Minutes of Selectmen's Meeting
August 25, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Sargent. Selectman Elliott was also present along with Selectmen’s Secretary Iris Campbell. Selectman Buker entered at 6:30 p.m.
Selectmen signed the following documents:
a. Payroll Voucher #s [34 & 35]
b. Minutes of August 11, 2004
c. Petition and Pole License
d. MS-5, Three copies prepared by auditors
e. Request from the Society for the Protection of NH Forests concerning solid or hazardous waste on a property they are considering conservation options on.
f. Appointment of Joshua Menard as an Alternate to the ZBA.
g. Cemetery lot to Gordon, Mary & Barbara Bishop
h. Forest Fire Report/Bill (5)
I. Building Permits-
Permit # Name Location Description Est. value Recommendation
04086BP Louis Cutler 189 Jefferson Dr. Garage $15,000 Approval.
04087BP Gregory Gualtiere 18 Melody LN Residence $95,000 Approval subject to merging lots CH18, CH20, CH22, CH24.
04088BP Mark Rodier 50 Ellen Brook Rd. Garage $8,000 Approval.
04089BP Matthew Dube 14 Winter Rd. Residence $150,000 Approval.
04090BP Kevin Murdough 90 Valhalla Farm Rd. Residence $90,000 Approval subject to merger with lot 4-36
04091BP Barbara Bishop 3 Whittemore St. In-law apt. $45,000 Approval subject to water, sewer, & PUC approval.
04092BP Robert Bennett 36 Meeting Hill Rd. Addition $ 2,000 Approval.
04093BP Colleen Whitney 97 Second NH Tpk. Residence $60,000 Approval subject to PUC approval.
04094BP San-Ken Homes 123 Stowe Mtn. Rd. Residence $225,000 Approval subject removing existing camp, PUC approval.
04095BP Brent Clark 31 Deerpoint Dr. Residence $70,000 Approval.
0411SP “Art on the Square” 7 School St. Signs $75 Approval.
Selectmen reviewed the following correspondence:
CORRESPONDENCE & NEW BUSINESS
a. Letter from Pherus Press
b. Letter to Jim Coffey from Thomas Barry
c. Copy of correspondence from the Conservation Commission to NH DES concerning an application by Walmart.
d. Permit by Notification to Wetlands Bureau from ELVD
CORRESPONDENCE & OLD BUSINESS
a. Report from Matt Taylor on the status of the Transportation Enhancement Grant for the downtown area sidewalks and lighting.
b. Notice in Hillsborough v. James Lamothe
c. Email received from Douglas Kenny concerning Jackson Street - Mr. Coffey is to address this issue and inform the Board.
e. Copy of payroll memo for Police & Dispatch
Mr. Sargent requested that Lieutenant Roarick be asked to attend the September 8 Selectmen’s meeting and to bring any information he may have regarding past discussions on the need for a prosecutor and to discuss signing bonuses.
Mr. Elliott acknowledged that all appointments for the Selectmen’s meeting go through the town office and cleared with the Board Chairman before adding them to the agenda.
Mr. Sargent felt that this would facilitate some issues being resolved faster.
APPOINTMENTS:
6:45 p.m. Present Highway employees: William Goss, Christopher Pletcher, Ernest Butler, William Dumais, Transfer Station Manager William Morris, Fire Fighters: Ronald Marziano, Kenneth Stafford & Mark Murdough were in to discuss the recent bonuses paid to the some Police Officers and Dispatchers.
Mr. Sargent began the discussion by saying that the attendees could present their views and then the Selectmen would respond.
Mr. Goss stated that all workers work just as hard as anyone else, so why were bonuses paid and how was this going to affect holding the line on the budget?
(6:50 p.m. - Luke Levesque and Michael Minichiello entered the meeting.)
Mr. Sargent responded by reading the following statement: “On August 11th, the Board of Selectmen voted to give specific police officers and dispatch personnel a bonus, and also set a policy for enhanced overtime pay for police officers for a limited period of time.
This was done for two reasons: The department is authorized for 11 full time and 2 part time officers. Presently, there are 5 full time and 3 part time - two of those part time just came on board from Antrim and Marlborough. Secondly, the Chief is on paid administrative leave. Prior to that leave he was actually filling in on patrol duty, too, to help in the staff shortage.
The officers and the dispatch crew are working overtime, on shifts that aren’t ordinarily theirs, and are toughing it out with the Hillsborough Police Department when the easier option would be to accept one of the many advertised police positions in other towns. Their loyalty is outstanding.
