Chairman O'Connor opened the Selectmen’s meeting at 6:00 p.m., in attendance was, Selectman Robert C. O'Connor – Chairman, Selectman John C. Brayshaw and Selectman Edward F. Mical.

Recorder of the minutes: Mary Whalen

The Board of Selectmen signed the Warrants that will be published in the Town Report. The Warrants will be posted at the Town Hall, Pillsbury Free Library and the Post Office. Copies are available at the Selectmen’s Office.

The Board signed previously approved minutes, and reviewed the meeting minutes from February 11, 2003.

The Board of Selectmen received a petition from Mr. George Chase requesting the Board to re-classify the upgraded section of East Joppa Road. A public hearing will be scheduled within thirty days.

Selectman Mical made a motion to adjourn at 6:30 p.m., Selectman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

February 18, 2003

Chairman O'Connor opened the growth discussion. Selectman O’Connor and Selectman Brayshaw were in attendance along with members of the public. Chairman O'Connor briefed the audience that the topic for this evening will be the impact on Town Services.

Chief William Chandler spoke to the audience in regards to the impact that Exit 9 has had on the Town. To date an estimated 3,200 cars a day exit the highway both north and south bound. There has been sixty one building permits for new homes issued in the last three years, as of February 6, 2003 there has been five new home permits issued. Criminal related activity has risen 104% since 1996, investigative issues take officer time away from patrolling. Once the Town reaches 3,000 people the State Police will not be obligated to pick up some of the calls which will force the Police Department to be more self sufficient.

What particular areas have the Police seen activity in? There have been a number of domestic violence issues, assault related crimes, criminal trespassing, criminal threatening, but burglary has been down.

Do the Police keep track of activity off the highway? There is an individual contact sheet that can compile that information.

When do you think the Town will be at 3,000 people? It is currently at 2,800 people.

Chairman O'Connor commented on the time that investigations take and how investigations are prolonged due to the lack of manpower, as the Town keeps growing this will become an impending issue.

What are the hours when the Town is covered? On a week when no personnel time is used (vacation, sick, etc.) coverage is twenty hours a day, five days a week, eighteen hours a two days a week. The State is on call after those hours.

You would like a Detective added some where down the road, assuming the growth hits the 3,000 mark what would be the next positions in order to cope with the growth? When the time comes, a Detective would be promoted within the existing personnel and then the patrol officer would have to be replaced.

What percentage of an officer’s time is dedicated to paperwork, and could any of it be delegated? The individual doing the investigation needs to be the one doing the documentation, it a good 60% – 70% of the officers time.

Paul Fouliard, Transfer Station Supervisor, addressed the audience on how the Town’s growth has affected the Transfer Station. Mr. Fouliard stated that there was 450 tons of recyclable material, 60 tons of demolition material which leads to each man moving 130 tons by hand with the number increasing. There has been an increase in housing by 61 new homes in the last three years, which represents 1000 lbs. per household of refuse if they recycle; if they do not recycle you add another 20%. The Transfer Station is quickly outgrowing the facility, manpower and equipment is also at a maximum. The Town of Warner recycles more material than a lot of towns in the State. The Town of Littleton has turned the recycables into a business. The Town of Warner should look into this solution to reduce the tax burden from the Transfer Station. Between revenues and savings the Transfer Station recouped an estimated $78,000.00.

What type of fee if any is being administered to dumpster holders? Right now it is only the fee from Naughton. The Recycle Committee is working of developing a Dumpster fee that will end up as revenue for the Town of Warner.

Has the Town looked into public recycling bins that could be set up at local vendors? Not to date.

Is the Recycle Committee sanctioning the Warrant Article regarding the abolishing of fees collected from contractors regarding metal, furniture etc.? Mr. Fouliard explained that the fees collected at the Town Clerk’s office will be for tires and car related parts only. The money collected can be used in any way to dispose of recyclables.

Have you found ways to keep drywall out of the demo box? Yes, mixing the drywall with the mulch and using it as a water diversion.

Is there a value to expand and take recyclables from other sources? Yes, there are surrounding towns that do not take plastic or cardboard.

What are your plans for expansion? Currently we are looking at a horizontal bailer through Grant money.

Judith Rogers, Town Clerk, spoke to the audience about how the growth has impacted her office. Mrs. Rogers summarized growth that impacts services and results in a creation of a larger infrastructure (building, or equipment) over shadows the impact of that same growth on services that do not have a visible physical expansion. All work has increased by 50%. Right now to handle the growth, more hours are needed for the Deputy Town Clerk. The licensing of dogs has increased along with the registration, and there is added work when there is an Election.

How many more hours would be needed for the Deputy Town Clerk to meet the demands? Ten to five hours a week would be helpful.

Derek Pershouse, Co-Chairman of the Planning Board, explained to the audience the upcoming ordinance changes that will be on the ballot, and discussed the proposed changes for cell towers. Currently there is one cell tower that is completed behind the Davisville Cemetery, there are two more towers proposed, one that has been approved in between North Road and Tory Hill Road, and another application for Parade Ground Cemetery and Kelly Hill.

Chairman O'Connor closed the growth meeting at 8:30 p.m., the next growth meeting will be scheduled for the month of April.

Robert C. O'Connor – Chairman

John C. Brayshaw

Edward F. Mical