In attendance: Selectman Edward F. Mical – Chairman, Selectman John C. Brayshaw and Selectman Allen C. Brown

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen.

Chairman Mical opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Chairman Mical opened the second Public Hearing for the wage study. For the record the Public Hearing was noticed in the Intertown Record on December 23, 2003, posted at the Town Hall, website, Post Office, cable, and the library. At this time, Peter St. James, Chairman of the Wage Study Committee, presented an update. Mr. St. James forwarded a printed copy of remarks that will be entered into the record: (Summarized below)

Since the last Public Hearing, job descriptions have been modified by the Department Heads from the original form. Most of the job descriptions are in their second draft form. Once all employee positions were identified the Committee moved into determining salary ranges. The Committee used a median average (which is to delete both the highest and the lowest salaries and then work with those that are left). By using this method, skewing is avoided. The Committee proposed a seven level salary range for each position. The levels do not represent what an employee can expect every year for a raise. These are merely consistent, incremental increases through the salary range for each position. Ascending the scale will be determined by an employee’s job performance and how it is judged through a Performance Review. The goal in establishing pay ranges was to ensure that the Towns wages are competitive and fair.

• Mike Rogers asked the Selectmen for their understanding, does the whole Board know what is going on.
• Chairman Mical explained that the Board does communicate on the progress of the Committee.
• John Dabuliewicz asked what the Warrant Article would contain. Will the Article include the pay scale based on the position and performance evaluations?
• Selectman Brayshaw commented that the Board would gather input from the Department Heads in order to formulate a Warrant Article for any pay adjustments in the future, possibly using a two step process.
• Chris Perkins commented that the previous Wage Study Committee developed a generic performance appraisal form, and was accepted by the Selectmen, this Wage Study Committee will use the appraisal form as a starting point.
• John Dabuliewicz asked the Board if it is their intention to have a consistent process of evaluation. Mr. Dabuliewicz recommended presenting the Warrant Article with the pay adjustments along with the Wage Study.
• Mike Rogers asked if the wage scale should be adjusted by the cost of living increase. Mr. Rogers stated that if the cost of living increase is not put on top of the existing wage scale numbers, then the scale is behind a year.
• Judith Rogers commented that the cost of living increase is going directly to the employee’s rate of pay not the wage scale.

Chairman Mical closed the Public Hearing at 6:22 p.m.

Chairman Mical updated the Board about the Budget Committee meeting that was held on January 5, 2004. Revenue projections were reviewed, also the Long Sheet was reviewed. The Selectmen will present their salary increase proposal to the Budget Committee on January 12, 2004.

The Selectmen discussed the Planning/Zoning clerical position. The Budget Committee has asked for clarification on the position. Previously the Selectmen made a motion to accept the Zoning Board budget as presented including a pay increase for budgetary purposes. The Budget Committee asked if the cost of living increase was included. The Selectmen’s position is to include any cost of living increase along with the hourly increase in the budget for the Zoning Board. The Selectmen re-addressed the Legal line for Zoning. Chairman Mical spoke with Legal Counsel in regards to the current case that is pending; Legal Counsel estimates a cost of $4,000.00 to $5,000.00. The Selectmen recommended increasing the Legal Line by another $1,000.00 totaling to $12,466.00. The Selectmen discussed the Planning Board’s recommendation of 18 hours per week for clerical. The Selectmen agreed to the 18 hours per week along with applying the cost of living increase to the proposed salary increase. The Legal Line was also increased totaling to $7,500.00.

The Selectmen discussed the Assessing Line, Chairman Mical excused himself. Office hours will be increased from 832 hours to 850 hours. Pick-ups will be contracted through an outside source.

David Hartman met with the Selectmen to give a summary about the annual Co-op meeting with Concord Regional. The tonnage was set at $37.15 per ton at a set G.A.T amounting to 1900 tons. There will no longer be a penalty charge for going over the base tonnage (1734). Mr. Hartman recommended budgeting for 2100 tons. Mr. Hartman will also be forwarding any Co-op meeting information and communications to the Selectmen’s Office.

Paul Fouliard, Department Head of the Transfer Station presented to the Selectmen options for disposing of glass. The option that Mr. Fouliard sees as realistic is becoming a satellite for Northeast Recycling Recovery Association. Which means that the Town of Warner would need to set an area aside big enough to accommodate 350-400 tons of glass. Once a year NRRA contracts a company from Maine that will come out with a glass crusher, a loader, and a crew to grind the glass into a usable product. Warner would only pay for the glass that we put in, (about 60 tons). The other towns would be responsible for trucking the glass to Warner. Warner would be responsible for the storage of the glass and grooming the pile once or twice a week. NRRA charges $10.00 per ton to crush the glass (Warner’s cost would be $600.00). Another option is for Warner to truck the glass to New London costing $10.00 per ton plus trucking fees. And the last option is to crush our own glass. The Selectmen recommend forwarding this information to the Recycle Committee for their input. The Recycle Committee has strongly expressed that Warner should not be the recipient of other Towns trash. The Selectmen’s concerns for option one are as follows; the cost of putting in an access road to the glass pile, the terms for the lease with the State would need to change, a secured gate is part of the terms, and receiving contaminated product from other towns.