A local newspaper on its front page, I think echoes the sentiments of most of the people of Hillsborough: ‘ Hats off to the men and women who are working so hard to maintain a reliable and dedicated police department until the present crisis is solved.’
Are there other times when other departments might be similarly recognized? I suspect so, and there may have been in the past. But this Board was not in office then. I suspect that if we had an ice storm like the one that occurred several years ago, and our road crews were on tremendous overload, that this board would single them out for some type of recognition. And if there was a forest fire here like that experienced in California, again, I believe that this Board would reach out to our firefighters as they would be extending themselves far beyond the call of duty.
I am sure I speak for the board when I say that this board is very sensitive to the value of the town employees. This is evident not only with our actions with the police and dispatch, but also with the directive we’ve recently given to the Town administrator to come up with a spread sheet so that we might assess how the wage and benefits packages of our Town employees compare with other towns in New Hampshire.
I stand strongly behind our decision with the police and dispatch and all indications I have personally received from Townspeople indicate that they do also.”
Mr. Goss asked where the money was coming from? That this was not treating all employees the same and creating bitterness between departments.
Mr. Elliott stated that it is common practice in private industry to create monetary incentive to assist a department. If the highway department was down 50% of its staff, the Board would hopefully help you to insure full coverage for the town.
Mr. Marziano asked why the part time employees also received the bonus?
Mr. Sargent answered that they were not.
Mr. Goss commented that the next Board may not feel the same about the bonuses and then no other department would receive any.
Mr. Sargent asked what do you want us to do about it?
Mr. Goss replied don’t do it again.
Mr. Sargent stated that if the attendees didn’t like a policy come to the Selectmen to get it changed.
Mr. Elliott said that we have to go by our form of government and if it there is an ice storm we will do something.
Mr. Goss responded that they don’t want anything. It is our job to handle all situations that come along and we do that.
Mr. Sargent informed the attendees that he will be leaving and that the Board is doing a careful investigation of the Police Department and when that is finalized then the double overtime will end. We will not be over budget because we are down in personnel.
Mr. Butler explained that we do not do just ice storms, but snow storms can be long also.
Mr. Dumais agreed that the long hours are not just during storms.
Mr. Elliott stated that the other departments feel that they deserve bonuses for the extras they do.
Mr. Stafford stated that after a fire he didn’t want to see the Selectmen at his door with a bonus check, because he was doing his job.
Mr. Morris said that no one works for a bonus. He suggested that the Selectmen go talk to the employees, see what they do. He has been told that the Town can’t afford another full time employee at the Transfer Station but they can afford bonuses.
Mr. Pletcher asked what the board was going to do when they lost more police staff?
Mr. Buker said they didn’t know what is going on at the Police Department because the investigation is still going on. He stated that he wasn’t at the last meeting but supported that Board decision. He did question the inclusion of the dispatchers.
Mr. Elliott answered that the Board could not separate the dispatchers from the police department because they could not determine if they were a separate department or not.
Mr. Butler questioned why the secretary was included?
Mr. Buker asked about Lieutenant Roarick and Chief Stafford not being included?
Mr. Sargent answered that Lieutenant Roarick and Chief Stafford were not included.
Mr. Stafford asked about Officer Horner’s exclusion?
Mr. Elliott stated that at the time it was believed that Officer Horner had completed all the hours he could as a part time officer, however, after reviewing his hours it was discovered that he still had some time left.
Mr. Goss stated that the town office was also understaffed.
Mr. Elliott said that he appreciated the departments coming in.
Mr. Sargent suggested that the employees discuss their staffing issues with their department heads/chief, so they can come to the Board
Mr. Goss stated that at budget time we are always told to hold the budget line.
Mr. Elliott said the budget time was the time to consider staffing and salaries.
Mr. Stafford stated that the town has the best highway department, fire departments and transfer station staff no matter what.
Mr. Butler asked if the board would be getting back to employees regarding the issues discussed at this meeting?
Mr. Sargent stated that it was a done deal. We will be looking at the salary scale for the whole town at budget time.
Mr. Goss still felt that the other departments had taken a back seat.
Mr. Elliott stated that the board will have to discuss it.
Mr. Goss reported that the Dean Hill Road situation has been resolved. He also informed the Board that Myrtle Street gate is ready to be put up and asked where they wanted it?
Mr. Elliott suggested that he get together with Mr. Buker and Mr. Coffey.
Mr. Morris reported that the swap shop is becoming a problem because people are dumping all sorts of items. The employees have to clean it our at least three times per week. He reported that recently he found a child in the swap shop handling a used hypodermic needle he had found.
Mr. Murdough stated just shut it down, most of the items in it are just junk.
Board agreed that this had to be discussed.
