Meeting opened at 8:50 a.m.

In attendance: Selectman Wayne Eigabroadt – Chairman, Selectman David E. Hartman, Selectman Richard A. Cook and Town Administrator Laura Buono

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen

Others present:

Paul Fouliard - Transfer Station Department Head

Judith Rogers – Town Clerk

Paul Fouliard - Transfer Station

Chairman Eigabroadt welcomed Ms. Buono to the staff.

The Selectmen discussed with Ms. Buono GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board), the Selectmen would like to begin moving forward toward compliance. Ms. Buono will work with the Finance Director to begin moving in the compliant direction. The Selectmen have received audit proposals; Ms. Buono will review what has been presented.

The Selectmen discussed personal leave time bucket (earned time). The Selectmen asked the TA to review the proposed policy and return with feedback and any liabilities or benefits toward the program.

Selectman Cook asked the TA to research other communities regarding household hazardous waste disposal, handling, policy etc.

Mr. Fouliard explained that he has spoken with Robert Bishop from the Department of Environmental Services (DES) and updated Mr. Bishop on the Transfer Station’s progress regarding the handling of household hazardous material. Mr. Fouliard further explained that Mr. Bishop was pleased with what progress has been made. Mr. Fouliard asked Mr. Bishop if there was anyway the Town of Warner could satisfy DES requirements if the Transfer Station continues to process the material as it has been. Mr. Fouliard further explained that Mr. Bishop said that the Town could continue with its present process and would be sending a 26-page plan to be completed indicating how material is received, stored and disposed of. Mr. Fouliard asked DES if disposing of material once a year is satisfactory, Mr. Bishop said "yes". Mr. Fouliard explained to the Board that the Transfer Station can continue to accept material, the process needs to be refined, the current storage is beyond excellent, and disposal could be shipped once a year. Mr. Fouliard explained to the Board that holding an annual hazardous waste day would cost the Town approximately $7,000.00 (covers material gathered that day, hiring the company, does not cover asbestos). A $1,000.00 grant could be applied for. Mr. Fouliard feels that the current process is less costly for the Town. United Industrial Services has inventoried the material currently stored at the Transfer Station; the submitted cost to dispose 7 years of gathered material amounts to $9,000.00, of that, $5,100.00 would be used to dispose of roofing tar. DES has told Mr. Fouliard that annual collections are not effective because most do not hold on to material for a year resulting in wrongful disposal. Mr. Fouliard recommends not shipping the roofing tar, which would lower the cost of disposal ($3,900.00).

Mr. Fouliard and the Board discussed the present process that is in place for collecting the material. It was defined that the material received, stored and recycled needs to be monitored. Selectman Cook recommends that what ever the Town creates to handle the material needs to be a written policy. Initiating fees still need to be determined.

Mr. Fouliard will be using $2,000.00 from Demo Tipping Fee, $1,000.00 from Building Maintenance, $5,000.00 from Grounds and $1,980.00 from Hazardous Waste totaling $9,980.00 from this year’s budget to dispose of the current material. Selectman Hartman made the motion to have Mr. Fouliard appropriate up to $4,000.00 from the Transfer Station budget to dispose of household hazardous waste that is in collection. Selectman Cook seconded the motion. Mr. Fouliard recommended researching packaging of the material at a lower cost. All were in favor. The motion passed.

The Selectmen reviewed proposed Capital Outlay for 2006:

$13,600.00 for chimney repair for Town Hall and Old Grade School

$50,000.00 for conservation

$10,000.00 for book preservation

TA will contact the Fire Chief regarding a fire truck (proposed in 2005). Last year $250,000.00 was appropriated with the understanding that $237,500.00 would be put back in the general fund if a grant was obtained (Town portion $12,500.00). The grant was not received; TA will contact Department of Revenue for guidance.

(E. Roby Road Re-Construction $100,000.00, combined with the Road Construction Fund)

Highway Equipment $100,000.00

Fire Department Building/Renovation $100,000.00, the Selectmen agreed to continue funding and then bonding the balance when the time comes to build.