Judith Rogers commented that the recycling center was set up to keep things out of the landfill. As a community we can help resolve other towns sending recyclables to landfills. If product does not go to the landfill, that helps everyone. If Warner is in control of the situation then when there is the first sign of trouble we can stop it. A true Recycling Committee would look at the recycling point of view to save the environment.

Julie Emery met with the Selectmen to further discuss signage for Curves. The Selectmen will draft a letter to corporate explaining why the purple color of the sign does not meet the esthetics of the Town. The Selectmen have noticed various colors in other towns.

Lighting options for the Transfer Station were discussed. Paul Fouliard has working equipment in his possession, light fixtures, bulbs and timers. For budgetary purposes the Selectmen proposed $1,400.00 to have the lights installed with a separate on/off switch. The cost of signage from New Hampshire the Beautiful was discussed. It was decided not to purchase the signs. The Selectmen discussed the proposed overall wage increase amounting to 3% with Paul Fouliard. Paul has submitted pay increases for himself and his crew based on the old wage study. Selectman Brayshaw asked if there is documented tonnage increase from last year. Paul Fouliard is requesting two additional 20-hour positions in the 2004 budget. The Finance Director explained that there is a tonnage increase with Concord Regional. By recycling, we have generated more income from vendors and based on the time cards, overtime could be eliminated with one additional person. The Selectmen asked Mr. Fouliard if an additional person would control the overtime. Mr. Fouliard stated "yes". Mr. Fouliard commented that the Department of Environmental Services recommends 160 available man-hours per week for a town the size of Warner. The Selectmen decided on two positions at 16 hours each. The overtime for Mr. Fouliard was cut from 100 to 50 hours. Mr. Newman will carry 20 hours of overtime. Mr. Roberts will be at 26 hours a week and Mr. Ryan will stay at 16 hours a week with 16 hours of overtime. The hourly rate for the part-time positions will be budgeted for $10.32 + 3%.

Fire Chief, Dick Brown met with the Selectmen, who in turn, informed Chief Brown that the Selectmen voted to go forward with the compressed air Cascade System in a Warrant Article amounting to $25,000.00. The fire wages for 2004 will be compensated at $7.60 per hour; the EMT stand-by position will be at 40 hours per week instead of 45 hours plus the 3% hourly increase to the current rate.

Chairman Mical made the motion to close the public session and open a non-public session per RSA 91-A: 3 II (d), Selectman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Brayshaw made the motion to close the non-public session and to seal the minutes per RSA 91-A:3, III . Selectman Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

The Selectmen discussed a past Board agreement that consisted of a yearly pay increase to the Director of Public Works and the Finance Director. The Selectmen reviewed a ten-year pay schedule that was created by a previous Board; both salaries are now higher than the ten-year projection. The Selectmen decided to wait for the wage scale and address the salaries at that time.

Chairman Mical discussed the custodial position. Currently the position does not receive vacation and sick time when other part-time positions receive the benefits. The custodial position will be corrected to reflect vacation and sick time.

The Selectmen discussed an additional full-time position at the Highway Department. The position was filled when an individual at the Highway Department was on medical leave. When the employee returned from medical leave the additional position remained on. With the upcoming 2004 budget, the extra position was budgeted for. After discussion regarding the current personnel and the possibility of a position retiring the Selectmen decided to keep the extra position.

The Selectmen will continue pursuing a new phone system (Centrex) for the Town Hall with TDS. The Selectmen are waiting for a price quote.

The Selectmen will continue paying mileage for the Building Inspector; in the past, mileage was not included in the budget, the 2004 budget will be adjusted to reflect mileage reimbursement.

The 2004 Election budget was adjusted to reflect all elections in 2004 (five elections & Town Meeting).

The Selectmen approved a vacation carry-over request for the Finance Director.

The Selectmen discussed a recommendation from the Budget Committee to increase the Selectmen’s salary. The Selectmen will wait for the wage study.

A Town Hall rental was approved for a play for a Kearsarge Regional School, Bradford.

Motion to adjourn at 10:50 p.m.

Edward F. Mical – Chairman
John C. Brayshaw
Allen C. Brown