7:30 p.m. Carl Goodman presented the Board with a conceptual drawing of the new “Welcome to Hillsborough” sign for the Selectmen’s approval.
He reported that there will be four signs eventually and that all kinds of designs had been tried.
Mr. Elliott asked what did he need from the Board?
Mr. Goodman said only a letter to the State stating that the Board approved of the signs.
Mr. Sargent asked if Main Street Pride had been involved in this project?
Mr. Goodman stated that they had, but that the project had been left in the hands of the Chamber. They had tried to design a sign with all the civic organizations’ logos on it but that made the sign too big and the State did not want any directional arrows on the sign. So the simple welcome sign was agreed upon.
Mr. Elliott said that if Mr. Goodman would draft the letter the Board would sign it.
Mr. Goodman informed the Board that the Chamber is trying to organize a planning conference, out of town, during the day, to see where all the different groups (Hillsborough Planning Board, Hillsboro Chamber, Main Street, Hillsborough Pride, etc.) are going and/or planning to go. The meeting will be Monday, September 27.
Mark Murdough brought in a letter from the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards & Training and Emergency Medical Services responding to a letter they received from Todd Starkweather (also included) regarding the incident involving his father. Basically the State informed Mr. Starkweather and us that they had determined that this was a local issue.
Mr. Elliott suggested having a meeting with the Town of Henniker’s Selectmen, Commissioner Barry Hill and our Legislators to discuss our district courts and how chapter Law 236 affects them. What do we need to do to have an approved district court? What will they accept for a building?
Mr. Sargent asked who would engineer this meeting?
Mr. Elliott said that he would.
Board asked that Mr. Coffey compose a letter to Commissioner Hill saying that we are working on it for Mr. Elliott to sign.
Mr. Elliott and Mr. Sargent asked that Mr Coffey write a letter to the Sullivan County Attorney regarding the results of the Starkweather investigation.
Mr. Sargent reported that the hearing regarding the police department files is scheduled for September 1.
Mr. Buker asked how is staffing at the police department going?
Mr. Sargent said that Tama Mitchell is being called in and two former employees are back for part time help.
Mr. Buker has heard that there is an officer in Sunapee who is willing to help.
Mr. Elliott asked if we had reached out to any other towns for help?
Mr. Buker said he didn’t know.
Mr. Elliott wanted to discuss Lieutenant Roarick’s bonus issue, we negotiated for the other officers.
Mr. Sargent, responding to Mr. Elliott, stated, "we had to have a valid reason to go into non-public session, like, for instance, to discuss a personnel issue."
Mr. Elliott then asked to go into a non-public session to discuss a personnel matter.
Mr. Buker - yes
Mr. Elliott - yes
Mr. Sargent - yes
Board entered a non-public session at 8:25 p.m.
Adjourned from non-public session at 8:50 p.m. and voted to seal the minutes.
PENDING ITEMS
Joint Facilities Committee
Mechanism for billing for non-standard dispatch services.
Special detail account for HPD
Joint hiring of a prosecutor for HPD
SRO funding as part of the police budget
Federal Grant for Police Officer
HPD Wage Structure
Wage Structure for all Town employees
Town Parking
Woolen Mill and burned house on Mill Street
Renaming W. Main Street and Dump Road.
Was to be discussed at the August 11 Selectmen’s meeting. Committee profile & formation. Due to lack of time will need additional discussion
Set up meeting for September 8 from 7-8 pm , invite Chief, or Lt. Roarick, and Dispatch Supervisor.
Will be discussed during upcoming 2005 budget reviews.
To be discussed with Lt. Roarick at the September 8 meeting at 7:30 p.m. Needs further discussion.
Town Administrator to look into federal obligations and report back to the September 8 meeting.
Selectmen to discuss with Lt. Roarick at September 8 meeting.
To be discussed on 8/11. Selectmen agreed to add all employees into the study.
Town administrator to compile data from NHMA comparing Hillsborough with other towns. October 13
Item in progress.
To meet with Town Planner Matt Taylor on September 22.
Need to set a date for a public hearing.
Dog Catcher Contract
Downtown Transportation Enhancement Grant
Myrtle Street Barrier & school bus passage
Expansion of Board of Selectmen to 5 members
Park Board Appointments
Selectmen asked that feral cats be included. To be discussed in the 2005 budget process.
Town Administrator to contact Matt
Taylor for an update for August 25 meeting - Update was received.
Near completion. Gate is ready to be installed.
An open forum to be held on September 29th Selectmen’s meeting from 7-8 p.m.
Try to schedule with Park Board Chairman on September 22.
Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Iris Campbell
Secretary
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