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Warner Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes February 5, 2008 Meeting opened at 6:00 p.m. In Attendance:
Selectman David E. Hartman – Chairman Selectman
Richard A. Cook Selectman
Wayne Eigabroadt Absent:
None Others Present: Laura Buono – Town Administrator
William Chandler – Police Chief Allan Brown – Director of Public Works
Timothy L. Grant, PE - Provan & Lorber, Inc. Terry A. Lorber, PE – Provan &
Lorber, Inc.
Ed Mical Mary Whalen
Martha Mical JD Colcord
Jeanne Hand Jim Hand
Richard Senor 1. Non Public Session Selectman Cook made a motion to go into
nonpublic session as allowed by RSA 91-A: 3 II (b) Hiring. Selectman
Eigabroadt seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Selectman Cook, Aye; Selectman Eigabroadt,
Aye; Chairman Hartman, Aye. The
motion passed. Selectman
Cook moved that the Board of Selectmen come out of Nonpublic Session at
6:59 p.m. Selectman Eigabroadt seconded the motion.
A roll call vote: Selectman Cook, Aye; Selectman Eigabroadt, Aye;
Chairman Hartman, Aye. The motion passed unanimously. Selectman Cook made a motion to seal the
minutes of the non public session.
Selectman Eigabroadt seconded the motion.
All were in favor. The
motion passed. 2. Emergency Management Meetings Selectman Cook asked Chief Chandler why
there has not been any police representation at the Emergency Management
NIMS training and the Capital Area Health meetings as well the latest
Emergency Management training exercise.
Chief Chandler explained there was conflicting schedules and in
the future will certainly make an effort to represent the Police
Department. Chairman Hartman followed up with a
question on whether the Police Chief feels the need to apply for a grant
(specifics were not explained). 3. Connors Mill Bridge Allan Brown as well as Timothy L. Grant
and Terry A. Lorber from Provan & Lorber met with the Selectmen
about deciding upon a bridge structure.
The Selectmen have read the recommendations as submitted; Allan
is recommending the 70’ span with a concrete deck, the Town’s cost
will be $133K, total cost is $667K. The 70’ span will not impact any resident’s property
except for one driveway that will need to be relocated (included in
cost). The main concern is
the historic site; approval is needed from Historic Preservation. Chairman Hartman asked if the Board members have any
questions of the engineers, no questions were asked.
Mr. Brown explained the next step after agreeing on a structure
is to go before the State and FEMA at the same time.
Ms. Buono added that continued discussion is still needed with
the State regarding the FEMA funding. Chairman Hartman asked for questions from
the public: Jeanne Hand asked how old the original
bridge was. Allan said the bridge was about 30 years old.
Ms. Hand asked if the bridge had been inspected and was damaged
because of the storm. Allan
said the structure is a steel structure; the structure was already on
the State’s schedule for $100K worth of repairs because the bottom was
rusted out. The State would
have installed a concrete box structure. The Town’s portion for those
repairs would have been $17K. With the current proposal the Town’s portion will be a
little over $100K. Ms. Hand
confirmed that the bridge construction would be placed out for bid. The Town’s cost will be included in the Road Construction
Fund warrant. Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion
approving option #4 (70’ steel and concrete bridge) totaling $667K,
the Town’s share being $133,400.
Selectman Cook seconded the motion.
All were in favor. The
motion passed. Ed Mical recommended coordinating with
Historic Preservation, State and FEMA at the same time, if there are any
issues all parties involved will be able to answer any questions at the
same time. Mr. Grant
recommends sending the required report in advance of any scheduled
meeting. 4. JD Colcord - County Update Mr. Colcord explained that the County tax
is becoming a larger portion of the tax bills.
The Town does not have a say in the County tax nor do the
citizens of Warner have a vote in how the money is spent, only through
representation at the County Delegation.
The Commissioners submitted their budget to the Delegation in
early December, the budget is up by 11%; the cost to the taxpayers is up
by 22%. The reason being is
that revenue is down; a large revenue contributor is the Registry of
Deeds another contributor is the US Government (Medicaid).
The State of NH has decided that it no longer wants to be
involved with long-term care, so now Medicaid will be a Federal/County
program. The County will
now pick up the non-federal share of long-term care, which means it will
impact property taxes. For
Merrimack County the cost of this change amounts to $700K for the first
year, and in Mr. Colcord’s view that is just the tip of the iceberg,
the population is aging. If
the current law holds, and long-term care is paid through property tax,
Towns will be impacted. Mr.
Colcord believes Counties should be done away with; there are some
county functions that could be eliminated or done somewhere else. The
problem is the services must be provided by somebody.
