.

Bruce Hadlock asked whose decision it was to close the Town Building. Jason stated it was his decision. Bruce told the Selectmen they should override the Town Manager’s decision to close the building.

Brien Ward handed out information to the Selectmen regarding what drug forfeiture funds can and can’t be used for.

John Streeter asked if the Town building is considered a historic building and was told it was. He asked if there were any grants which could be used to get some of the work done. Jason replied that there are a few small grants but nothing huge. Also most grants stipulate matching funds or a commitment of the tax payers to put money into the building. This type of a warrant article has failed. Mr. Streeter stated we should have Don Jutton look into what grants are available. Bruce Hadlock disagreed saying that the Town pays dues to organizations such as North Country Council and we should have them looking into this.

In other matters, Jason reported that the utility values are in at $25,960,763 for a total town value of 650,000,000. When the data conversion in completed this will show that values are up approximately $20,000,000.

The Town is still awaiting the final audit report from Plodzik and Sanderson.

The Budget Committee will start to meet at the end of October. The same format will be used as the years before with the Town budget the first three weeks, school budget he second three weeks and then the total budget together. The Committee will also look at moving the Budget Hearing up one week to provide a cushion if it is needed. There is also consideration being given to limiting the Deliberative Session to 3 ½ hours and continuing to a second night if needed.

Cell phone contracts are up this year. Chief Brown if reviewing other options to see where the best deal is.

The Highway Department is finishing up culvert and catch basin work. Paving should take place in a couple of weeks.

E-coli has been isolated in a couple of areas. Disinfectant will be run in these areas and n cameras will be run in the suspected areas.

Recent meeting with DES, Schofield and the Town have gone well. The State is pleased with the Septage Plan which has been submitted to them. The engineer is currently putting together the scope of the work.

Fire Prevention Week is next week. The Fire Department has several activities planned Fire Prevention Week will start with the parade.

The Town’s uniform contract is up and the Town is now buying uniforms instead of leasing them. Jason stated he is looking for approval from the Selectmen to sell 30 pairs of used pants which were worn by the Transfer Station personnel. Selectman Ingerson moved to sell the pants. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

The Transfer Station has a new cash register system which seems to be working well.

Recruiting for vacancies in the Police and Fire Departments continue.

Jason noted that in researching the Tax Collector position, town counsel has stated that the Selectmen must appoint the Tax Collector and the Town Manager appoints himself as Deputy Tax Collector. The Selectmen reaffirmed their appointment of Joe Wiggett as Tax Collector and Jason to appoint himself as Deputy Tax Collector.

John Streeter stated that with the possibility of hiring an Assistant town Manager, a lot of the jobs in the office could be combined. Jason noted that although Joe is Tax Collector part time he is also handling other roles in the office as well as dealing with tasks that Jason does not have time to do. Jason noted that all of the office staff are currently doing more than one job and that he has cut back as much as he can possibly cut back.

Bruce Hadlock inquired if Jason has been working on getting other prices for Health Insurance. Jason stated he has been talking with Primex as well as the current provider.

In other business, Selectman Ingerson moved to approve the revisions to the Family Medical Leave Personnel Policy. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hicks and carried 3-0.

The Selectman did not act at this time on the amendments to the Leave of Absence Policy. They would like to discuss further, in particular, the proposed amendment regarding a cash out of a portion of accumulated leave time.

Chairman Hight noted that traffic from the Power’s gravel pit is creating havoc on Slate Ledge Road. He suggested that painting a yellow stripe on the road might slow down the traffic. Jason added that road bans will be posted soon and perhaps they should think about putting a weight limit on Slate Ledge Road.

Brien Ward stated that on October 17^th the chamber of Commerce would be presenting their 5-year marketing plan. He noted that to date 704 recommended improvements have been made.

He also presented the Selectmen with a list of all of the members f the Town building Revitalization Committee, along with minutes from their last meeting.

Dick Smith noted that there is a discrepancy with the speed limit signs on the Dells Road. He noted that the sign on the Dells Road states 30 mph and the sign facing the Interstate reads 40 mph.

Selectman Ingerson stated the Town should write a letter to DES regarding Lewes. He stated that Rene Pelletier has told him that the State intends to review the project in about two weeks. Selectman Ingerson stated he feels there should be a swale added to prevent water from backing up on the Hadlock property.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Sargent,

Executive Assistant

_____________________________ ____________________________

Chairman William R. Hight Vice Chairman George O. Hicks

_____________________________

Selectman Burton E. Ingerson