Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

 

Selectman Hartman opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

In Attendance:   Selectman David Karrick, Jr. - Chairman

Selectman David E. Hartman

Selectman Clyde Carson

                        Town Administrator – Laura Buono

Absent:             None                  

Others present:              Henry Bothfeld               Martha Mical                  Ed Mical            Jan Dyment       

Jim McLaughlin               Faith Minton                   Marianne Howlett           Allan Brown       John Warner     

Varick Proper                 Barbara Annis                David Swords                 Rick Davies        Peter Wyman  

1. Kearsarge Elderly Housing – Henry Bothfeld

Chairman Karrick asked Mr. Bothfeld what is in place at the elderly housing facility in regards to emergencies and power outages.  Henry Bothfeld, President of Kearsarge Elderly Housing explained at this time there are no provisions.  The Community Action Program is working on obtaining generators for 5 facilities.  Selectman Carson asked if there is someone responsible for checking on the tenants when an emergency arises.  Mr. Bothfeld said there is not. Mr. Carson asked who would be in charge of the generator.  Mr. Bothfeld agrees that the whole emergency subject needs to be addressed.  Mr. Bothfeld will discuss the Selectmen’s concerns at the next Kearsarge Elderly Board meeting.  Selectman Hartman recommended to bring forward the residents concerns before the board.  Emergency Management Director feels a plan is needed; during the December 08 ice storm it was learned through Concord , NH CAP that all residents would be leaving except for one.  When the Fire Department went to the facility they learned there was more than just one resident that stayed behind. Chairman Karrick asked Mr. Bothfeld to meet with the Selectmen after their annual meeting.   

2. Emergency Management

Emergency Management Director Ed Mical reported the grant extension request for Mason Hill Road and West Joppa Road are scheduled to be closed out by December 2009.  The Horne Street deadline is December 1, 2009 ; the Highway Department is already working on the project and intends on meeting the deadline.   The deadline for the West Joppa stone culvert project is February 28, 2010 .  The deadline for the dry fire hydrants is September 30, 2009 .  For tracking purposes Mr. Mical will complete a status report.  Also a quarterly report needs to be submitted to the State showing the progress.  Selectman Carson asked what the Town’s portion is made up of.  Mr. Mical explained the Town’s portion can be made up from labor or money.   

Mr. Mical reported that on March 27th he attended a grant development workshop dealing with Hazard Mitigation grant program applications and Emergency Management performance grant applications.  In the past the Town has applied for both.  Under the 2007 program all four events will be combined resulting in $2.5 – $3 million available in grant money.  A letter of intent has been submitted for more dry fire hydrants.  Mr. Mical is also working with the Director of Public Works on a grant application that will address drainage issues at the Town Hall.  

Mr. Mical learned that generators can be applied for under the Emergency Management Performance Grant.  The match would be 50/50.  Mr. Mical is working on proposals for the Town Hall and Fire Station.  The deadline to spend the money is September 30, 2009 ; the Town is not able to fund for this project this year.  A generator for the Fire Department will cost upwards of $35K and for the Town Hall about $18K.  Selectman Carson asked about the Precinct.  Mr. Mical said the Precinct is pursuing a generator.  Mr. Mical recommended adding the generators to the Capital Improvements Program.  Selectman Carson asked if the Town receives the grant for the generators does the money need to be spent in this calendar year.  Mr. Mical said the State is trying to extend the 2009 funds until September 2010.   

Mr. Mical reported that under the Emergency Management budget for 2009 he allotted funding for updating the Emergency Operations Plan; he has learned the plan can be funded through an Emergency Management Performance Grant and anticipates completion by the September 30th deadline.  Mr. Mical will move forward with the update.  

Finally, Mr. Mical reported Concord Hospital Center for Health has scheduled a meeting on May 5th at the Town Hall.  There will be a presentation to look at how the hospital can better serve Warner.  Invitations and information will be sent by Concord Hospital .

3. David Swords – Energy Committee Interest

Selectman Carson explained that Mr. Swords has recently been active with the Energy Committee and was instrumental in helping with the recent grant application.  Mr. Swords said he can assist the Committee with grants; he has experience as a professional writer and editor and is interested and concerned about energy usage.   Selectman Carson moved to appoint David Swords to the Warner Energy Committee.  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

4. Transfer Station

The Director of Public Works asked if he could correct some statements that were made at Town Meeting.  First of all the Transfer Station collected more revenue in 2008 than it has ever collected, secondly if contractors need to dispose of demo material beyond the public hours they can call the Transfer Station and make arrangements and lastly the Transfer Station public hours are the same as they have been all along.  