Already the new county jail is over populated.
Department of Correction costs have gone from $2 million to $10
million a year; there is little control over these costs.
The current nursing home houses 286 beds
the new home will house 291 beds opening in March.
The home is built with the residents in mind; it’s not built as
an institution. The cost
per day is $235 per day, the State sets the reimbursement rate for both
Federal and everyone else involved.
The current reimbursement rate is $145 per day; the $90
difference is picked up by the taxpayers.
The new home will require more staff; the old nursing home will
be converted into assisted living.
One way to keep costs down is to keep individuals in their homes
as long as possible but you need qualified caregivers, which becomes a
problem in the northern part of the State.
Those who use private nursing homes that take Medicaid residents,
presently the County pays 25% of that cost, once the State bows out, the
County will be paying 50% of the cost.
The State will be responsible for old age assistance, the totally
disabled and juvenile costs; the costs for these items are fairly fixed
compared to elderly care. The County Government faces high benefit
costs. Mr. Colcord
encourages the Town of Warner to join the lawsuit regarding retirement
benefits. If the
legislature passes the recommendation the cost to the employee will be
45%. The County has a
current lawsuit saying when the State passed the new proposal for
long-term care it was an unfunded mandate, the County never signed on
for that change. The County is involved in the recycling
business; the operation takes in recyclables from Boscawen, Canterbury
and Franklin. Inmates operate the facility.
The Executive Director from the Regional Co-op has approached the
County for land to build a single-stream recycling facility. Mr. Colcord added that the new nursing
home is geo-thermal; the pay back is seven years.
Mr. Colcord offered to take the Selectmen on a tour of the
facility. Public questions: Mr. Hand asked about the status of the old
nursing home. Mr. Colcord explained the residents will be moved to the new
nursing home, the 1864 section of the old nursing home will be torn down
the remaining section will be revamped for assisted living.
Mr. Hand asked if the facility services hospice.
Mr. Colcord said yes, most of the clients are on Medicaid. Ms. Hand asked Mr. Colcord what the County
does about illegal immigrants. Mr.
Colcord explained that the County is not involved in law enforcement.
Illegal immigrants need to be resolved at the Federal level. Ms. Hand asked Mr. Colcord what he means when he refers to
the Constitution. Mr.
Colcord explained the County is governed by State Statute and the State
Constitution. Mr. Colcord recommends inviting the
Governor to a meeting to recommend to him that the State needs revenue
sources other than property taxes.
The Town of Warner is presenting a warrant asking representative
and the Governor to reject the
“Pledge”, and have an open discussion covering all options, and
adopt a revenue system that lowers property taxes. 5. Jeanne Hand - Resident Mrs. Hand met with the Selectmen to
discuss the proposed traffic light at exit 9 and the $10K set aside to
look into the situation. Selectman
Eigabroadt explained the area meets criteria for traffic control.
The Planning Board is looking at different ideas and different
proposals along with cost estimates.
These discussions are on-going at the Planning Board level.
Ms. Hand asked about the possibility of a traffic light at North
Road knowing that it would involve the hotel.
Selectman Eigabroadt said during the corridor study North Road
was pointed out as a possibility.
Ms. Hand recommends any new development should pay for a traffic
light. Chairman Hartman
referred Mrs. Hand to the Planning Board. 6. Bartlett Fund Request Simonds School is requesting $515 for a
play that will be performed at the school by the Hampstead Players.
Selectman Cook made the motion
to approve the expenditure of $515 from the Bartlett Fund for Simonds
School. Martha Mical
asked if the play is performing at any other school in the district, and
if so, how is it being funded, point being if the district is funding
the play anywhere within the district then the district should also pay
for Simonds School. Selectman
Cook amended the motion to approve the expense conditional, that the
play is a special occasion for the Warner school and no other school in
the district is having the same performance paid for by the school
district. Ms. Buono added
that she will request that the school supply the discussed information
in their next funding request. Selectman
Eigabroadt is concerned by making the request conditional; he recommends
approving the request and then researching if other schools are
participating. Ms. Buono is
confident that Simonds School understands the parameters for the
Bartlett Fund, they request funds every year.
The Selectmen agreed to table the motion until the next scheduled
meeting. 7. Sign Permit – Harold French The Board of Selectmen recommends
verifying if Mr. French has a home business because the sign states
“Buying Antiques and Old Books”.
Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion
to approve a Sign Permit for 74 Route 127, 2’ x 2’ free standing
sign, permanent on premises contingent upon verifying if a home business
is being conducted that would require a Home Occupation Permit.
Selectman Cook seconded the motion.
