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BOARD OF SELECTMEN In Attendance: Chairman Brayshaw Selectman Robert O’Connor Selectman Edward Mical Recording Secretary, Mary Whalen Members of the public 6:30 Chairman Brayshaw opened the meeting. Bruce Bean came to inform the Selectmen about two different properties’ that requested a revaluation. Both owners felt that their assessments were too high. Selectman O’Connor excused himself from the Board due to conflict of interest. Mr. J.D. Colcord sat in for Selectman O’Connor. Mr. Bean reviewed Robert O’Connor’s property and some changes were found. Mr. Bean presented the recommended changes to the Board. Mr. Bean also reviewed a commercial lot owned by R.C. Brayshaw and Co., and no changes were found. Mr. Bean found the assessment reasonable. Any changes in a reassessment would be reflected in the year 2002. Selectman O’Connor returned to the Board. Barbara Chellis presented the Community Action Program budget for 2002. Selectman O’Connor asked Barbara if she would like a Selectman to sit with her while she presents her budget to the Budget Committee. Barbara accepted the offer. After review Chairman Brayshaw made a motion to accept the C.A.P budget as presented. Selectman O’Connor seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Jim Mclaughlin and Derek Pershouse presented the Planning Board budget to the Selectmen. Selectman O’Connor made the same offer to have a Selectman sit with Mr. Mclaughlin while he presents his budget to the Budget Committee. Mr. Mclaughlin declined the offer. After review Chairman Brayshaw made a motion to accept the Planning Board budget as presented. Selectman Mical seconded the motion. The motion passed. Mr. Mclaughlin presented an agreement for a total of $1000.00 of assistance from Central Regional Planning Commission, which requires Mr. Mclaughlins’ signature from the Planning Board Richard Senor met with the Selectmen to discuss what the Board is looking for from the Odd Fellows/Martin Building Committee. The Board suggested coming up with uses of the building, and checking the structural integrity of the building. A list of ideas needs to be generated for the March town meeting. Mr. Senor is working on a grant for a feasibility study and asked for the Town’s permission to do the study. Discussion followed on how to notify everyone in Town of the survey. Richard Brown presented the Fire Department budget to the Selectmen. Discussion followed. Selectman Mical advised Mr. Brown that during his presentation to the Budget Committee he would have available a break down of calls, and the number of hours involved in training. Selectman O’Connor made a motion to accept the Fire Department budget as presented. Selectman Mical seconded the motion. The motion passed. Ralph Littlefield and Pam Jolivette met with the Selectmen to discuss the Senior Center. Chairman Brayshaw highlighted what has transpired to date. The Community Action Program has been watching the enrollment in the Warner facility and had determined that the combining of Warner with the Bradford facility would be beneficial for all. Busing from the Austin Home was a concern. Mr. Littlefield updated the Board. It was agreed to keep the Warner facility open one day a week. If there were concerns raised by the community about the changes then Community Action Program would be willing to sit and listen to the concerns. Pam Jolivette attended a meeting at the senior center a few weeks ago to talk about the possibility of expanding the meal program to two days. A committee was discussed to set up activities in the community. There is a need to attract more seniors to participate in the activities. Currently the program is in search of a new director. Chairman Brayshaw asked what triggered the C.A.P to look at the facility in Warner. Mr. Littlefield explained that a three-year evaluation was done in Warner, and it was noticed that the participation was decreasing. Attendance was higher on special events more so than daily activities. People expressed an interest in special events rather than daily activities. Thirty five thousand dollars is allocated per year to serve as many people as possible in the Warner area. It wasn’t until the participation dropped off that the Bradford area was looked at, and the changes were contemplated. Chairman Brayshaw opened the meeting for questions. A number of seniors came to listen to Mr. Littlefield. Gloria White made a comment that part of the reason for the drop off in attendance is loss of people through death or relocation, and that cannot be controlled. And how do you attract more people? Gloria would like to participate more but has to rely on the bus. Gloria suggested publicizing the lunches to attract more people. Shirley Clark who lives in North Ridge, has thirty-six apartments for elderly adults. Shirley commented that maybe five people from the apartments attend the senior center. Shirley feels that everyone may not know about the center. Mr. Littlefield asked if the menu is posted. Shirley said that it is posted, but hardly anybody goes into the community room. Selectman O’Connor suggested a volunteer to make sure everyone received a menu. Shirley commented that when she moved to Warner she did not know there was a senior center. Selectman O’Connor talked about putting together a new comer’s package filled about information on Warner. Meann Stevens who is new to the community asked what percentage of the community is over sixty. Meann is searching for information on her own, and commented a new comer’s package would have been helpful for her. Mr. Bibeau commented on taking a petition on who wants the center in Warner and who wants it in Bradford. And was the traveling in the winter considered. Lynn Bean asked why the seniors of Warner were not informed of the move to Bradford? Why weren’t the seniors asked for input? Lynn commented that the seniors were told what was going to happen, there was no attempt to work out the problems in Warner, leaving the seniors feeling left out. Mr. Littlefield commented that a specific meeting didn’t happen, but