Transfer Station Foreman Varick Proper presented a proposal to the Selectmen that reduces the current labor hours of 131 hours to rolling it back to 88 hours per week and to expand initially on a seasonal basis the public hours adding Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the hours may reduce congestion on Saturdays.  The Sunday hours will be from April until October.  The Director of Public Works feels that after October and during the snow season it would be best not to have the Sunday hours due to snow removal requirements, but if the Sunday hours are received favorably the Selectmen may wish to continue the Sunday hours throughout the year.  Mr. Proper explained the staff would be on a rotation schedule.  The towns that currently provide Sunday hours say it is their busiest day.  Chairman Karrick asked if the 88 hours would be phased in.  Mr. Proper prefers the term progressive roll back, with 88 hours being the target.  Ms. Buono asked Mr. Proper to touch upon the amount of baling that is processed on the off days; she was led to believe that there was a lot more baling being completed.  Mr. Proper explained there is cardboard baled on Wednesday; aluminum cans depending on the season are baled once every three to four weeks as well as the #2 natural plastic.  Everything else can be processed while open to the public.   

Selectman Carson asked what currently takes place on Mondays.  Mr. Proper said there are 20.5 man hours scheduled for Mondays, he does not feel there is enough work to warrant the 20.5 hours, with the changes that have been made it is time to move away from Monday hours.  Within two months Naughton will stop providing cardboard. The cardboard is costing the Town $120 (8 hours) in wages to produce 1 ton of cardboard that pays $27.50.  The cardboard is Naughton’s cardboard through their accounts; it was processed through the Transfer Station because it was mutually beneficial between Naughton and the Transfer Station.  Naughton will process the cardboard at their own recycling facility.   

Selectman Carson asked if the time that is being freed could be used more effectively such as having an attendant check for Transfer Station stickers, educating the public on what goes where in an effort to reduce the tonnage.  Mr. Proper agrees there are some enforcement issues that need to be addressed.  Mr. Proper said the Transfer Station used to do these things ten years ago with similar recycling tonnage with 75 hours per week.  Mr. Brown added that when he took over the facility in 2008 there was 155 man-hours scheduled per week with only 19 hours open to the public.  

Mr. Proper added that the Transfer Station still has the swap area as well as the salvage area.  Items are not as abundant due to the economy; people are not doing as many home projects, also people are utilizing web sites such as Craig’s List to buy and sell.  Mr. Proper added that rumors of the area’s demise are greatly exaggerated.   

Selectman Carson asked if it is still effective to hand stack the demo dumpster.  Mr. Proper said he spoke to the staff member that performed that task, the man-hours it took to hand load the demo material cost $7K - $8K per year.  Mr. Proper does not feel the Town recouped the man hour cost through transportation savings to justify hand loading the demo.  Mr. Brown also said the sheet rock that was left lying on the ground that should have been disposed of in the demo box is now going to cost the Town approximately $30K to dispose of.  Selectman Carson asked if it is worthwhile exploring if there is a use for the sheetrock pile.  Mr. Proper clarified that the current sheetrock pile is a sheetrock/debris pile, when you look through the pile there is treated lumber, carpet, lids to drywall buckets etc.  Mr. Proper said Clean Harbor from Maine seems to be the cheapest to process the material which would be used to rehabilitate brown field sites resulting in a beneficial end use of the material.  There are programs available for clean sheet rock; for used sheetrock material in NH there are no programs available.  Selectman Carson asked about what was done in the past with the berms, can that still be done now.  Mr. Brown explained at one time the Transfer Station had a permit to build berms around the burn pile, but the berms are not near the burn pile.  Mr. Proper said he fails to see the utility of the berms when all they are doing is blocking up the drainage ditch as well as being in the way of snow removal.  The Transfer Station is working with Northeast Resource Recovery Association in conjunction with Clean Harbor to dispose of the sheetrock.  

The next disposal cost will be removing the wood ash; technically the wood ash should be removed every year.  Since removal has not been done for several years the ash needs to be tested before removal.  Having a bad test result means the ash would need to be disposed in a hazardous waste landfill which could be costly.   

Selectman Carson asked if the fees for the demo have been increased.  Mr. Proper said that he has not finished reviewing the current fees and plans on meeting with the Board in the near future.  One of the problems is contractors coming in with truck loads of demo debris.  

Chairman Karrick asked the Board members their feelings on the progressive change in hours and opening the facility on Sunday for the spring, summer and fall.  Ed Mical asked if there is a cut back on Monday and Wednesdays what will be done about the brush pile.  Mr. Proper said the current proposed schedule has the Foreman on site for Mondays and Wednesdays.  Mr. Brown said after January 1, 2010 the burning of wood will not be allowed.   