Road Construction $200,000.00 ($100,000.00 for road construction, $100,000.00 for E. Roby) the Selectmen agreed to add the funding from E. Roby to the Road Construction Fund to enable easy access to the funds if the applied grant for E. Roby is accepted.

Cemetery $5,000.00

Forest Fire Fund $5,000.00, the Selectmen agreed not to request $5,000.00 for Forest Fire this year, there is currently $46,000.00 on account.

Revaluation for 2010, $50,000.00

It has been determined that the 86 Mack truck is not worth refurbishing, the TA will consult with Director of Public Works about replacing the vehicle.

The Selectmen briefly discussed the 2005 submitted Capital Improvements submitted for the Transfer Station particularly the scales. There will be no warrant this year.

Police Department; no warrant for 2006

The Selectmen reviewed the Capital Improvements beyond 2006. Including the Capital Outlay for 2006, the total budget increased by 1.19% more from 2005.

The Selectmen reviewed salary/wage increase requests that were submitted by the Department Heads. The Board and the TA discussed how Weare and Hampstead process wage increases, then the current wage scale was discussed regarding the steps, the Selectmen would like to create a definition on how an employee reaches the next step on their wage scale. After a 1-% cost of living increase there would be $21,477.00 available for merit increases. The Selectmen have also received two requests to have the wage scale adjusted for the Transfer Station staff (same as the Highway Department) and the Deputy Town Clerk (Executive Secretary range). The Board proceeded to figure the total cost of the requested wage increases. The Board agreed that the Selectmen’s secretary office hours would not increase at this time. The Board also agreed that the request from the Transfer Station Department Head to change the current wage scale to reflect the same as the Highway Department could not be compared. Mr. Fouliard does have information that supports his request; the Selectmen have not reviewed this information. The Selectmen reviewed the most current Wage & Salary Survey supplied by the Local Government Center for comparable Transfer Stations. It was found that the current wage scale for the Transfer Station was competitive with like Towns. Mr. Fouliard also requested a Foreman’s position for the Transfer Station, the recommendation will be considered.

Mr. Fouliard met with the Selectmen, Chairman Eigabroadt explained that the Board compared the current wage scale for the Transfer Station against comparable Towns and found that the wage scale is competitive. The Selectmen agree that a foreman position should be considered and would like to review the data that Mr. Fouliard gathered. Mr. Fouliard explained that he contacted each Town that was used in the wage study and found that Andover, Barnstead and Antrim do not have a Transfer Station. Boscawen had one part-time employee for one day a week. The Towns that Mr. Fouliard found comparable (recycle everything) was Chichester, Henniker, New London and Pittsfield (this information is a year old).

Mr. Fouliard learned that;

- Antrim paid attendants $9.70 - $13.15 per hour

- Bradford $15.73

- Canterbury $10.00 - $15.00

- Chichester the Supervisor is $51,000.00 with benefits, attendant rates are $12.00 - $14.00

- Enfield $12.93 - $16.15,

Henniker $12.00 - $15.00, Supervisor $43,000.00 - $49,000.00

Hopkinton up to $15.11

New London $11.00 - $12.35

Pittsfield, Manager $41,000.00, other employees range from $25,000.00 - $29,000.00

The average attendant of these Towns 2 years ago was $14.27 per hour, the average Supervisor $39,501.00

Currently the Transfer Station Supervisor for the Town of Warner maximum wage scale is $38,029.80. Mr. Fouliard commented that when the wage scale came into effect it was stated that no pay rate would be lowered, the Transfer Station wage scale was lowered by .90 cents, which has kept the current salaries from increasing.

The Selectmen considered the information presented by Mr. Fouliard. Chairman Eigabroadt recommended revisiting Mr. Fouliard’s recommendation at the Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for this evening to allow time for all to review the presented information.

Motion to adjourn 12:30 p.m.

Board of Selectmen

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