Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

September 4, 2007

Meeting opened at 6:04 p.m.

In Attendance:   Selectman Richard A. Cook - Presiding

                        Selectman Wayne Eigabroadt

Absent:             Selectman David E. Hartman

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen  

Others present:

Laura Buono – Town Administrator         

Richard Senor               

Martha Mical

John Healy  

1. RICHARD SENOR - CITIZEN

Richard Senor as citizen and editor/publisher of the Warner New Paper commented that a set of minutes (date not indicated) for the first time in 9 years was not sent to him.  Mr. Senor did retrieve the minutes off the web-site and found that some of his dialogue was missing.  Mr. Senor then called the Attorney General and Local Government Center and spoke to them.  Mr. Senor said based on the information received by both the Attorney General and LGC when someone speaks in any minutes it can be written as a draft, but it has to be indicated that a person spoke about a specific topic indicating there emotions (happy, sad etc.).  The minutes Mr. Senor spoke about did not have his emotion or his comment.  Mr. Senor was told by the Attorney General’s office that they cannot give him legal information/help but he can retrieve a lawyer and do something about it.  Mr. Senor asked the Board if his comment will be left out of the meeting minutes, if so, there will be another litigation.  Mr.          Senor does not feel the Town needs more litigation; there are two in the process right now which will be in the October issue of the Warner New Paper.  Also as a resident, and since he is the Chairman of the Recycle Committee he wants to know if Chairman Hartman has recused himself.  Mr. Senor said that he knows Chairman Hartman is not supposed to be around Mr. Fouliard, and Mr. Fouliard will now be attending the Recycle Committee meetings from now on.  Selectman Cook added that Mr. Fouliard has not attended Recycle Committee meetings in over 3 years that he knows of, and Chairman Hartman was not attending all the meetings because Selectman Cook said that he attended for a while.  Mr. Senor said that he understands why Paul wants to attend now because things are going on behind his back and he wants to attend.  Mr. Senor asked Selectman Eigabroadt to be the representative if needed.  Selectman Eigabroadt said with the Town Administrator Departments would not need liaisons like they use to, but as far as committees and boards its been taken as a case by case basis as to whether or not a Selectmen’s rep. is needed.  Discussion will take place at the next Selectmen’s meeting.  Mr. Senor requested that Selectman Eigabroadt join.  Selectman Eigabroadt said to Mr. Senor as far as an answer to his recusal request, Chairman Hartman is not here and has not spoken to the Board yet.  Mr. Senor said the recusal is a moot point since Mr. Fouliard will be attending the Recycle meetings. Selectman Eigabroadt added that even if the Selectmen brought it to a vote to have Chairman Hartman recuse himself he still does not have to, it is Chairman Hartman’s decision, the Board voting on recusal is just advisory.  Through email contact between Mr. Senor and Laura, Laura asked Mr. Senor if the recusal was his decision as the Chairman alone or was this brought up during a committee meeting.  Mr. Senor explained the recusal was discussed after a Recycle Committee meeting, he told the other members what he was going to do and no one said “no, don’t do it”.  Mr. Senor added as a bone of contention it doesn’t matter if it was him singly or the committee.   

Laura asked Mr. Senor what meeting minutes he is referring to.  Mr. Senor said July 10^th.  Laura asked who told him what belongs in minutes.  Mr. Senor said the Attorney General’s office and LGC.  Laura verified that they said all the dialogue needs to be written?  Mr. Senor said “no’, just a brief summary of the dialogue, if you don’t want to put the dialogue in then it has to say Richard Senor spoke to this topic.  Laura asked what discussion was it.   The discussion being referenced is the Corcoran Single Stream presentation.  Laura disagrees with what Mr. Senor feels should be in the minutes, Laura will review the July 10^th meeting minute tape.  Mr. Senor is sure that things will be left out of other meeting minutes.  Laura reminded Mr. Senor that the meeting minutes are not verbatim.  Mr. Senor feels they should be.  