Selectman Carson asked if it was possible to put a plan together showing what it would take to have someone managing the swap area, an attendant checking stickers and educating the public.  Mr. Proper said he would put something together.  Selectman Hartman recommends using volunteer efforts for the swap shop.  Also Selectman Carson would like to see on paper the first phase of the progression to 88 hours.   Selectman Hartman is concerned about the reduction to 88 hours, but as Mr. Proper said this will be a progressive roll back.  Discussion took place regarding the Sunday hours, maybe open for a half day.  The importance of keeping continuity on Saturdays and Sundays for the public was discussed.  

Chairman Karrick moved to open the Warner Transfer Station on Sundays beginning in the month of April through October.  Operating hours will be determined by the management.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

4. Warner Connects – Bulletin Board

John Warner and Faith Minton met with the Selectmen as a follow-up conversation on the bulletin board proposal.  Mr. Warner is asking for the Selectmen’s agreement to begin construction.   Dennis Hamilton will construct and install the board, funding has been contributed by the Fall Foliage Festival, Business Association and Warner Connects.  Warner Connects would also take on the responsibility of the upkeep.    Selectman Hartman favors the current location of the bulletin board instead of making it a new feature to the Town Hall.  Mr. Warner said the current bulletin board is not accessible for Town Hall use.  It was attempted to increase the area and it was found to be extremely difficult in its present location.  The new bulletin board will have three posting sections and the new location will make it highly visible.  Faith Minton added that during the Fall Foliage Festival the bulletin board could be used as an information kiosk.  The design is not meant to detract from the Town Hall.   

Martha Mical asked Mr. Warner if the design has changed from the original presentation.  After the original presentation the Selectmen recommended that the Fall Foliage Festival be contacted.  What was determined from the contact with FFF is that the location of the bulletin board would be better situated at the corner of the driveway at the Town Hall; it was felt that this area is unused space during the festival.  

Barbara Annis feels the location of the bulletin board could interfere with those who take pictures of the Town Hall.  

Selectman Hartman moved to approve the proposal for the kiosk submitted by Warner Connects.  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; one opposed; majority approval; motion passed.  

5. Peter Wyman – Planning Board Interest

Mr. Wyman was before the Board of Selectmen to express his interest in becoming an alternate Planning Board member.  Barbara Annis, Planning Board Chairman recommends the 3-year alternate position for Mr. Wyman.  Mr. Wyman is agreeable to the term.  Mr. Wyman is currently the Commercial Code Enforcement Officer and he feels this alternate position would enhance the CCEO position.  Selectman Hartman moved to appoint Peter Wyman as an alternate member of the Planning Board for a three-year term.  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

6. Marianne Howlett – List of Properties That May Be Deeded

Tax Collector Marianne Howlett presented a list of properties that may be deeded.  The property owners will have 2-years + one day in which to pay the lien or redeem it.  Property owners are noticed at the beginning and end of the process.   

Ms. Howlett presented a contract from Goulette Computer Consultants who completes the lien research (since 2003) at $13.00 per parcel for the Selectmen’s approval.   

Selectman Hartman moved to contract with Goulette Computer Consultants Inc. for the municipal mortgage notification agreement.  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

7. Martha Mical

Martha Mical presented a penalty for a property owner who has placed a structure on land in current-use. Selectman Hartman moved to approve the current use land change tax lien release per RSA79-A for Map 18 Lot 11-4 assessing a current-use change penalty in the amount of $899.50.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.   

Martha Mical presented Veterans Exemption, Intents to Excavate &Timber Tax Levys and Abatement requests.  

Martha reminded the Board members that they are meeting with Cross Country Appraisal on April 1.  The Board needs to decide who will be the designee for the reval company.  During the meeting with Cross Country expectations will be discussed.  The Selectmen agreed that Martha Mical would be the main contact with Cross Country Appraisal.  

8. Class VI Roads

Selectman Hartman moved to post Class VI roads until May 15, 2009 .  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

9. Appointments to Committees

The Selectmen decided not to reappoint Paul Reichard as an alternate member to the Planning Board because of his busy work schedule.  However, the Planning Board would welcome Mr. Reichard back once his work schedule lightens up.  

Selectman Hartman moved to reappoint Henry Duhamel and Paul Violette as full members to the Planning Board until 2012 (three-year term).  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor; motion passed.  

