LITTLETON BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MEETING MINUTES

LITTLETON TOWN OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM

OCTOBER 25, 2005

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

Chairman Hight opened the Selectmen’s Meeting at 4:00 pm.

Carol Cullen told the Selectmen she has received letters from Colonial Court and the Lane House regarding their payments in lieu of taxes. These letter are submitted every year and she will keep them updated.

The Town will be receiving a request to take over Tara Lane in the Bryn Myr subdivision. There are currently two houses on the road and a third one is proposed.

CITIZENS’ CONCERNS

Brien Ward told the Selectmen he has resigned from the Town Building Revitalization Committee as he and Joel Bedor are in the process of forming a Committee to further better communication and trust in the community. It is hope this will foster better communication between the Town and the state fire marshall’s office also. Brien added that in an endeavor to make the community aware of the facts leading up to the current situation with the town building he has collected copies of communication between the fire marshall’s office and town officials. He made this handout available to those present.

Brien stated that a physical inspection of the Opera House and Historical Society was never done but that was the reason given for the inspection. The fire marshall’s office called the fire department to obtain information on the Opera House and Historical Society so the inspection report could be completed. Brien stated this is suspicious because the reason for the fire marshall’s office being there was to complete an inspections relating to the public assembly permit. Brien urged the Selectmen to look into this more closely as he does not feel that the community has been dealt with fully or provided with all of the facts.

Joel Bedor stated in a conversation he had with the State Fire Marshall, he had been told that the State might be willing to work with the Town in a similar way as they are working with the Profile school district in dealing with deficiencies at the Profile School. They are allowed to use the building while it is being closely monitored. Mr. Bedor stated the Fire Marshall indicated he would not be adverse to considering this same way of dealing with the problems at the Town Building. Mr. Bedor added that on Friday Dan Hebert will do an inspection of the building so they can get a second opinion on the condition of the building.

Burt Ingerson stated he took issue with the fact that the Fire Marshall had spoken with Mr. Bedor but had not relayed any of this information to the Town.

Brien stated that the Selectmen made a decision to close the Town Building at a meeting where the Community had not been told beforehand what the option available were. He stated the town is illegally spending money on property that is not owned by the Town. He further noted the portion of the old hospital being proposed for the Police Department had not gone to the Planning Board for Condominium Conversion. The money being spent on this relocation has not been authorized by the voters of the Town. He urged the Selectmen to keep the Police Department in the Town Building.

Chairman Hight stated the Selectmen were faced with a hard decision. He added the Police Department are union and the Selectmen could have been faced with a situation of the Police Department employees refusing to entering the building because they were being forced to work in unsafe conditions. He stated the Selectmen were elected by the voters to make decision with the best interest of the Town in mind. In making this decision, the Selectmen believed they were doing what was best with the situation they were faced with.

David Ziter stated they are still faced with a situation where they have an illegal use of a building which is not zoned for the use. It also looks like the original inspection was not legal as it had been originally scheduled to inspect the Opera House and Historical Society and these inspections never took place.

Brien Ward stated he had reservations with the report by the engineers as he feels the problems with the back wall of the Town Building are being caused by the weight of the roof which was put on by Tirey & Associates. He cannot understand why Tirey would have put the additional load of the roof on a building he knew had such problems.

Selectman Hicks stated he felt the Selectmen would have been neglectful to let employees remain in the Town Building. He added he could not argue with the report of the structural engineers.

David Ziter stated he objects to spending $82,000-$100,000 per year and to have nothing to show for it. There will be no equity in the building as there would have been if the Town had obtained a bond and built a police station.

Joel Bedor stated he would advise the Selectmen to watch the building and inspect on a regular basis and utilize the building until repairs can be made.

Jason noted that Jeff Tirey’s report had been requested by the State and has been sent but he does not know if the State has had a chance to review it as yet.

Brien Ward stated that Jeff Corey had donated an entire day for a crew of 6 men to go in the Town building and address some of the housekeeping problems. To date, nothing has been addressed.

Jason stated he had erred in not realizing that Planning Board approval for Condominium conversion would be necessary. None of the attorneys working on the project had realized it either.

Brien Ward stated the current contract the Town has with the owner of the old hospital is now null and void. Also, the first lease payment of $87,000 is due on January 1^st, 2006 prior to Town Meeting and the voters decision on the budget. He added this is creating a very bad situation.

David Ziter once again state he resents the money the town is throwing away in leasing space.

John Hall noted the $50,000 spent to relocate the Police Department could have been used to address some of the issues at the Town Building.

Dick Merrill and Dick Smith stated they understood how hard this decision was for the Selectmen and they appreciated all that had gone into it. Dick Merrill encouraged the select Board to keep considering the wishes of the entire population of Town rather than just a few hundred.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Jason told the Selectmen paving has been completed on Bronson Street. He and Larry Jackson have been working on the road list for next year. It will be shorter than usual.

The Fire Department has not had time to fill the vacant position due to the amount of time that has been spent on the police department relocation. New walls have gone up at the old hospital as needed and there has been $35,000 of the $50,000 spent at this time.

The Police Facility Committee mett on Monday evening and gave a presentation. They will meet again on Friday.

Tony Ilacqua has asked Jason to give a presentation at the municipal conference in November.

Jason informed the Selectmen it may be necessary to borrow money this year as the tax bills will be getting out late.

The first Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2005.

Jason and Joe Wiggett are working on new telephone rates as the telephone contract is up this year.

Jason has received three quotes on health insurance and there are two more quotes which will be coming in soon. It is not anticipated there will be a significant increase this year.

The TCSP committee will be giving the Selectmen an update in two weeks. It will be necessary to hold a Public Hearing in regard to the EDA grant.

In other business, Selectman Hicks moved to move Val Poulsen up from alternate member to full member on the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.

Selectmen Hicks moved to move Rod Trahan and Curt Dexter from alternate members to full members of the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.

Selectman Hicks moved to re-appoint Martha Hill to the Conservation Commission. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried 3-0.

Selectman Hicks moved to approve the minutes of October 12, 2005 as presented. The motion was seconded by Selectman Ingerson and carried.

The meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Sargent

Executive Assistant

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Chairman William R. Hight Vice Chairman George O. Hicks

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Selectman Burton E. Ingerson