All were in favor. The
motion passed. 8. Vehicle Registration Reimbursement Selectman Cook made the motion
to reimburse Clark Lindley $10.00 for overpayment on his vehicle
registration. Selectman
Eigabroadt seconded the motion. All
were in favor. The motion
passed. 9. Administrator’s Report Fire/Rescue Vehicle – The new fire & rescue vehicle has
been received, however, it had to go back and have the back portion
re-painted since it was noticed that it was a different shade of red
than the front of the vehicle. Highway Department – The Highway Department has completed
removing the debris which was mixed in with the brush piles in the back
of the lot. The debris was
taken to the Transfer Station and the piles have been inspected by
members of the Board of Selectmen, the Fire Chief and one of the Forest
Fire Wardens. A letter was
drafted for everyone to sign which indicates that the piles were
inspected and the debris was removed.
The Transfer Station has already submitted a letter stating that
they received the debris and Allan Brown would like to burn the
remaining brush before the snow melts. Red Cross – The Town just received a letter from the Red
Cross requesting that we place funding in our budget to donate to them
in the amount of $1,320.00. According
to the documentation, the funds are used in various ways such as Blood
Drives, Health & Safety Classes, Assistance to fire and disaster
victims, etc. Does the
Board wish to add this amount into the 2008 budget?
Selectman Cook recommends not donating an amount because the Town
is at the end of the budget process; the Public Hearing is scheduled for
February 7. The Red Cross can submit something next year in a timely
manner. Foothills Restaurant – The Foothills Restaurant has applied
for a beer & wine liquor license and needs a letter from the Board
of Selectmen stating that there is no objection to the fact that they
applied for a license. The
Selectmen have no objection. 2008 Regional Dinner – The Local Government Center is
holding their annual Regional Dinners and the topic this year is the
issues surrounding New Hampshire Retirement System.
This is an important issue and a great opportunity to network
with other Towns as well as get the updated information on the impact of
pending legislation surrounding NHRS.
The dinner being held in Concord is on March 18th
which is a Selectmen’s Meeting night.
The Selectmen will hold their bi-weekly meeting on March 19th. Petition Articles – The Town received three petition
articles. Two dealing with
tax exemptions for real property equipped with a wind powered energy
system or solar power and the other to raise and appropriate $700 for
the purchase of a professional grade real time digital audio recording
system for the purpose of having CDs of meetings which can be downloaded
to the website and archived. Martha Mical has a concern because about
the energy petitions, it does not state in the RSAs that the equipment
needs to be in working order. The
Board reviewed the RSAs and determined the verbiage implies the
equipment must be in working condition.
Ms. Mical explained that the Department of Revenue Administration
advises when the property changes ownership the new owner must reapply
for the exemption. Martha
Mical advises an amendment from the Town Meeting floor adding
“assessed value”. Clarification
is needed on the interpretation of the RSAs regarding the assessment of
the property when there is a wind or solar exemption.
10. Manifest Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion to
authorize the Selectmen to sign the manifest and order the Treasurer to
sign check number 40861 dated 01/24/2008 totaling $1,675.63 and payroll
check numbers 40862 -40899 dated 01/29/2008 totaling $32,272.98,
accounts payable check numbers 40900-40904 dated 01/29/2008 totaling
$11,397.19. Selectman Cook
seconded the motion. All
were in favor. The motion
passed. 11. General Business Ms. Buono discussed with the Selectmen a
right-to-know request submitted by Ken Klinedinst.
Chairman Hartman presented the final
report from the Regional Co-op for two single-stream options.
One is throwing in loose the other is using a compactor.
12. Meeting Minutes Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion
to approve meeting minutes dated January 9 & 22 and Non Public
sealed minutes dated January 9.
Selectman Cook seconded the motion.
All were in favor. The
motion passed. Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion
to unseal non public meeting minutes dated: June 27, 2000
July 25, 2000 August
8, 2000
November
16, 2000
March 27, 2001 September 25, 2001
August 27, 2002 October
1, 2002
January 28, 2003
February 1, 2003 February 4, 2003 March
18, 2003
March 25, 2003
April
6, 2003
June 10, 2003 June 24, 2003
July 8, 2003 July
8, 2003
December 4, 2003
April 13, 2004 April 27, 2004,
May 4, 2004
May
11, 2004
May 18, 2004
June 29, 2004 September 21, 2004
October 19, 2005
January 29, 2007
June 12, 2007
Selectman Cook seconded the motion.
All were in favor. Motion to adjourn 8:50 p.m. Board of Selectmen David E. Hartman – Chairman
Respectfully submitted, Mary Whalen Recorder of the minutes
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