Selectman Hartman moved to appoint Rick Davies as a full member of the Zoning Board until 2012 (three-year term).  Chairman Karrick seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.  

Chairman Karrick moved to reappoint Jim McLaughlin as a full member of the Conservation Commission until 2012 (three-year term).  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor; the motion passed.   

Chairman Karrick moved to appoint Richard Cook as an Energy Committee member.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor; the motion passed.   

Chairman Karrick moved to reappoint Sue Hemingway and Peter Ladd to the Energy Committee.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor; the motion passed.  

Chairman Karrick moved to reappoint Jim McLaughlin to the Odd Fellows Building Committee.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor; the motion passed.  

Chairman Karrick moved to reappoint Rick Davies to the Transfer Station Planning Committee.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor; the motion passed.  

Selectman Carson will be the Selectmen’s alternate to the Planning Board as well as the Selectmen’s representative to the Budget Committee.  Chairman Karrick will be the Selectmen’s representative to the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Highway Safety Committee.  

10. Central NH Regional Planning Commission Extension

The Selectmen signed the CNHRPC second extension for the Master Plan update which is extended up to June 30, 2009 .   

11. Junk Yard License

Selectman Carson moved to approve the application for Junk Yard License Renewal for Harry Heselton on Couchtown Road and Wade Locke on Chemical Lane for one year.  Selectman Hartman seconded the motion; all were in favor; the motion passed.  

12. Manifest

Chairman Karrick moved to authorize the Selectmen to sign manifests and order the Treasurer to sign payroll check numbers 1672 -1706 (includes 10 direct deposit stubs) in the amount of $36,536.67 and accounts payable check numbers 42896-42900 in the amount of $18,287.30.  Selectman Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion carries.  

13. Selectmen’s Other Business

Selectman Carson reported the Energy Committee is applying to the Fall Foliage Festival for bicycle racks.  Location of the racks is still undecided.  

The coordination for the Connors Mill Bridge has begun; all efforts to accommodate school children and mutual aide has been completed.  

Nonpublic Session

Chairman Karrick moved to enter into Nonpublic Session at 9:15 p.m. per RSA 91A:3 II (b), hiring. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hartman. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Karrick – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Carson – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

In Attendance:  Chairman Karrick; Selectman Hartman; Selectman Carson; Laura Buono, Town Administrator.  

Laura Buono briefly discussed the top candidates for the bookkeeper position after the first round of interviews.  Second interviews will be arranged with various candidates and Selectman Carson will participate.  

Selectman Hartman moved to come out of Nonpublic Session at 9:47 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Selectman Carson. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Karrick – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Carson – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

Nonpublic Session

Chairman Karrick moved to enter into Nonpublic Session at 9:47 p.m. per RSA 91A:3 II (c), reputation. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hartman. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Karrick – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Carson – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.    

In Attendance:  Chairman Karrick; Selectman Hartman; Selectman Carson; Laura Buono, Town Administrator.  

The Board discussed a request by a resident for an extension to pay their taxes in order to avoid the risk of losing the property.  The residents have been very good about adhering to past extensions and the Selectmen have no problem approving this request.

Selectman Hartman moved to come out of Nonpublic Session at 9:48 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Selectman Carson. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Karrick – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Carson – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

Selectman Carson moved to approve the extension request on Map 14 Lot 16.  Seconded by Chairman Karrick.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.  

Nonpublic Session

Selectman Hartman moved to enter into Nonpublic Session at 9:49 p.m. per RSA 91A:3 II (a), compensation. The motion was seconded by Chairman Karrick. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Karrick – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Carson – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

In Attendance:  Chairman Karrick; Selectman Hartman; Selectman Carson; Laura Buono, Town Administrator.  

Laura Buono brought up a request from a department head with regard to two of their employees and a desire to increase the amount they received as a wage increase this year.  The department head stated that they should have addressed the small percentage during the budget process but it had been overlooked.  The Board briefly discussed the process that was used for increases and the fact that there were other employees who received lower percentages due to their placement on the new steps.  The Selectmen were not in favor of going outside of the process at this point since if it is done for one department, other departments would have to be addressed as well.  

Selectman Hartman moved to come out of Nonpublic Session at 9:57 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Chairman Karrick. A roll call vote was taken. Chairman Karrick – yes; Selectman Hartman – yes; Selectman Carson – yes.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.   

Adjournment

Chairman Karrick moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:58 p.m.   Motion was seconded by Selectman Hartman.  A vote was taken.  Motion passed unanimously.

Board of Selectmen    

David Karrick, Jr. – Chairman
David E. Hartman
Clyde Carson        

   

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen

Recording secretary