over a period of time trying to build services, the site managers tried to get people to participate and looked for volunteers, but the numbers kept dropping. Lynn commented that the next director hired should be more of a people person, which in turn may help with participation. Richard Senor asked Mr. Littlefield, if you have a senior center already established, then why would you open another one before taking care of the problems in the existing one, to make it more workable. The seniors obviously like the center. Mr. Littlefield commented that they are trying to get the most out of the money that is servicing the area. George Dooley commented that nothing has been gained in Bradford accept for lost people. Attendance in Bradford is low. And when there are people in attendance they are mainly from Warner and Webster. Shirley White feels the Warner center offers a lot of crafts and activities. Shirley commented that attendance is down during the summer because a lot of grandmothers are home taking care of grandchildren. Chairman Brayshaw asked what could be done to increase the attendance and possibly take a pole of what activities everyone would like to do. Sylvia Blanchette commented that in the beginning the center was every day. The choice of two days was not given to the Warner facility. Mr. Littlefield commented that the program is more than willing to listen to the needs of the seniors. And this show of interest to change things is a good indicator of maybe other things can be done in town. The best usage of the money to provide help for older adults is what the program is interested in. Fran Bibeau commented that Warner senior center is no longer advertised in the paper any more. Doug Scott commented that the Warner senior center provided friends and people have made friends there, and care for one another. And that feeling is missed now. George Stevens, who is also a new comer, commented that the one thing that drew him to Warner was the caring community. Chairman Brayshaw commented on the wonderful outcome of the meeting, and welcomed the fight to get the senior center back in Warner. Mr. Littlefield stated that once they get a new director, then they could approach how to get the second day in Warner going. And also get an activity committee together. Chairman Brayshaw thanked Mr. Littlefield for attending this evening to listen to all the concerns of the seniors, and to leave with all the feedback that was achieved this evening. The relocation of the assessment cards was discussed. Selectman Mical updated the Board on the reestablishing of the Warner/Webster boundary. The job descriptions from the Wage Study Committee were discussed. A work session is scheduled with the Wage Study Committee on October 16, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. Selectman O’Connor informed the Board as to why there was no police response to an emergency call on September 28, 2001. Apparently one officer was on vacation. And there was an overlap in time with another officer who was at Ossipee Mountain Electronics. It was recommended that scheduling be watched during this time of being short handed at the Police Department. The Town Report was discussed among the Board members. Selectman O’Connor discussed the moving of the dog kennel at the Police Department with Dennis Labrecque. And informed the Board what will be taking place. The replacement of the carpet at the C.A.P building was discussed. The Selectmen discussed the resignation of the custodian. Chairman Brayshaw made a motion to accept the resignation of Mary Whalen as custodian to the Town of Warner. Selectman O’Connor seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Selectman O’Connor made a motion to accept the application submitted for the custodian position. Selectman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Approval to have the rugs cleaned in the Town Hall was approved. The Selectmen reviewed and approved two letters for gratuity. Selectman O’Connor made a motion to approve Chief Chandlers’ request for a bonus for Officer Brooks. Chairman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. The Board discussed the purchase of metal and batteries by a private individual, from the Transfer Station. Selectman Mical will check into the liability. Selectman O’Connor made a motion to allow Mr. Bibeau to use the Senior Center for weekly meetings. Chairman Brayshaw seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. The Selectmen reviewed building inspection notices. Approval for notices was granted. The Selectmen reviewed the tax committal for 2001. The Selectmen approved an additional six to eight hours each, to run the blotter book and help with the tax bills for Martha Mical. The Selectmen approved a building permit for an addition. The Selectmen reviewed the October 2, 2001 minutes. Chairman Brayshaw made a motion to approve the October 2, 2001 minutes with grammar changes. Selectman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. The Selectmen reviewed the September 29, 2001 work session minutes. Chairman Brayshaw made a motion to approve the work session minutes. Selectman Mical seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Judith Rogers (Town Clerk) clarified information for preparing her budget. A bonding issue was discussed for the new assistant in the Town Clerk’s office. Clarification of bonding will be done with the Finance Director (Wendy Pinkham). Judith also discussed an alarm system with the Selectmen. Selectman O’Connor will check into a system. Judith asked if there is going to be a pay increase across the board, this information is needed to complete her budget. The Selectmen suggested a wish list, and the Board will be getting back with her. The maintenance agreement for the Town Clerk’s copier was discussed. Judith is not sure that she has one. Judith requested an updated rate of pay of all employees’ to Town. Chairman Brayshaw made a motion to adjourn. Selectman O’Connor seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. John C. Brayshaw – Chairman
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