Laura recommended for the purpose of discussion during a meeting people should be brought closer to the microphone so the recorder can clearly hear comments.   Selectman Eigabroadt recommended further discussion at a Selectman’s meeting regarding meeting minutes.   Selectman Eigabroadt feels that a better job could be done on the meeting minutes as well, when corrections are recommended the final draft is stepped up just a little bit.  Selectman Eigabroadt added if a Selectman says a on the tape a specific thing they want in the minutes, that’s what should be there, not the watered down version.  Comparisons and better ways need to be discussed along with the interpretation of 91-A.  Mr. Senor said he heard from Chairman Hartman during that meeting (meeting date unknown) that he could add or take out what ever he wants in the minutes; the Attorney General said no he can’t.  

John Healy made a general comment, and is wondering if acoustics come into play.  A small microphone 10 feet away may make hearing difficult.  Laura recalled the referenced meeting had quite a few people.   

Selectman Cook said to Mr. Senor that he hopes he doesn’t take it personal.  Mr. Senor said definitely not personal, fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you, fool me three times and your head’s is in a vice, that’s the way he looks at it.  

Selectman Cook also added that there is no effort to not sending him the meeting minutes.  Mr. Senor found it surprising that his dialogue was left out.  Selectman Cook said others were left out too, it’s not personal but Mr. Senor is making it personal.  Selectman Cook said to Mr. Senor that he is presenting it as an accusation, trying to keep his voice out of the meeting minutes when that is not the case.  If it was left out, so were other comments as well as some of the comments the Selectmen made.  Selectman Cook added if the minutes can be improved they will be.  Mr. Senor said if other dialogue was left out then the law is being broken.  Selectman Cook disagrees.  Mr. Senor said then he will have to get an attorney.  

2. RICHARD SENOR – RECYCLE COMMITTEE

Mr. Senor said that the Town Administrator position was sold to the Town as being able to write grants.  Mr. Senor asked Mike Cutting at a Budget Committee meeting how they could justify the cost of $73,000 (including benefits) for a Town Administrator. Mr. Senor said Mr. Cutting answered the Town Administrator will be writing grants and that will take of the salary.  Mr. Senor does not feel that is the case, he has minutes from July 5, June 28, May 17, June 28 all from 2005 and the public hearing for the Town Administrator.  Mr. Senor respectfully asked Laura as Town Administrator to find as many grants available for the Recycle Committee.  Selectman Cook added that it is not the Recycling Committee’s purview to ask the Town Administrator to do work, the Town Administrator works for the Board of Selectmen.  Mr. Senor may submit a request to the Board of Selectmen to be considered.  Mr. Senor asked the Board of Selectmen to have the Town Administrator find as many grants as possible for recycling.  Selectman Cook said the Board of Selectmen will take his request under consideration.  Mr. Senor added that the Recycle Committee will be meeting on Thursday September 6^th.  

Selectman Eigabroadt wanted to clarify something, Tuesday morning there was a meeting going on with one Selectman and someone else that he was not aware of.  Selectman Eigabroadt wasn’t thrilled about it, spoke to Laura who explained things.  And then a couple days later someone told Selectman Eigabroadt there was another meeting between Selectman Cook, Chairman Hartman and an attorney that again Selectman Eigabroadt was not aware of.  Selectman Eigabroadt called Laura and was told the meeting did not take place.   

Richard Senor offered the Town to put their side of the litigation in the Warner New Paper.   

Martha Mical, as a citizen said to Mr. Senor that if in the New Paper it is one side of the story it needs to be stated clearly that it is one side of the story.  Mr. Senor said “absolutely”.  Selectman Eigabroadt said anything in print in regards to the Selectmen’s side would be left up to the attorney.    Richard Senor said he will not be writing it, it will be from Attorney Douglas who is representing both litigations.   

3. MANIFEST

Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion to approve the manifest by the Board of Selectmen authorizing the Treasurer to sign checks numbered 39814- 39853 totaling $328,687.61.  Selectman Cook seconded the motion.  All were in favor.  The motion passed.  

4. VETERANS EXEMPTION

Selectman Eigabroadt made a motion to approve a Veterans Tax Credit in the amount of $500 for Map 11 Lot 41, effective April 1, 2008 .  Selectman Cook seconded the motion.  All were in favor.  The motion passed.

 5. OTHER BUSINESS

Laura informed the Board that the September 10 Budget Committee meeting has been canceled.  

Motion to adjourn 6:34 p.m.  

Board of Selectmen

David E. Hartman
Wayne Eigabroadt
Richard A. Cook