Board of Selectmen’s
Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2010
Present: Selectmen Robert Buker and Lou Ann Rousseau, Town Administrator John Stetser, Library Trustees Robert Woolner, Martha Stark, Christopher O’Connor, Head Librarian Tamara McClure, Robert Charron, Francis Charron, Haven Newton, Michael Bruss and Selectmen’s Secretary Iris Campbell
Meeting was opened at 5:35 p.m. by Robert Buker.
Mr. Woolner asked if the library renovation phases could be done over more than one year?
Mr. Stetser said yes.
Mr. Bruss said his estimates are based literally on the draws developed from the input gathered at the recent charrette.
Mr. Buker asked if money for the acquisition of land could be included in phase one?
Mr. Bruss said yes and added that there is grant money available for that. He said grant awarding is enhanced when they see that the town has committed money to the project.
5:45 p.m. Joseph Collins entered the meeting.
Mrs. McClure asked if the town would be eligible for grants where we had just received a community development block grant?
Mr. Stetser said there is a six month waiting period.
Mr. Bruss said they like to work with towns who already have received a grant.
Mr. Stetser asked if we did a one million-dollar bond can we apply for grant reimbursement?
Mr. Bruss said some grants yes, some no. You can do a bond in anticipation of receiving grants.
Mr. Buker asked if a small amount could be used to renovate the upstairs of this building, so we could move the three town office employees, now working out of the Gables Building, over to this complex?
Mr. Bruss said it would have to comply with all fire safety issues and would probable cost as much as the renovations to the downstairs.
Mr. Woolner said it might be more practical to do on the upper floors of the library to make them available for temporary occupancy by the town office employees, rather than wasting the money on the second floor of this building.
Mr. Bruss said the sprinkler system would then have to be extended to all the upper floors.
Mr. Collins said he would like to see the building exterior work, porch sprinklers, porch alarms and the beginning of the elevator shaft done.
Mr. Stetser said a bond for $500,000 would add $.13 per thousand to the tax rate.
Mr. Charron, the Town Treasurer, said borrowing is good right now.
6:15 p.m. Kevin Belanger entered the meeting.
Mr. Collins said he didn’t want to depend on grants to fix the building. He wants to satisfy the fire marshal and sure up the building.
Mr. Woolner said the article could read that the money is for Phase I and the town would be applying for grants. If grants are received, the money could be used to begin Phase II.
The consensus was to present an article for a $400,000 bond to do the work described in Phase I of the renovation plan.
6:55 p.m. Captain David Roarick entered the meeting.
Mr. Collins said he will work on the wording of an article and e-mail it to the others for their input.
7:15 p.m. Kevin Belanger and Captain David Roarick discussed with the Board additional cuts Captain Roarick had done to the Police, Police Building and Dispatch proposed 2010 budget.
Mr. Collins said they had cut $90,000 from the total of the three proposed budgets.
Captain Roarick went on to explain where some of the cuts had been made. The request for a new phone system has been moved to a warrant article. The heating fuel budget was cut and the acquisition of two vehicles will be done, using the Special Detail Revolving Fund. He also cut $10,000 from the payroll budget which was to cover police coverage at the Balloon Festival.
Captain Roarick asked the Board to consider changing the town’s personnel policy to reflect the fact that the police department works ten hour shifts and only receive eight hours of pay on a holiday not worked and have to take two hours of vacation time to cover the difference. He also asked to change the police work schedule back to a forty-hour work week with no change in the gross pay.
Mr. Collins made a motion to present the budget for 2010 at $6,228,074 which is an increase of .47% over the 2008 and 2009 budgets. Mrs. Rousseau seconded the motion. The Board voted Mr. Collins - yes, Mrs. Rousseau - yes and Mr. Buker - yes.
Mr. Collins said the Board was ready to offer Captain Roarick the Police Chief’s position with a three-year contract, which needs to be ratified by both parties.
Mr. Collins said the proposed contract for the police chief’s position needed to be reviewed by all parties.
Mr. Collins said the Board had decided there would be no COLA and no change in the employee’s benefits package or insurance buyouts this year. However, the insurance buyout would be cut in half for the July 2010-June 2011 coverage year.
Mr. Collins said the Board would be creating an Employee Personnel Policy/Benefits Study Committee.
Mr. Collins made a motion to change the scheduling for the police department to a forty-hour work week with overtime to be paid after forty-three hours. The implementation and scheduling would be left up to the discretion of the Police Chief. Mrs. Rousseau seconded the motion. The Board voted Mr. Collins - yes, Mrs. Rousseau - yes and Mr. Buker - yes.
Mr. Collins made a motion that the Board of Selectmen enter into a three-year agreement with David Roarick for the position of police chief. Mrs. Rousseau seconded the motion. The Board voted Mr. Collins - yes, Mrs. Rousseau - yes and Mr. Buker - yes.
The Board and Captain Roarick had previously discussed the portion of the Police Chief’s job description which referred to the need for a bachelors degree in criminal justice or business or work experience. Captain Roarick said he did not have a degree but would like to pursue it if time allowed. The Board felt his job experience was more than adequate but encouraged him to obtain a degree for his and the town’s benefit.
The Board decided to cancel next week’s department head meeting.
Mr. Collins made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Buker seconded the motion. The Board voted Mr. Collins - yes, Mrs. Rousseau - yes and Mr. Buker - yes.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Iris Campbell
Selectmen’s Secretary
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