Meeting opened at 9:25 a.m.

In attendance: Selectman Wayne Eigabroadt – Chairman, Selectman David E. Hartman, Selectman Richard A. Cook

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen

The Selectmen met with Police Chief William Chandler to review the Police Departments 2006 budget.

Contract Services indicates a 10% increase, the 10% figure is under $1,000.00. For the last several years dispatch costs have not increased.

Merrimack County Attorney’s office increased by $200.00

$180.00 increase for the purchase on NH Criminal Code and Motor Vehicle book.

- Cruiser Maintenance, $2.75 per gallon has been figured based on advice from D.O.T., at that cost the fuel line increased by $6,300.00.

Chief Chandler does not wish to detract the number of gallons that has been maintained for several years because the part-time position is in the process of being filled.

Mr. Chandler will be requesting an increase in hours for the part-time position.

- Office Supplies & Equipment decreased by $1,009.00, the decrease was because there was a balance of $3,009.00 paid for a new copier. Mr. Chandler would like to retain $2,000.00 for information technology support, internal computers still need to be tied in with mail boxes, lap tops need criminal software.

- Uniforms reflect a $7,032.00 increase due to the request for additional hours for the part-time position. Mr. Chandler commented that the majority of the feedback based on many years is that Warner residents want Warner Police to show up on Warner calls. The residents do not like to wait more than 20 minutes for a State Trooper. The part-time position has very little overhead; it does not pay over-time, no health or retirement benefits. It is not mathematically possible for three full time positions to cover 168 hours in a week. Selectman Cook asked what hours are not covered. Chief Chandler explained that with the part-time position, the hours between 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and then 5:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. would be covered; State Police would be on-call from 3:00 a.m. until 7:00 a.m.

- Part-time hours increased from 932 to 1,900 hours. There is currently a preferred candidate that has many years of experience. Chief Chandler has budgeted the position for $14.62 per hour with 1100 hours. The remaining 800 hours would be figured at $12.60 per hour. The cost to outfit an officer is approximately $2,436.00.

(All firearms have been updated costing only $750.00 from the Police Association; normally the cost would be $3,000.00, conditional upon the return of the current firearms).

- Equipment Maintenance & Repair/Purchase has a $499.00 decrease due to the purchase of the Mirra backup. There is a $2,500.00 decrease due to the laptop purchase.

- Building Maintenance reflects a $200.00 decrease.

- Grants reflect a $5,000.00 decrease, the line is being held for future use.

- Salaries reflect a $12,582.00 requested increase.

- Contract Services reflects a $1,204.00 increase.

- Telephone reflects no increase

- Safety Equipment reflects no increase

- Training reflects no increase

- Woodlawn Kennel & Russell Animal Hospital reflects no increase.

- Special Detail Police is budgeted for $3,000.00.

- 2006 request totals $383,432.00 excluding the detail and pay adjustments.

The Selectmen met with Fire Chief Richard Brown to review the Fire Departments 2006 budget.

Fire Expenses reflects no change

New/Replace Equipments reflects a $500.00 increase due to the needed replacement of gear and hoses.

Supplies reflect no change.

Maintenance Trucks reflects a $1,000.00 increase due to fuel costs.

Care of Station reflects no change.

Radios Repairs & Equipment reflects a $1,000.00 decrease.

Training reduced by $800.00.

Telephone remained the same.

Dispatch Service decreased

Medical Supplies reflects no change

Equipment Maintenance increased by $500.00 due to the maintenance on the air compressor that fills the air cylinders.

Selectman Hartman asked about any long range plans for the new fire station site. Chief Brown explained that there are no firm decisions. The Capital Improvements Program lists 2010 for a new station.

The Selectmen reviewed the Transfer Station 2006 budget.

Concord Regional increased by $5,000.00

NE Resource Recovery remains the same

Transportation increased by $4,400.00

Demo Tipping decreased by $2,000.00

o Selectman Cook will ask Mr. Fouliard what the decrease is based on.

o What is the status/future of the sheet rock pile?

Labor/Wages, the Department Head is requesting that the current wage scale for the Transfer Station staff be readjusted to reflect the same as the Highway Department. The Selectmen will consider wages at a later date.

Electricity increased by $500.00.

Recycling Costs decreased by $312.00.

Selectman Cook commented that to properly track actual costs some of the lines need to be identified differently, for example there are supplies budgeted within the recycling cost line and the disposal cost line.

Disposal Costs decreased by $700.00.

Telephone no change.

Meals no change.

Fire alarm no change.

Safety Equipment and Programs decreased by $300.00, Selectman Cook will inquire about the decrease.

Uniforms no change

Grants requesting $2,500.00 for the oil grant

Equipment Maintenance & Repair decreased by $3,000.00

Building Maintenance decreased by $720.00

Fuel is budgeted for $2,000.00

o Selectman Cook will ask Mr. Fouliard what the total includes.

Office Supplies increased by $100.00

Hazardous Waste Disposal

o Selectman Cook will inform Mr. Fouliard that the Board decided that he is to use the remaining funds in the current budget to dispose of as much hazardous material as the money allows.

Building Fuel increased by $500.00, Selectman Cook will ask Mr. Fouliard for the breakdown between propane and oil.

The figures presented reflect a 1.025% increase (includes the current wages)

The Transfer Station is proposing scales in the Capital Improvements Plan.

Assessing Clerk Martha Mical informed the Selectmen that the taxes raised this year amount to $4,997,031.41.

Selectman Cook and Selectman Hartman met with the potential Town Administrator on October 23, 2005, negotiations resulted in the potential candidate requesting health benefits begin the first of the month after hire, if the request is agreeable with the Board then the candidate would accept the offer of employment. There has been a reference check and then there will be a criminal and motor vehicle investigation. The Selectmen discussed if a background investigation is necessary. Chairman Eigabroadt will contact John Healy and ask him to attend the Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. this evening to further explain what the background investigation entails. Chairman Eigabroadt also spoke to the Board members about his wanting to be involved in this process and asked why a meeting was held on Sunday. Selectman Cook explained that messages were left for Chairman Eigabroadt, and did not realize that Chairman Eigabroadt was unable to attend until after the meeting was held. The meeting was arranged due to a scheduling conflict with the candidate.

Motion to adjourn 12:30 p.m.

Board of Selectmen

Wayne Eigabroadt – Chairman
David E. Hartman
Richard A. Cook